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One Bass to do it all?

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,285
120,421
Metro St. Louis
Recently, I found that I had a hard time getting my Pedulla to sound the way I wanted it to when rehearsing for a church concert at the end of the month. My Sire really sounds great for the music, but it is bothering me that my main bass is not working out. Now that I know the songs better, I am going to practice them at home on the Pedulla and use my Pentabuzz at the next rehearsal. I think of how many great players have had careers on one bass, and I feel that I should be able to carry out my humble take on one bass too. In fact, I really want to let some basses go. Probably just keeping my Sire, Peavey Fury, and Pedulla. I do have another bass on an extended layaway and selling off my Carvin may take care of that. Four basses is still a lot of basses, but I want to use the Pedulla at least 75% of the time. If my Peavey had not only cost me $65, I would probably sell it too.
 
That's my end goal as well. I've narrowed it down to 2 so far, but if I'm going to just have 1, I'm going to have to contract a fully custom build.

As of now, my Peavey Cirrus handles 90% of everything I need. It can snarl out the nastiest death metal tones imaginable, and do most of the fusion and trip hop stuff I play. Most of it, but not all of it. My MTD still shows it up when I need something really mellow and lyrical. It has a clear voicelike quality that the Peavey just can't quite get - like a teenage soprano on a mountain top on a still winter's day.
 
That's my end goal as well. I've narrowed it down to 2 so far, but if I'm going to just have 1, I'm going to have to contract a fully custom build.

As of now, my Peavey Cirrus handles 90% of everything I need. It can snarl out the nastiest death metal tones imaginable, and do most of the fusion and trip hop stuff I play. Most of it, but not all of it. My MTD still shows it up when I need something really mellow and lyrical. It has a clear voicelike quality that the Peavey just can't quite get - like a teenage soprano on a mountain top on a still winter's day.

That description makes me want to hear your MTD!:bassist:
 
Only recently have I decided that my Mike Lull M5V will cover everything I do. It’s part of a “Get lean and mean“ mantra that I’m applying to all areas of my life. I even recently sold my beloved Stingray because while I loved the idea of having it around, I just didn’t play it. Even days when I decided, I’m gonna play the ‘Ray, I always gravitate towards the Lull.
 
I just thinned the herd on my end too and am down to two basses - a 59 Precision and a 67 Jazz. Either one would cover anything I do, but love both.

I did the same with my guitars - down to a 63 ES-335 and a recent Martin D-28 Brazilian build.

Don’t think I’ll ever get rid of any of these and am GAS free at the moment...

I know I will never be GAS free, but I am leaning more towards looking and lusting instead of buying stuff.
 
I know I will never be GAS free, but I am leaning more towards looking and lusting instead of buying stuff.
I have just (after much trial and error) figured out what I really, really, REALLY like. I’ve enjoyed the journey, which has involved buying and selling a lot of stuff - but am happy to now have a small handful of instruments I cherish and hopefully (a long way down the road) pass them along to my kids. They’re my prized possessions and I love playing them...
 
I have just (after much trial and error) figured out what I really, really, REALLY like. I’ve enjoyed the journey, which has involved buying and selling a lot of stuff - but am happy to now have a small handful of instruments I cherish and hopefully (a long way down the road) pass them along to my kids. They’re my prized possessions and I love playing them...
I can relate . It does take a while to figure out what you like , what feels good, and what works for your particular playing situations. Basses are not one size fits all and what looks good on paper or Online isn’t always a perfect fit.