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What do you look for when adding another bass to your collection?

#21
DJ Bebop said:
I like to get something different most of the time. Other than a P for flats and one for rounds. A 4 string Jazz and a 5 string Jazz type bass. I usually try and go for one representation of each type of bass as a hobby. 😊
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"as a hobby" - an important distinction. Regardless of our past as pro, semi-pro, active amateur (my current status) - collecting instruments we play is a hobby. As in - it doesn't fully relate to our "needs" as players, but it is fueled by our interest in the instrument we are focused on. It can start with how a bass looks, sounds, plays, or all of the above. 1, 3, or 18... whatever...
 
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#22
4 Fender 4 strings (P, PJ, J fretted, J fretless), 1 fretless 5, 1 fretted 5, 1 6 string and a Single Cut tuned E-C.

Single Cut - I got to accompany a singer played it chordally - Still do play it. It is a no-name with primo parts and exotic wood.
6 string - for fusion band, where I can solo
The 5's for gigs. I actually have a 3rd 5 which is an SR5 -- This I am collecting. My main normal, non experimental gigging originals band likes me to play the fretless and the other fretted 5 for some numbers and other gigs - both are workhorses, both are jazzes and active.

The 4 fenders FSO's are there rotating and sometimes used for gigs. I record with them.

1 Hybrid guitar - Bass and Guitar -- learning how to play liek Charlie Hunter, Bringing it to jams and open mics.
 
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#23
Something different. I'm currently looking at a 60's Hofner knockoff, because I don't have a bass with that vibe.

Another I would like to get is a Gibson RD Artist, which is very different from any of my other basses.

I like variety!

Group 4.jpg
 
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#26
With any new bass I look for an upgrade. A new bass doesn't join a collection, it's a replacement. All mine have to work to stay owned, so the next bass has to be better than the last one in a significant way.

I don't buy basses very often, but the ones I keep hit the spot. . . . Lakland 55-94/14 years, Mike Lull PJ5/12 years, Sadowsky Jazz/9 years.
 
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#27
I roll all my NBD spacebucks into education, and it's the best ROI I've found.

That said, I can't think of another bass I want to own. Everything I need covered is covered by my three basses. That's the StingRay I bought in '79, a Nordstrand Cat v1, and a Chowny CHB-1.
 
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#28
Just go with what feels and sounds comfortable. If you prefer passive Jazz basses, then thats what you like. So do I. But in particular the Jazz body and neck.

I've found variety in modifying them. Usually new pickups, bridges or tuners. If you wanted to go that route, you could experiment with a decent, but cheap MIM Jazz. Parts and electronics are always being resold here on TB. Just a thought.

BTW, I also play fretless too which adds some spice.
 
#30
Is it cool?
Do I like how it feels/sounds?
Am I likely to actually use it?
Is it in the budget?
Is there something I can offload to make room for it?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, I won’t buy it. I haven’t bought a new bass in a while…
 
#32
I had only fretless 5 in 1990s. Then I wanted to try 6-string, so I got a used Pedulla ET-6 fretted. Then a used gear music shop was closing and had a Pedulla Rapure RB5 at a price I could not resist. Since, I was already interested in a fretted 5, I bought. My 3 basses are very different from each other. Now, if I see a decent unlined fretless 6 that handled like my Pedulla fretted, I would be tempted.
 
#33
To me, it’s mostly driven by the songs I play because I like to sound somehow similar to the original version.

Actually, I have jazz and precision basses with rounds and flats that suits 95% of my needs for rock, folk, blues and jazz.

The only missing link is a 4001 or 4003 Rickenbacker for that extra grinding sound for progressive rock but it won’t happen because my right forearm said nope !
 
#36
I’ve been a “one bass guitar to rule them all” player since I started playing (we don’t count DBs on this side of the house, right?) ;)

If I add one more, though, it will be something stupid-cheap rescued from FB Marketplace or Craigslist (probably a bog-standard P) so I can learn how to do mods without the risk of putting my precious out of commission.
 
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#37
I’ll buy another bass only when it’s something I “need” to achieve a sound my current inventory doesn’t provide.
Could I do all my gigs with one? Of course. But that would be boring to me.
 
#39
Just Wrong said:
I've always been the kind of person who only owns one bass at a time. Whenever I've had two—which happens has always been a passive four-string Fender Jazz with a passive four-string Fender Precision—one would stay in its case and I would sell it a less than six months later (always the Precision).

I want a second bass now, and I'm pretty sure I know what I'm getting, but it made me wonder: What do I look for when adding another bass to my collection?

In my case, I know I want something that sounds somewhat vastly different than what I have right now. But do I want something that feels the same? I have a six-string active short scale with a smaller string spacing. Do I want another six-string short scale with a smaller string spacing with different pickups, preamp, woods and strings? Or would that still be too similar for me?

I think that that was possibly the issue for me with having a Jazz and Precision. While they did sound different, they were somewhat similar in almost all other aspects (scale length, number of strings, passive electronics, string spacing, woods). I suppose there might be some truth that vastly different basses don't just sound different but also make you play differently. Did I feel like having a Jazz and a Precision was redundant because they made me play similarly? ... or maybe I just don't like Precisions.

On the other hand, some people have more than one of the same bass...

Anyway, what do you look for when adding another bass to your collection?
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Hmm.. I've got 22 in my collection right now. It used to be -alot- more. Do I need 22? Absolutely not. But some are players, some are investments, and some are just art.

I don't think you necessarily have to think that it should sound VASTLY different. It's more about what role it fills. For example, I wouldnt play a semi acoustic in a metal band. Now, that role could be defined by something as simple as looks. Looks SHOULDNT matter, but it definitely does. It's part of the band image.
Other roles could be one thats more comfortable for long sets, one that has more bite, a silly one for a certain song, a extra long/short/extra frets for certain songs. One you can keep in a certain tuning, etc.

Tbh there are as many reasons to buy a bass as there are basses.

But going back to sound, I think pretty much everyone who plays a music semi/professionally can agree that TO THEM, each one sounds different. Wether it be keys, different dimension drums, mouth pieces for horns, or basses for us bassists. It doesnt necessarily sound different to the audience, but thats another thing alltogether.

I have certain basses for certain songs/bands/tunings etc, which, IMO, all contribute in their own way to the vibe/completeness of each song/band.
But this is just me.

Anyway, I am a firm believer that all bass players above intermediate level should have atleast 1 precision, 1 jazz, and a hollowbody/semi acoustic. Preferably 2 of each; 1 with flats and 1 with rounds.
And thats before even getting into stuff like pickup placements on the hollow, scale, and all the other factors I mentioned.

All that being said, I do have 1 go-to bass that will fit most situations. That's a jazz. That's the one I will always bring to rehearsals etc, atleast the first few times. For live settings, I will bring atleast 1 more, either for the reasons stated above, or just as a backup, incase something happens.


Hope that helps :)
 
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#40
chris_b said:
With any new bass I look for an upgrade. A new bass doesn't join a collection, it's a replacement. All mine have to work to stay owned, so the next bass has to be better than the last one in a significant way.

I don't buy basses very often, but the ones I keep hit the spot. . . . Lakland 55-94/14 years, Mike Lull PJ5/12 years, Sadowsky Jazz/9 years.
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Same here. I keep three basses. Those are my first bass, my current player and a fretless.

My current keeper player is a Lakland 44-94 with J East pre. It is going to be hard to knock that one out of the player slot. Probably an equally playable bass, but with a body topped in a darker wood like Walnut with nice figuring could do it. Just not motivated enough to make the move for cosmetics. The Lakland is nice in Natural Ash.
 
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