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It happened…I'm a one bass guy.

moishelichtfuss

moishelichtfuss

Jun 12, 2010
911
1,235
Cologne, Germany
theslownow.com
#1
So this morning, a friendly ebay-buyer walked out with my highly-modified late 70s PJ-Precision, which I haven't been using much since I bought a cheap Road Worn P last fall (originally only as a backup).

This marks the interesting day in my bass-history, that I own only one bass guitar (I'm not a professional musician, but play regularly and do the occasional small tours/string of gigs). I wasn't that outrageous, but there were times that I owned 4 or 5 of 'em. Lately I've been struck by a minimalist mood, with the added fact that the Road Worn is also my favorite P of all I ever owned (American Standard, Squier JV, that late 70s thing and one fretless P).

Let's see how long I make it. I already got the feeling that I might want to try a RW Jazz if I see one for halfway cheap. By the way: Has the Road Worn series been discontinued. It doesn't seem to be featured on the Fender-site anymore.

Anyways…just wanted to share. :)

Oh…and here's a pic:

22701305qh.jpg


P.S.: I also like this carpet that I bought recently. :D
 
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#3
Get your butt out there and find another bass right now mister! And don't you ever let this happen again!

Seriously, the only thing that bothers me about your situation is that I can't imagine showing up to a gig without a backup bass. But that's me. You certainly don't have to be me. :thumbsup:
 
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#5
Congratulations.:)

I'm whittling down to just a couple myself. As much as I respect the minimalist thing myself recently, I'm not sure I could not have a backup for in case one is in the shop for something:woot:
(one man/in demand Luthier) as well as it's nice to have a second flavor option?

How does it feel? Freeing? :)Just looking to experience it vicariously,Right now Lol :)
 
#7
FirewalZ said:
Nice.....I settled on what I call the Leo Trio: A Jazz, P Bass and a Stingray. I can pretty much get all i want out of those.
Click to expand...

Hey, what about G&L!?

The L2000 is what I'd consider the 4th bass-with-character from Leo. I.e. it has a unique sound with nothing else quite like it, just like the J, P and Stingray.

MFDs are known for their distinctive tone, which combines clarity, high fidelity and power with an airy "sweetness".

EDIT : Just remembered I'm selling one. That wasn't a sales pitch. I'm chopping my collection down at the moment for a move, but part of the goal is to also upgrade a few instruments when I arrive. Two birds, one stone.
 
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#8
moishelichtfuss said:
So this morning, a friendly ebay-buyer walked out with my highly-modified late 70s PJ-Precision, which I haven't been using much since I bought a cheap Road Worn P last fall (originally only as a backup).

This marks the interesting day in my bass-history, that I own only one bass guitar (I'm not a professional musician, but play regularly and do the occasional small tours/string of gigs). I wasn't that outrageous, but there were times that I owned 4 or 5 of 'em. Lately I've been struck by a minimalist mood, with the added fact that the Road Worn is also my favorite P of all I ever owned (American Standard, Squier JV, that late 70s thing and one fretless P).

Let's see how long I make it. I already got the feeling that I might want to try a RW Jazz if I see one for halfway cheap. By the way: Has the Road Worn series been discontinued. It doesn't seem to be featured on the Fender-site anymore.

Anyways…just wanted to share. :)

Oh…and here's a pic:

22701305qh.jpg
Click to expand...


+1 to all you said .........

I to have owned some old Fender basses in the past and also some VERY expensive basses too.

A few years back I got a R.W. Jazz, it quickly became my go to bass and is now the only bass that is used 100% at a job.

(I do have another old Jazz that is a backup, but, it usually stays in the truck.)

IMHO, anyone putting down the Road Worn basses are deaf!

They need to stop judging with their eyes and use their ears and hands!




FYI, I just picked up a new 2015 Fender catalog, Road Worn basses are still listed.





.........
 
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#9
moishelichtfuss said:
So this morning, a friendly ebay-buyer walked out with my highly-modified late 70s PJ-Precision, which I haven't been using much since I bought a cheap Road Worn P last fall (originally only as a backup).

This marks the interesting day in my bass-history, that I own only one bass guitar (I'm not a professional musician, but play regularly and do the occasional small tours/string of gigs). I wasn't that outrageous, but there were times that I owned 4 or 5 of 'em. Lately I've been struck by a minimalist mood, with the added fact that the Road Worn is also my favorite P of all I ever owned (American Standard, Squier JV, that late 70s thing and one fretless P).

Let's see how long I make it. I already got the feeling that I might want to try a RW Jazz if I see one for halfway cheap. By the way: Has the Road Worn series been discontinued. It doesn't seem to be featured on the Fender-site anymore.

Anyways…just wanted to share. :)
Click to expand...

I'm kinda seeing the appeal of this lately. I've been recording a lot lately, and frankly switching basses around makes for a huge pain in mixing for all parties involved. I basically decided I'm going to chop my collection down to a handful of basses because right now I get distracted too easy. I sit there and debate which bass to use for a song instead of just playing, then I have to sit there and mess around with the mix for a few hours when I decide on a bass.

