Please help me understand the multiple bass thing

[Engine207]

Why? Because you can, why not, etc.

+1

I have a buddy who dig guns, and has dozens of different ones. Revolvers, semi-autos, rifles, shotguns, etc. I just have two of those. He knows a dude who has lotsa basses. That dude has a Ric, a P-bass and a J, a fretless, a 5er, an ABG and his childhood bass...a T-40.

People like stuff, some can afford stuff, so they get stuff. Simple.

 

[jmorbita]

Why buy one bass that does everything decently when I can buy many basses that do one thing perfectly?

All of my basses play, sound, and feel different. A few of them are in different tunings. Two of them have flats, one has steels, and the others have nickel/steel blends. A Fender P-bass with flats and played with my fingers will sound radically different than a Stingray with steel strings played with a pick. I certainly wouldn't interchange my reggae bass with my Tool cover band bass.

I own multiple basses because I like to hold it over others' heads, and because I'm so ADD that I hate playing the same bass for too long. On top of that, I play exclusively 6+ string basses, but when it comes time for a session gig, you'd better believe that I'll be showing up with a Fender-esque 4 and 5-string. Every situation is different, every bass is different, every player is different.

If two works for you, then fine, stick with it. I'll never understand it, but I don't understand liquid soap either.

Seriously, dude!!! what's the deal with liquid soap?

 

[MRDOOM]

Whoever dies with the most toys wins.

+1
that's the reason, right there.

 

[()smoke()]

i can see the different viewpoints on this

as a general observation, i'm someone who enjoys having one 'thing' and using the heck out of it, so i can see your view on having a different instrument for each gig or ensemble

i actually have just a single bass right now, a fretted 6 string, which i can use for everything, and a single guitar, a telecaster with a modern radius neck and stacked humbuckers with trick wiring giving me 12 different sounds--it's a workhorse and equally comfortable for Sleep style riffing or lounge jazz numbers

this being said, i have a vintage spec precision in the works that will be finished in a month or so, and i plan to put nickel rounds on it and use it for a lot of the stuff i'm playing in one of my bands--i'm moving toward a warmer supporting sound as we retool, and although i can easily roll off the highs of my 6, the precision will do that sound 'out of the box' if that makes sense

i also have a fretless J being built up as well from parts i had, and that will give me the fretless sound

with these 3 basses, that's all i really want--different sounds, different feels, something to suit anything i could want at the time

 

[ghiadub]

Fender Squire PJ BEAD - a true tharsher bass, I broke the body in half, glued it back and it has this amazing sound, like a hollow body, I take this bass to jams and biker bars.

Pedulla Buzz - "the" jaco sound, amazing fretless. Every time I think about selling I just pick it up and play for 5 minutes - total keeper - this bass is alive!

Memphis P bass 1977 - A $60 CL score - 100% stock and beats any vintage fender I have played, it also has a perfect neck and the lowest non buzzing action I have ever seen.

G&L L-1000 8.5lbs - I play this semi regular, awesome for Reggae in OMG mode

G&L L-1000 reissue 8.4lbs - Amazing quality, one of a kind - for collecting for the most part.

Lull Vintage Jazz - Passive - My only jazz bass, the best player, used regularly

Rob Allen Mouse - fretted My current "go to" bass - I play this the most
Rob Allen Mouse - Fretless - quickly becoming my "go to" bass - Love the RA sound

SX 5 string fretless jazz - wanted a backup 5er, I never play it so it will go soon

Sadowsky M-24 - My active 5er for fusion and rock gigs

Dean Fretless 34" scale upright bass - Piezos and TI flats - a sound of it's own, but rarely used going soon

Douglass 6string fretted - I added some Big Doubles - it cost me $60 for the bass, just wanted to have a 6 to try and "get it" - Used for playing chords, fusion, rock.

Guitarron 6 string fretless acoustic bass - used for when I cannot take the upright bass, campouts, Bluegrass jams that are not indoors

Laguna Fully carved upright - used for some jazz gigs, bluegrass gigs, and the bass I play around the house. I try not to take it out too much, but oh what a huge sound.

 

[COBRARI]

A wise man once said " A man with two watches doesn't know what time it is".

We like material stuff. I play chess and have a dozen chess sets and boards. Does it make any sense? No.
I don't care. I worked hard for my dough and I spend it any ol' way I choose. I think the bass player needs specific equipment for different
styles of venues but for sure doesn't need a closet full.
He/she likes admiring them all maybe more so than playing them all. No rhyme or reason but "different strokes for different folks".

 

[mgauge]

If I could afford a massive bass army I would have one.

I cant though, so my happy number is 2.. One 4 and one 5....

Kudos to those who can.. To each their own

 

[retardedpossum]

sometimes a song needs a blue bass sometimes it needs a green bass...you get the idea

 

[brianrost]

it really just seems to be a case of "I want that bass for whatever reason, I can afford it, so I'll buy it".

That's all it is.

Stage 1: you have no money, so only one bass

Stage 2: you have enough money to afford a second one for backup

Stage 3: you do gigs that call for really different sounds, say vintage P with flats vs.modern 5 with rounds so you start thinking about having one of each plus backups (4 total)

Stage 4: you own a nice bass that is now worth more than you could afford to buy again so you retire it in case you might need it in the future rather than sell it

Stage 5: you finally can afford an upright bass

Stage 6: you get enough money to afford a second upright for backup

Etc.

