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Question for the Collectors - 6+ basses

#6
Crusher47 said:
Do you guys consider your collection complete? Are you GASsing for another? What are some must haves in the collection? Any other advice?
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From the thread title, it seems you consider a “collector” to be anyone with more than 6 basses.

I disagree with that particular concept being what constitutes a “collector.” I would more tend to define a collector as anyone with three or more basses that never get out on the gig nor even get played, and were purchased with no intent to ever go out on a gig or be played. They just get taken out, polished, and put back in the case. That’s a collection.

Here’s why. Everything changes. There was a time when we were all young, being a player involved having a perceived personna; so, you needed one instrument that defined you; AND (and this is a big one) cover bands routinely played material with their own spin on it, and audiences were looking for musicians with their own thing going on.

Now, we (at least some of us) have gotten older, and we are not trying to conquer the world by being the most unique bass player any more. Instead, we are trying our best at every gig to play what is needed. And, there are a lot of very different gigs out there. Different signal chains and amplification schemes required. Big amps, little amps, NO amps/direct to FOH. And, audiences are more and more listening for accuracy to the reference material.

Well, what all that means to me as a player is that I actually use both passive and active 4’s, 5’s and even use a 6, and there’s a fretless as well. What I’m saying is that a working tool box these days has typically at least 6 basses, and if you’ve been around a bit, you might have accumulated a couple more you just don’t want to let go. So, if you have 8 basses; to me, that doesn’t make you a collector, IF you are using them routinely for different gigs. Or, perhaps, it’s a working collection. I guess it’s a bit of semantics. Working collection vs collector collection? IDK.

Believe me, I look back fondly on decades back when audiences were clamoring for unique renditions and stylists, and having an individual voice and one instrument was more the thing. I wish that was still the case. It isn’t. Working gigs now are looking for players with particular skill sets; and if you want to stay busy, it is best to be capable of being a bass chameleon.

Here’s my $0.019: first, figure out whether you are primarily a collector or a player. If you are primarily a collector, I would focus on Pre CBS Fenders; mainly because they maintain the highest collector value. If you are a player, then you need to determine what bass capabilities your gigs require. That will entirely depend on your gigs. For those gigs that seem the most mainstream, keep the instruments that line up the best with them. Last thing: decide which you are pursuing and do not get caught in the middle.
 
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#7
Yeah, one last thing I would add regarding auditions.

Don’t show up with multiple basses. I think that generally confuses people. Unless I have some clue that a particular instrument is sought, I always just show up with a Fender style instrument that is capable of doing all the audition material. And, preferably a 4. And, having Fender on the headstock is also preferable. You can adapt later on to whatever actually fits best after you get the gig. At least, that’s how I roll.
 
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#10
I think I have 6 basses..

93 mim jazz

parts PJ with dimarzios, walnut stain

78 musicmaster

74 mustang

2017 highly modified short scale jaguar

79 ripper fretless

Id say the collection is complete enough for the time being. The musicmaster and jaguar are my partners. The mustang gets some use by her and I both. She likes short scales with precision type tones.

The ripper fretless is great, more of a collectors piece.

the parts PJ would be my main player.

The MIM jazz was my first bass.

I always lust after a nice, old, precision. I used to have many precisions, but now I dont have a true precision bass. One pickup, volume, tone, chunky neck. One day I hope to come across a nice old one in person that feels good. Not too heavy, not too light Justttttt right.
 
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#13
I'm not so sure about the "collector" term either. I have 13 presently and I can honestly say they all get varying degrees of play time. I've hit the point where I won't add one to the herd unless it does something that I can't do with one I already have. For example, the most recent one is a 5 string P whereas before that one everything I had was a 4 string. I may get another higher quality 5 string at some point but it would mean selling off the 5 string I have now.
 
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#14
<-- I play what I collect, US Masters. I have seven different models, 4- and 5-string, active and passive. They do not come up for sale very often, and I think hard when I see one these days; I'm to the point where it has to be something I would play, or something really special.

I think there is only one that I would probably buy if I ever saw another, and that would be a fretless. I've only seen one, on eBay, that was listed for a long time, when I had no available cash. When I did have funds, it was gone. Quilt ma[le on mahogany with an unlined purpleheart fretboard.
 
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#15
I have 13, but like has been said already. They all get some degree of play, some more than others. Some have sentimental value, my Ibanez RB was my first bought in 1983...never letting that one go. I have a couple of Carvins that I love; several Fenders (to include Frankenfenders that I tinker on) they just sound right all the time; a Ric that has its own sound; a custom 5 build that was a gift for my 50th bday; a spector, alembic, etc. All get playing time. Every time I think I am done, I see something else that I need (WANT)....I really need a Pedulla MVP right this moment :-). My wife "How many basses do you need?" Me - "one more than I have"...
 
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#16
I have eight basses, three for gigging and five others for getting different tones in the studio. If there weren't so many different kinds of STRINGS out there, I could get away with fewer basses. But rounds, flats, tapewounds... different scale lengths, fretless, lefty - it's looking like I need at least one more, possibly two, to finally cover all the bases.

But when you talk "COLLECTING", I can only think of a few aesthetically pleasing vintage pieces that would for all intents and purposes be wall hangers. Just a few, but I have better things to do with the $$$ at the moment...
 
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#19
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#20
I have (who knows, lost count). Still not finished. Thinking a Marusczyck (spelling?) is next to order. Have a Wendler Electrocoustic fretless 5er and an Emerald Balor fretless 5er in the pipe already.
 
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