To that end I am reducing my collection and will be recording with a P or a J bass 95% of the time. 80% will be on a P bass, 15% on a J in the few cases we have a slap part.
 
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#10
Antisyzygy said:
Hey, what about G&L!?

The L2000 is what I'd consider the 4th bass-with-character from Leo. I.e. it has a unique sound with nothing else quite like it, just like the J, P and Stingray.

MFDs are known for their distinctive tone, which combines clarity, high fidelity and power with an airy "sweetness".

EDIT : Just remembered I'm selling one. That wasn't a sales pitch. I'm chopping my collection down at the moment for a move, but part of the goal is to also upgrade a few instruments when I arrive. Two birds, one stone.
Click to expand...
I know...i know.....but Leo Trio just sounds better. Maybe I should have said the original Leo Trio..:)
 
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#12
I am down to three and trying to be down to two, or maybe even one.
I realized that I play one bass maybe 99.9% of the time and in all the years that I have been gigging (more than 30) I have never had a stage emergency that required a back-up bass and have actually stopped taking a back-up when I go to gigs (probably bite me someday).
I have zero GAS, probably caused by the many times I have gotten all GASsed up about a new instrument and then been disappointed after owning it for a day or two and then gone back to the old favorite and sold the new baby at a loss.
Give me a passive 4-string Jazz bass and I can be quite happy all day long.
 
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#13
Liam Wald said:
I am down to three and trying to be down to two, or maybe even one.
I realized that I play one bass maybe 99.9% of the time and in all the years that I have been gigging (more than 30) I have never had a stage emergency that required a back-up bass and have actually stopped taking a back-up when I go to gigs (probably bite me someday).
I have zero GAS, probably caused by the many times I have gotten all GASsed up about a new instrument and then been disappointed after owning it for a day or two and then gone back to the old favorite and sold the new baby at a loss.
Give me a passive 4-string Jazz bass and I can be quite happy all day long.
Click to expand...
It will !! I had a tuner on my old Warwick snap right off during a show. No backup. I had to have my wife get my p bass and I sat out a whole set :-(
 
#14
two fingers said:
Seriously, the only thing that bothers me about your situation is that I can't imagine showing up to a gig without a backup bass. But that's me. You certainly don't have to be me. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

VWbug said:
I'm whittling down to just a couple myself. As much as I respect the minimalist thing myself recently, I'm not sure I could not have a backup for in case one is in the shop for something:woot:
(one man/in demand Luthier) as well as it's nice to have a second flavor option?

How does it feel? Freeing? :)Just looking to experience it vicariously,Right now Lol :)
Click to expand...

Well. I never used to take a backup anyways (more like spare cables, a spare set of strings and – on superstitious days – a battery-powered soldering iron). So I guess that won't bother me too much until the first unpleasant experience. Let's see. The car/van's usually way too crammed anyways.

It feels rather nice right now, but as mentioned: We'll see how long it will last.

trebbihm said:
Tortex 88s, nice choice :)
Click to expand...

Yip…pretty much settled on those. :)

shoot-r said:
IMHO, anyone putting down the Road Worn basses are deaf!

They need to stop judging with their eyes and use their ears and hands!

FYI, I just picked up a new 2015 Fender catalog, Road Worn basses are still listed.
Click to expand...

Personally I was very surprised how good it is. As I said, it was supposed to be a backup initially. But reading around I get the feeling that there's not many people putting 'em down. And if so, only for the relic, which I could also do without. but once you start causing a few scratches of your own, it's all good anyways. What I also seriously love about is is that matte nitro-finish. Feels awesome.

Interesting thing: Every time I look up the Road Worn's they seem to have become more expensive. But maybe that's because I'm in Germany and either the Dollar or the Euro are doing funny things?

P.S.: I also managed to get rid of all the pedals that didn't fit on my Pedaltrain Jr. :-)
 
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#15
Arthur SX said:
It will !! I had a tuner on my old Warwick snap right off during a show. No backup. I had to have my wife get my p bass and I sat out a whole set :-(
Click to expand...
You didn't try to play with 3 strings? ;) Kidding. Sorta.

Backup or no backup -- I will let each weigh the pros and cons for himself. I suppose you could still be a one-bass person in spirit if you have a main bass and another, less attractive version of it (if you find yourself playing it much, then you're a two-bass-er) as an emergency backup.

I congratulate the OP -- I imagine it would be freeing. I was there, myself, for a long time, but haven't been there in awhile (though I am well down from my peak).
 
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#16
Arthur SX said:
It will !! I had a tuner on my old Warwick snap right off during a show. No backup. I had to have my wife get my p bass and I sat out a whole set :-(
Click to expand...

I hear you. Probably been pushing my luck. Might be good for me to stop being lazy and start taking a back-up again... especially since I said I never needed one!
Seems like the minute I say something like that the bass gods straighten me out!
 
#19
Cool.

RW basses are soooo underrated and sound/play killer.

I personally would never have less than 2 as I have had multiple gig-killing bass malfunction over the years (broken string, saddle screw being jettisoned by the spring, input jack wire coming loose and dead batteries). The string and battery issues are quick fixes, but "quick" still means a break or I sit out a song.
 

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