+1. Different basses can do different things, have different sounds, different feels, etc.
Why? Because you can, why not, etc.
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Please help me understand the multiple bass thing
- Thread starter Jarrett
- Start date
+1. Different basses can do different things, have different sounds, different feels, etc.
Why? Because you can, why not, etc.
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Right here.
Is there more than 1 bass currently available? How about amps? How about cabinets? How about FX units?
You've been around that long and you really feel it necessary to ask this question or haven't honestly figured it out yet? Lol, k dude.
Different style gigs with different acts commonly make it smart to have multiple options.
It's easier to buy your next and sell the last than to find a trade.
IF you buy them right they don't depreciate.
I keep one at each of the practice spots.. have weeks the material (not original) was written for a 6er etc.
Many gigs a Pbass just doesnt work.
Tim
It's easier to buy your next and sell the last than to find a trade.
IF you buy them right they don't depreciate.
I keep one at each of the practice spots.. have weeks the material (not original) was written for a 6er etc.
Many gigs a Pbass just doesnt work.
Tim
Me personally; in the few years I have been playing I have been through a dozen basses through trading and selling, just to see what was out there as my local "mom & pop" shops had atrocious selection and GC can only take you so far. I now have 2 basses that I use and am in the process of selling off my other "'bay basses" as I call them. I only use my MM for an electric and a breedlove for practice/ outdoor acoustic jams.
I got you beat... I keep a good fretted 5 and a good fretless 5.
If I had money (I don't), I'd definitely invest in a BSX Mini-Allegro 5 EUB... there are some all-acoustic gigs I play where that would sound sweet. I had one years ago, and had to sell it after I got divorced. I actually played it quite a bit, not only because it sounded and felt good, but also it imparted a certain vibe to my on-stage appearance that I admit I found to be cool.
Maybe if I was doing a lot of recording in a lot of different genres I'd see more of a need for a variety of basses. I mean, if I was playing progressive avant-jazz on Tuesday and hardcore punk on Thursday, I might want a boutique extended range for earlier in the week and a battered P for later.
But that's not the reality of my gigging. I play alt-country/folkadelic, sometimes do a oldies/classic rock gig, sometimes do an "islands" gig (reggae/soca/calypso). My Stingray 5 fretless works for 80% of this stuff, and I love playing it, so there ya go. My "good fretted 5" is in transition right now, but I hope to have a Sterling HH before too long. Those two will cover anything I ever need to do in a crowded bar where people are hollering to converse over the music. I mean, seriously... nobody's out there in the dancefloor crowd thinking, "My, that factory bass is certainly lacking in extra strings, and wouldn't it have more active harmonic content with Nordstrand pickups and a Pope preamp?" Please.
If I had a ridiculous amount of money (as in, my financial future was secure for the rest of my life and I still had tens of thousands left over), I'd probably collect basses... not because I need them to play, but just because many of them are beautiful and interesting. I mean, people who collect coins don't do it because they need the coins to buy groceries, right?
But as far as gigging is concerned, give me two solid basses and a reliable combo amp and I'm golden.
some of us have more money than sense...
That said I'm gigging regularly these days and I've never been a collector type. I like to only keep things that I always use. For years I had two basses - a fretless 5 as a main bass and fretted 5 as backup/alternate. I added another fretless 5 Rob Allen recently as I wanted something to cover an upright type vibe for jazz gigs. For those shows I show up with that bass only. For a funk band and other variations of jazz/blues/whatever I was using the 5-string fretted but am going back to my other 5-string fretless and the main bass. I'm selling the 5-string fretted due to string spacing preference, and will replace it with either another fretted 5 or maybe a fretted 4. Either way it is a backup/alternate.
Truth be told I could play nearly every gig/song with my Zon Lightwave 5 fretless. But for some things I like to have a fretted option for a different tone/approach.
