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one bass to rule them all!!!!

smgleitch

smgleitch

May 19, 2009
422
7
Nashville, TN
#1
So for the first time in my life I have more than one bass. I actually have three at this point. I have nothing really special but three good basses. I do like have different basses to play. Different moods I pick up different basses and that is pretty cool to be able to do. But and there is always a but. I have never owned a really super nice bass. If I were to sell all three as I bought low, I should have enough money to buy a really good used bass or maybe even a new one. There is just this hesitation in going back to one bass, or maybe it is just hard thinking of parting ways with the ones that I spent so much time picking out cleaning up and playing.

So what do you think. Anyone ever sold it all for the one perfect bass. If so what did you buy. I'v got GAS for a Warwick Thumb. Have not played one yet although I do own two wics and know that I love them.
 
#4
I could never settle on just one bass. That's not to say there isn't one bass out there that may well be the best for me, but pending some emergency preventing it, I will always have multiple basses. If only to have a 4 and 5 string...I love owning both. Regardless of the argument whether you can do everything on a 5 that you can on a 4 or any other ideas on the subject, to me personally, sometimes I prefer the feel of a 4 at times, and sometimes the feel of a 5. The best I'll ever be able to do is find one bass that I think is the best and own two of them, a 4 and a 5....but then GAS would strike again I'm sure and I'd still throw another bass in there for a different sound, cause that's the fun in all of this!
 
#5
You REALLY need to play a Thumb before you go off selling your trusty steeds to buy one "perfect" instrument. I've always been a big Warwick guy and have owned several over the years. A Thumb bass is a unique animal, it's not for everybody. For years I lusted for a thumb and finally got one. It was one of the old ones with a wenge neck and it played like a dream. However, I never liked the sound of it compared to my Streamers and it had horrible neck dive. I ended up selling it because it turned out that the girl I had always wanted just wasn't my type, if you catch my metaphor.
 
#8
SC Bassboy said:
You REALLY need to play a Thumb before you go off selling your trusty steeds to buy one "perfect" instrument. I've always been a big Warwick guy and have owned several over the years. A Thumb bass is a unique animal, it's not for everybody. For years I lusted for a thumb and finally got one. It was one of the old ones with a wenge neck and it played like a dream. However, I never liked the sound of it compared to my Streamers and it had horrible neck dive. I ended up selling it because it turned out that the girl I had always wanted just wasn't my type, if you catch my metaphor.
Click to expand...

I was thinking this exact same thing. They are one-trick ponies, and unless you like your basses hanging horizontally or very low, they aren't very ergonomic. You have to really play one and decide you like it before you ever pay for one.
 
#9
you may not fnd the perfect bass but you should be able to find close enough to perfect or perfect for you needs. it all depends on what your looking for in a bass. you might be able to sell two and upgrade one too. warwicks are beautiful basses but for the cost of them you can get a really nice custom made one and maybe have some cash left over.
 
#10
im on my 2nd thumb bass atm...Im gas'in for a NT now. If I get a newer one I know I will gas for an older one and visa versa. Just buy them, sell it, trade it.
I forgot how many years Ive been playing but I went through about 40-50 different and similar basses.
If I had to pick just 1 and only 1? I would go back to my old fender jazz. Just works for me in every way
 
#11
FunkMetalBass said:
I was thinking this exact same thing. They are one-trick ponies, and unless you like your basses hanging horizontally or very low, they aren't very ergonomic. You have to really play one and decide you like it before you ever pay for one.
Click to expand...

+1 my old thumb 5 was a heavy girl. I usually had it hanged just above my waist line.
My new thumb 2006 ltd is sooo lightweight I can play it resting on my belly! :hyper:

I was about 60lbs lighter when I had the thumb 5 :ninja:
 
#12
smgleitch said:
So for the first time in my life I have more than one bass. I actually have three at this point. I have nothing really special but three good basses. I do like have different basses to play. Different moods I pick up different basses and that is pretty cool to be able to do. But and there is always a but. I have never owned a really super nice bass. If I were to sell all three as I bought low, I should have enough money to buy a really good used bass or maybe even a new one. There is just this hesitation in going back to one bass, or maybe it is just hard thinking of parting ways with the ones that I spent so much time picking out cleaning up and playing.
Click to expand...


