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It happened…I'm a one bass guy.

#81
I'm trying to get down to minimal, but not sure I can do less than 3.
I have a P select, and AM J, a Squier VM V J, and a Mike Kelly Dragonfly Fretless V.
I play the AM J the most because everyone in my band says nice things to me when I play it. I think it is because it really presents a tone where I am not under the mix, but a balanced part of it and they hear clearly what I am playing. The P, although I have always preferred them, has become the backup, but I will switch to it on occasion when I want more thump.
The Dragonfly I need because a good portion of our gigs are acoustic. Even the drummer switches to a cajon.
I could sell the Squier, but I'm having a hard time letting go of it because it is my only solid body 5er.
So I'm either at minimum or one over. And I have a hard time selling my gear unless it helps me get something better, so I may sell it to help buy a 2x10 extension cab for my Rumble 500.
 
#82
I'm down to the two in my avatar - fretted and fretless Century 5's - but if it had to be one I'd probably go with my fretted Roscoe. I do use the fretless quite a bit, but the "gun to my head" bass would be my Swamp Ash/Koa, BEM board Bartolini Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5.
 
#83
Geri O said:
I'm not sure I see getting "down to one bass" as an achievement or special status, but I've been in the minority before, so why stop now. If one bass gets the job done, so be it.
Click to expand...

The thread wasn't intended to be some kind of claim of achievement or special status. :-)
It was more about sharing the slight trauma that went along with this "step". I was kind of surprised that it actually drew that kind of response.
 
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#84
I have spent a ton of time and money trying all kinds of basses. Some was for fun, some was because I don't live in an area where I can try lots of different basses. Some was a bit frivolous and some was real experimenting. When all is said an done, I think I have a bass that is as close to a "lifer" as I have owned in my fretted Roscoe Century Standard Plus 5. I wish I would have found it sooner. I may have saved myself a lot of swapping and shipping.

I have debated selling my fretless as while I do use it and it's a legit bass to have, most people simply love my fretted bass. where I live/play there isn't much snobbery. I can play a fretted 5 for a jazz gig, pit gig, rock gig, church gig, etc. As long as I play tastefully no one rely cars what bass I bring, and like this one so.....
 
#86
Gorn Captain said:
Me as well. I like the idea of getting to know one instrument really, really well and using it exclusively. The only bass I'm at all interested in buying is one identical to mine, just in case.

I suppose it would be different if I was a working musician, but I'm primarily a hobbyist who does maybe 10 bar gigs a year.

View attachment 694168
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Great looking musicman bass! I enjoyed my 2000's jazz and stingray this morning at my studio and they are incredible basses indeed!

jb.mm4.JPG
 
#88
I've just gone from four to two...

I want to be able to just have one bass... in fact, when I was touring in my (foolish) youth, I TOURED with only one! If there was an issue with my bass (which, luckily, hardly ever occurred), I was always able to borrow from another band.

That said, I am now down to two (or, rather, am about to be; as soon as a recently ordered bass arrives), and I think that's where I'll stay.

I gig so rarely now; I'd never want to miss an opportunity to play out! I don't want to ever be without a bass... if mine was in the shop or otherwise had some sort of issue, I'd be stuck!

So... primary and back-up... that's where I'll stay, I think.
 
#89
Gorn Captain said:
I like the idea of getting to know one instrument really, really well and using it exclusively.

I suppose it would be different if I was a working musician, but I'm primarily a hobbyist who does maybe 10 bar gigs a year.
Click to expand...

I do agree with this to a point. I play in church. I used to gig a bit and I may again when my kids get older, but I basically play CCM a couple Sunday's a month. As a "hobbyist" I really only NEED my fretted 5, and really don't NEED a Roscoe either, but I just love it too much.

I can see "working" guys needing a few tools, even amateur working guys. I almost didn't pull the trigger on my fretless, but it is nice to have at church, and Roscoe makes one of the top 3 fretless basses in my book so...

That said, I could easily get by with one Roscoe.
 
#90
SteveC said:
As a "hobbyist" I really only NEED my fretted 5, and really don't NEED a Roscoe either, but I just love it too much.
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Love is okay! :-) I only did the downscaling thing, because the one that's left was and is my favorite out of all I played so far. Comes down to personal preference, but the tone, the attack, the overall feel neck size…all perfect for me.
 
#97
gjohnson441496 said:
As a photographer I really like this image. Good job. More importantly though, the fact that the basses are American Fenders brings tears of joy to my eyes. So pure and so beautiful. Thanks for sharing this image with us.
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Well "American Fenders" more by heritage, since they're both Mexican Fenders. I actually needed a while to get to really like the Jazz Bass. But I guess that's because I've only played Precisions for the last couple of years. :-)

One more (cosmetic) thing I noticed that the finish on the RW Jazz really contrasts nicely with my picks of choice:

24726196jm.jpg
 
#99
moishelichtfuss said:
Well "American Fenders" more by heritage, since they're both Mexican Fenders. I actually needed a while to get to really like the Jazz Bass. But I guess that's because I've only played Precisions for the last couple of years. :)

One more (cosmetic) thing I noticed that the finish on the RW Jazz really contrasts nicely with my picks of choice:

24726196jm.jpg
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Funny, I use the same picks, the green the and the orange
 
#100
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.
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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.
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Indeed: It has its own unique thing but The L-2000/ASAT can also mimic a Precision almost perfectly, does a decent job at getting Jazz-ish and also has Stingray qualities....Of all Leo's basses, its the only one that can Swiss Army into the territory of the other three off of one instrument
 

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