I have one bass.

[JGbassman]

I've gigged out my entire life, well at least since I was 15. Doing live shows it was mandatory you had a backup, so I've always been used to at least a couple of basses hanging around.

When I toured I always had at least three with me, as I've experienced everything from strings, to input jacks, strap screws, electronics, and even a tuner break or quit during a show. The few times I didn't have a backup bass at a show I worried the entire performance.

I've also played in many different styles of bands, often at the same time with different tunings, so it was advantageous to have different ones..

While I have around 20 now, I usually find one of about three favorites and play them for a majority of my shows. I normally will play one for a couple months, then switch to another one. This not only keeps the GAS at safe levels, it also helps me change things up a bit to help with my mild carpal tunnel. I have noticed when I start a show, that will be the bass I play all night.

I never bought basses just to buy basses, there was something special about each one I have, and I'm reminded of that when I pick it up to play it. So in a way, I'm faithful to one bass at a time, but that one bass gets rotated out.

If one bass is your baby, there is no need for others. If you gig out, it's a need though, if nothing else that to leave it in your gig bag just in case.

 

[Hand slap]

And that is all I want.

I bought a second bass a few months ago, and ended up sending it back. The new bass was okay, but I kept looking across the room at my old favorite bass, and it felt strangely like I was cheating on an old friend. Yes, I'm that weird.

So, I've decided I am a one bass kind of guy. Probably a bit of an anomaly on this site. Not that I don't have GAS desires when I see some of the beautiful basses that are posted hereabouts, but in the end, I'm happy with what I have, and if I fell in love with and bought another bass, I'd have to put my old favorite aside, and I find that unacceptable.

Is there something wrong with me?

I would only have one, except I want a back up for gigs, although until the last 2-3 years, I only had 1 bass, and played gigs for 25 years or so with no back up, and was never worried about it.

 

[NOVAX]

I also have one bass- for every day of the month!

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

Yes, I play out regularly. No offense, but how often does a bass just "short out"? I just don't see it happening. When I go out to see other bands, it seems as if at least 75% of the bassists only bring one bass (unless perhaps they keep the spare backstage or in their car...). I've never even broken a string on this bass. It would be more likely to have an amp malfunction, and I am sure not going to schlep a second amp either!

I doubt that will be my problem seeing there are no electrics to "short out".

 

[5thsand4ths]

And that is all I want.

I bought a second bass a few months ago, and ended up sending it back. The new bass was okay, but I kept looking across the room at my old favorite bass, and it felt strangely like I was cheating on an old friend. Yes, I'm that weird.

So, I've decided I am a one bass kind of guy. Probably a bit of an anomaly on this site. Not that I don't have GAS desires when I see some of the beautiful basses that are posted hereabouts, but in the end, I'm happy with what I have, and if I fell in love with and bought another bass, I'd have to put my old favorite aside, and I find that unacceptable.

Is there something wrong with me?

You guys are sick!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Nothing wrong with that. I gigged two decades only owning one bass. We get by without a backup car, backup toothbrush, a backup stove, etc.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Remember that Soloman had 700 wives.

Nice historical ref, but might you be able to point me in the direction of an edition of the Bible has the tabs for "The Song of Solomon"?

(Would it sound something like "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"? )

 

[Drang22]

Nothing wrong with that. I gigged two decades only owning one bass. We get by without a backup car, backup toothbrush, a backup stove, etc.

Yup- I've done it for more than 30 years myself (well, mostly on guitar). When problems arise on a gig, we just deal with it as best we can. It always seems to work out somehow!

 

[swafran]

Marcus Miller signature jazz.View attachment 2877604

A jazz is a good one bass to have. And that jazz, sir, is a good one jazz to have. Paging Dr. Seuss, Dr. Seuss white phone line 3 please.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Yup- I've done it for more than 30 years myself (well, mostly on guitar). When problems arise on a gig, we just deal with it as best we can. It always seems to work out somehow!

In light of that, I can understand your confidence. It comes from decades of previous experience and I hope the following decades maintain your excellent record, but if it were me, I'd wanna have a backup…but that's just me.

That being said, I can't help but be reminded of a quote from a speculative/science fiction movie I particularly dig…

"There are a thousand reasons we can think of to have this, but mostly it's for the reasons we can't think of."

 

[buldog5151bass]

In light of that, I can understand your confidence. It comes from decades of previous experience and I hope the following decades maintain your excellent record, but if it were me, I'd wanna have a backup…but that's just me.

That being said, I can't help but be reminded of a quote from a speculative/science fiction movie I particularly dig…

"There are a thousand reasons we can think of to have this, but mostly it's for the reasons we can't think of."

Out of all the things to have a backup for in life, a bass for a gig comes far down on the list. Nothing wrong with shiny toys, but people over-emphasize the"need".

 

[Bassist Jay]

And that is all I want.