That said I'm gigging regularly these days and I've never been a collector type. I like to only keep things that I always use. For years I had two basses - a fretless 5 as a main bass and fretted 5 as backup/alternate. I added another fretless 5 Rob Allen recently as I wanted something to cover an upright type vibe for jazz gigs. For those shows I show up with that bass only. For a funk band and other variations of jazz/blues/whatever I was using the 5-string fretted but am going back to my other 5-string fretless and the main bass. I'm selling the 5-string fretted due to string spacing preference, and will replace it with either another fretted 5 or maybe a fretted 4. Either way it is a backup/alternate.
Truth be told I could play nearly every gig/song with my Zon Lightwave 5 fretless. But for some things I like to have a fretted option for a different tone/approach.
I think the answer is pretty straightforward.
I have a bunch of basses because........I can.
If one (or two) do it for you - rock on.
For me, need has nothing to do with it. It's my indulgence.
P.S. I'm not a collector - I gig regularly and use them all. If I find I haven't thought of reaching for any in some time - they're gone.
I have a bunch of basses because........I can.
If one (or two) do it for you - rock on.
For me, need has nothing to do with it. It's my indulgence.
P.S. I'm not a collector - I gig regularly and use them all. If I find I haven't thought of reaching for any in some time - they're gone.
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
i have quite a few (about 20) and i take two to the gig in case i break a string. sometimes i take a j bass and a p, other times a p and a single coil 50's type p, and other times a jazz and a ricky.
in the studio, i use whatever i have that suits the track the best, but probably the biggest reason that i have multiples is because each one 'inspires' me to play a little differently.
in the studio, i use whatever i have that suits the track the best, but probably the biggest reason that i have multiples is because each one 'inspires' me to play a little differently.
When doing work around the house I carry just one screwdriver, because it comes in handy and does what I want it to. But I also own a ton of different screwdrivers of various lengths and configurations because sometimes it's nice to have the screwdriver that suits the task at hand perfectly rather than just 'well enough'.
I probably should have clarified on the original request. I get the collector thing and the because I can thing. I just wondered if I was really missing something when it came to gigging and/or recording by not having a collection of really specific basses.
I usually only have one main bass and i gig, i never bring a back up because my shows are all small and the other bands are all friends were all college students so anytime someones gear breaks down they just hand off another bands guitar , bass etc we usually share amps no biggie, so i really only need one bass.
However i think boredom, talkbass and ebay got to me. Becuase i now have 3 P basses, why would i ever need 3 i dunno . So i think thats what happens you get bored and bam next thing you know your bass collection went up! I'll be selling 2 of my P basses once i decide which gets the axe.
However i think boredom, talkbass and ebay got to me. Becuase i now have 3 P basses, why would i ever need 3 i dunno . So i think thats what happens you get bored and bam next thing you know your bass collection went up! I'll be selling 2 of my P basses once i decide which gets the axe.
Maybe you're missing out on back problems from lugging a bunch of specialized basses to gigs/recordings?
My track record is very similar to yours,and,in twenty five years, there's nothing I haven't been able to cover with a good J-style bass. Having said that...if I had the cash...I'd own MANY of the above stated J-style basses!
I have lots of basses and actually use almost all of them.
Here is how I justify why I have what I have...
- 1973 Jazz and 1974 P - I have had these for a long time and my wife bought me the 1974. If I ever sold them, I would not be able to replace them without spending a fortune. Also, they are the 2 best '70's Fenders I have ever played. Great to own, but not absolutely required. They are played fairly frequently.
- Benavente Fretless 5 - My main gigging bass. I am a fretless player in 2 of the 4 bands I play in. Absolutely required.
- Gibson TBird - It is a cool bass, I always wanted one and it was the last one available in Canada last year when I bought it. Do I need it? Nope. Do I play it? Yes, but not that often. I could sell it and not really miss it.
- Squier fretless Jazz - I need a backup fretless for gigs. Required.
- 2008 American Standard P bass - I use this a lot for rock gigs. I prefer using this $800 bass than my 1974 for bar gigs. Could I do without? Maybe, but it gets used a ton.
- Morgan Monroe Acoustic - I play this all the time at jams and during acoustic gigs. Do I need it? No. Could I do without it? Sure. It is not an extremely expensive bass though.
- Peavey T-40 - Not being used and will be sold soon.
