how often do you switch basses?

[StyleOverShow]

I have a couple of three, four if you include the EUB. I play the fretless mostly when I practice at home because it does so much for my technique (intonation, vibrato, etc.).

Each instrument has its own voice so I spend time working on refining each with strings and p/u heights, and set-up parms.

Each instrument requires its own technique. Cool Hand, my fiver Carvin, spacing of the strings is so tight that I fumble with it for a few minutes before the muscle memory recall kicks in and I remember the short stroke.

The reference to the "Ric" was interesting. I used to own one back in the day, and look back on it like my dad's land cruiser Cadillac days: looks good at the curb but what a boat to drive. What you think it is, and what they are, often are two different things.

Finally, yeah I want a Marcus Miller and a Geddy Lee and maybe a G&L (if they weren't so butt ugly), but I get along fine with the excellent instruments I have right now.

-richard

 

[CascadeBass]

I switch basses every few years-- I've never made it to the price range I REALLY want to be in-- but I too get bored with stuff. And I only have one bass at a time, due to financial constrainst-- lots of obsessions to spread the money over.

For those who don't care, a history:

Some crappy P-bass knockoff
Guild Pilot 4 (us made w/ EMGs)
Spector NS2000B (4 string)
Toby Pro 5 (MusicYo)
American Standard Jazz (blech! dead spots GALORE-- it was a loaner anyway)
Yamaha RBX6JM
Spector NS2000/Q5
MTD K5
Cort JPS5
[the same] MTD K5 again
edit: Cort RB5
Spector Legend Classic 5

The Legend is my current bass until I sell it. I put a ding in it yesterday (through the finish) so it goes.

What I want that is in my price range today? A Grendel, a Legend with no dings, an MTD K5 or Heir, MAYBE a Yamaha RBX or TRB 5 string.

edit: What I want that is NOT in my price range today: an MTD 535, Spector NSJH5, Dingwall ABI, Roscoe LG3005, Pedulla, Fodera, etc, etc.

 

[vinxbass]

I've got 6 basses, 2 of which I play exclusively. They are a '08' MIA Fender Jazz V and a 2009 Carvin Icon IC5. I like the Jazz because it's a plug in and play bass, needs very little eq to sound decent. The Icon takes a little more eq'ing, but for an active bass sounds very good - nice and punchy.

I switch about every 2-3 gigs just for some variety, nothing else.

 

[KsPiNeSh]

I ahve been using the same primary (Warwick Corvette 5), amp (Genz Benz GBE 1200), and cabinet maker (Genz Benz) for well over 3 years now. It is a sound that speaks to me and it works beautifully for my music. Outside of that, however, everything else is fair game for turnover and gets swapped fairly regularly... never know what you're going to love until you try it

 

[Margus Alviste]

I change my basses whenever the song makes me - from 4-string to 5-string, from passive to active and vice versa.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

I play my 6 String Spector and rotate two to three four strings - usually my other Spector and My P with flats. I try to give them all some Love.

Edit: Need a nice 5 String now and I think I would let some of the 4's go. (Then again maybe not).

 

[chuck3]

I have a Jazz with roundwounds that is my BG for gigging. I just find it to cut through the mix (and bar noise) the best. But I practice with a P-bass with flatwounds because our singer finds it easier on her ears (she understands that at a gig you do what you have to do). Plus I like the P-bass' sound when we're playing quieter. Finally, I have an Upton standard ply upright that I use in about 1/3 of the songs (some of the country and blues tunes). We group the songs with the upright together in each set.

I have an ABG as well, that I use for practicing by myself when I'm not around an amp.

 

[Swift713]

I kept my first bass, short scale J copy, for 20 years. I had it defretted after 4 years. Bought a fretted Steinberger copy around 6 or 7 years, and an ABG (defretted) around the same time. Then I got a Stingray 5 copy and dumped the J copy and the Steiny copy. Next was an Aria Sinsonido fretless, lasted less than a year. Then I got a P bass, sold it and got a fretless Steinberger 5er. Then I got an SX 5 string fretless P copy and sold that. Thats 8 basses in 26 years, 3 of which I still own. I've never taken more than one bass to a gig or a practice. Not that I gig a lot.

 

[Orpheus55]

It's funny, but I played an old Hagstrom II and a P-bass from 1966-1998. Then I went crazy (kids left home) and have been through maybe twenty or so since. I've settled on a MM Stingray, a modded J-fretless, a Sting P-bass and a nice 86 CIJ white P. Uh, I do have a Tribute L2000 on the way because I like black sometimes and big necks.

 

[Baird6869]

I have about a dozen basses (Fender, Musicman, Roscoe) and I rotate 8 or 9 of them regularly. It is cool to bring out a bass you haven't played in a while... also (and more importantly), the ability to own various basses that offer different tones is a great thing IMO....

 

[KrisH]

There are five basses in the "back room" where we practice: GL Jazz (high beams), EB-3 (short scale flats), my Smith (old P neck with high beams and 2J + 1P pickups, each switchable series/parallel), and my Cort Steinberger copy (with GHS roundwounds, club for a neck). That's 4, and each one plays and sounds so different from the other, it's almost an instant cure for GAS! And the double bass is back there too, as the 5th. I'll often play several at a sitting, learning different licks and passages and seeing how they play and sound on different basses. I also have other basses, acoustic and electric guitars about the house that get less play time.

 

[Engine207]

I've got five, and they all get love during the week.

The Ibby BTB 5er or Fender Jazz fretless get the call when I'm practicing technique (I'm new to both five-string and fretless) or playing stuff that uniquely requires either of them.

I play my Fender Precision when I am doing Motown or want that low, deep thump. My Ric 4001 gets exercised, out of respect, for a few hours even though it's not as comfortable to play as my main squeeze, a Fender Highway One Jazz Bass.

If/when I start gigging, I'd probably only take Highway One Jazz and one other, depending on what the songlist is.

 

[Kenny Allyn]

Have you tried a Jazz wired series/parallel?

I have three Jazz Basses and they are all different ...

My Candy Red one is a parts bass with a series/parallel switch

... I agree a very usable option, the other has Nordstrand NJ4SE hum cancelling pickups and an Audere pre, both can get a nice P bass vibe.

 

[Mastermold]

These are the basses I currently have:

Danelectro Dano 63
Epiphone Jack Casady
Fender Jazz '62 AV reissue
Fender Precision '59 CS reissue
Fender Precision '57 AV reissue
Fender Precision Elite II
Fender Precision '51 reissue
Fender Precision 5'er
Rickenbacker 4001
Rickenbacker 4003
Rogue Viola II
Squier Jazz, VM Fretless
SX Jazz
SX Jazz 5'er
SX Precision

The Fenders and Rics get most of my play time, but there are times (like now with my Jack Casady bass) where I get into a groove with one of the others and play it exclusively for a while.

 

[slyjoe]

...snip...d

the question: how often do you switch basses?? And to what?

1. Twice a set.
2. J to J back to J - all with different pickups/strings.

 

[SJLee]

meta, you have just stepped into the vortex of switching basses. The more the merrier.

 

[Twobass]

Everybody needs a Precision, a Jazz and a Musicman. I therefore decree it.

I have two out of the three, I need to get a Precision.

 

[bassbenj]

the question: how often do you switch basses?? And to what?

Two theories:

1. Search until you find "your sound". Then never change anything for any reason.

2. Rule: you can never own too many basses. Then choose the bass you play so the sound fits the music.

I am a believer in the #2 church. Note, however, that when I used to play upright I was of the #1 church.