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I can't pick one, they all sound good.

#21
I also have the "best sounding" experience as I rotate through. I have 5. I go through the down-to-2 exercise every few months lol

I recently thought maybe the Ray34 CA was on the block. I mean it's kinda heavy and I've been in a P Bass phase....

Then, on a whim, I put some flats I had lying around on the Ray. Ya ever play a Ray with flats? Damn. Off the block :)

I've owned a couple hundred. My 5 represent a distillation to what is, IMO, a spectacularly playable, great sounding collection that suits me incredibly well both sonically and ergonomically. I'd miss any of these basses terribly if I sold any. I think I'm a 5 bass guy.

For the curious:
1999 Custom L2K / Jazz Neck / Silver Swirl finish
2022 US Geddy Jazz / Brantleys
2011 Ray34 CA / Cliff Williams Clone / LaBella DTF
Squier Classic Vibe P Bass / LaBella DTF
89 Peavey Patriot / physics-defying low action/ those super ferrites / 'merica

So if I was you, I'd just enjoy being the caretaker of so many great sounding basses OP :). Maybe you're just done tweaking the collection.
 
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#22
darwin-bass said:
I have several basses and I tend to rotate through them for my live (church) gigs. Each time I walk away thinking the one I just played is the best sounding of the bunch. It doesn't matter it whether it's the P, P/flats, J, or MM. It is the best sounding. Until next time when I play a different one and that one becomes the best sounding.

I only need one or maybe two basses, but don't want to sell my best sounding one so ... I continue to have several basses.

Sigh.
Click to expand...
Haaa! Like when you go to GC all the basses sound better than the one you own! *From pure experience, don’t buy or play another bass!! I just bought a fender jazz, but 1 or 2 other basses has to go to pay for it! To add insult to injury, last year I bought a USA EBMM SUB. I need to sell my pre-Covid sterling ray4. But it’s a good one.
Looking at auditioning for my church. I have a “church bass” 5 string that I have saved from previous churches I have played for.
 
#23
Same issue. Tried to sell a couple basses and the wife said, " Why"? So I didn't.
I rotate mostly thru my #1 P bass and a 5 string that I have way too much money in parts on. Occasionally one of the other three makes an appearance. Mostly when I am in a danger zone environment where I have concerns about weather or the people.
 
#26
OP back - The pressure to downsize is slowly growing as my wife and I approach retirement and a likely cross-country move.

Part of the reason all my basses sound "the best" is I've carefully curated them so the things I find weak with a bass (weak/hot notes, hum, poor string to string balance) are not present in any of them.

And my experience walking into GC is that I don't like ANY of the basses I play. Which is a great feeling, btw.
 
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#27
darwin-bass said:
I have several basses and I tend to rotate through them for my live (church) gigs. Each time I walk away thinking the one I just played is the best sounding of the bunch. It doesn't matter it whether it's the P, P/flats, J, or MM. It is the best sounding. Until next time when I play a different one and that one becomes the best sounding.

I only need one or maybe two basses, but don't want to sell my best sounding one so ... I continue to have several basses.

Sigh.
Click to expand...
I'm in that sand boat! 👍
 
#32
darwin-bass said:
I have several basses and I tend to rotate through them for my live (church) gigs. Each time I walk away thinking the one I just played is the best sounding of the bunch. It doesn't matter it whether it's the P, P/flats, J, or MM. It is the best sounding. Until next time when I play a different one and that one becomes the best sounding.

I only need one or maybe two basses, but don't want to sell my best sounding one so ... I continue to have several basses.

Sigh.
Click to expand...

If you play and like them all then you need them all. If you really have to reduce the herd then decide which ones you really can't do without and sell the rest. If you can't decide, you need them all.
 
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