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One great bass or multiple good basses???

One great bass or multiple good basses??

  • One great bass

    Votes: 120 32.4%

  • Multiple good basses

    Votes: 209 56.5%

  • carrots

    Votes: 41 11.1%
  • Total voters
    370
#22
40Hz said:
I’m lucky in that I knew exactly what I wanted when it came time to buy my first bass. And I bought it. And it was the only bass I owned for the next 15 or so years except for the inexpensive backup bass I got only because I was regularly gigging at the time.

A few decades later it’s still my main bass. But I now own several more.

There were times when I was tempted to get something else. But I always kept coming back to what I already had. It was a marvelous instrument when I bought it. And it’s since become an absolutely great bass for me. Because after all these years I know exactly what it can do, where every single tone in it is, and how to get it. The bass hasn’t changed. It’s not a living thing so it’s incapable of being anything other that what it already is. But I’ve grown into it. And that’s made all the difference.

I’ve since acquired two other basses that are on their way to becoming equally great basses, each in their own way. I can hear something in them that’s trying to come out - so I’ve been putting some serious time into trying to bring it out. People that heard them when I first got them, and then heard me play them a year later, wanted to know if I changed the pickups or “did something” else to them since the tone had improved significantly. And the only reason for their better tone was that I now know how to play them better than I first did.

I don’t have any opinion about which answer in the poll is the better one. But I do believe, based on my own experience, that within reason you can take just about any bass and make it a great bass. You just need to put the time into it. The greatness in a musical instrument mainly comes from us. People who are constantly chasing after “the perfect instrument” learn that sooner or later. Usually after spending a lot of time and money switching horses.

So…if the OP is absolutely sold on the MM sound and feel, by all means get the MM. But once that’s done, seriously commit to discovering everything that bass is capable of before you get something else.
Click to expand...

This is one of the wisest posts I ever read on TB. Is your no. 1 the bass in your avatar?
 
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#23
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#26
40Hz said:
I’m lucky in that I knew exactly what I wanted when it came time to buy my first bass. And I bought it. And it was the only bass I owned for the next 15 or so years except for the inexpensive backup bass I got only because I was regularly gigging at the time.

A few decades later it’s still my main bass. But I now own several more.

There were times when I was tempted to get something else. But I always kept coming back to what I already had. It was a marvelous instrument when I bought it. And it’s since become an absolutely great bass for me. Because after all these years I know exactly what it can do, where every single tone in it is, and how to get it. The bass hasn’t changed. It’s not a living thing so it’s incapable of being anything other that what it already is. But I’ve grown into it. And that’s made all the difference.

I’ve since acquired two other basses that are on their way to becoming equally great basses, each in their own way. I can hear something in them that’s trying to come out - so I’ve been putting some serious time into trying to bring it out. People that heard them when I first got them, and then heard me play them a year later, wanted to know if I changed the pickups or “did something” else to them since the tone had improved significantly. And the only reason for their better tone was that I now know how to play them better than I first did.

I don’t have any opinion about which answer in the poll is the better one. But I do believe, based on my own experience, that within reason you can take just about any bass and make it a great bass. You just need to put the time into it. The greatness in a musical instrument mainly comes from us. People who are constantly chasing after “the perfect instrument” learn that sooner or later. Usually after spending a lot of time and money switching horses.

So…if the OP is absolutely sold on the MM sound and feel, by all means get the MM. But once that’s done, seriously commit to discovering everything that bass is capable of before you get something else.
Click to expand...

Very sound advice (pun intended).
 
#27
schietschijfje said:
No gigs for me, so no need for a backup bass.
I also own a Squier P, fretless jazz and MTD Kinston 5 but don't consider these quality basses.
Click to expand...
schietschijfje said:
No gigs for me, so no need for a backup bass.
I also own a Squier P, fretless jazz and MTD Kinston 5 but don't consider these quality basses.
Click to expand...
Here's your answer, sell these turds and keep the other 2.
The DJ4 is a GREAT bass for any price point and country of origin.

The L2000 isn't far behind. What are you
Not getting out of the L2k that you want in the stinger? Or do you want the prestige of having an EBMM. Nothing wrong with that, just curious.
 
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#29
schietschijfje said:
Would you rather have one great bass or multiple good basses
Click to expand...

schietschijfje said:
No gigs for me, so no need for a backup bass.
Click to expand...

blaspheme.gif


multiple choice:

a) one is not enough
b) at least one of every brand (fretted and fretless)
c) and a backup for all of these

may the basses be with you (and the backups too :D)

Wise(b)ass
 
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#31
The definition of "great" and "good" play a huge part in how people answer the question. I'll assume that "great" would mean a boutique-level bass, maybe the kind of bass that is priced at a level that most people would gasp over. Even some of those who would or have bought them. And I'll assume that "good" means a good production bass from a known manufacturer (such as Fender, Musicman, G&L, etc).

For me, the answer is multiple (within reason) good basses. For one thing, I haven't been playing since I was in my teens like a lot of people here so, not having that 35 year head start, I'll probably never be able to do justice to a great, boutique-level bass. Plus, to me it's simply a lot of fun having a few good basses that each have their own vibe.

YMMV, of course.
 
Last edited:
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#38
Depends on how much you want to get a StingRay really.

The L2000 Tribute is a really good bass (owned one a while back, couldn't get the sound I wanted), with plenty of tonal options in there. If there's one bass that can get near to the StingRay sound-wise, it's the L2000.

StingRays, just like other instruments, vary from one to the other. So, if you go for it, make sure you take your time & pick out the one that sings to you.

I've owned 2 StingRays. Both 2 EQ models, one had a maple board, the other had a rosewood board. The "Blonde" (maple board) was an '89, and sounded superb. The "Black Ray" (rosewood) was a mid/late 90's model, and I could not get a decent sound out of it no matter what I tried.

Look before you leap, if you know what I mean.
 
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#39
I've played multiple boutique basses, but none of them have ever felt as nice as my two best Ibanez's. I don't know how they do it for the price, but my SRX400 and SR800 are so far and above everything else I've owned or played that it is almost unbelievable that each of them cost me under $300 (used). Both of them can achieve incredibly low action without the slightest bit of fret buzz. I've used them as benchmarks for my tech a few times, but he was never able to replicate their set up on my EBMM, Gibson, or Fenders. They are pure magic. My vote, look around for sleepers like those.
 

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