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Owning 5+ basses is like owning a dog

yeah, well, when your kitty is the pick of the litter.?
My kitty is the pick of the litter!
bass NuKitty 1.jpg
 
Since using Kalium strings I find the need to change them often greatly reduced. I'd have no worries with 5+ basses as the strings don't age when sitting. The ones on my custom fiver were about four years old when I changed them recently. They didn't sound new, but weren't totally dead either and still worked for me. YMMV.

Raz
 
I own 7 basses. I love all of them but I also dont play all of them. I play EB flatwound strings. 30x7 is 210. Thats how much id have to spend to replace strings on all of them. Even if i put rounds on 2 of them or 3 it'd still be close to $200. I hate having a bass with dead strings, i feel like im not taking care of a bass if I do that and so i would say that owning 5+ basses is like owning a dog. You gotta be willing to invest the time and money, in my opinion. Im thinking of getting rid of 3 of them and sticking with 4. Id probly play 4 different basses but clearly not 7. I hate the idea of selling a bass but if it just sits around, what's the point ? Any thoughts ?
If you think $200 for strings is outrageous, I'd advise you to stay away from ever getting a double bass.

:smug:
 
My cap was 8 for a long time. I would always try and buy/sale/trade up and keep the number the same. If I go over, I have to make the hard call to sell one. Over time I was allowed to push the cap to 10. Wife is supportive (although she can't ever tell which bass story I'm telling and why it matters so much and what bass it's about or what builder or player or cool person I got it from).

Now I find myself with 12 and last night while practicing, I decided to play only 1 per month for a year.
What is this OCD? Does having rules and using them equally make more sense in a collection that's starting to feel a bit out of control?

12 is a nice number. But 2 or 3 would make a lot more sense. :roflmao:
You may see me list a bunch soon. (and I bet I'll be taking trades for some reason?)
 
I have 12 wonderful basses and I play each one on rotation weekly. I try not to pick a favorite as they all are special to me in some way. Each time I pick one up it is just as exciting and enjoyable to play as the first time.

View attachment 4003579
That old Carvin double neck is amazing,,,I played the bass version for 20 years (in red too, heavy enough bass)...your collection is worthy sir, but I'd need a semi hollow body or 2 as well. I feel the same about every one of my bases, there's a reason they earned a place in the rotation of 12. all but the $70 Florida special Westone Spectrum which sits outside the rotation. Sits in a stand. Hottest pu, best sounding with flats but most uncomfortable to play bass in single P configuration, a small upper horn sit down bass unless your new wave clothes are so uncomfortable that you don't notice.
 
I own 7 basses. I love all of them but I also dont play all of them. I play EB flatwound strings. 30x7 is 210. Thats how much id have to spend to replace strings on all of them. Even if i put rounds on 2 of them or 3 it'd still be close to $200. I hate having a bass with dead strings, i feel like im not taking care of a bass if I do that and so i would say that owning 5+ basses is like owning a dog. You gotta be willing to invest the time and money, in my opinion. Im thinking of getting rid of 3 of them and sticking with 4. Id probly play 4 different basses but clearly not 7. I hate the idea of selling a bass but if it just sits around, what's the point ? Any thoughts ?

Easy Question: just play flatwounds like every REAL bassplayer:-)
A one time investion, they sound better, the older they are and you have time and money for three dogs and more basses (with flatwounds on them).
 
Everyone has different priorities. I have one electric bass (P of course), a double bass, and an electric upright. I spend more time on practicing (never enough time!) and less on cleaning basses, polishing frets, changing strings, etc.