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Just one single bass?

#61
Mildew Jones said:
If you're a regular gigger, I would say have a backup. I had a single bass for many moons, had an always trusty '72 P bass stop working mid gig, lucky enough to use another bassist's bass (at my knees w/unadjustable strap, not ideal).
I got a second instrument, never go to a gig with only 1 bass since then.
MJ
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how can a P could stop working ? 1 pickup, 1 jack : solders ?
Just currious because, anyway, I ALWAYS carry a backup (including a bass, strings, cables, 1 directbox)
 
#63
I only have my Lakland Skyline 55-64. I used to have a lot of basses, but I eventually got down to just this one as it was the one that I always use when playing out. The rest of them were mostly great in their own ways, but mostly, I had them just to have them. I'd rather have a small amount of gear that I use all the time than a lot of gear that I use only occasionally.
 
#65
klejst said:
Perhaps something along these lines has been discussed before, but recently it had me thinking a bit about it. How many of you use just one bass? Reasons being but not limited to that you own just the one, it's your favorite, gives you all the functions and tone you are looking for, etc. Thinking about it, really in theory all you need is one (unless the obvious if you do different tunings or play in a tribute band of numerous acts and use different basses for the show or something). Now of course I never would say it's a bad thing to have at least one spare, even if it's a "lesser" bass like a Affinity Squier Jazz to your MIA Fender Jazz for example. I know you'd look silly if you have an issue and have no other bass and perhaps some may look at it as unprofessional.

But all that considered, one is really all you need and some actually do use just one. I'll say and then knock-on-wood, I have never broke a string yet nor had an issue with a bass on stage...knock-on-wood.

Maybe it's just cabin fever or boredom from having to be inside most of the day these days due to the pandemic, but thought it interesting to at least share my thoughts on and pick the brains of other bassists on here.
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I have 12+, but really only play 2 (same make &model, different upgrades) but I started out playing just 1 all the time ! I got into a band, where we would down tune half of the set list, so I got another bass for alternate tuning & 1 for std tuning. Thats when all the madness started! the guitar player had about 3 guitars he would change out in the set. so I blame him! it started out with 1, then 2& snowballed, the 3rd was an active bass for a song or 2 then a 5 strg., I probably couldve done it with 1 bass but it was fun< igot to show off my toy collection, years later I changed bands & used mostly only 1 maybe 2 if it was a big gig. funny at the end, I started to whittle down all my gear to the bare essentials!
 
#67
klejst said:
Perhaps something along these lines has been discussed before, but recently it had me thinking a bit about it. How many of you use just one bass? Reasons being but not limited to that you own just the one, it's your favorite, gives you all the functions and tone you are looking for, etc. Thinking about it, really in theory all you need is one (unless the obvious if you do different tunings or play in a tribute band of numerous acts and use different basses for the show or something). Now of course I never would say it's a bad thing to have at least one spare, even if it's a "lesser" bass like a Affinity Squier Jazz to your MIA Fender Jazz for example. I know you'd look silly if you have an issue and have no other bass and perhaps some may look at it as unprofessional.

But all that considered, one is really all you need and some actually do use just one. I'll say and then knock-on-wood, I have never broke a string yet nor had an issue with a bass on stage...knock-on-wood.

Maybe it's just cabin fever or boredom from having to be inside most of the day these days due to the pandemic, but thought it interesting to at least share my thoughts on and pick the brains of other bassists on here.
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I actually have two but one of them is a 5-string and I got it so I wouldn't have to tune down my 4-string Jazz. I play it once in a blue moon. Have not played my 5-string yet this year, although with the Covid-19, that's not saying much.

The one bass I use all the time is my Olympic White, 1982, MIA, passive Fender Jazz. It has a maple neck with white binding, white pickguard, white pickups (4" spacing), white strat-style control knobs, White (semi-opaque) Tape Wound LaBella flats, and of course a wide white leather strap. It has a 60's shallow C-shape neck with a 7.25" radius (just like my 1965 Jazz did). Took me about 10-years to find a Jazz with the same neck profile after my '65 was stolen in 1976. I love the way it sounds and plays. And it has far more sustain than my '65 did. This is "THE" bass for me.

