Like women, you will over time gravitate to those who's character you like most
the ray so far and if its feel tone and liquid playability are anything to go by. she's a keeper
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So how do you guys with multiple basses do it?
- Thread starter adrian garcia
- Start date
the ray so far and if its feel tone and liquid playability are anything to go by. she's a keeper
I think the real question is how can any of us be on talkbass for any length of time and not want multiple basses.
I only have one bass and one amp, but they cost me quite a bit relative to my income and I was able to finance this rig by selling a ton of old gear I had accumulated. If I was made of money, maybe I would have kept the old stuff. Given the choice, I usually take one high quality piece over several cheapies. YMMV.
For 35 years I had one bass, a 62 P, one strap, amp, lead (cord) etc. I could not justify or at times afford more.
Now the family have grown up and moved on and if I fancy a bass I buy it. So now I have 8 (but am not looking to buy more as my guitar rack is overflowing). I also have 3 bass rigs plus straps and leads to cobble dogs with.
For gigging I have a Stingray 5, SUB 4, G&L L-2000 and L-2500. My current favourite is my new L-2500 which will probably play it's first gig tonight. I also have a fretless J copy and a couple of project basses, one of which I have gigged with because I like the sound so much.
If I just had one good one then I would still be be happy but I can afford them so why not, they are not wasted money. I will play any at rehearsals and it is nice to revisit one I have not picked up for a while.
My reason for buying the first of my herd (SR5) was that my P was getting too valuable to leave on it's stand at gigs. That was the opening of the flood gates, I soon bought SR5, the fretless, SUB etc. I have a way to go to catch our guitarist though, the last time he counted up he had 26.
Now the family have grown up and moved on and if I fancy a bass I buy it. So now I have 8 (but am not looking to buy more as my guitar rack is overflowing). I also have 3 bass rigs plus straps and leads to cobble dogs with.
For gigging I have a Stingray 5, SUB 4, G&L L-2000 and L-2500. My current favourite is my new L-2500 which will probably play it's first gig tonight. I also have a fretless J copy and a couple of project basses, one of which I have gigged with because I like the sound so much.
If I just had one good one then I would still be be happy but I can afford them so why not, they are not wasted money. I will play any at rehearsals and it is nice to revisit one I have not picked up for a while.
My reason for buying the first of my herd (SR5) was that my P was getting too valuable to leave on it's stand at gigs. That was the opening of the flood gates, I soon bought SR5, the fretless, SUB etc. I have a way to go to catch our guitarist though, the last time he counted up he had 26.
If you're ever in town stop by... then you'll see why I keep what I do.
If I had to pick a go to bass it might be my Brubaker blackburst six; covers everything and is great for soloing. Fortunately I don't so I can use the MTD, Brubakers, Elricks, Fodera, Ambush, Marleaux, Fenders, etc. whenever I want.
Okay, enough gloating.
I guess the question I'd ask is, if you could keep all of these basses, why not?
Ahh yes. A persons "need for something" is subjective to one own perspective.
I have had multiple basses. It's fun. It's nice. And now I find it's impractical for me. I now try to have one bass that can be as close as possible to an all in one as I can get for my needs.
Right now I'm using a Sadowsky M5-24. It is plenty "modern" but judicious use of the VTC and Blend pots help a great deal.
As I do a lot of jazz work, I am considering an EUB. I kind of have a self imposed 2bass limit.
Yeah, my collection is not about need, it's about desire and appreciation for the art of the finer instruments. I guess that's a good way to think about what I've done... I'm kind of an art collector... it's just that my art collection is dually appreciated since I can not only appreciate it aesthetically, but also functionally. I love that.And that's what Adrian has right now.........
Your post was pretty much spot on.
I pretty much could cover any gig with one bass. It's more your approach and feel more than the bass itself.
Plus, I have a Roland V-Bass system......so I have pretty much every bass you could want in a box on the floor!
Yeah, my collection is not about need, it's about desire and appreciation for the art of the finer instruments. I guess that's a good way to think about what I've done... I'm kind of an art collector... it's just that my art collection is dually appreciated since I can not only appreciate it aesthetically, but also functionally. I love that.
Right on, I getcha.
I have six basses. Or maybe seven, I forget. I keep them all because they all do something different, something that I need if not regularly than at least often enough that it makes more sense to have them than not to.
On the other hand, I've finally reached the sort of Critical Mass where I can't really justify to myself getting any more basses (unless I replaced some) because I have at least one of everything that I can envision needing.
The whole "if you're not using it, sell it" argument doesn't work for me because most of my equipment has crappy resale value! It's worth way more to me even if I only use it once a year than it is to sell it.
On the other hand, I've finally reached the sort of Critical Mass where I can't really justify to myself getting any more basses (unless I replaced some) because I have at least one of everything that I can envision needing.