I bought a second bass a few months ago, and ended up sending it back. The new bass was okay, but I kept looking across the room at my old favorite bass, and it felt strangely like I was cheating on an old friend. Yes, I'm that weird.

So, I've decided I am a one bass kind of guy. Probably a bit of an anomaly on this site. Not that I don't have GAS desires when I see some of the beautiful basses that are posted hereabouts, but in the end, I'm happy with what I have, and if I fell in love with and bought another bass, I'd have to put my old favorite aside, and I find that unacceptable.

Is there something wrong with me?

I don’t thing there is anything wrong at all with you being a one bass man. Having just one will make you know every aspect of that bass in your sleep. Many years ago I went to a bass clinic put on by Billy Sheehan. One of the things that he said was a good idea was to just use one style of bass that way you have complete muscle memory of that bass. He did advise though to always have at least two basses that way if one goes down and you’re at a gig or in a studio session you won’t have any down time.

If you did decide to get a second bass just as a spare, I would recommend if you can, the same bass you have or maybe even an inexpensive passive bass that you can just plug and play if needed.

 

[GretschWretch]

I HAD one bass. Now I feel like Entwhistle or Tufnel.. I'm gonna have to hang 'em on a wall because they are taking up floor space. I'm almost like a cat-lady.. Basses in cases smell better than litter boxes. Gonna have to quit window shopping..

I've been hanging them on the wall and they're *still* taking up floor space. Half the rooms in my house have basses in them. If Pooh Bear had pots of honey like I've got basses, he'd think he was in ursa paradise.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Out of all the things to have a backup for in life, a bass for a gig comes far down on the list.

Perhaps, but who wants to be "that guy " who's equipment fails with no safety net while every set of eyes in the venue turns glaringly in their direction? I'm not saying such a thing will definitely happen, nor am I wishing it upon anyone, but if it were me, I'd gladly spend a couple hundred bucks or so as an "insurance policy", instrumental-monogamy be damned.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Many years ago I went to a bass clinic put on by Billy Sheehan. One of the things that he said was a good idea was to just use one style of bass that way you have complete muscle memory of that bass.

Ahh, a man who understands and respects "personal ergonomics". As a veteran bodyworker (not "bodybuilder", that's a completely different thing), I heartily approve.

 

[fhm555]

And that is all I want.

I bought a second bass a few months ago, and ended up sending it back. The new bass was okay, but I kept looking across the room at my old favorite bass, and it felt strangely like I was cheating on an old friend. Yes, I'm that weird.

So, I've decided I am a one bass kind of guy. Probably a bit of an anomaly on this site. Not that I don't have GAS desires when I see some of the beautiful basses that are posted hereabouts, but in the end, I'm happy with what I have, and if I fell in love with and bought another bass, I'd have to put my old favorite aside, and I find that unacceptable.

Is there something wrong with me?

Don’t worry. My last crush started in the early 90’s and i still have that bass. It was my only bass until 98 when I bought an MIM j to do some outside shows in very humid NW Florida in summer. I’ve got a few more basses since then, all MIM J’s except for one Ibanez, but my little J Plus is still my favorite bass.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Perhaps, but who wants to be "that guy " who's equipment fails with no safety net while every set of eyes in the venue turns glaringly in their direction? I'm not saying such a thing will definitely happen, nor am I wishing it upon anyone, but if it were me, I'd gladly spend a couple hundred bucks or so as an "insurance policy", instrumental-monogamy be damned.

So where do you stop - second head, PA, cab, drummer (I've had more drummers #_&$# out on me than basses), jeans, car? Generally I bring a backup as well, but in 30+ years of playing, I've never needed it.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Congratulations

 

[Killed_by_Death]

For months I was looking for something else, just one more bass, but it had to be better than my current bass...
Then I finally found one I liked better & some days I consider selling the old one.

 

[Malak the Mad]

So where do you stop - second head, PA, cab, drummer (I've had more drummers #_&$# out on me than basses), jeans, car? Generally I bring a backup as well, but in 30+ years of playing, I've never needed it.

Where to stop? I suppose that'd be different for every individual person.

While I don't gig or play out, I travel a lot for work. I've found it's a capital idea to keep certain "redundant resources" at the places I work and crash at. Not too much stuff, but a bare-minimum specific to me that will allow me to get by, especially if I end up having to stay there longer than expected.

Over time, and with a combination of experience and the occasional, unforeseen/inconvenient circumstance, I've figured out what falls between "too much" and "not enough". What's great is I can apply this kind of logistical thinking to many different scenarios. It's like the old Boy Scouts motto…be prepared. It's why I keep a jug of wiper fluid, a quart of motor oil, a secret stash of gold dollar coins (Fun Fact: You can keep over $20 worth safely stashed in an old 35mm film canister! ) and a couple days worth of OTC meds tucked away in my car. I hope I never need them, but it's good that they're there and all the while, they're only taking up a negligible amount of space.