The secret is not to sell all your basses and buy one good bass, the secret is to make some money and buy MANY good basses.

There are people I know who do and believe in the "one perfect bass" ideal. I"m not one. How can a single 4 string be like 6 string or a fretless or my 7 string or my 8 string? How can a Conklin be like a Fender P-bass? How can it be like my acoustic Carvin?

I have no problem with one bass guys who can only afford one bass, or only have room for one bass, or only play one type of music and have the perfect bass for that. But if you are going to have any creativity at all and give it any range, cramming your playing into any style of music you encounter may work but will be much less effective than it COULD be! IMHO.

Rule of bass acquisition #7: You can never own too many basses!
 
#13
Just like you can never be too rich, you can never have too many basses. :cool:

But, if you're looking for one bass that can practically do everything, look at a EBMM Bongo. The range of tones you can get from it is truly amazing. It's the closest thing I've ever found to a one-size-fits-all bass.
 
#15
I used to be a two-bass guy - one fretted 4, one fretless 4. They did everything I needed to get done on bass (well, not counting my upright).

But now, exposure to intense GAS on Talkbass has created such symptoms as wanting "better" basses and some 5 and 6 fretted and fretlesses to go with the 4s. Now that I've started liking 5s, I've been thinking about going for a Yamaha JP model 6er.

:help:

(but seriously, when this passes, I'll likely be back to just two again - my Lakland 55-02 and my soon-coming Tony Franklin fretless. ... Or not)
 
#16
DeanT said:
Just like you can never be too rich, you can never have too many basses. :cool:

But, if you're looking for one bass that can practically do everything, look at a EBMM Bongo. The range of tones you can get from it is truly amazing. It's the closest thing I've ever found to a one-size-fits-all bass.
Click to expand...

I agree on both counts. The Bongo is probably one of the only stock basses I know of with a 4 band EQ. Variable mids can help fake a lot of tones, however, nothing can get every single sound. There are too many great tones.

Regarding the Thumb, I don't consider it very versatile and it's design typically doesn't allow for the most ergonomic technique and posture. You simply can't hang the bass in a sweet spot for your right hand and the neck dive isn't good for your fretting hand's technique, either.
 
#17
Maybe a thumb maybe a American fender or Lakeland or ebmm. Not really sure on the bass yet but I have been to a lot of concerts and it seems to me that most professional bass players only have one bass that they are playing on stage. I see the guitar players changing guitars by the song but it seems most bass players use the same one for the whole show. I have some really nice basses but nothing great. Nothing that stands out. Quality over quanity or awesomeness over variety. Still not sure. I am sure it won't be my last purchase but.......
 
#18
Of course there isn't one bass that can do it all. Compromise. Mine was a Sadowsky M5-24. With use of the EQ, Pan and my hand placement, I can get "close enough" for my needs. My 2nd bass will be an EUB. That's all I really need.
 
#19
smgleitch said:
Maybe a thumb maybe a American fender or Lakeland or ebmm. Not really sure on the bass yet but I have been to a lot of concerts and it seems to me that most professional bass players only have one bass that they are playing on stage. I see the guitar players changing guitars by the song but it seems most bass players use the same one for the whole show. I have some really nice basses but nothing great. Nothing that stands out. Quality over quanity or awesomeness over variety. Still not sure. I am sure it won't be my last purchase but.......
Click to expand...

I could give two $#$#% what someone else uses. Play everything you can and find the sound and feel that works for you. Only you can lead your quest.
 
#20
I had one bass for a long time when I started then I got my 5 strings and stopped playing the 4 I had... then sold it and I've been a one bass guy for almost 6 years before I started buying many bass ( two 6 strings and one 4 string ) but now ... I want to sell them all to buy a bass that would be my weapon like in the old day with my 5 strings.

I thought about a Warwick standart from their custom shop.
 

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