9 basses (if you count the uke bass, and why wouldn't you?), 4 guitars, 2 keyboards, 8 amps, 6 cabs, 2 dogs, 2 cats. Sometimes I think about selling a bass, but that's only because I've run out of wall space in my music room.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Owning 5+ basses is like owning a dog
- Thread starter GodPlayedBass
- Start date
In all seriousness.
I went through a buying / test driving phase. In excess of 40 in the last decade alone. Many catch and release.
29-36" scales. ERB, and piccolo.
Uke bass.
4,5,6,8,12 strings
P, J, pj, pp, j twin J, h, hh, jh, lipstick dual and triple, soapbar, dual soapbar, piezo, lightwave, triple coil.
Numerous body styles. Active, passive.
Fretted, fretless, All kinds of woods, different fret types/sizes/material.
Set neck, bolt on, neck through, long tenon both set neck bolt. Tons of radius's , and neck profiles, nut widths.
Tilt back, flat, headless, headstock shapes, straight pull vs angle .
1/2 vs 3/8 , clover vs Y tuners
2x2, 3x3, 4 inline, 4+1, 3x2 , 2x3, 5 in line, 4x4,6x6.
Solid , semi hollow , abg, eub.
All as a study. Prep for my own building efforts. Teaching myself what details I like and how the details influence the end result.
I went through a buying / test driving phase. In excess of 40 in the last decade alone. Many catch and release.
29-36" scales. ERB, and piccolo.
Uke bass.
4,5,6,8,12 strings
P, J, pj, pp, j twin J, h, hh, jh, lipstick dual and triple, soapbar, dual soapbar, piezo, lightwave, triple coil.
Numerous body styles. Active, passive.
Fretted, fretless, All kinds of woods, different fret types/sizes/material.
Set neck, bolt on, neck through, long tenon both set neck bolt. Tons of radius's , and neck profiles, nut widths.
Tilt back, flat, headless, headstock shapes, straight pull vs angle .
1/2 vs 3/8 , clover vs Y tuners
2x2, 3x3, 4 inline, 4+1, 3x2 , 2x3, 5 in line, 4x4,6x6.
Solid , semi hollow , abg, eub.
All as a study. Prep for my own building efforts. Teaching myself what details I like and how the details influence the end result.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I don't see myself as ever having more than 3 or 4 bass guitars. Right now I have three and that's the most I have ever had at one time. I already feel like it's one too many, so I'm giving one away to a family member (if I ever see them again because COVID).
I have an Ibanez BTB745, and a Warwick Corvette $$ fiver. The one I'm getting rid of is an Ibanez SR505. It plays great, but it's not adding any new sounds to my lineup.
I have an Ibanez BTB745, and a Warwick Corvette $$ fiver. The one I'm getting rid of is an Ibanez SR505. It plays great, but it's not adding any new sounds to my lineup.
I've done that twice. I'll be doing it at least one more time. I'd burn every bass I own and never play again for five more minutes with our dogs. To imply that they are remotely the same is obscene.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Im blessed that I have a new built home, with whole house hepa recirculation.
We ended up buying a place that has baseboard radiators rather than forced hot air. Our dust sitch is way way way less than a furnace with blower.
CosmicRay
Supporting Member
Yeah, right now I have 8 basses, and with covid having canceled all my gigs, (40+ since March 2020) I'm considering letting go of some "less played" basses.
Maybe someone would enjoy actually playing it, as opposed to it sitting in a case.
I agree with two fingers, maintaining them can be problematic, not to mention costly. Especially when there is no gig money flowing in.....
Also thinking about selling some amps & cabs too. I have gear that I didn't even look at in over a year.
But I'm keeping my dog!!!
Maybe someone would enjoy actually playing it, as opposed to it sitting in a case.
I agree with two fingers, maintaining them can be problematic, not to mention costly. Especially when there is no gig money flowing in.....
Also thinking about selling some amps & cabs too. I have gear that I didn't even look at in over a year.
But I'm keeping my dog!!!
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
Oooooh I think I see a Marty Bell metal flake finish on that G&L !! Am I wrong?
I though the same thing but I have four two of them I string with elixirs and forget about changing strings.
The other two shorties are a problem,searching for the right set and changing strings a lot to keep them crisp.
two of them I string with elixirs and forget about changing strings.The other two shorties are a problem,searching for the right set and changing strings a lot to keep them crisp.
Sparkle: she's special.
YEP! Marty Bell.
the best at flake.
YEP! Marty Bell.
the best at flake.
Learn to love less-than-fresh strings. I change mine, on average, every 4-5 years.
I can't stand new strings and love it when they settle in. It's not a guitar... It's ok to leave them on for a long time.
I can't stand new strings and love it when they settle in. It's not a guitar... It's ok to leave them on for a long time.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
When I own more basses the strings last longer. I don't play every bass every day.
Some basses get a string change about once a year.
Some basses get a string change about once a year.
I own five. First thing I did is put new black tapewounds on every one...$150 plus.
Easy enough to play a different one every day and if I had seven, it'd be even easier.
I've only got three basses and play every day, even if it's unplugged I'm front of the TV. I reach for the same bass 99% of the time. I have no idea why I have the others, tbh, other than I just wanted other options to a P bass, even though I never seem to want anything else.
Maybe I'll turn in to one of those weirdos who owns a dozen basses but they're all Precisions.
joe
Maybe I'll turn in to one of those weirdos who owns a dozen basses but they're all Precisions.
joe
If you get to the point where you don't own something it owns you, it's time to cut loose.
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,233
- 45,125
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
My 2 dogs have cost me well over $20K in vet bills this year.
That's a lot of sets of strings.
That's a lot of sets of strings.
If you like to change strings on all of your basses regularly, and the expense of doing a whole bunch at one time bothers you, why not create a schedule? That way you spend $25-$35 bucks every 2 months or so. It seems like having your bass and eating it too
I own a few and I will agree with the statement. You have to be willing to do what you need to to keep them in gigging shape, in the past, (before the black cloud) in our down time period, I would go through all of my basses to make sure that were in shape for the up coming shows then rotate them two basses per show until I got through the sets and then start again if there were more shows left ( shhhh I am currently at 20 but 21 was supposed to ship out yesterday) 
and I will agree with the statement. You have to be willing to do what you need to to keep them in gigging shape, in the past, (before the black cloud) in our down time period, I would go through all of my basses to make sure that were in shape for the up coming shows then rotate them two basses per show until I got through the sets and then start again if there were more shows left ( shhhh I am currently at 20 but 21 was supposed to ship out yesterday) 
