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Owning mutiple basses drives me nuts.
- Thread starter neo 7
- Start date
From '87 to '93 all I had was one early-80's custom ESP Precision, which I still have. I really bonded with that bass.. and in a way it was quite easy and liberating, no choices to make, just pick up the bass and play. Then in '93 I wanted to get into ERB's and bought a Carvin 6-string and played it pretty much exclusively until '98 or '99, after that I gradually went back to the ESP because I realized I really prefer traditional bass tones.
Then, '99 - '09 used just the ESP, sold off the 6-string when I realized it had sat unused in the case for 16 months.
In '09 I bought a Hofner Ignition Beatle bass, which is cool to have when the music calls for that 60's hollowbody thump, but it's not one that I'd use exclusively.
In '12 I bought a '75 Fender Precision and it pretty much became my #1 go-to bass overnight as it plays really well with fabulous tone.
So... whether I've had one, two or three basses I've always pretty much used only one. Maybe there's a lesson there.
Then, '99 - '09 used just the ESP, sold off the 6-string when I realized it had sat unused in the case for 16 months.
In '09 I bought a Hofner Ignition Beatle bass, which is cool to have when the music calls for that 60's hollowbody thump, but it's not one that I'd use exclusively.
In '12 I bought a '75 Fender Precision and it pretty much became my #1 go-to bass overnight as it plays really well with fabulous tone.
So... whether I've had one, two or three basses I've always pretty much used only one. Maybe there's a lesson there.
agent77 I am here to help! Send me the Pbass to play around on until you realize you want it back! I will "store it" free of charge and send it right back to you upon request.
I also have a 1983 Ibanez Roadstar and I really love that bass. I only own 4 basses, but I alternate between the Ibanez and my Geddy Lee Jazz most of the time. I never had a desire to own a lot of different basses and would rather have a few that I really enjoy playing.
I can relate 100%. Being a fairly minimal person, having one bass is awesome. I find if I practice a lot, and realize what I don't know, I feel almost silly for wanting another bass.
Having one bass allows me to just sit and practice, no tone messing around.. no one cares so long as its not ridiculous.
I say do what you think will make life easier.
Almost every hobby/interest has about 100 things you CAN buy for it, but sometimes simple and straight forward is nice.
Having one bass allows me to just sit and practice, no tone messing around.. no one cares so long as its not ridiculous.
I say do what you think will make life easier.
Almost every hobby/interest has about 100 things you CAN buy for it, but sometimes simple and straight forward is nice.
I'd love to dump a couple of dozen of my basses, especially since the 2011 accident ended any possibility of my ever gigging again. Most of them I've never really played, just stuff I got to flip that wasn't really "me" in the first place. 
You're right in that nobody in the audience cares about your magiktone, and what you sound like to them is pretty much out of your hands in a big venue (or even most small ones) anyway.
On the other hand, if you play a lot of different basses or guitars, you get less obsessive about necks, action, etc. You notice the differences, but they don't matter much. You can handle it.
The goal is not to have a bunch of mediocre basses that are all at least a bit "off," but a couple that are exceptional -- especially if you're recording, where your sound really does matter and subtleties can be heard. I takes a lot of time, money and effort to find and set up a really good recording bass. Most of them just don't cut it, even out of a bunch of Precisions.
You're right in that nobody in the audience cares about your magiktone, and what you sound like to them is pretty much out of your hands in a big venue (or even most small ones) anyway.
On the other hand, if you play a lot of different basses or guitars, you get less obsessive about necks, action, etc. You notice the differences, but they don't matter much. You can handle it.
The goal is not to have a bunch of mediocre basses that are all at least a bit "off," but a couple that are exceptional -- especially if you're recording, where your sound really does matter and subtleties can be heard. I takes a lot of time, money and effort to find and set up a really good recording bass. Most of them just don't cut it, even out of a bunch of Precisions.
Buy basses that are unique. I have a Ric, a 1981 G&L2000 and a Spector Euro 5 string. They are very different from each other so the never really compete.
No, I can't relate. Certainly the "less is more" thing can work, even with my about 20 basses. But oddly it seems that I only play one bass at a time!
