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more basses = less skill?
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Welll, on UA Flight 1549, Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who had over 19,000 hours flying Airbus A320's, sucessfully belly landed his powerless plane on the Husdon River. No deaths. Now, if he had just started flying A320's the week before the accident, then I'm betting he doesn't make the same landing. So, over to bass, having lots of experience on one bass should make you a good player on it and you should be able to belly land it in a river, if need be.....
I went to select that having more basses would make you a better player but the OP must have accidently left that option off. 
I think there is some validity to the concept. If you use the same anything exclusively, you become accustomed to the specifics of that something. If you use a lot of different somethings, you have to adapt to the specifics of each one every time you switch.
When I drive my wife's car, I hit the brakes too hard the first dozed times until I re-adapt to the different feel of her brakes. If I driver her car for an extended period, I have to readjust to my brakes.
I've had the same mountain bike for almost 9 years. At this point, I dislike every other mountain bike I try. It isn't the same, and I have to adjust my body movements. I don't have to think about what to do to get my bike to work. I have to think a lot to ride another bike.
The same for my basses. I can play all the songs I know on all of them, and do it well. But when I have to think about how to move my fingers, hands and arms. Playing a song on a 30" scale, 16mm spacing 4 string is very different from playing it on a 35" scale 18.5mm spaced 5 string, which is different from the 34" fretless Jazz.
Am I better for having multiple basses? Yes and no. I have more variety available to me, but I know that I don't play any one of my instruments as well as I would if I only had that one instrument. Jack of 3 basses, Master of none. (Well probably better than Jack.) Would I switch to one bass? Not a chance.
When I drive my wife's car, I hit the brakes too hard the first dozed times until I re-adapt to the different feel of her brakes. If I driver her car for an extended period, I have to readjust to my brakes.
I've had the same mountain bike for almost 9 years. At this point, I dislike every other mountain bike I try. It isn't the same, and I have to adjust my body movements. I don't have to think about what to do to get my bike to work. I have to think a lot to ride another bike.
The same for my basses. I can play all the songs I know on all of them, and do it well. But when I have to think about how to move my fingers, hands and arms. Playing a song on a 30" scale, 16mm spacing 4 string is very different from playing it on a 35" scale 18.5mm spaced 5 string, which is different from the 34" fretless Jazz.
Am I better for having multiple basses? Yes and no. I have more variety available to me, but I know that I don't play any one of my instruments as well as I would if I only had that one instrument. Jack of 3 basses, Master of none. (Well probably better than Jack.) Would I switch to one bass? Not a chance.
I have had my times of thinking this might be true and if I just focused on one bass I could get better like the stereotypical kid with the one beat up old P bass copy that puts everybody to shame but it has not panned out for me that way. I have seen marginal improvement solely due to having one or a handful.
I find sometimes a new/different bass gives me a shot of inspiration at times to jump in and try harder but you can't depend on that for the long run to keep you getting somewhere. Maybe if we use it as a booster rocket but then kick in the real engine of practice time?
Like Dbassman said, if we can just force ourselves to break down the walls that hinder us from just tackling our instruments and practice we would be much further along whoever we are whether you have 1,3, 6 or 9 basses.
For instance, if we just spent the time pracricing that we have spent wrestling with " What bass should I get to make me a better player" or " What bass should I get rid of to make me a better player?" we'd probably be much happier, better Bass players and the subject would be moot.
I also realize I could be wrong......
edpal said:
I generally agree with your post, but this is a fallacy. I can pick up ANY bass that has decent setup and be playing to my potential (obligatory self deprecating remark here) within few minutes. We aren't robots, and I certainly don't want to play like one. The brain is an amazing adapter. Fear is the enemy. You can't do any damage by expanding your experience.
I've been playing bass for many years.. I honestly feel that If I had only one bass that I absolutley loved I would have been a better player. Not to mention that someone who plays only one instrument can be identdified by his instrument. Not a bad thing. In your musical community you will look like you are content with your instrument. That is a good thing. I will say this . If you are going to play only one bass make sure it is a go anywhere and do anything bass.
You can't show up in a broadway orchestra pit with a shiney new sparkle blue rickenbacker. If you do.. you really better nail the gig the first time out. If you don't, you will get funny looks. I speak from experience. When you get called for a studio date. Show up with either a p-bass style or a J-bass style. That is what engineers expect. If not .. You'll get the funny look again.
Playing just one bass.. Sounds like a good idea to me. I think I'm gonna try it.
You can't show up in a broadway orchestra pit with a shiney new sparkle blue rickenbacker. If you do.. you really better nail the gig the first time out. If you don't, you will get funny looks. I speak from experience. When you get called for a studio date. Show up with either a p-bass style or a J-bass style. That is what engineers expect. If not .. You'll get the funny look again.
Playing just one bass.. Sounds like a good idea to me. I think I'm gonna try it.
