Question for the Collectors - 6+ basses

[Ghastly]

To answer the question at hand, I have paused for a bit, but there are so many basses that I love and want. Not complete. I do plan to have a Thunderbird and an original Fender (first 3 years of production) Precision bass at some point, and am currently looking for a nice fretless maple neck to swap out on my Modern Player Jazz…

As to the wife thing… she's cool with my growing and expanding possibilities (fretless, 5 string, etc.) but suggests getting rid of one of the existing basses for a new one. Sensible, but I can't do it. I bond with each bass I get. Sorta like pets.

 

[micguy]

I'm not a collector - I build my own. the fact that I have a few (ok, a small herd) is due to wanting to have enough paintbrushes to do different jobs. Am I done? I have no idea. Probably not, but I may be close to it.

 

[40Hz]

I buy to get different sounds and only keep the basses I actually play.

I own a certain number of basses. I do not collect them. Or have them just to have. That way madness lies.

 

[bholder]

That way madness lies.

Indeed. Come to the Dark Side!

 

[ThudThudThud]

I'm not a collector - I build my own. the fact that I have a few (ok, a small herd) is due to wanting to have enough paintbrushes to do different jobs. Am I done? I have no idea. Probably not, but I may be close to it.

I'm in a similar boat. I have seven basses (and "a similar quantity" guitars..).
Mine all make different sounds. Even where they are similar (2xJJ, 2xP, 2xPJ, 1xABG & all four-bangers) they are different beasts, and make different noises due to pickup placement, electronics, strings, frets/fretless etc.
Not a collector, more an 'accumulator.'

"Why do you need another bass?" ~ 'er indoors

 

[lixisoft]

I never really think of them as a collection, if I play one I like, I get it !! I have been playing for over 50 years, so I have accumulated quite a few. Just went into the "ManCave" and counted 26 basses. I think I may have a problem

 

[40Hz]

Indeed. Come to the Dark Side!

Been there. They are really do have cookies! And coffee! French Press no less!!!

 

[basscapes]

Had three entirely different bass guitars at one time.

I now have one, which I enjoy thoroughly.

Would love to have two or three others, but finances dictate.

That would not change, even if I was single.

 

[brianrost]

I was never a collector, because to me a collection implies some rhyme or reason to it. Like one of each Fender bass model from a particular year in matching colors, a Gibson Thunderbird in every available color, one of every variation of the 1980s P Elite (I, II, gold, chrome, walnut), etc.

I just bought basses I wanted to play, some got used on gigs and those that didn't were sold off over time. At this point in my life I don't plan on ever buying another bass and will possibly sell off one or two more.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Don’t consider mine a collection .. I’d get rid of a couple of basses .. anyway it isn’t finished here .. I have at least 3 other basses which I will have to acquire sooner of later ... a Rick, a Sterling (don’t like Stingray wide neck) and a fretless jazz ... Amen

 

[TolerancEJ]

I have 15 Basses. I have another fully paid VF6-PJ Fretless at FBass that hasn’t begun production yet. I have already committed to a Fodera Emperor Standard 6 in 2018.

And my list is STILL a mile long. Each time I think I have my 3rd purchase selected, my attention is swayed (either a new one or an awesome used Bass appears somewhere online.)

Just this week, there was a day I was frantically searching whether PayPal Financing was available to Canadians. It is not (yet, anyway.) Just as well because I already have a near-maxed credit card.

Here’s a fun fact: I believe I’ve typed the word “bass” so frequently in my phone that autocorrect wants to capitalize “Bass” or “Basses” every time.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Do you guys consider your collection complete? Are you GASsing for another? What are some must haves in the collection? Any other advice?

I have almost 170 basses and I am never done. There is always something new to discover. That's the fun in collecting.

 

[NOVAX]

I collect player basses (25+)
I wouldn't feel right playing collector basses - the infamous case queens.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

I have ten. It was a silly way to spend my money. I only play one regularly, another semi-regularly, and a third very occasionally (I last gigged that one about 14 months ago). The rest gather dust.

 

[MrLenny1]

I have 4 basses.
2 are collector items, the other 2 go to work.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I think people get far too carried away with the number of basses. Lots of times I have seen musicians change instruments, and delay negatively affected the pace of the gig. I have never played at, or seen, a gig where someone said "that would be better if he changed instruments".

- Geddy Lee played Roundabout on a Jazz (with his fingers). With Rush, he played the same tunes on a Ric, a Jazz, a Wal, and others.
- Townshend played the same songs on a Ric, a Strat, a Les Paul, and a Tele. Entwistle also played many different basses.
- Etc.

Yet weekend warriors "need" multiple instruments. Multiple shiny things are nice, but they not a need.

 

[bassestkkm]

I don’t really collect, but I do have 6 basses at the moment. Every one brings a different flavor and they all get used for different things. All of them have been used live in a band setting. I just buy them if I like them if the price is right. I have to have the ability to break even or gain from a purchase.

 

[TolerancEJ]

I have almost 170 basses and I am never done. There is always something new to discover. That's the fun in collecting.

Where do you put them? Do you store or display them?

 

[rogerbmiller]

Where do you put them? Do you store or display them?

None are displayed. Too much dust in NYC apartments. They would get too grimey.

Some are stored remotely. Most are accessible though.

 

[Jones64]

I want to collect things I will play. I got early 80's a Peavey Foundation 4 and and a Korean Squier II P bass for under $50 each and they sounds so awesome I just love them more than the couple of hundred they may be worth even if I need the money. Sometimes gig or record these chap's instead of my classic Fender or various Moduli. I like to try stuff out, but if i don't find somewhere to play it, will move on to a new good home. I get a kick out of finding gear under $100 and using it. I guess I am a collector of bargain basement functional clutter.

 

[Crusher47]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I appreciate it. I have 12 at the moment but still have another 4 or 5 on my list to get next, so I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with this "issue" of never ending GAS. I do play all of mine, obviously some more than others. I'm looking to be more of a player that has some nice guitars that some may say is a collection but I'm not a true collector as to where they would never get played at all, if that makes sense.