Owning one bass.. are those days over?

[George Dennis]

Exactly the way I feel. Maybe we should have our own Talkbass "I have too many basses" group. I bet there are a lot of us. I have a bunch of Wishbasses that I love but I never play them and there's just not a market for them. I certainly have some factory built instruments that I never play as well.

Welcome to BHPD!https://www.google.com/url?q=https:...MQFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw2AmrWaSjXwWbwMti7efeY1

 

[Ric5]

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

Ya my days of only one are in the distant past ...

 

[Snibborwocky]

If it REALLY came down to it, I'd have to have at least two - a jazz and a precision. They are the two I switch off with most often. I have a really difficult time choosing between them on any given day because both have their unique tones and feel. That being said, I could probably do without all the other basses I have stored away that I take out less frequently.

 

[Stewie]

I have my #1 upright, and a pair of fretless Ps. I could lose one of the Ps and be fine

 

[Rib 13]

A few years ago I had 17 basses and decided to thin the herd.........after some deep contemplation of what to keep and what should go, I negotiated a bunch of deals and exchanges and I now own 25 basses

I guess Im doing "thin the herd" wrong

 

[Kipp Harrington]

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

I own 6 basses and I was thinking the same as you, a month ago.

If I ever do decide to thin the heard, I'd probably keep my J, P, PJ, and Ray. Sell the other two and get what I really have been Jonesing for for years... a T-40.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

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

My buddy does (Blues band) and he owns several different kinds of basses.

 

[Rib 13]

I own 6 basses and I was thinking the same as you, a month ago.

If I ever do decide to thin the heard, I'd probably keep my J, P, PJ, and Ray. Sell the other two and get what I really have been Jonesing for for years... a T-40.

I have both a T-40 and T-45...both amazing basses that I like for certain recordings....for stage? Nope Both are too darn heavy (and Im a stocky guy).......BTW, I got the T-45 when "thinning the herd" <facepalm>

 

[neo 7]

Selling has become such a PITA that I'll probably never go down to one bass

 

[Watchootognbout]

My minimum is two.
A fretted and a fretless.(center two)
There are things I do on a fretted(tapping,chords)that I don't do on a fretless.

I can and do have more than two,but the minimum is two.

 

[NewKid1011]

Thank you. I know these are famous last words but I really do think I’m done. There is no need for more and adding anything else couldn’t be justified.
I saw a Classic 5 PDN in Guilded white mentioned here earlier this week.
I went goo goo over it for a few minutes and vowed to find one to make my desire for mutes complete.

Once I calmed down, I remembered that I can’t handle the slab bodies or the 7.5 radius. So unless Ernie Ball makes a Short Scale 5 or a Special5 with mutes and a beautiful blue, green, gold, or white sparkling finish, then I’m done. ( I’m typing this and secretly hoping that Mr. Ball is reading and taking note!!)

Last week I called Ernie Ball Customer Service to ask when any new colors for the Sterling would come out? They said there were no plans but that they would make one for me in the color I wanted if it was available. Now I’m waiting for a quote and timing. For some reason I thought they didn’t take individual orders. I’m going with an old school color: Trans Orange with a roasted maple neck and fretboard.

 

[Jefenator]

Maybe we're all more spoiled & materialistic now, or maybe bass guitar has evolved beyond the days where one Fender was all most clients could envision.
I'm thinking: both!!

 

[Road Hat]

I went down to one bass on August 18, and I love it! No worries or stress about which bass I should use, it’s set up for my style and tone, and I know exactly what to expect from it. Quite liberating, especially after many years of multiple instruments, it’s back to what it was like in the beginning.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Last week I called Ernie Ball Customer Service to ask when any new colors for the Sterling would come out? They said there were no plans but that they would make one for me in the color I wanted if it was available. Now I’m waiting for a quote and timing. For some reason I thought they didn’t take individual orders. I’m going with an old school color: Trans Orange with a roasted maple neck and fretboard.

That is certainly news to me. Good news as a matter of fact.

For one, I did not think they were even currently building the USA Sterling model . inwas under the impression it was under the currently unavailable status.

Being able to request a finish , or any type of change like fretboard wood, body wood, or figuring has always been impossible unless you are somebody famous, an artist, or know somebody .

Which one are you?
Please keep me posted on if this actually is going to happen. I hope it does !!

 

[Acoop]

1977 was the last time I owned just own bass. ... I've tried to imagine what I'd keep, if I had to desert Island, with just one bass.

 

[logdrum]

The ONUS is on you to play them or not. Some people collect and some of these extra basses justify why you play the one. Sometimes that is their only purpose.

 

[logdrum]

My first bass which has cracked twice and heavily modified is really not sellable. My 72 P was my friend's who passed - can't sell that for sentimental reasons besides his wife asks me when I see her how's the bass. I got my Pedulla Buzz for a really good bargain, sold it and was resold back to me after 18 years. My daughter has it. My son took over my Fender Jazz specials.

Other than that I have one 5 string fretless, 1 six string, 1 5 string E-C for chordal work, 1 jazz bass and 2 uprights. One is smaller and I use it for gigs.

 

[sethlow3]

Well first of all, gotta have a backup. No if’s, and’s, or but’s on that one because at anytime, the main can go down for some unforeseen reason.

Second, if you buy basses with the end goal of obtaining a very distinct sound or vibe (ie: P, J, MM, etc…) that you know you will utilize often, then you have a broader range of tonal options that you will come back to more often.

If the second bass is just some similar version of the main or doesn’t knock my socks off in some way to make me play it often, then why keep it?

 

[EdO.]

Sometimes I stick with one for a month or more, if I'm drilling on something in particular, but generally my instruments get played for a week at a time.

Hey, if you can get down to one and you are happy with that then very cool. What ever inspires you to keep playing. For me it's tones. Like an itch you can't quite scratch.

per the OP: those days are over for me. i'm at a point in life where i don't bother trying to rationalize --- i like 'em all!

I only had 1 bass for the first 25 years and even though I can now afford any number, I'm a player not a collector.

Sure, I could get by with just one... but I don't have to.

A lot of my stuff has a story or particular time frame attached. I couldn’t afford much when I was younger, and I regret selling the gear that I once owned but “had” to get rid for whatever reason

I see others that I would like to have but there's really no reason.

Selling has become such a PITA that I'll probably never go down to one bass

All of the above. Selling anything these days is a real PITA, almost not worth the effort and potential exposure to scammers and ripoffs. There is only ONE more I'd like to have (famous last words), a Ric 4004 that I really have no good reason to have other than I'd like to have one before I check out. Maybe if I were to find a really good deal on one... But I really do need to thin the herd a bit.

 

[FugaziBomb]

I own so many basses I've legitimately lost count. I play almost all of them as regularly as someone who owns 20+ basses can. My experience is that most of them - Stingray, P Bass, J Bass, whatever - all just tend to sound like me playing any bass once it's in a mix. There are a few exceptions, but honestly not enough to really justify owning so many. For me, it's just fun collecting things. Sneakers, amps, guitars... As long as it's a well taken care of, organized collection, I love it.