One Bass to do it all?

[chris_b]

I'd be disappointed if I couldn't make one bass work for everything I am asked to do. I wouldn't buy another bass, I'd just work harder to get my playing right.

 

[dabbler]

I used to be a 1-bass guy and I was happier. Now I own 8 basically because I like the colors. It’s a dilemma I’m struggling with now.

Ain't nothin wrong with that in my book!

 

[gary mitchell]

I have a MIM Okeume how ever you spell, loaded with EMGs JV52s, a Lakland 3TBS hollow body . I just recently have a P bass I put together from parts, I am not sure where the body comes from , it looks like a Fender. Someone had loaded with SD 1/4 pounders . I found some Gibson pots from a Gibson bass someone gave me, I am not sure the value of the cap. My wife bought me a Neck from a company somewhere over seas, she gave 80 dollars for I have to admit I was afraid it would be junk. But when it got here I was surprised, it had stainless steel frets and was better then my MIM Fender more like a American Fender neck, the knobs are from a Gibson Les Paul. Anyway I am trying to say out of all my basses and I have a 1500.00 Lakland a 800.00 Fender Jazz bass and a 1000.00 dollar Jazz bass. I have I thought to every using a P bass. I have played praise and worship guitar and bass 35 years . The last 12 years bass for the lack of a bass player in my church, any my little parts bass has become my favorite bass. But I am more about worshipping God then basses. If your church is worshipping God thats the thing. I would like to see the the the the church so in worshipping God that the band and me can fade away, I am not there to be a star, just play and worship. God don't care what Instrument you using Just play man just play and use what you got. I am done preaching now. God Bless and keep up the good work.

 

[roccobass]

Don't know about the future, but for the last 8 years, Jazz basses have been able to cover it all for me, even more since I started modifying them by series-parelleling the pick-ups 3 years ago. It simply is a very reliable, comfortable and fun bass to play for me. My 4 Jazzes all have the same mods so on stage, if I change basses for whatever reasons, I'm not risking using one that won't do the job. I bring 2 basses at gigs and use the same one throughout, usually the Fender American Special 2011. Once in a while, I buy a different model (Epi TBirds, Peaveys, even a hand-made Ric imitation that was awesome) but always end up flipping it. In the future, might give MusicMan basses a spin, they've always intrigued me and TBirds are never far from my mind... who knows, right ?

I have my one main feted Jazz. Along with my fretless Jazz Am intrigued with those short scale MM Stingrays. Would love to test drive one first, though.

 

[Frodolicious]

I think you’d get a thousand stink eyes if you showed up at a bluegrass gig with a P bass and Fender cab.

Tell that to Hot Rize and New Grass Revival.

I played an electric bass in my old bluegrass band for over a year, and we all loved the sound.

 

[bassdude51]

And this is just my opinion and nothing more............if a "divine power" told me that I could only have one bass. I would choose a Fender Jazz Bass with a Precision neck. Passive. Either a vintage pre-CBS J or a newer AVRI or American Original 60s or a Custom Shop J but I'd have to have a P neck (1 & 5/8" nut) on it.

A Jazz Bass comes close to doing it all. IMHO

 

[frankie5string]

I never see acoustic bass guitar used in folk or country music.

It's always either a bass guitar, or a bass viol. Even if the bass viol player has horrible technique, it's still a double-bass, and not some unergonomic, oversized guitar body with bass strings.

The acoustic bass guitar is more closely associated with all those MTV "unplugged" shows in the 90s.

I think the limitations come again from people being adamant about running their instruments fully dialled up - so many refuse to explore the difference between a neck pickup, a bridge pickup, and different tone control settings. Even adjusting relative pickup heights can dramatically change your bass tone.

Could be possible if you always play the same kind of music or use the same approach to play different types of music. But there are substantial differences in tone and playability and image depending on which factors are important. Like electric bass for rock, acoustic bass guitar for folk, country, etc., or upright bass for jazz, classical, etc.