What benefit does owning multiple basses give you?

[hailet]

Me too!

I can't be like Jay Leno and own hundreds of cool cars and motorcycles because I'm too poor.

So, I own a bunch of basses!

A car collector is exactly the way I see it. It's great to own one nice bass but if I can afford to own a few or a bunch of nice basses, far out. At the moment I only own one but that's going to change as soon as I find a fretless I want to own.

 

[Melonthief]

Other than a backup and maybe a travel bass, I'd say that excessive bass GAS kills trees and the planet. Be green, own a Dargie Delight Musicman or whatever, have a backup and a beat-up and call it quits.

If you look at the restrictions that are being imposed on certain kinds of woods, you'll realise that extinction of a species might mean you have a "one of a kind" instrument, but you endangered the survival of some small animal or local population that depended on that tree for whatever purpose.

Not saying using wood for a fine musical instrument is a crime. But be wise about what you buy and treat it well, as something died to give you and others pleasure.

- Reggae Mangle

I'm not sure I can buy this reasoning. Most people might have one or two new basses, but guys I know with a big collection have a lot of vintage stuff that they got used and therefore the rainforest is relatively safe as far as the effect of bass collecting goes!

 

[mcnach]

Other than a backup and maybe a travel bass, I'd say that excessive bass GAS kills trees and the planet. Be green, own a Dargie Delight Musicman or whatever, have a backup and a beat-up and call it quits.

If you look at the restrictions that are being imposed on certain kinds of woods, you'll realise that extinction of a species might mean you have a "one of a kind" instrument, but you endangered the survival of some small animal or local population that depended on that tree for whatever purpose.

Not saying using wood for a fine musical instrument is a crime. But be wise about what you buy and treat it well, as something died to give you and others pleasure.

- Reggae Mangle

I very much doubt any of my or your basses use any endangered species wood...

 

[Impostor]

OK, my choice. Pretty self-explanatory, right?

1. Fretted 5-string - the main axe.
2. Fretless 5-string - for whatever you need a fretless.
3. Semi-hollow 4-string w/ flats - for the 'acoustic' tone.

...and still dreaming of an electric upright ))

 

[JebDude]

I just own the one (for now). My original pawnshop Ibanez GSR-300. Passive P-J, pre-phat knob. Although, right now it's just a P. Haven't completed diagnosis as to whether it's the J pickup or pot. I really think I want a 5 string fretless, but no $'s. I'm thinking of altering a pawn shop bass for BEAD to get the low end. I do use my G, but could do without it for an experimental time.

I only play contemporary worship music which varies from a pop feel to some harder rockin' sounds, so the P is good, but I need to get the J figured out for a little growl. I only get to play about 4 or 5 Sundays per year so most of this is just wants. That's a good enough reason in my book.

JB

 

[georgestrings]

I very much doubt any of my or your basses use any endangered species wood...

+1...


- georgestrings

 

[Ken J]

I very much doubt any of my or your basses use any endangered species wood...

All woods are endangered species. It’s how you utilize the wood. Instruments used by true musicians will most likely be cherished, respected and used to its full potential then passed on to one who will do the same. Covering your vehicles dash board in exotic wood to show off and just trash it through a shedder after a short time is wrong.

 

[trimslinger]

Let me guess- gathering ammunition for that pre-purchase discussion with the significant other?

I have collected multiple basses over the years,tried to
buy good quality at low prices.If I ever have to sell any I
wont really loose out.
The deal with the wife was ,if you get'm ya gotta play'm,
so i do. Now , thats its getting tuffer,I,m making the
"if the house is burning list" what gear will make it out the door
and selling the rest.
Oh, and when she says "Do you really need that(another)fill
in with appropriate offending purchsae, I just substitute with
the word Shoes......she then understands
GASS = Get And Stash Somewhere..

 

[petrus61]

I've found my magic number to be two basses. I've never owned more than five at any given time. One to play and one for backup is what I've rounded down to. Three is nice if the third has something unique to offer, like extended range or a short scale, or a hollow body. What happens is that I wind up favoring one bass and the others collect dust. It's just the musical situation I'm currently in doesn't justify anything other than a passive 4 string Precision and a 5 string jazz, which maybe gets used for one song (Pour Some Sugar). Considering selling it but I won't be comfortable not having a backup. As a rule, I always bring two basses to a gig, even though I'll only use one. It's just common sense to me. Parts fail, strings break, etc...

Things get murky after three and I start to get depressed that one may not be getting enough play, so I wind up trying to fit all of them into my situation and that's just not practical for the level I play at. Something about an unplayed bass sitting in my closet bothers me, lol. All that said, I have decided that if I add anymore basses, they will be differently configured Precisions, since they are my favorite. Ill soon have an alder bodied, maple fingerboard P-Bass in nitro, so of course I'm going to need a rosewood/alder P too. Then I'm going to need an ash/maple combo. Then I'm going to need another P just to accommodate rounds...it goes on and on and on and......

 

[Ken J]

I have collected multiple basses over the years,tried to
buy good quality at low prices.If I ever have to sell any I
wont really loose out.
The deal with the wife was ,if you get'm ya gotta play'm,
so i do. Now , thats its getting tuffer,I,m making the
"if the house is burning list" what gear will make it out the door
and selling the rest.
Oh, and when she says "Do you really need that(another)fill
in with appropriate offending purchsae, I just substitute with
the word Shoes......she then understands
GASS = Get And Stash Somewhere..

Shoes
Cool
You just made it easier for me
I owe you one