I've tended to have two categories of basses:
1. Basses that I regularly gig & record with. If adding a bass for this category I look for one that can be applied to a broad variety of situations and can do what my primary bass does (so it can serve as a backup) but that also brings something different. So, for example, my current #1 is a P bass with rounds (tone rolled off) and my secondary is a Stingray with flats. I could happily gig or record with either, but each has a different sound, so I might favor one over the other depending on the particulars of the situation.
2. Basses that I've collected for the novelty/curiousity. An example is that I recently owned a couple of Japanese short scale replicas of the Ampeg "scroll" bass. Those were fun. For this category my key criteria is if I think I can re-sell the bass to at least break even (and maybe even turn a little profit) so I can justify the frivolity. These come and go, and I don't think of them as gigging basses but more as a hobby to indulge my general love of the instrument (though I might take one to a gig). It's been fun buying, owning, and selling some really interesting basses.
Currently, category 2 has been emptied out, and I own three basses in category 1.
1. Basses that I regularly gig & record with. If adding a bass for this category I look for one that can be applied to a broad variety of situations and can do what my primary bass does (so it can serve as a backup) but that also brings something different. So, for example, my current #1 is a P bass with rounds (tone rolled off) and my secondary is a Stingray with flats. I could happily gig or record with either, but each has a different sound, so I might favor one over the other depending on the particulars of the situation.
2. Basses that I've collected for the novelty/curiousity. An example is that I recently owned a couple of Japanese short scale replicas of the Ampeg "scroll" bass. Those were fun. For this category my key criteria is if I think I can re-sell the bass to at least break even (and maybe even turn a little profit) so I can justify the frivolity. These come and go, and I don't think of them as gigging basses but more as a hobby to indulge my general love of the instrument (though I might take one to a gig). It's been fun buying, owning, and selling some really interesting basses.
Currently, category 2 has been emptied out, and I own three basses in category 1.
