Like a lot of other TBers's, I'm lucky enough to have several basses to choose from. But I find myself reaching for my favorite more and more, to the point where I'm hardly touching any of the others ..... About 8 months ago I bought an FBB fretless 6 from TBer Jon Chewning, and it has changed my bass playing life. Over the past 8 months I've sold off seven basses (three 4's, two 5's, one 6 and one 7) due to non-use, and my remaining two 4's and fairly new-to-me GT7, while cool, are regularly getting left behind (actually, one of the 4's, an '86 MIJ Jazz Special, goes to every gig as backup). I don't know if it's the specific bass itself, or the bass builder (Matt Schmill makes great stuff), or the fretless 6 theory, or something else, but I've gotten to the point where this is the only bass I want to play. I truthfully don't even have any more Jerzy, Roscoe or Low End GAS anymore Any other multiple bass owners out there that have settled into one preferred bass? If so, have you thought about off-loading the others ...... now, if I can only get James Hart's Schroeders out of my head .....
I can't go down to one, but I have two. My Zon and my Nordstrand. I have to force myself to play the others.
i have owned everything under the sun... must have gone thru dozens of basses. while i still have a couple laying around including one i just put together, nothing touches my F Bass bn5- so much so that i may now sell everything to get another for backup- to me, they are the Holy Grail
I've owned many at various times throughout my career and have rarely had a favorite. Right now it's a toss-up between my Fender RB5 and Sadowsky P5. I've been playing the Sadowsky almost exclusively since I got it... but that's simply because it's a pound or two lighter than my RB5 (the P5 has a chambered alder body).
My Natural Sadiowsky 24F5 is my holy grail but I haven't played it in a while. I don't think I'll ever sell but if I have to, I have no problems selling it. I have so many basses and I usually like to play them all from my Fender Geddy Lee.. ESP J-Four... Valenti Geddy Vee and everything inbetween. Yeah, I like J styled basses.
Now that's an understatement! Don't see me ever getting down to only one either, I always feel like a fretted and fretless 4 need to be immediately available, for some weird reason ..... must be my roots
I have a Stingray 4, 2 MIJ Jazz Bass Specials (like your good 'ol reliable backup), and a cheap GTX fretless. I keep reaching for one my Jazz Bass Special. At night, when I'm feeling mellow at home, I grab my freless. Funny thing is the Stingray is the nicest looking one and cost me the most, but it's the one that gets played the least....
My favorite is my 2003 MIA Jazz with Fralins, which always gets the job done and feels great. But for some reason, I keep reaching for my P-bass these days. It just feels like home, and my lazy brain likes the simplicity. I could never get it down to one bass, but I'm pretty happy with three. And if I have to force myself to play something, it goes, no matter how great it sounds ('94 MIJ P-bass) or feels ('99 Am. Dlx. Precision).
Here's most of mine, I've added a few since the photo was taken. My fave is the Rickenbacker 4003FG. {}
I hope that wasn't you lurking in the bushes outside the other night! Seriously, I know the feeling! I got my 6 a year and a half ago and it rendered all my other basses obsolete
While I enjoy playing all of the basses I am lucky enough to call mine (currently numbering 9) I almost always reach for my Modulus Q4 for gigging. I don't see myself unloading any at this time, really. I play them all at home or in the studio, and some ('67 EB2, Ric Chris Squire) I'd rather not subject to the 'stress' of taking to gigs.
I have 6 basses and always reach for the 98 MIA Jazz over all. Since I got it last year, it's just about all I ever play anymore. But on fly gigs I'm going to take the Bradley Steinberger copy because of the crap I've been getting about carrying on my Jazz.
no kiddin! they have been giving me the hardest time and flat out refusing to let me bring my bass onboard- so i got an skb rw 44 bass safe and i check it now, no more stressed out plane rides! when i check into the hotel, i take out the bass gig bag and all, then do it again at fly time/
Intresting topic. Although we all like to have a few and say they all suit different moods and so on, I think we all secretly have a fave deep down. I can testify that I have gone through a few top luthiers basses in my search for the one and have landed with my current two, both of which suit me well. My Vigier Passion is perfect for my funk metal band, it just sounds so clear and almost digital because of the graphite and powerful bridge set pickups. After many shows with it I am just really comfortable with it and confident of its reliablility and sound. The second is my 'do it all' bass, my alembic elan 6, great for anything you can throw at it. HAs a superb mix of tones and did away with more than one bass in its stride. I could not be happier with these two, but if I had to choose one to say it is 'my sound' or 'my signature/fave bass' it would have to be the Vigier.
I have 12 or 13 currently, but the ones I play the most (by FAR) are my Stingray 4 and my MTD Kingston 5 with active Bart pre and Bart pickup.
i had bought/sold at least 20 when i was younger, but through all of it i still only play my '97 MIA Jazz V... plays like butter, sounds like heaven....