Multiples of the same bass

[micguy]

Everyone has their own approach to such things - nobody's is necessarily better than anyone else's, but I'll give you mine:

I'm a bassist - a musician, and the only thing I play is bass. I do that so I'm good at something - I need that focus. I approach basses as tools - they're different things, albeit in the same family. If I were a painter, I'd probably have a bunch of different kinds of brushes. I paint sound, with basses.

What do I need? I need a bunch of different "paintbrushes" - 2 of the same doesn't do me any good. I also don't need or want a lot of paintbrushes - keeping strings fresh on a lot of paintbrushes is costly and time consuming. So, (dropping the paintbrush thing) I keep a small number of diverse instruments around.

I have a fretless - with an ebonol board. Despite some folks' claims, you can't make that instrument sound like it's fretless - mwah oozes out of that thing no matter how you play. For certain gigs, it's just the ticket. For others, ot so much. I have a few fretted instruments - they're all 5 strings with the same necks, bridges, string spacing, etc - when I'm playing a fretted bass, it's mostly in situations where I need to be able to look places other than my fretboard, so having all of them identical in terms of the physical platform of strings is an advantage. But they all have different pickup and circuit configurations - they have sonic diversity. I pick the instrument for a gig by the vibe I want for that gig - whatever instrument fits that best, that one I practice with the week before, and it goes to the gig.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I certainly don't see anything wrong with having "twins."

I only own 2, both Musicmasters. The Fender has gone through some changes like a string through body bridge and a new thinner neck to accommodate arthritis in my hands.

I've owned a few others but they've all come and gone.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

For different string. One of these is a fretless too. Another is green.

 

[Nuage420]

How do I reason with keeping multiples of the same bass? Especially when there are other basses I want but it would require me to sell.

I only own 2 basses, a Stingray and Stingray Special. I bought both of these for a great deal assuming I’d keep one and sell the other. Unfortunately I fell in love with both but have been wrestling with the idea of selling one and buying a MIJ Jazz or Jazz Bass Special.

I have other hobbies and activities that take priority in terms of funds and space so I’ve really been trying to keep my collection to a couple of amps and a couple of basses.

Thought this might be an interesting topic and help my decision making process.

View attachment 4235715

Because of my other hobbies I try to not have multiples. Each one I have fills a specific role, some may be versatile enough to over lap with others but I wouldn't use them for that purpose.

 

[arbiterusa]

The only bass I don’t have a duplicate of, my former main (and only bass), is the reason I have other basses at all. My Steinberger L2 is irreplaceable and a bit too pricey to haul out on cheap gigs anymore.

 

[Nuage420]

Another is green. View attachment 4236029

Lmbo

 

[Dynomuttasaurus]

The possibility of gigging again combined with a good deal on Reverb, inspired me to go the double route. I don't like 5ers and we play several different tunings so I've always brought 2 basses to each gig. (Quicker to switch instruments with an A/B pedal than change tuning mid-set.)

I've justified the duplication as branding myself. I'll be "that bassist" who plays the striped-sparkly bass.

 

[skycruiser]

Here's what I see when I run through these threads:

 

[Jefenator]

I've had multiples of various types, just not at the same time.
Having done so, I sort of get it. Slight variances in body wood, neck profile & electronics can give similar appearing instruments very different personalities. There are J basses, there are J basses and then there are J basses. The slightly heavier one with the thicker neck could be the favorite for a blues project while the newer maple/tort might be slightly better for funk.
Just make sure you don't wind up like this guy:

 

[smogg]

Like dating non-identical twins lol.

^^^^ this ^^^^

 

[Maxdusty]

I'm with you. I have a 2004 3 band Stingray that I love, and an 1988 2 band Stingray that I love. I decided to keep them both with the justification that either one would be somewhat hard to replace (88 2 bands are getting hard to find and the 2004 is in a color they don't make anymore).

I also have other hobbies and understand the competition for space in your funds.