If I want to do the "less is more" thing I certainly can simply concentrate on a given bass and nothing else. It's often a creativity help. But then so is often trying a wide variety of things with some given music until one "clicks".
I find it unimaginable to try to cram one particular style of bass (no matter what it is) into ALL types of music. You know that sooner or later it's going to be a bad fit even if for not musical reasons. For example, hauling my Alembic fretless 6er to some dive bar gig that needs an SX Fender clone is a truly bad idea. Fretless basses are NOT equivalent to fretted basses even of the same brand and model for example my fretted and fretless G&L L2500 blueBurst pair. A classic 4 string bass is certainly NOT the same animal as my 7 string Conklin.
Now playing in a cover band that only has a limited set of songs where each requires the same bass is certainly a valid thing to do and in that case one bass would work out fine (until you quit the band or it breaks up), but most of us are not in that limited a situation.
My five: a "parts" p bass with round wounds that is my go to all around player. A 76 fender p with old school flat wounds. A "parts" jazz bass that may become my favorite. A fender jazz fretless. A Hofner icon Beatle bass with la Bella flats. All have different sounds and get used for different reasons.
Having only one would make me crazy.
Having only one would make me crazy.
i own 7 basses total. all listed in my signature. all of the fender's act as back up's for each other. if i got rid of everthing. i'd keep the spector and the 98' p bass, and the upright...
LOL. If it's cheating to make things easier to play, then I don't want to play fair!
After 13 or so years of constantly rotating basses, it'd be nice to get rid of them all and settle on one just one amazing, special instrument. I know, first world problems and all that, but too many options sucks sometimes...especially in the few hours before a gig and I'm sitting staring at my collection like its a job interview, trying to select the one I want for the night.
I've got a bunch of basses, but never have a problem in choosing between them. To the OP - I suggest not to worry about it so much and just enjoy what you have.
Has there ever been a great bassist or guitarist who were known for how many instruments they have? Jay Leno has quite a collection of cars, but have you ever heard of him winning any kind of race, ever? You just have to decide, Are you a bass player or a bass collector? Bass Players get the girls, Collectors lose their girls to players while they sit at home and worship their collection. - (thanks collectors)
Any ways 4 is not that many,as you will soon discover here on TB. Ur not a hoarder quite yet. I have one fender fretless, two warwicks( a 5 and a 4 string) plus a backup/practice 5 string Ibanez. Most of the sounds I need I can get on those 4. If ur not touring or making money playing you wont need several identical backups although at least one would be smart.
Any ways 4 is not that many,as you will soon discover here on TB. Ur not a hoarder quite yet. I have one fender fretless, two warwicks( a 5 and a 4 string) plus a backup/practice 5 string Ibanez. Most of the sounds I need I can get on those 4. If ur not touring or making money playing you wont need several identical backups although at least one would be smart.
I can relate.
I have multiple basses and feel similar...the thing is I love every bass I have...but deep down I want just one. Having said that, I wouldn't sell any of my basses..but reading your post made me go,"I'm not the only one that feels that way!"
Not sure if that's an insult or not, but yeah. Really.
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I have a solution that may work for you.
Put each bass in a different part of the house. One in the living room, one in the bedroom, bathroom etc (don't mistake the toilet seat for a bongo though).
That way, when you feel like playing in one of those rooms you've only got one choice. If you don't have enough rooms for that put two in one room and just pick up the first one you think of.
Put each bass in a different part of the house. One in the living room, one in the bedroom, bathroom etc (don't mistake the toilet seat for a bongo though).
That way, when you feel like playing in one of those rooms you've only got one choice. If you don't have enough rooms for that put two in one room and just pick up the first one you think of.
OK. So I clipped the strings off the MusicMaster, and replaced them with the strings that were on the Mustang. Then I put the P and the Mustang in their cases and hid them in the closet with the Jaguar SS.
Kinda missing the Mustang tho.
Kinda missing the Mustang tho.
Just yankin' yer chain. I used to have a Mustang years ago that I gave to a relative to learn on, and he destroyed it. Many regrets.