The whole "if you're not using it, sell it" argument doesn't work for me because most of my equipment has crappy resale value! It's worth way more to me even if I only use it once a year than it is to sell it.
+1 the combined value (what I paid) of the 5 I use is around $2090, I don't keep them because of the resale though, I keep them because I like every one of them.
I have owned over 40 basses over the years - never at one time though! For many years I just had one - a Yamaha BB5000 until I got my first endorsement with Godin in 2004. Even then I just had 2 basses - a Godin BG5 and Yamaha backup (later on I got a Godin Freeway active 5). The most basses I owned at one time where 5 just because I love basses. Today I only keep 3 higher-end basses that I actually like to play, have the right feel and sound for me. I always watch out for other basses to try if the price is right especially if it is a rare or unique bass (like my Alfonso Iturra).
If I could afford more 'high-end' basses and had a place to display them (no point keeping hidden away in a case) I would buy more. I think the 3 I have now are keepers for sure.
If I could afford more 'high-end' basses and had a place to display them (no point keeping hidden away in a case) I would buy more. I think the 3 I have now are keepers for sure.
I'm also in the 'horses for courses' club. I have 7 basses, either in-house or on-the-way and they are all set up for different sounds. All are 5 string with the exception of the hollowbody.
An active J/MM with stainless (sometimes Nickels)
A passive Jazz w/nickels
A P/J with stainless
A P w/Flats
A cheap Hollowbody with dead stainless (my at-work/beater bass)
A dual humbucker semi-hollow with nickels
An EUB
I also play recreationally and with different collections of people and genres, so it helps to have the right sound for the right project without having to constantly re-string and re-setup. There is also the 'Spousal Tolerance Protocol' that must be adhered to at all times.
Duplicate basses don't seem to stick around, as I have yet to be able justify owning multiple basses that are the same model set up the same way when there might be something different sounding out there.
An active J/MM with stainless (sometimes Nickels)
A passive Jazz w/nickels
A P/J with stainless
A P w/Flats
A cheap Hollowbody with dead stainless (my at-work/beater bass)
A dual humbucker semi-hollow with nickels
An EUB
I also play recreationally and with different collections of people and genres, so it helps to have the right sound for the right project without having to constantly re-string and re-setup. There is also the 'Spousal Tolerance Protocol' that must be adhered to at all times.
Duplicate basses don't seem to stick around, as I have yet to be able justify owning multiple basses that are the same model set up the same way when there might be something different sounding out there.
Couple of notes ----
1-Gear is cheap now -- great time to swoop up stuff you've wanted.
2-When going DI.. it's easier to send a clean and desired signal from the right bass than use gizmos to correct the wrong bass
1-Gear is cheap now -- great time to swoop up stuff you've wanted.
2-When going DI.. it's easier to send a clean and desired signal from the right bass than use gizmos to correct the wrong bass
Meh i have :
a 4string ibanez gsr
A 6 string ibanez gsr (defretted)
a ray34
Man i love the sound of the ray but i keep going back to the ibanez's that are half the price and quality of te ray and of course each one gives me a different feel and sound
IMO
"If you can get a Ritter, get a ritter , if you can get a squier get a squier. You get what you want, don't let people tell you you have to "earn it"."
a 4string ibanez gsr
A 6 string ibanez gsr (defretted)
a ray34
Man i love the sound of the ray but i keep going back to the ibanez's that are half the price and quality of te ray and of course each one gives me a different feel and sound
IMO
"If you can get a Ritter, get a ritter , if you can get a squier get a squier. You get what you want, don't let people tell you you have to "earn it"."
It's cyclical for me, I collect a bunch of basses, then realize I still only play the same 2 - so I sell a few off. After a year or so GAS gets the better of me and I start buying more basses again.
I can see why session guys would need a wide variety of basses. For me a passive P-style bass and my Ric are all I need.
I can see why session guys would need a wide variety of basses. For me a passive P-style bass and my Ric are all I need.
+100000000
It always blows my mind when people deny themselves a finer instrument, despite the ability to afford and great desire to own, because they think others may be critical of them.
Sheesh.
For the record, I'm just a mediocre player, but I own some pretty amazing instruments, and I don't think I've ever, in MANY years of playing, heard even one person be seriously critical of me for not being worthy. Maybe in jest
, but never seriously. Those people may be out there, but (thankfully) they're very few.Just sayin...
Bingo, and I'll take it a step further - I have found that it's easier to start with the right tool in general, be it DI, mic'd, studio, whatever.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Didn't really read the responses here, but want to give a go at justifying my basses. I honestly don't know how many I have. I think it's around 16.
1. Alvarez Dana. My first "real" bass. Can't get rid of that, plus it does this really cool boingy thing when I hit the strings that no other bass I ever played does. It's also impossible these days to replace.