I'd keep them both, or at least delay the decision as long as you can.

BTW - I always loved that Charcoal Sparkle with the ebony fingerboard. Nice choice!!

Ah...but imo the 2 band and 3 band Rays sound very different. so you're justified in your decision.
All you need is a passive Stingray and you're all set. The passive ray is pretty awesome too, sound is a little warmer with a P Bass quality to it. The passive Ray I have is a US Musicman SUB.

 

[john_g]

I dont have multiples of the same bass, I like having different flavors. However, I have been thinking about getting another Ric...a Walnut one with maple board. Oh and a fretless Stringray to go with my fretted one, but thats different enough of a sound to not overlap IMO.

 

[Relayer71]

How do I reason with keeping multiples of the same bass? Especially when there are other basses I want but it would require me to sell.

I only own 2 basses, a Stingray and Stingray Special. I bought both of these for a great deal assuming I’d keep one and sell the other. Unfortunately I fell in love with both but have been wrestling with the idea of selling one and buying a MIJ Jazz or Jazz Bass Special.

I have other hobbies and activities that take priority in terms of funds and space so I’ve really been trying to keep my collection to a couple of amps and a couple of basses.

Thought this might be an interesting topic and help my decision making process.

View attachment 4235715

Those are different enough from each other to keep both. You'll regret selling one.

Put different strings on one (flats, maybe) or change the pickup for more variety. But when you're in love, you're in love. Keep em!

 

[Bonafide]

Never sell a bass you love, NEVER!

^^^^ THIS ^^^^ #experience

 

[Rabidhamster]

I have a price threshold I set in advance. If I see something I like that costs below X number of dollars, then I have duplicates. My justification is "How could I have not bought it for that price."

Then all I need to decide is which I'll enjoy more: having the instrument, or having spent the cash and its gone forever. For example I sold a great amp years ago, not a duplicate even, I really liked it and only sold it because of the money it represented. Sometimes I miss it but I remember I blew every cent of that money on a well needed vacation and I'm still glad I did it.

 

[BadSanta1281]

That's enough of the crazy talk.

Keep both basses and get a second job to pay for your other hobby.

 

[El_Charro]

Lol-Just wanna say I appreciate this thread as I want another bass, possibly 2 more in the not too distant future.

Currently have one w soap bar pickups and another w a PJ pickup combo.

This tells me I can justify buying a jazz bass because it's not quite the same and I "need" that to round things out...(Sadly I also want a Fender P and an LTD F-204 at some point).

You shouldn't feel guilty for having two of the same instrument- I mean- What exactly does it "harm"???

Unless you are about to get thrown out of your home for failure to pay your mortgage or you never buy something nice for your significant other I say own as many basses as you want.

It's called "Disposable Income" bc it's disposable right???

Thanks! \m/

 

[joel406]

How do I reason with keeping multiples of the same bass? Especially when there are other basses I want but it would require me to sell.

I only own 2 basses, a Stingray and Stingray Special. I bought both of these for a great deal assuming I’d keep one and sell the other. Unfortunately I fell in love with both but have been wrestling with the idea of selling one and buying a MIJ Jazz or Jazz Bass Special.

I have other hobbies and activities that take priority in terms of funds and space so I’ve really been trying to keep my collection to a couple of amps and a couple of basses.

Thought this might be an interesting topic and help my decision making process.

View attachment 4235715

These are all my Basses. I don’t have anymore. All the single pics show my American Pro IIs. The 2 pictured together are my American Pros. A bit of duplication but I love Fender. I’ve passed over every other maker for these. And I’ve tried them all. I live within driving distance of Bass Central. So yes I’ve even tried Alembic. Sadowsky and Lakland. So there’s this.

 

[lug]

 

[Wood and Wire]

View attachment 4236116

Because if you only had to carry one, you'd be built like Arnold Schwarzenegger on your right arm, and Pee Wee Herman on your left arm.