Owning one bass.. are those days over?

[FishDub]

As I stand here and practice with one of mine, which I love, I look at the other 3 and say “why have them if they’ve not been played in months?” Is it similar to babies with pacifiers? I can totally get by with just one like many famous did back in the day and still do. But every time I think of letting the other 3 go, I chicken out lol..WTH

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Now that I have discovered fretless, they certainly are for me. 3-5 is my sweet spot. Right now Im holding steady at 4. Im pretty content. I could go down to 3, but I dont have to and really dont want to. I play them all regularly.

 

[blendermassacre]

Its totally possible if you only play one kind of music but I don't know why you would

 

[Akiyama]

Bass isn’t my main instrument so having one that does what I need a bass to do is all I need.

 

[Hot Rats]

I am just itching to move 15 basses but I am just too lazy. So they remain in cases in the closet. I could get by with 3 but that's just a pipe dream.

 

[DrBnz]

I'd probably improve a bit by focusing on just one. But I honestly do play them all. But why haven't you picked up the other two in months. Do they lack magic, mojo, something.... Its likely you need to part with the others and get something that excites you more. What are they? What role do they fill for you (meaning, why do you have THOSE)?

 

[KohanMike]

When I started playing bass uke in 2014 with my uke group, I looked at a few and decided to ask my luthier in Vietnam, Bruce Wei Arts, to make me one, and a few days later I bought one while waiting for Bruce's. So I started out with two right from the start. (Do I mention in the last 8 years that I accumulated 31, but recently culled them down to 8, which are so soon going to be 10? I actually rotated between them, which is easier now.)

 

[Manticore]

I won't get down to one, but I'd sure like to get down to four, maybe five.

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

I could definitely get by with just one good P, but I do like having a couple of other flavors around (especially something in the ‘Ray neighborhood), so it’ll probably never happen for me. I am (slowly) working toward reducing how many basses I have lying around, though.

 

[Marko 1]

You can get good, playable basses for little money,

and there are many, many makes and models to choose from.

Why not have a few?

 

[nonohmic]

One at home, one at the office. Done.

 

[GlennRH]

@FishDub No. Those days are not over.

I currently own and play two basses: both 4-string; one with flats and one with rounds.

However, in all of the years I've owned and played bass (since 1984) I've found complete contentment with just one bass for one stretch of 18 years and a couple of other periods of about one year.

The big advantage of having only one bass to play: becoming a more versatile bassist.

 

[roller]

If you're looking to part with any treasures, please PM me.

As I stand here and practice with one of mine, which I love, I look at the other 3 and say “why have them if they’ve not been played in months?” Is it similar to babies with pacifiers? I can totally get by with just one like many famous did back in the day and still do. But every time I think of letting the other 3 go, I chicken out lol..WTH

 

[H K]

I've got constant GAS. But I've also found that I get by with fewer and fewer basses. I DO keep some for different sounds, but anything past 5 or 6 basses, and you're keeping them for other reasons.
Nothing wrong with that tho! I have several I hold on to just for investments, or sentimental reasons.
I'll probably never use my first bass for anything again, but I'm absolutely not selling it! (monetary it's kinda worthless anyway, but sentimental value is immense).

 

[J Wilson]

No.

 

[DanAdams]

Owning one bass is common for bass players.
Those are the normal kind of players who do not spend their time in online bass forums.

 

[E2942]

more, More, MORE!
It seems like it's they way of things in North America.

 

[Killing Floor]

If you think about your bass being really cool, then you triple it, that’s cooler. It’s really simple math.

 

[Katoosie]

No.

I do not like having more than 1. Bass is so complex, having more than 1 is overkill for me.

 

[Jeff Scott]

No.

I do not like having more than 1. Bass is so complex, having more than 1 is overkill for me.

You're still young.