One great bass or multiple good basses???

[Maxdusty]

Don’t forget about a used USA made MusicMan SUB. They have 4 and 5 string models . These are great 2 band Rays. $500 give or take should get you there. Plenty in the classifieds here on TB and on GC used website.

I agree. The EBMM SUB is a great option to consider. I would take it over a Sterling Ray 34.

 

[bass40hz]

love many women and only 1 or 2 bass guitars..

Seeing as how I am on wife #3...I no longer subscribe to that theory!! LOL!!!

 

[jlepre]

A high priced bass does not make it BETTER than a more conservatively priced one. I have a $600 Sire P7 that is the best bass that I've owned, and I've owned about 10 EBMM SR5s.

 

[SteveC]

A high priced bass does not make it BETTER than a more conservatively priced one.

This is true, but I have yet to find a 5 string bass with a neck that feels and plays like my Roscoe, or a B string that sounds like my Roscoe. I have tried.
But, yes, there are many "conservatively" priced basses that are very nice. Not like it was 35+ years ago when I was starting out.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

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 can totally relate to that. A couple of years ago I bought an NS Design WAV4 electric upright. Gigged with it soon after, and both band and the sound guy for the night asked if it was supposed to sound like that (...). Fast forward a couple of months and a lot of hours spent on the WAV4, and my drummer commented: "Someone's been practising!"

Likewise, I ordered a fretless Tony Franklin and it arrived last weekend. I have about 4 hours total playing on it so far, and already I noticed I am "getting to know" the bass. Which pickup setting gives me auto-mwah, which setting gives a gnarly rough tone etc. I look forward to bonding with it in the same way I have bonded with my Jazz bass.

I would vote for several great basses, and yes that does include taking the time and setting aside money to get what you want. I've wanted a Tony Franklin for 9 years now, and recently I decided I wanted a Precision with a P/J configuration, and I wanted a fretless bass. I realized the Tony Franklin is all of those, and right now I can afford it. Well, sort of anyway

 

[Bass Urges]

For me in the past it was always a multitude of decent basses but never that one great bass. Final decided to get one really good bass as a backup and one great bass as my main. I finally realized that all the money I spent trying to get that sound and feel I was searching for I could have brought a couple of really great bases for the same money! Live and learn

 

[Bass Urges]

Then you wouldn’t have had the journey. The beauty of multiple Basses is that you enjoy a journey of discovery to finally work out what you love. I love the journey - it’s fun - and there are so many avenues to explore! Talkbass and forums invoke random searching which pricks my interest in all sorts of Basses to try and discover. I think we overate achieving our “perfect” sound when there are so many to try. My first and only wife does understand this - why she’s my first and only!!

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

What's the difference between good and great? Is this strictly about price and brand name?

IMO, the difference between a good bass and a great bass is the player.

 

[klejst]

Although I believe in having at least one backup bass just in case, however I am perfect content with just using my 80's MIJ Fender Jazz Special 99.9999...% of the time.

 

[SteveC]

It’s an and less and winless discussion, but I am pretty much in the one great bass you love camp. I have 2, but my Roscoe 5 gets 99% of my time. The JB-2 is set up for jazz gigs and pit work with flats. Those gigs don’t generally call for or “need” a 5 string. I enjoy the change when I get to use it. It’s a nice little bass.