One great bass or multiple good basses???

[mikewalker]

You need to carry a backup bass with you for gigs if you're getting paid. The show must go on no matter what happens. So that means you need at least two basses.

Nowadays I can't see gigging without two or three, due to rounds/flats/tunings requirements.
But if I did not (like back in simpler times when a set of RS66 tuned to EADG were all it took to get through a gig) then I'm not sure I agree with that statement - because I haven't broken a bass string in 25 years. And the last time I did break one (an A string, as I recall...) I finished the song by holding the broken string up off the others (the core had broken at the saddle, but was still attached by a winding). When the song was over I snipped the string off, and finished the set with three strings. Always keep a new spare set in the case, and also a backup previously used set, usually...

 

[knight of ni]

How about keeping basses and buy an SBMM ? (say a Ray34). You don't say if the Stringray you wish to buy is an H, HH or HS. The point is what is your need, i.e. do you need great basses or are the good ones "enough". I bought a Ray34 and then had an opportunity to buy a Classic Sabre on sale. I really thought over "upgrading" to an EBMM rather than buying the Sabre. I'm glad I kept the Ray34 and I no longer think about it. The EBMM Sabre is of course above the SBMM Ray34 but frankly and for my use the Ray34 is 'good enough'. I'm quite happy about having both.

 

[Medicine Man]

Multiple different kinds of instruments can really help. Getting a fretless or more/less strings, an upright, a hollow body or something like that justifies an additional bass. I like my Stingray 5 slightly more than my L2500, so I guess I'm a bit hypocritical. If you are on a budget, just rock out your G&L until you have more money. Those Tributes are just fine.

 

[sikamikanico]

I wise man once told me
"vintage fenders are basically free. You just need a 100% deposit"
and honestly, he's right. Provided that you dont get ripped off when you buy it, they'll always be worth at least what you paid.

Not very wise, that man. That logic was proven wrong in 2007.

I’m in the one bass camp, though I currently have two. A good one (Lakland Skyline) and an experimental one to try figure out what my one great bass might be (I don’t want to mess with the Lakland). I’m not sure if great = expensive, just something that fits me really well.

 

[MordBass]

Not very wise, that man. That logic was proven wrong in 2007.

I’m in the one bass camp, though I currently have two. A good one (Lakland Skyline) and an experimental one to try figure out what my one great bass might be (I don’t want to mess with the Lakland). I’m not sure if great = expensive, just something that fits me really well.

Depends how you look at it because technically it was only proven wrong temporarily and was basically coinciding with a terrible economic situation. My point is that buying a proper bass used is usually the most sound investment. Somebody else has already taken the most dramatic hit and usually there is a floor for the value of these basses.
Also I agree with you on the multiples.. although like I had said, I think it depends on where in the spectrum youre at.

 

[Herrick]

I'll take one great bass...or even one good bass.

 

[dukeorock]

That’s it. A ‘74 Gibson Ripper. Purchased new in April of the same year. Still all factory original except for the strings - and still going strong.

One of the all time great basses, to me. Seriously underrated!

 

[pedroims]

Fellow TBers,

I've been eyeing a EBMM Stingray for a while. But to pay for the MM I would need the sell my Lakland Skyline DJ4 and G&L L2000 tribute.
Would you rather have one great bass or multiple good basses (in terms of sound build quality)? IMO the Lakland and G&L are good basses.

IME a Lakland DJ is a great bass as a Stingray, they are just different. You dont need to sell both of your basses to buy a SR. Have you tried post a thread to trade your DJ4 for a SR?

 

[Sgtpepper89]

A great bass wont be of much use in my hands right now Been dreaming about getting several models since I become old and have money now I do all I can to not do impulse buys over looks<.<

But who am I kidding the one with the most instruments when he/she dies wins and im all about winning!

 

[Muttleybass]

It's a journey, not a destination.

First, a cheap beginner bass, sell or trade that for a good bass, buy another good bass for a back up, sell the first good bass, buy a great bass so you have a great an a good for back up, sell the back up, buy another great bass, then start collecting various good and great basses.

 

[darwin-bass]

I voted "multiple" but that is misleading. Makes you think I support owning many (many) basses.

I don't believe in boutique basses. They are unnecessary for the purpose of making music. They only serve to gratify the bassist (which is 100% OK) but nobody else really benefits. So one boutique bass is never my answer.

I think the ideal answer is the fewest good basses ($800 to $2000 new cost) that are necessary to cover your gig. If you're in a working wedding band with a large variety, you may need several. If you play in one band doing standard 70's and 80's rock I bet you can do it with one good P. New country gig? One 5-string.

In the studio things change and having different voices may become necessary. Also, ironically, playing with CDs at home you can clearly hear the nuances so having more than one can be beneficial. Also, you're playing only for you so it doesn't matter.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I don't care how nice my gigging bass or guitar is. I just don't feel comfortable without a backup. The quality of the backup to me isn't as important, but I'd want to make sure it's something I'm comfortable playing and I like when it has a similar pickup config/sound (more related to guitar in my opinion).

 

[dukeorock]

OP, first of all, you have two seriously nice basses so you're already winning.

Part of this depends on how you feel about instruments and their purpose, I think. I've seen a lot of 'Swiss Army Knife' basses that have myriad tone options. That's totally cool, but never worked for me. I find my favorite sound on any given bass and that's the sound I use on that bass. Not everyone feels that way and I understand completely. Just for me, basses that sound good doing many things, have not been great at any one thing. I do a fair amount of session work and you never know what's going to sit 'just right' in any given track, so I bring anywhere from two to five basses that cover a lot of ground.

Then again, if you have a bass you can't walk past without picking it up for a few minutes to play it; That right there is a great bass

 

[chaosMK]

All I needed was one great bass. I have owned/used one bass from 2005-present.

I'd rather have one sick high quality bass than a broad collection of entry/intermediate instruments. Recording is always my end goal.

 

[Inara]

I voted carrots, because for me it depends. I spent about eight years only doing two types of music: my solo pieces, and accompanying singer-songwriters. At that time I owned one bass: a superb custom five string fretless. It met all my needs for that entire time period.

Then I started playing other styles again, rock, blues, soul, country. I needed a fretted bass, and one that was fairly traditional (i.e. Fender-ish), so I ended up selling that custom fretless and getting very good, but not great, fretted and fretless basses. I'm now, a few years after that, up to having multiple great basses.

 

[nyde7]

For playing at home multiple, but when I am playing out, only one will get all of the sounds I want. I have a couple of great basses, quite a few good and decent basses, but when it is time to play serious the Peavey Cirrus 5 string is what I grab. I do not have to think to hard when playing that one, where as the others all have something missing in comparison. Not sure if a Ray is for me, but I would play the heck out of it before I would buy it and make sure it fits you and your amp compared to the others...

 

[DigitalMan]

For those specific choices I picked one great bass.

 

[JRA]

In the search for one great bass, I find that you accumulate multiple good basses

^

i agree with JACink. i ended up with several, but i only need one great bass..................

 

[muddycreek]

Then again, if you have a bass you can't walk past without picking it up for a few minutes to play it; That right there is a great bass

Hadn't thought of it this way, but I recently started hanging my bass in the living room, and I seem to find myself fiddling with it all day. Up until yesterday, I was in the one great bass camp, but apparently my first bass (A BB3000) that I thought was gone has been living in my brother in law's attic!

So, yay me, and I'll be voting one great bass and one nice flexible backup that has some sentimental value. Is that too specific?

 

[MordBass]

I should also specify that when I voted one great bass I was assuming a squier or mim or something for a backup if youre playing out. although thats technically more than one....