Mitch, the operative word was "probably" - based on muscle memory, comfort, neck shape, etc. I personally advocate that people try and challenge themselves with different instruments as able. However, unless you regularly play a 12 string bass, you will be sucking badly for a long time, much more than a few minutes. Your fretting fingers will wonder why there are three strings under them, you other hand will wonder what is going on, and the whole things will tire you out badly in a few minutes (great way to build some calluses and strength in record time). If you are not a fretless player regularly, you will suck badly for a long time too - since all the old fret lines in the world won't give you great intonation out of the gate.
I think you and I are in basic agreement. Fear IS the enemy - the fear that a second instrument will make you face that you actually do suck, or that you actually don't practice as much as you tell yourself you do. 94.41% (currently) of us don't live in fear - awesome!
The idea that you shouldn't due to muscle memory is a lame argument. A Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul have many differences, yet guitarists can switch from one to the other. If they can do it, it's not that hard.
I find it is best to try to be comfortable in every situation that may arise. That way, you will be ready for any situation that is thrown at you. Your ability to handle it with ease will make all the difference whether you get a call back or not. Not being able to adequetly play another instrument for a certain project, track, band or show seems like a negative trait to posess. Therefore, I practice on several different basses.
Let' see. I switch from detuned and standard tuning on 4 string, 5 string, 4 string tuned ADGC, um, standard and short scale guitar, oh yeah and 30" scale. And let's not forget drop D... and I switch between fingerstyle and picks... um...
Hmm. I must be far short of my own potential. Well that's a relief!
Hmm. I must be far short of my own potential. Well that's a relief!
there is a moment of adaptation when I switch from a 4 to a 5 or to my 12 sting. That passes quickly enough.
driving your wife's car was used as an example of this. I agree. When I drive my wife's vehicle, it does take a moment or two to get used to it. I do not find it as comfortable as my pickup. That does not mean there is a decrease in my abilities. It just means I have to adapt. I am capable of doing this because of practice. In the end, it is not the car that makes the difference, it is my own ability
I assume this is the same no matter what you do. If you put the time into music, driving, playing billiards, washing windows or even hooking up aquariums, you will eventually become good at it. It is most likely a matter of dedication
driving your wife's car was used as an example of this. I agree. When I drive my wife's vehicle, it does take a moment or two to get used to it. I do not find it as comfortable as my pickup. That does not mean there is a decrease in my abilities. It just means I have to adapt. I am capable of doing this because of practice. In the end, it is not the car that makes the difference, it is my own ability
I assume this is the same no matter what you do. If you put the time into music, driving, playing billiards, washing windows or even hooking up aquariums, you will eventually become good at it. It is most likely a matter of dedication
Quickly enough is sort of relative - nothing worse then someone showing up for a gig or practice and blaming the new ax, and they got rid of their old one. DOuh!
Maybe the missing question was: does your playing ever suffer because of transitioning between instruments? Probably relational to how much you switch between instruments whilst practicing.
Man this is a fierce topic. Please note, I currently own 8 different basses. But I respect my human limitations and only play one at a time.
your right about that being relative term...
I have worked as a bouncer in a few of the local bars. The regulars know me, so I get cut a little slack if I take a moment to switch guitars and tune, or maybe play a few notes while the band is on break. (it is a small town thing)
My love of old guitars and classic cars is well known, so I get away with trying out new stuff.
One night when I was working as a bouncer, the bassist on stage offered me his brand new Brian Moore 5 string, and said he would sit out the whole 3rd set, if I wanted to play... I really wanted to, because at that time I had never played a BM bass...but I was working. I couldn't do it
The more intimate gigs are what makes it fun for me
I have worked as a bouncer in a few of the local bars. The regulars know me, so I get cut a little slack if I take a moment to switch guitars and tune, or maybe play a few notes while the band is on break. (it is a small town thing)
My love of old guitars and classic cars is well known, so I get away with trying out new stuff.
One night when I was working as a bouncer, the bassist on stage offered me his brand new Brian Moore 5 string, and said he would sit out the whole 3rd set, if I wanted to play... I really wanted to, because at that time I had never played a BM bass...but I was working. I couldn't do it
The more intimate gigs are what makes it fun for me
edpal said:
I've been playing since the early '70s. I no longer hold myself to a rigid schedule of practice. I'm playing instead of practicing. After all those years, I like to believe I'm actually starting to express myself as opposed to sweating the technique. The technique comes as needed, and is just a tool to get the good stuff out.
That said, you're right. I probably would have trouble with a 12 string, I was talking about 4 and 5ers. I stand corrected.
Why would they have gotten rid of my other bass? It's one thing to try out new gear at practice. A gig before you're proficient on it, that's not a mistake most of us would make.
Not only have I been part of that stupidity, I was in one group where the drummer shows up at the bar for setup, and proudly announces that he traded in his whole kit THAT DAY and had a new kit. Plastic crap still over the stands and shiz. And I thought the leaking fog machine was the worst thing that could happen that night.
Although, there was that time I painted my first bass, a Sears Silvertone, with epoxy paint, not understanding anything about the need for a drying agent. It was still sticky weeks later....I think I was 15-16. That was pretty stupid too. AS Lurch would say, uhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu.
I took my first six out on a gig the day I bought it. Live and learn the hard way.
Sticking with one instrument can also reinforce bad habits. Not that you can have bad habits on a bunch of instruments.
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