I always intend to rotate equally, but in practice, I'm more of a bond for a while and move on. I usually have 4-5 in "active rotation" at once.
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Owners of multiple basses: anyone else do this?
- Thread starter birminghambass
- Start date
What you described is me to a T. Sitting in the stand near me is my SG, and it currently feels like home. My Warmoth PJ just got bumped, And my Guild JS-1 Bi-sonic is sending me vibes. Ah yes, we love our friends for different reasons. Variety is the spice of life.
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Live: My G&L ASAT is my primary "Go To" for 4 String........My Sire V7-5 is my primary 5-String......The choice is mainly their Swiss Army capability, sound, and playability. Fresh strings are the biggest factor why I would opt for a different bass.....I have other instruments simply "because"...... I don't really need them, I just like them, so Im not going to bullsh*t you reasons why I have them......
Studio: I can usually pull off everything with the ASAT, but - where I use rounds almost exclusively live - string choices (rounds or flats) have become a factor for the studio for fretted basses more than the Swiss Army bass in question....also, certain basses, like my Electra X640N, have unique voicing characteristics that I cant get out of other instruments
Studio: I can usually pull off everything with the ASAT, but - where I use rounds almost exclusively live - string choices (rounds or flats) have become a factor for the studio for fretted basses more than the Swiss Army bass in question....also, certain basses, like my Electra X640N, have unique voicing characteristics that I cant get out of other instruments
I've stated before that I view my basses as tools, so by comparison, I wouldn't use a Phillips head screwdriver if I need a hammer, so I wouldn't use my 6er if I need a fretless.
I use the instrument that the song requires, even if that means I'm changing basses 6-8 times a set.
I use the instrument that the song requires, even if that means I'm changing basses 6-8 times a set.
I only buy basses that "speak" to me.... so with that being said I like ALL my basses, but I do find some sound
better for certain styles of music and others are pretty well rounded and are appropriate for almost anything.
My main goal is to get a decent tone (especially on stage), so I will usually bring the Swiss Army knife
(AKA L2000), and 1 other bass (fretless Jazz, P/J, or Alembic epic) as a backup.
better for certain styles of music and others are pretty well rounded and are appropriate for almost anything.
My main goal is to get a decent tone (especially on stage), so I will usually bring the Swiss Army knife
(AKA L2000), and 1 other bass (fretless Jazz, P/J, or Alembic epic) as a backup.
Between my 6er, fretless and EUB, yes.
6er and fretless are wireless, while the EUB is cable connected. My pedal board has 3 signal paths, and I switch between the 3 using 2 Boss AB-2 pedals. I can switch basses in a couple of seconds. Hang the one I'm playing, while grabbing the one I need. Sling it on and tap the pedal.
Nothing to it.
I've got something like 27 (!). I rotate about 10 of them and break out some of the others occasionally.
I blend the "rotate equally" and "different bass according to situation" approaches. I have three four-strings and one five, so if I need (or want) a five, the M-2500 gets the call. Also, my band occasionally plays a venue with a house rig through which I prefer the M-2500 or my SB-2 over my J-basses. I also like the SB-2 for "mystery rig" situations, because it's impossible to go wrong with an MFD split-coil in a rock band. Otherwise, I rotate the fours almost equally, but my G&L JB is probably my favorite stage bass overall.
This question really made me think....I have a 57 AVRI that has been my main player for almost 8 years. I also had a very nice black and maple American Precision that spoke to me in a music store one day.....notice I said had. I found the 57 P was a better fit for me and I liked the wider fretboard and vintage frets and radius. So I sold the American Standard to purchase a 62 re-issue. I play both pretty regularly but the 57 gets slightly more, probably due to the maple board. Several years ago I picked up a third bass, played it for a while and then began trading it for anything and everything. This trading gave me the opportunity to play many different instruments. I try to gig every "new" bass but I always end up back with my AVRI's. Currently have a Gibson ES335 that is dead sexy and sounds thunderous. I've held on to this one for over a year. Longest yet as a third........maybe I need to get a fourth. So I guess my answer is I rotate them all.
I spread the love... don't want one getting bitter and withdrawn because I never ask her out.....
One constant gig bass.
Occasionally I'll grab my fretless P, but the bottom line.... no slab sounds like my Takamine B10.
Occasionally I'll grab my fretless P, but the bottom line.... no slab sounds like my Takamine B10.
This is complicated 
I have two Ps that I rotate because most of my gigs are blues/roots and that's what works best. My other BGs get rotated for home practice (currently my NS Radius is getting all the love) and sometimes I'll take one of them out to a jam session for giggles. When I was gigging in more styles, I used other basses alongside the Ps...a pair of Steinbergers tuned DGCF for a Celtic band with bagpipes pitched in D and G, a five string for zydeco gigs. I played fretless bass a lot during the 1980s but not much since then...sold all but one.
I have three DBs, one strung with nylon (imitation gut) gets almost all the gig time nowadays, one strung with steel and fitted with a magnetic pickup for the rare gig where I need to really blast and a EUB for travel gigs where space in the vehicle is limited.
Now that I play more and more DB only gigs even the Ps don't get much play time. I am looking at thinning the herd at this point. Watch the classifieds here
I have two Ps that I rotate because most of my gigs are blues/roots and that's what works best. My other BGs get rotated for home practice (currently my NS Radius is getting all the love) and sometimes I'll take one of them out to a jam session for giggles. When I was gigging in more styles, I used other basses alongside the Ps...a pair of Steinbergers tuned DGCF for a Celtic band with bagpipes pitched in D and G, a five string for zydeco gigs. I played fretless bass a lot during the 1980s but not much since then...sold all but one.
I have three DBs, one strung with nylon (imitation gut) gets almost all the gig time nowadays, one strung with steel and fitted with a magnetic pickup for the rare gig where I need to really blast and a EUB for travel gigs where space in the vehicle is limited.
Now that I play more and more DB only gigs even the Ps don't get much play time. I am looking at thinning the herd at this point. Watch the classifieds here
I have 4 Fender Am Jazz Basses and I have one I leave at my home practice space, one that is my favorite Band practice/gigging Bass. I guess the other two are like new closet queens/backups/too nice to haul around in a gig bag Basses that when I do play them don't understand why I don't play them more!!!
Ya, I'm a hoarder!!
Ya, I'm a hoarder!!
My current band requires a P-bass. Tried using Sterlings, but the P bass is the only real choice. I occasionally do a fill in gig with a variety cover band,and the MM Sterlings are the first choice there.
Three basses here. The P-Bass copy is most of the time tuned to D# or D, The Ibanez has been strung B, E, A, D. The G&L is capable of about everything, except a low B. So they have their specific use. They all are real players. No surprise, as I optimize and set up my instruments myself.