 

[derridiandrift]

I love this thread.

I bought my 'ray new and it was my number one on every gig for a decade, then I started accumulating a few other basses and things changed. I own a few basses, but I go through phases where I'll use one bass as my number one for six months at a time and then move on to another one. I sort of cycle through them.

I think that those players who like to switch it up for each gig simply do it because they can afford to do it. I can afford to own more than one good bass now, but I tend to reach for the same one for a number of months and then I guess I move on. If you have one good bass and one good rig, that's all you really need for every gig. Everything after that is just indulgence. Not that I have anything against indulgence, but let's call it what it is.

 

[elavate7]

i think a good 4 and 5 is all you need! maybe a 6 depending on the type of music you play.

 

[Jools4001]

I have a Ric 4001. I got it in 1976 after saving for it for 7years. It was my only bass for over 20 years while my kids were growing up and money was tight. This bass survived being sold to feed the family several times (once I changed my mind and kept the bass as the money was being handed over). It's been through thick and thin, its been a part of my life for 34 years now and it's priceless to me. So, I decided once I'd got some spare cash that I would rather be gigging with a bass that I wouldn't be heartbroken about if it got smashed up or stolen, so I got myself a second 4 string. I decided that, since I had already got a Ric there was no point in getting a bass that just gave me more of the same, and it would be better to get something that would have a different vibe - so I got an active P/J equipped bass.

Just before that, I had started playing in a band that needed a 5 string and I got a great deal on a Patrick Eggle Milan 5, I only got it because it was a quality bass at a great price and it is very comfortable. The sound was always a bit lacking to me, the only sound I really liked was when I selected the bridge pup and it sounded almost like a fretless...so I got it defretted and it's turned out to be a superb fretless fiver. It quickly became my main player. I also realised that I love playing fretless and I love playing 5 strings, nowadays I much prefer 5's to 4's. I later got a cheap Squier Precision 5 as a 5 string backup, and it still has it's frets to give a bit of 5 string variety.

The final bass is a Crafter ABG that sits next to my sofa and I just use that to grab whenever I want to play without all the rigmarole of going into the next room, taking the basses out of their gig bags, getting a lead out and plugging in.

Oh, and I've also got a P-Bass clone that I bought for my son. I'm just in the process of putting a spare Badass II bridge on it and stringing it up with flats (all my other basses are strung with roundwounds) just for a bit of a different tonal palette.

So that's it. Very different basses for different sounds and a bit of variety. What I find difficult to understand are people who seem to have huge collections of basses that are all the same. I wouldn't knock them for it, but for me, if you're going to have more than one bass you might as well have a bit of tonal variety.

 

[rob2966]

I have 4 basses (and my 5th will be ordered this fall). I have some "light" justification, but, really I just enjoy variety (spice of life and all...).

I have:

Sadowsky 24F5 - current go to bass, I could do almost any gig with this one.

Rob Allen MB-2 - I use this with an acoustic trio (and whenever I want a fretless sound)

Dingwall ABII - bright, piano tone. Works great for heavy rock and 80's pop stuff.

Fender P5 w flats - my Motown bass

I plan to pick up another Sadowsky this fall, 4-string w D-tuner. Leaning Will Lee (don't have a jazz in my arsenal) but we'll see.

I gig them all (but only ever bring 2 to a gig).

Later
Rob

 

[davecanady]

"Need" and "Wan't" are not interchangeable... unless I am talking to my wife

1. 4 string normal tuning with flatwounds
2. 4 string with roundwounds normally tuned down a half step with a detuner for my drop D songs.

40 songs by different artist each gig and I can get the tone and tuning I need with just the two guitars.... but don't tell my wife. I'm looking at 5 string P bass for sale on Craig's List.

 

[ProfGumby]

I don't understand *I don't understand* threads.

I don't understand what you are trying to say..

 

[Bass Kebap]

Here's my .02 cent:
I'm frequently gigging with many bands of different genres (pop rock / r&b / hiphop / contemporary jazz) and currently have one electric bass (Lakland Skyline JO4) and an upright (I usually double in most of these bands). I feel the need for a fiver sometimes, but I've never had to have a spare bass. I wouldn't bring 2 electric basses to a gig; what's the worst that can happen? For recording sessions, my JO4 can handle almost anything. If I could afford, I'd definitely get a fiver (prob. a JO5) and a Precision-type (a Lakie BG), but definitely not out of necessity, but of the mere fact that I can afford & actually use them.

 

[blackriverstan]

same reason anyone has a gun cabinet full of guns

or a closet full of shoes

or a garage full of motorcycles/cars

because they can

in communist countries they have toothbrush and car

here we have oral-b and gum and chevy and ford

awesome!

 

[xxfaux_punkxx]

only need for no more then 5 basses IMO

Main bass
back up bass
acoustic (for times when you don't want to lug out the amp)


.... really I can't think of any reasons to have more then 3...

 

[johnk_10]

i really can't think of a reason to have more than 20.

 

[Basshappi]

Can you say "instant wallpaper"?...sure, I knew you could!