If I can only have 2 (or possibly 3, max)....

[Bassistcool]

Who might know better what your bass should sound and feel like than you? Why do you ask? Would you also ask which wife would be best for you?

 

[Medicine Man]

OMG! Did I leave off my all original 1972 MIA Fender Telecaster Bass from the list?
I was reading the comments and was surprised no one said keep that!

Well there's your subconscious's clear answer.

 

[DrBnz]

Sell em all. Natural instinct will have you selling them off in your order of preference. So when you get down to the last two you can stop.

 

[Jeff Scott]

.. I have a small list of my instruments in my firesafe for my wife, detailing the cash value of each guitar or bass.

You told your wife what you actually paid for them? Whodathunkit!

 

[Jeff Scott]

Would you also ask which wife would be best for you?

Life could be worse.

 

[Blue]

“What one paid” is not “What it’s worth”

 

[capnjagg]

No one can tell you what you like, but since you're asking for opinions, my choices would be:

3 Basses
•Fender '51
•Squier Jazz
•'72 Tele

2 Basses
•Fender '51
•Squier Jazz

1 Bass
•Fender '51

Not a big fan of Epi/Gibson basses myself (or the mudbucker tone in general), and the Cabronitas have always felt a little lacking for my personal tastes. I love the tone of a '51, but I feel the Fender makes the Squier a bit redundant, unless the Fender happens to be a lemon and the Squier a real gem. In the scenario of going down to two basses, I'd rather have the versatility of a J + the cash in hand that the '72 would fetch vs owning something less practical just because it's old/vintage/unique, but I'm probably an outlier in that regard. Did I mention I love the tone of a '51?

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

OMG! Did I leave off my all original 1972 MIA Fender Telecaster Bass from the list?
I was reading the comments and was surprised no one said keep that!

Well of course you have to keep that one !!
And the Japan 51 P
And the Squier CV Jazz

 

[klyph]

I mean, Tele, ‘51 P and a J Bass would work for me as a gigging stable if I didn’t play 5 strings. I’d be tempted to sell everything but the first two and upgrade the J bass, but that’s just me

 

[CallMeAl]

I’m a “p and j” kinda guy, but also balance and neck are hugely important to me. So I really hafta choose by feel.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Depending on the songs people play, the bare minimum is a p with flats, a p with rounds and a j with rounds IMO.

I would keep or buy the ones that are the most comfortable to me and put on the strings that make them sing respectively.

 

[ravlin]

Unless the feel of one of them compels you to keep it, sell em all and start shopping your local music shop.

 

[nonohmic]

I would keep; 2010 Fender 51 MIJ reissue bass

And sell the other 6, buy the best fretless I could.

 

[Stewie]

In that case, save the Tele and the Eastwood, especially if the Eastwood is fretless

 

[ravelax]

As a T-bird player I have to say the T-bird. Aside from that, probably the Squiers CV '51 and the VM Telecaster bass.

 

[chris_b]

Easy. Keep the 3 basses you play the most. Sell the rest.

I used to be a professional musician with 1 bass. For 20 years I've gigged with 2 basses.

 

[Snert]

What 2 to 3 basses to I keep:

None of them.

 

[RandomKaren]

I'd keep the '72 and the Eastwood.

 

[smo]

Keep your clear #1. This may not be your #1 gigging bass, but it should be.
I'd suggest another for a significantly different tone (like a fretless for example) or maybe alternate tuning.
If you're not playing with anyone, I'd think 2 basses would cover most you want to do.

 

[EricOnTheBass]

A, B, C, it's simple as 1, 2, 3

1. Sell them all. Lighten the load to zero
2. Move.
3. Purchase 2 nice replacements with the money from the 7 you sold. Quality over quantity.

Yep. A P and a J. That’s what I’d do.