414414375.jpg
 
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#68
I have way too many basses, gradually acquired over almost three decades. Honestly, I probably could have done ok with only my first American P-Bass, a '95, bought new for $700. But I've gotten a great education by owning and playing many basses. For me, a bass is a "tool," but it's also a work of art, or, in the case of vintage basses, a slice of history or a piece of Americana. I play out regularly with a few, while others just get played at home. Music is my only "vice," so I don't feel too bad about my collection, but once this virus is behind us, I would like to trim it down some.
 
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#70
JForest said:
How can a P could stop working? 1 pickup, 1 jack : solders ?
Just curious because, anyway, I ALWAYS carry a backup (including a bass, strings, cables, 1 directbox)
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Any simple passive bass can stop working for any number of reasons. The first reason that comes to mind is when I had a '75 J-bass in the early 80's that died. The pickups from that era are prone to being wound too tightly, and an interior winding in the pickup lets go; that's what happened to mine. Another one is a "cold solder joint," where it may not have gotten hot enough to properly vaporise the flux and flow the solder, and over time it will eventually come loose. Jack fingers can fatigue and break. Pot wafers can disintegrate. Accidents can occur from the bass falling or otherwise sustain damage in transit or at a gig. Spilled beverages at a gig are not kind to internal components. In short, there are many ways even the simplest of electronic instruments can malfunction.
 
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#71
klejst said:
Perhaps something along these lines has been discussed before, but recently it had me thinking a bit about it. How many of you use just one bass? Reasons being but not limited to that you own just the one, it's your favorite, gives you all the functions and tone you are looking for, etc. Thinking about it, really in theory all you need is one (unless the obvious if you do different tunings or play in a tribute band of numerous acts and use different basses for the show or something). Now of course I never would say it's a bad thing to have at least one spare, even if it's a "lesser" bass like a Affinity Squier Jazz to your MIA Fender Jazz for example. I know you'd look silly if you have an issue and have no other bass and perhaps some may look at it as unprofessional.

But all that considered, one is really all you need and some actually do use just one. I'll say and then knock-on-wood, I have never broke a string yet nor had an issue with a bass on stage...knock-on-wood.

Maybe it's just cabin fever or boredom from having to be inside most of the day these days due to the pandemic, but thought it interesting to at least share my thoughts on and pick the brains of other bassists on here.
Click to expand...
I always had a second Bass with me at gigs and rehearsals just in case something happened. I only had to use it once in 15 years of gigging, but if wasn't with me, the gig would've been over.
 
#72
Some of the places I play have huge PA’s, and given the music I play (worship music in pretty much every key), sometimes a 5 string is the right tool.

Right now, we’re doing virtual bands - sending in videos of our parts, which get assembled into a composite for Youtube distribution. Given that those videos are being played over small speakers, a 5 string is the wrong tool, unless you’re really disciplined in staying off the B string. One of the videos I just sent in was made for a fretless - the vibe is right for that. I play some services where I use only fretless. So, 3 basses is about my minimum - different tools for different jobs.

I wonder if there’s someone on Talkpaint right now bragging about how he does landscapes, portraits, and still life paintings with just one brish?
 
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#73
I was a one-bass guy for years, partly as a tribute to my hero Diego Diegerson, and partly because I was generally happy with only one bass. If I bought a new one, the current one had to go. But from a practical standpoint, I was a fool—as well as very lucky. Things fall over. Things become disconnected. Parts give out. Accidents are called that for a reason; they're unplanned. A pro comes prepared for emergencies. That's what a second bass provides, if nothing else: A show that will go on...with bass!

I'm way beyond that now, with many more than two. I just think that anyone who plays formal gigs—paying or not—should have a backup. It's a wise move, IMO.

Because the show must go on.
 
#74
klejst said:
Perhaps something along these lines has been discussed before, but recently it had me thinking a bit about it. How many of you use just one bass? Reasons being but not limited to that you own just the one, it's your favorite, gives you all the functions and tone you are looking for, etc. Thinking about it, really in theory all you need is one (unless the obvious if you do different tunings or play in a tribute band of numerous acts and use different basses for the show or something). Now of course I never would say it's a bad thing to have at least one spare, even if it's a "lesser" bass like a Affinity Squier Jazz to your MIA Fender Jazz for example. I know you'd look silly if you have an issue and have no other bass and perhaps some may look at it as unprofessional.