- NS WAV EUB - Used for small jazz gigs and acoustic stuff. I practive on this a lot as the scale length challenges me. Gets used a lot and is smaller than a 3/4. Definitely required for what I do.
- American Deluxe Jazz 5er - Given to me by a famous friend. Played rarely, but it was a gift. Not required, but I wouldn't feel right selling it.
There you go.... 10 basses. This is how my little brain justifies owning a bunch of basses.
Could I get by with 2 basses? Nope. I likely could get by with a fretted Jazz, My EUB and 2 fretless basses though. I can't see myself owning less than 4 or 5 basses any time soon though unless the music I play changes.
Here is how I justify why I have what I have...
- 1973 Jazz and 1974 P - I have had these for a long time and my wife bought me the 1974. If I ever sold them, I would not be able to replace them without spending a fortune. Also, they are the 2 best '70's Fenders I have ever played. Great to own, but not absolutely required. They are played fairly frequently.
- Benavente Fretless 5 - My main gigging bass. I am a fretless player in 2 of the 4 bands I play in. Absolutely required.
- Gibson TBird - It is a cool bass, I always wanted one and it was the last one available in Canada last year when I bought it. Do I need it? Nope. Do I play it? Yes, but not that often. I could sell it and not really miss it.
- Squier fretless Jazz - I need a backup fretless for gigs. Required.
- 2008 American Standard P bass - I use this a lot for rock gigs. I prefer using this $800 bass than my 1974 for bar gigs. Could I do without? Maybe, but it gets used a ton.
- Morgan Monroe Acoustic - I play this all the time at jams and during acoustic gigs. Do I need it? No. Could I do without it? Sure. It is not an extremely expensive bass though.
- Peavey T-40 - Not being used and will be sold soon.
- NS WAV EUB - Used for small jazz gigs and acoustic stuff. I practive on this a lot as the scale length challenges me. Gets used a lot and is smaller than a 3/4. Definitely required for what I do.
- American Deluxe Jazz 5er - Given to me by a famous friend. Played rarely, but it was a gift. Not required, but I wouldn't feel right selling it.
There you go.... 10 basses. This is how my little brain justifies owning a bunch of basses.
Could I get by with 2 basses? Nope. I likely could get by with a fretted Jazz, My EUB and 2 fretless basses though. I can't see myself owning less than 4 or 5 basses any time soon though unless the music I play changes.
I think people just do it for variety and it's fun. I've got my Ric because nothing else sounds like a Ric and its the sound I desire for my current band. I've got a Fender Jazz, because it's the first bass I bought. I've got a Fender Jazz Fretless (love me some fretless). I got my Stingray, because it's a great slapper, and not much else sounds like a stingray. And I've got my squier VM P Bass Telebass that I've modded all to hell to become a 72' custom telelbass. I got the Squier basically for free, otherwise I wouldn't have it at all.
Could I get by with just the Jazz, or just the Ric, plus one backup? Absolutely! But where's the fun in that??? Do I think one bass is better for a situation then others...sometimes I think "yes" and other times I think "people all say 'bass sounds like bass'" so it doesn't really matter anyway. But I sure do have fun contemplating what bass to play at each practice
Could I get by with just the Jazz, or just the Ric, plus one backup? Absolutely! But where's the fun in that??? Do I think one bass is better for a situation then others...sometimes I think "yes" and other times I think "people all say 'bass sounds like bass'" so it doesn't really matter anyway. But I sure do have fun contemplating what bass to play at each practice
Understood. I will also clarify my desire for having multiple basses. I do very little recording so the needs of a track or producer do not come into play. For me it's about having different basses. I have a few P basses - all with different guts and woods. Same with jazz basses - several, all with a different flavor. I see no point in having redundant multiples - each bass I have carries its own voice. I enjoy the variety of feels, scales and tones. I play strictly fretted 4's, so the appeal is variety of brands and types, colors and shapes.
I play in a regularly working cover band and I'm not locked into specific tones for specific tunes - I just like that all of my basses sound good in their own way and I go with whatever hits me at the moment. No doubt, certain basses change my approach - I'll take 2 as often as not just to switch up for each set.
So there you go - in a nutshell.
