The Sweet-Spot; how many basses do you own and how many basses are too many basses?

How many basses can you justify to your partner if you had to?

  • Anything other than a single P-Bass is a waste

    Votes: 13 4.3%
  • 2

    Votes: 39 12.9%
  • 3

    Votes: 45 14.9%
  • 4

    Votes: 54 17.8%
  • 5

    Votes: 38 12.5%
  • 6

    Votes: 23 7.6%
  • 7

    Votes: 23 7.6%
  • 8-12

    Votes: 46 15.2%
  • 13-20

    Votes: 28 9.2%
  • There are way to many combinations to fill all the spots

    Votes: 22 7.3%

  • Total voters
    303
I have 15 basses and each one comes with its own set of justifications. There are bassists who stay tried and true and only play P-Bass, and others that are fortunate enough to say “I like that, here’s my money” and only ever justify it with desire.

What do you feel is the perfect number of basses that a semi-pro or married man have? I have Jazzes and Ps, fretted and fretless, active and passive, 4-5 and 6 strings, acoustic and electric… each one is different in many bassists eyes, but to the guitarist… I just have a lot of basses. So, what say you? What does your perfect guitar rack or wall mounts have on it?
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i currently have 7 EBs assembled and ready to play. i voted "8-12" to match the number of necks i have that may get bolted to some bodies. i don't think my partner has anything to do with it.
 
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Owner of 4 p basses and 2 jazz basses here. That allows me to play all kinds of music, jazz excluded.

They all sound different otherwise I would reduce this number without any hesitation.

The bare minimum for me would be 2 precision and 2 jazz, one of each with rounds and one of each with flats.

That said though, some fellows in my area use an active 5 string US Lakland jazz bass and they can do 90% of the music genres in a very decent way…………….
 
Right now.... 25. But ya got it all wrong. Its not about a number. Its about finding the ones that really are special. And not all J- bass (or P-bass) are the same. Example: I have more than a few J-bass and they don't have the same charateristics. But there are only a couple that are true keepers. Meaning: The weight and balance are perfect for you. The neck and setup are amazing. It plays effortlessly. Of the 25, I have 7 that are amazing (keepers). The rest (18) are only "special" that I'm fond of. The average (32) ones have been sold already.
 
I have seven and am currently considering an eighth. Don’t need that many, but it’s fun to have them, and to be able to afford them at this point in my life.

But as to the poll, “How many can you justify to your partner,” If I had to whittle down the field, I could get by with two: My custom one-off Boogie Man 4-string, and my Bubinga Pedulla Thunderbass 5-string.

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fretless-basses-2014-jpg.438714

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Ecclesia: Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Official Pedulla Club #45
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My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
My Basses
 
3 is what ends up feeling right for me. I currently have more than twice that 😅... but only 3 ever end up in regular rotation. Planning on putting a couple that don't get the right amount of love up for sale shortly.
 
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6 at the moment, though I've sold three this year

Alembic Epic Special Edition IV
Elrick NJS (Czech made)
Sadowsky Metroline
Fender American Performer Jazz
Ernie Ball Music Man Caprice
Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass

Sold a Music Man Old Smoothie Stingray, US Sterling and PRS Kestrel this year
 
I have 15 basses and each one comes with its own set of justifications. There are bassists who stay tried and true and only play P-Bass, and others that are fortunate enough to say “I like that, here’s my money” and only ever justify it with desire.

What do you feel is the perfect number of basses that a semi-pro or married man have? I have Jazzes and Ps, fretted and fretless, active and passive, 4-5 and 6 strings, acoustic and electric… each one is different in many bassists eyes, but to the guitarist… I just have a lot of basses. So, what say you? What does your perfect guitar rack or wall mounts have on it? View attachment 7046255
2. A 4 and a 5 string string for the last 20 years. Hubby and happy wife, 47 years.
 
I own 7, but could get by on 3. Main, backup, and fretless. My wife is super cool and we treat each other like adults. I'm sure there is a point where I could get her mad, but 7 ain't it.
 
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Invalid poll. No carrots option.

The thing is, you don't have to justify owning any number of basses if you marry a woman who WANTS you to buy more basses.

The trick to that is to psychologically associate your basses into something she enjoys herself.

For example:

My wife is really into Disney princesses stuff. She loves to collect statues, plushies, just girly stuff. Particularly Aurora from Sleeping beauty. Of particular note here is the blue dress version, not the pink. Blue is her favorite color. (It pays to pay attention to the details and know these things)

So I got a Daphne Blue fretless parts bass... "Hey honey, doesn't this bass remind you of Aurora from Sleeping Beauty? Look at the color, it's almost identical to her dress." Now she's in love with that bass. "Maybe I should NAME this bass Aurora." She's into it. Hook, line and sinker. We name my other basses according to which princess it mosts reminds her of.

Why engage in such silliness?

Because birthdays and Christmasses roll around and on multiple occassions I've been blessed over the years with a new bass that reminds her of some princess that is not yet currently in the collection.

What is your wife into? Hope you all married well, and chose someone with some substance.
Not just the first stripper who came along and straightened the wrinkles out of your trousers.

No offense to any ladies here who may or may not be strippers. But statistically speaking the stereotypical divorced rockstar musician all too often was married to a shallow hot stripper chick. Not sure why anyone would seek to be wed to someone who removes their clothes for strangers for money, but it happens.