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One Bass Bassist?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I am not sure. I do not have to shed basses to prove a point. I have already unloaded several less expensive basses that were simply taking up space. Things will work themselves out.
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I just sat in with an acoustic guitarist (who I have known for many years) and took a bass because it was PRETTY... and I knew the venue owner would like it. As I thought it would happen, at first, was havng trouble "hearing" it in that new room, but I tinkered with the graphic on the amp and adjusted my technique a litle during the evening, and by the end of the night, I was very happy with it.
Most of the time, I can make do with whatever bass I have on hand. I simply adjust to it, and the room.
Most of the time, I can make do with whatever bass I have on hand. I simply adjust to it, and the room.
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Gotcha. I was just trying to clarify what you were saying exactly . I couldn’t tell if you were speaking of just taking one bass to your gig or unloading some basses from your current stable, or both.I am not sure. I do not have to shed basses to prove a point. I have already unloaded several less expensive basses that were simply taking up space. Things will themselves out.
I guess I’m still a little confused. Im glad you are getting fulfillment form the lessons and your Super5.
I love the Super 5, but I have really bonded with a series of basses over the years like DJ5 and USA SUB Sterling, and SB5000. The Super 5 made me realize that it was time to just play and stop worrying about gear. The Super 5 is great, but appreciating its playability is just as important as it’s tone. I am confusing myself a little. I guess maybe I am saying that any one of those basses is enough if I so chose because I am the music, not the bass.
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It’s funny, I have several bass guitars (5 Fenders, 1 Hofner) but I try (and usually succeed) in playing just one these days. I have seen how playing the same double bass every day just bonds me to the instrument, puts my mojo on it and familiarizes my brain with every inch of it. I’m trying to achieve that level of bonding with and understanding of my current electric bass favorite (Sting Signature P with Fralin pickup, rounds). I can do everything with this thing. And I like the focus and familiarity that comes from bonding that closely with a single instrument.Spoiler alert, I am not reducing my collection to one bass, but I no want a large (5+) collection anymore. The reason is that looking back over five or so years, I usually favored one bass. I remember taking as many as three basses to church, and wasting time switching between basses. It was just easier to play one and be done. When I was mainly using Pedulla, it didn’t sound good being slapped, so I did not slap so much, and nobody cared. I mainly play my Super 5 now, and I still don’t slap so much.I still think it is good to have a few basses around to change up sometimes or if one has issues. I still like option of fretless, but unless it is a program in which the it is decided I need a different bass for a given song, I am taking just one, and if it is active, a few batteries.
What are you focusing on in your lessons? What’s your practice routine these days? I love to geek out on that stuff and I’m happy and curious to hear about your successful lessons.I know the other thing that is making me more content playing one bass is that after a few years, I am really seeing where bass lessons are paying dividends. I am not just learning songs and licks, I am actually improving my knowledge in a meaningful way. It’s happening late in life, but I am glad it’s happening.
I am working on counting rhythms and sight reading. I am memorizing chord and mode sequences and memorizing II-V-I sequences.
I’ve never understood the huge collections. Not judging people or anything, you all do you. For me I have a 4 that I’ve had for 26 years, a 6 I’ve had for 23 years, and a Fretless 5 I’ve had for about 5 months. I had an Ibanez BTB singlecut 6 for a while that I traded toward an amp. I’m basically a one bass guy though heavily favoring one for long stretches, right now my old ones are on ice as I develop my Fretless chops. One thing I don’t understand about the folks with large collections, and I’d like to be clear I’m not judging anyone or looking down on them or anything like that, is that it seems to be that a lot of the folks with double digit collections, when they list them out, seem to have a lot of lower end brands. I know there can be some diamonds in the rough, and inexpensive does not equal cheap, and all of that, especially if that’s all you can afford. I just don’t understand why someone would prefer to have like 50 low end, when you could spend the same amount and get 2-3 high to extremely high quality ones. It’s the quantity versus quality thing. I would always choose quality. I struggle to understand the quantity argument. But again, no judgement. Those of you who want 50 SX and Harley Benton’s, do your thing, live your life and enjoy it how you want to, your choices don’t need to make sense to me. Keep posting those NBD posts and I’ll keep congratulating you and giving you virtual high fives every time you get a new one! After all, an NBD for one, is an NBD for all, lol.
Getting down to two is my plan. Would go with one, my Sterling but if something is not working on it, nice to have a backup.
Dig it. That’s real work and will definitely pay off. I wish I had started doing this kind of thing earlier instead of playing along to the same Jamerson tunes that I could already play for years. The value of practicing what you can’t play cannot be overstated.
I assume that’s some sort of custom with a Fender neck? Looks so slick!
I am a one bass guy, I have fallen in love with my jazz bass and don’t have a want or need for another. The only exception will be a fretless once I find one that I really like. I enjoy not worrying about not playing different basses, etc and I can just focus on playing and not the instrument I’m playing.
I don't remember where the body came from, but most of the rest of it was from a P-bass Lyte.
I went through "I can have as much as I want its fun" to "I need a few for different sounds" to "I have one bass I can play all the music I like on it".
Nothing wrong with any approach but I like the connection with one bass.
Nothing wrong with any approach but I like the connection with one bass.
I only have one bass, not sure if I NEED another, but, I'm also not averse to owning another for a different sound.
I like variety. The idea of playing a bass in front of other people makes me want to do the best that I can. If one particular instrument satisfies that goal at the moment, it's the one I bring. Along with a backup. I don't slap and can sound pretty close to the same on either fretless or fretted instruments. I usually bring two to gigs just as "emergency mitigation". If I ever stopped doing that and brought just one, THAT would be the time something went awry.
I want to own as little as I can get away with and for the last 10 years, have done most everything on just 'one bass, which got more versatile the better I got to know it'.