2. Musicman Big AL. It's my #1 right now.
3. Musicman Stingray. It's my funkiest bass and my #1 on days I'm not feeling the Big Al. Actually hard for me to decide btwn the 2 MMs.
4. Bongo 5. It's my #1 5 string.
5. Squier active 5. Can't justify it. I love the way it feels and sounds though, and it's worth more than the $200 I'd be able to get for it if I sold it.
6. Minarik custom 5. The company built the bass to my specs and gave it to me. Nuff said.
7. JBP 5 string acoustic. Everyone needs a 5 string acoustic. Been using it a lot lately.
8. Carlo Robelli 4 string acoustic. Feels great, sounds great acoustically, I won it (didn't cost me anything) and I'd only be able to get around $50 if I sold it. Not worth parting with.
9. Dean PACE upright. Comes in handy for more sophistacted gigs or to raise eyebrows. Is fun to play and completely different than anything else I own. Fretless too.
10. Michael Kelly acoustic fretless 4. Everyone needs a fretless acoustic. C'mon.
11. Warwick Fortress 1. I love Warwicks and want that growl on recordings sometimes.
12. Warwick Fortress Flashback. Need an all passive bass in my collection. Got a decent price on it and bought it as an investment. Looks wicked cool.
13. Upright bass. Don't want to write about it but I have 1000s of reasons for holding onto that. Regardless of the fact that I never touch it.
14. Fender Jaguar. How could I not have a Fender in the stable? It's the only Fender I've ever owned that I love. Has a warmth many of my other basses doesn't.
15. Douglas 6 string. It has the sweetest neck and greatest action of any 6 string I ever played. Sounds awesome, and absolutely not worth getting rid of for the $100 it's worth. Could never find another 6 string comprable at that price. We all need a six string. Just in case.
16. Boob bass 2. It's a 4 string Squier deluxe 4. A novelty. It's up for sale.
I guess I'll add that I actually consider all but my Musicmans and the Minarik investments. I will never sell the MMs or that. Just about all the other basses I pretty much got killer deals on and could sell for at least as much as I paid, some for hundreds more. Not the greatest investments one could make, but more than if the money were just sitting in a bank. I'd rather have a bunch of toys around that I can play with. And I'd sell them in a heartbeat if I had to. Well, maybe a few heartbeats.
My journal writing and gratitude list for the day is done. I am grateful for all the above.
1. Alvarez Dana. My first "real" bass. Can't get rid of that, plus it does this really cool boingy thing when I hit the strings that no other bass I ever played does. It's also impossible these days to replace.
2. Musicman Big AL. It's my #1 right now.
3. Musicman Stingray. It's my funkiest bass and my #1 on days I'm not feeling the Big Al. Actually hard for me to decide btwn the 2 MMs.
4. Bongo 5. It's my #1 5 string.
5. Squier active 5. Can't justify it. I love the way it feels and sounds though, and it's worth more than the $200 I'd be able to get for it if I sold it.
6. Minarik custom 5. The company built the bass to my specs and gave it to me. Nuff said.
7. JBP 5 string acoustic. Everyone needs a 5 string acoustic. Been using it a lot lately.
8. Carlo Robelli 4 string acoustic. Feels great, sounds great acoustically, I won it (didn't cost me anything) and I'd only be able to get around $50 if I sold it. Not worth parting with.
9. Dean PACE upright. Comes in handy for more sophistacted gigs or to raise eyebrows. Is fun to play and completely different than anything else I own. Fretless too.
10. Michael Kelly acoustic fretless 4. Everyone needs a fretless acoustic. C'mon.
11. Warwick Fortress 1. I love Warwicks and want that growl on recordings sometimes.
12. Warwick Fortress Flashback. Need an all passive bass in my collection. Got a decent price on it and bought it as an investment. Looks wicked cool.
13. Upright bass. Don't want to write about it but I have 1000s of reasons for holding onto that. Regardless of the fact that I never touch it.
14. Fender Jaguar. How could I not have a Fender in the stable? It's the only Fender I've ever owned that I love. Has a warmth many of my other basses doesn't.
15. Douglas 6 string. It has the sweetest neck and greatest action of any 6 string I ever played. Sounds awesome, and absolutely not worth getting rid of for the $100 it's worth. Could never find another 6 string comprable at that price. We all need a six string. Just in case.
16. Boob bass 2. It's a 4 string Squier deluxe 4. A novelty. It's up for sale.
I guess I'll add that I actually consider all but my Musicmans and the Minarik investments. I will never sell the MMs or that. Just about all the other basses I pretty much got killer deals on and could sell for at least as much as I paid, some for hundreds more. Not the greatest investments one could make, but more than if the money were just sitting in a bank. I'd rather have a bunch of toys around that I can play with. And I'd sell them in a heartbeat if I had to. Well, maybe a few heartbeats.
My journal writing and gratitude list for the day is done. I am grateful for all the above.
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