Living with just 3 basses

[Spidey2112]

3, 4 and 8

8 being, the Ric you have not yet purchased.

 

[MDStingray]

1, 4 & 7

 

[TTPbass1]

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.

As anyone around here I have my own preferences, and yes I love P-PJ basses, but it's always good to ask for other opinions. I'm trying to make a decision and would like to evaluate all possible options. I'm really sorry if that bothers you, I just thought asking wouldn't hurt

 

[Kaa]

1, 3, 7.

 

[TTPbass1]

Changed my vote to 2 3 7 — two rosewood, one maple, zero sunburst

#7 is ebony, not rosewood

 

[fhm555]

…I'll never quite understand those on TB that buy multiple flavors of the same... flavor….

Have you noticed how many flavors of vanilla ice cream can be had from the same maker?
Just because a bass shares a name does not by default mean they will sound the same or be possessed of the ability to sound “right” for a particular style/genre. I loved the way a standard J hung just right from a strap, how it played, and the simplicity of it’s control set, but single coils don’t always provide the versatility one might need. Coming off an active bass I was spoiled to being able to simply dial in the sound/tone I needed from my instrument controls, but my #1 was a rare bird I didn’t want damaged when I started playing in the gut buckets and dives my muse led me to. I soon realized the easiest way to get what I needed was different pickup combinations in the same platform. I could have done midweek pickup swaps to ensure I had the right sound for the upcoming job, or I could have multiple J basses with different pickups mounted in them. I decided to be lazy and have multiple flavors of the same basic flavor, and it appealed to my sloth in that it’s simpler to just grab a bass and go to work with it than it is to grab a bass and go to work on it before you can go to work with it.
I realize there is a metric ton of rationalization in the approach I chose to a dilemma with simpler solutions, but that’s the beauty of living in a place where one is free to make those choices without fear of reprisal from the bass police. Kinda like deciding if I want French vanilla, Homemade vanilla, or Vanilla Bean vanilla.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I think a lot of people would be extremely grateful to have one.

 

[Aloe]

As anyone around here I have my own preferences, and yes I love P-PJ basses, but it's always good to ask for other opinions. I'm trying to make a decision and would like to evaluate all possible options. I'm really sorry if that bothers you, I just thought asking wouldn't hurt

uhm, I didn't mean to offend you, but everyone has unique tastes and if somebody loves a specific bass, it doesn't mean, I would like it. that's why there's no 'scientific approach' possible and at the end the only thing that matters is 'do you really like this bass? can another one replace it for you?'

I'm pretty sure, you had lots of good talk here, but just wanted to remind, your basses are your choice, not somebody's else. your basses should be your dream basses, not somebody's else.

this all said, I'm currently down at two basses: a 5-string Thumb and a Beatle Bass. well, I do have a third axe, but it's for sale.

 

[gcb]

3 4 6

 

[blowinblue]

How can anyone live with just 3 bass guitars? Inconceivable, unbelievable, mind-bending. My head hurts just thinking about it.

M. M.

 

[Malak the Mad]

If they were mine, I'd keep 1, 2 and 4. All have Jazz necks, which is my personal preference, but I'd still be able to cover a lot of ground between the three of them; a passive P/J, and active Jazz and a passive Jazz.

While I have a good number of basses in my collection, I've recently decided to do away with any redundant ones. If I'm going to keep it, it has to have something that makes it unique among it's peers. For example, I have a '70s-style Jazz, a '60s-style Jazz, a P/J, a P/P, single humbucker, dual humbucker, such and so forth. And no, a different finish or neck doesn't count.

Full disclosure, though, the only vaguely redundant instrument I'm keeping is my first-ever bass, a Fender Aerodyne. Besides, it's unique enough all on it's own.

 

[Nedmundo]

I picked 2, 5, and 7, because I'd want a J-bass, P-bass, and a five. You're obviously keeping #2, so no explanation needed there, and there's only one five so that's clear too. I'd go with the Lakland P/J for my P-bass because I've been impressed with the Lakland Skyline P-basses I've tried. I would bet it has excellent tone and playability.

In fact, if I were forced to keep three out of my five basses, I would follow the same approach: G&L USA M-2500 for the five; G&L SB-2 (P/J) for my P-bass; and 2003 Fender J.

 

[4andnomore]

7,7,7

 

[TTPbass1]

Time has passed since this post and at the end I decided to keep:
1. 1984 Fender MIJ PJ-555 all stock (Love this one, and I'm about to try a 80's Seymour Duncan bridge pickup on it)
3. 2014 Fender MIA Special Precision with Nordstrand NP4V pickups (I swapped pickups with the MIM Player P)
4. 2016 Fender MIM Standard Jazz with Dimarzio Model J pickups and dual concentric pots. (This is actually my #1 bass, right on my side as I write this post)

Already has sold:
5. 2018 Sire P7 5 strings all stock (Totally convinced now I'm not a 5 strings guy)
7. 2020 Lakland 44-64 GZ PJ (This was a lovely sounding bass but a true boat anchor, couldn't justify to keep it)

Still on sale:
2. 2011 Fender MIM Deluxe Active Jazz with Lusithand 800TS preamp and SCN pickups (There's a strong chance I will also keep this one, sounds too good to be sold and can't find a buyer for it)
6. 2020 Fender MIM Player Precision with American Special pups and harness (This is about to be sold this week)