But all that considered, one is really all you need and some actually do use just one. I'll say and then knock-on-wood, I have never broke a string yet nor had an issue with a bass on stage...knock-on-wood.

Maybe it's just cabin fever or boredom from having to be inside most of the day these days due to the pandemic, but thought it interesting to at least share my thoughts on and pick the brains of other bassists on here.
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Different strokes for different folks.

I enjoy having numerous different types of basses. From solid to hollow, from semi-hollow to ABG, from fretted to fretless, from 4 string to 5 string, from 8 string to 10 string and 12 string, from short scale to medium scale, from 34” to 35”, from passive to active. Nothing wrong with having just one. Nothing wrong with having many. Big problem with not having any. ;)
 
#75
I primarily play a Precision Bass and could do fine with just one.
I have a bunch right now but am still gigging (not at present time due to pandemic)
I will sell most of them along with my amps over the next few years..I still enjoy playing and all the different builders.
 
#77
If I could easily sell a dozen basses I'd still have too many. I could get away with just the G&L L1000 or my 60's Classic Vibe Precision. That being said, I played for many years with a well known mandolinist who has owned and played his 1940 F5 since around 1960. I was astonished and told him I was surprised he had only one mandolin. He looked at me, smiled and responded "I only have one wife."
 
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#79
Mannyinnewyork said:
Most of my playing years (over 50), I only had one because I was basically penniless. When I eventually could afford to buy whatever I wanted, I would up with about six.
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This is so true for me.

I consider myself a one-bass player, although that's not strictly true.

My busiest gigging days were in my late teens to mid/late 20s. I was in two different bands and sometimes subbed with a third. I played two or three nights every week, and very occasionally more. But I wasn't earning enough from music or my day job to be able to afford to keep more than one bass. I then more or less quit pursuing the professional music thing for many years and focused on my day job, which went quite well, and now that I'm older and can afford to put together a sweet collection of basses, I only play a couple of times a month on average, in a single project, so my needs are very simple and my Fender Aerodyne PJ meets all those needs. So that's my "one bass". I haven't picked up another bass in more than two years.

I still own an Ibanez 5er that I've had for 25+ years. It will do as the backup if the Fender develops a problem. I keep saying I'm going to sell the Ibanez and get something like a Precision for the backup but I haven't got around to it yet. Mind you, also I keep saying I'm going to get a fretless J, and maybe a hollow body, but haven't done that either. Even though I can afford them, because I don't need them it doesn't seem to get to the top of my mental list of things to do.

JakobT said:
Basses are like shoes. You can have any number that seems useful to you, and no one else will care in the slightest.
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I love this quote. It works on a number of levels. Like, shoes basically all do the same thing, but some are designed for particular applications, or are more suited to one situation than another. And even if you have many pairs of shoes, you probably have a favourite pair that you wear way more than the others. And you'll always get people who'll judge you for the kinds of shoes you wear, even though it's none of their business.
 
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#80
klejst said:
Perhaps something along these lines has been discussed before, but recently it had me thinking a bit about it. How many of you use just one bass? Reasons being but not limited to that you own just the one, it's your favorite, gives you all the functions and tone you are looking for, etc. Thinking about it, really in theory all you need is one (unless the obvious if you do different tunings or play in a tribute band of numerous acts and use different basses for the show or something). Now of course I never would say it's a bad thing to have at least one spare, even if it's a "lesser" bass like a Affinity Squier Jazz to your MIA Fender Jazz for example. I know you'd look silly if you have an issue and have no other bass and perhaps some may look at it as unprofessional.

But all that considered, one is really all you need and some actually do use just one. I'll say and then knock-on-wood, I have never broke a string yet nor had an issue with a bass on stage...knock-on-wood.

Maybe it's just cabin fever or boredom from having to be inside most of the day these days due to the pandemic, but thought it interesting to at least share my thoughts on and pick the brains of other bassists on here.
Click to expand...
I do. The EBMM SR4 HS that is on my avatar. It covers 5 decades of Aerosmith's discography, up to 2hr show (well, and 2 different overdrives and a chorus). Yes I have an spare, my former main bass, the other one that it's on my avatar, Alembic Essence.
 

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