One Bass to do it all?

[raal]

I like the one bass philosophy.

Find one design you like and have one specimen with single / series / parallel dual coils in the G&L 2000E position, select the active single coils to match the 60's position on a jazz. Have another specimen with a MM in the stingray position. The rest whether you like to have flats and can compromise on a good all-around body wood like alder.

 

[Wyvern]

I think 3 is the perfect number. One all rounder like a P or a PJ, one for your aggressive/ modern stuff with hot pups and middy wood, and one strictly for drop tuning.

I don't think I can have just one, that is unless financial woes strike.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think the best way to approach the one bass philosophy is to develop a sound and approach that you feel will work with different styles and use your main bass to do it. I think that looking for one bass to truly sound like everything is going to result in coming up short.

 

[Don M]

One bass and one guitar, for some (like me) is an edict from the boss of the house! Until I get to the point where I get paid to play, it'll be one bass for me! Now if I happen to win a shopping spree at a local big box...all bets are off. Already have the first couple selected depending on the big box! One place has a USA L-1500 and a Cort B4-FL. The other place has a Tribute L-2500 and a Skyline 55-01.

 

[Don M]

I think the best way to approach the one bass philosophy is to develop a sound and approach that you feel will work with different styles and use your main bass to do it. I think that looking for one bass to truly sound like everything is going to result in coming up short.

That is kind of where I was with my VM Mustang plus I wanted to go back to a long scale! A really good trade and selling off stuff I didn't need and I now I have the Lakland Skyline Jerry Scheff. It plays really nicely, just need a touch more setup done, strings aren't exactly where I would like them.

 

[Jigmay]

I've said it once, and I'll say it again (and again, and again... until no longer valid). My Lakland (Skyline) DJ5 checks all the boxes for me. It is perfect for everything I do, and I literally feel like I don't need anything else.

^^^^Agree^^^^

I have a Lakland DJ4 with the Aero pickups/John East pre-amp that I bought way back from The Dude during the Dudepit days. If it had to be one, this can do it all. It's also very light and plays well. It would mean saying goodbye to basses I've had for 40 years, but they're not as versatile.

 

[Jaume2]

That actually leaves out a lot of genres that might benefit from scoop mids and high end.

That is true. I have been able to pull that off using the eq on my amp...not quite the same but i rarely need that sound.

That actually leaves out a lot of genres that might benefit from scoop mids and high end.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

That is true. I have been able to pull that off using the eq on my amp...not quite the same but i rarely need that sound.

The more I think about it, the less I think trying to get every tone makes sense. I say play and get a bass with a good sound or maybe two basses with two sounds and just play your version of whatever you are playing.

 

[jazzalta77]

My lone Fender P bass serves me well. But I'm really only playing a couple styles of music too.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

My lone Fender P bass serves me well. But I'm really only playing a couple styles of music too.

I suspect most of us are in the same boat.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I took only my Pedulla to Women’s Day practice this evening. I think everything will be fine for the service. My Pedulla really feels like home. My Sire does too, but fretless really speaks to me, and I am glad I have been making the effort to be competent on it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Pedullist mentioned in another thread that he mixes his PJ basses 70% split pickup and 30% bridge pickup for slap. This gives my Pentabuzz a nice and punchy tone.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Pedullist mentioned in another thread that he mixes his PJ basses 70% split pickup and 30% bridge pickup for slap. This gives my Pentabuzz a nice and punchy tone.

Nice growl from what, I assume, is a Bartolini 8S split coil pickup !

 

[Dreamsinger]

Fretless is a major part of my playing so the best I could do is to get down to 2 basses. I'm almost there, I have a matched pair of Yamaha BBG5's, one of which will get an ebony fretless board. It'll have to be good enough to get me to part with my '03 Carvin LB75A fretless so I may only get down to 3.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I like having options, but if I was forced to have only one bass it would be my Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray5 HH.

 

[Glenn Johnson]

If I HAD to narrow it down to one bass, it would have to be either my P or my Rick. I can't decide!

 

[wwittman]

My Wattplower is certainly "doing it all" for me in live shows now (especially since I paired it with the Kemper, so I can pitch shift for drop tuning when needed)
I'm definitely going to get a second as a backup as well

 

[Magi003]

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

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.

Maybe you’re shoulding on yourself too much. I buy basses because I love basses. If I had more money I’d have more basses. Sometimes I want a bass because of how unique the character of that particular bass’ tone is. Sometime I want another thunderbird just because I don’t have that color, or because it’s non-reverse, or because of it’s vintage retro fittings. Maybe you’re overthinking it.

 

[CereBassum]

It's not the bass. It's your ears and your nerves.

Spend more time practicing and playing - worry less about the infinitely fine nuances of sound that get you nowhere and few but yourself notice.

Problem today is the internet gives people too many choices.

 

[dave64o]

I like having options, but if I was forced to have only one bass it would be my Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray5 HH.

I'm in TOTAL agreement!