Living with just 3 basses

[Snakeman1066]

again #3, #4. #7....!!!

 

[H K]

Do you absolutely need a 5?
If not, take 1 P, 1 PJ and 1 jazz. Just keep your fav or most expensive/hardest to get.
If you need a 5, keep the 5, a PJ and a J. You can always mute the J on a PJ to only get the P sound, but you cant really get the J neck sound from a PJ.

 

[Ghastly]

3, 5, 7...

Or

1, 3, 7

 

[Ricky Rioli]

But shift the Nordstrand from #6 into the P

 

[johnnynitro]

1-3-4

 

[2F/2F]

1 and 4, and forget the rest.

 

[Micha84]

Sometimes, after browsing TB, I have to actively remind myself that there are other basses than just Ps or Js. I wouldn't know how to choose three basses out of that selection, because I would be well equiped with just two of those. Seriously, did you guys ever hear about soapbar pickups?

 

[fhm555]

The busiest 10 years of my bass playing life (average 3~5 nights a week) was done with one bass, an active Jazz with Fender Lace sensors. I played country, blues, and guitar driven R&R with that bass and only once was asked if I had any other basses, but not to play, only to have an extra bass sitting on stage. The BL felt a band “looked more professional” with extra instruments on stage. Unless you know you will need more than one, whittle it down to one. My pick of your options would be the J with Dimarzio split humbuckers.

 

[Polfuste]

2,3,7

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I would chose 2, 5 and either 3 or 6 (P basses) depending which was better.

Precision with flats, Jazz with rounds and PJ5 with rounds gives you a pretty versatile collection.

 

[Nashrakh]

Sometimes, after browsing TB, I have to actively remind myself that there are other basses than just Ps or Js. I wouldn't know how to choose three basses out of that selection, because I would be well equiped with just two of those. Seriously, did you guys ever hear about soapbar pickups?

Yeah, not to rain on anyone's parade, but I'll never quite understand those on TB that buy multiple flavors of the same... flavor.

That's why I'd probably go with one J, one P, and... not sure. something else than what's on the menu. But given the options, 2,3,7.

 

[Frank77]

No offense but I had to laugh at the thread title: It just screams first world problem

If you really need to thin the herd, I'd go further and keep only two:

1. Your favorite Jazz-type bass; and
2. Your favorite Precision-type bass.

That's it. They're all nice basses but they're not wildly different from one another. Plus you mentioned you can live without a 5-string or an active bass, so...it seems very simple to me.

 

[el murdoque]

Ok, this is a serious one and I'm really interested in objective and, let's say, scientific answers.

If you have to live with just 3 basses from this list, which would you choose and why?

1. 1984 Fender MIJ PJ-555 all stock
2. 2011 Fender MIM Deluxe Active Jazz with Lusithand 800TS preamp and SCN pickups
3. 2014 Fender MIA Special Precision with EMG Geezer Butler pickups
4. 2016 Fender MIM Standard Jazz with Dimarzio Model J pickups and dual concentric pots.
5. 2018 Sire P7 5 strings all stock
6. 2020 Fender MIM Player Precision with Nordstrand NP4V pickups and CTS pots
7. 2020 Lakland 44-64 GZ PJ

All of them are great instruments, but have to take a hard decision, thanks for your help

Looks like you favor FSOs with PJ configuration.

To make the most of that list, I'd go with the Jazz, the 5 string and your favorite of the PJ basses.

 

[lbbc]

I picked 2, 3 and 7

Of the options you provided, this is the closest. 2, I'm not a jazz fan but have played an active one and they definitely have a unique sound. 3, I really like Geezer pickups. 7, I never met a Lakland that I didn't like.

 

[TTPbass1]

Sometimes, after browsing TB, I have to actively remind myself that there are other basses than just Ps or Js. I wouldn't know how to choose three basses out of that selection, because I would be well equiped with just two of those. Seriously, did you guys ever hear about soapbar pickups?

I've had basses with soapbars (Bartolini, EMG) and didn't like them, not in the combination I've had them.

 

[TTPbass1]

Yeah, not to rain on anyone's parade, but I'll never quite understand those on TB that buy multiple flavors of the same... flavor.

That's why I'd probably go with one J, one P, and... not sure. something else than what's on the menu. But given the options, 2,3,7.

They are not really the same flavor, but variations of that same flavor, like sweet chocolate or dark chocolate... Still chocolate, but not exactly the same...

 

[TTPbass1]

View attachment 4961197

But shift the Nordstrand from #6 into the P

That is almost where I'm now, but keeping the passive J instead on the active... #3, #4 and #7 shifting the Nordstrand pickup from #6 to #3

 

[Andy Marshman]

None of the above from post #1

 

[Aloe]

well, it seems like you've got a lot of similar instruments. thinning the herd, I'd leave one jazz, one passive P and one 5-string just in case. which ones? it's up to you.

seriously, you have 5 P/PJ basses and you ask strangers in the Internet, which you should keep, if you want to thin the herd? it doesn't work like this, just keep the one that speaks to you the most. and yes, three is plenty.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

1,3,7 Don't ask me to explain.

Same, but I do have some reasoning. All MIJ basses are excellent but the older ones are even better. The MIA is from what many people consider the most recent “golden era” of MIA Fender instruments. And lastly, the Lakland is something different.

That said, I chose these without having played a single one. It’s very possible some of the others might be better sounding or playing basses.