why do you have so many guitars

[BlueTalon]

Я понимаю, что каждый бас уникален по своему звучанию. Тогда же я вижу знаменитых музыкантов, много лет играющих на одной гитаре?

If I understood that correctly... Every bass has its own sound. But obviously, many basses have sounds so similar that they are effectively the same. And yes, many bass players play for many years on just one instrument. I played for over 30 years just on one bass.

I think if I had to, I could play again on just one instrument. but I don't want to.

 

[totalnoob]

With this perspective it is silly to me that people collect bass guitars as if the tones are really that different.

So, you make a single assumption, pretend it's a proven conclusion, and build everything around it. That's a logical fallacy. Let me be the one to burst your bubble and crash your wiggly jenga tower There is much more to differences between basses, than just tone:

• playing on a 4 string bass is very different from playing on a 5 strting which is different from playing ona a 6 string. I have all three kinds.
• playing on a shortscale is very different from playing on a mezzo which is very different from playing on a full scale, which is very different from playing on a multiscale
• playing with flatwounds is very different from planying on roundwounds - and because nobody is going to be changing strings for every single session, this alone requires you to have two different basses.
• Neck profiles and widths do make for a very different playing experience, too.
• Fretted vs. fretless

All these can be combined to offer a number of interesting configurations. And when you love to play a musical instrument, sometimes you also like to have various playing experiences. It's joy-provoking.

 

[alex1fly]

So, you make a single assumption, pretend it's a proven conclusion, and build everything around it. That's a logical fallacy. Let me be the one to burst your bubble and crash your wiggly jenga tower There is much more to differences between basses, than just tone:

Of course people collect for reasons other than tone. Maybe the semantics were misleading.

 

[Wicked G]

I'm currently at 13. Why? Because I want to and because I can.

When I was younger and gigging in local bands, I was also broke and could barely afford to put strings on the one bass I owned. These days, I'm a little better off and have slowly collected several basses I always wanted. It's no different than someone who purchases an antique car that they always wanted, but I do it with basses.
My wife has a collection of shot glasses that is currently numbering in the 500+ range. Should she only have 1 shot glass? Because having 500 doesn't make the drink any different, right?
I enjoy all of my basses. Some of them do different things. One is an acoustic. One is a fretless. One is a multi-scale. One is a 5-string. One is a 6-string. Some of them have different pickup configurations. Some of them have different on-board pre-amps. So each of them does a different thing, to a point. And again, I enjoy each of them.

Oh wow, I thought I was the only one who had wife with a shot glass collection. She keeps them in a China Cabinet on the top with a bottle collection on the bottom. Cool, I'm not alone.

 

[Rib 13]

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[Ostie]

This is why a TB poll would be like, How many basses do you own?
1-10
10-20
20-30
over 30

 

[TerribleTim68]

This is why a TB poll would be like, How many basses do you own?
1-10
10-20
20-30
over 30

Actually......
How many basses do you own? (Currently) Part 2

 

[BlueTalon]

Actually......
How many basses do you own? (Currently) Part 2

My answer remains the same then as now:

Too many. Not enough.

 

[FearNoEvil65]

 

[MrAB4003]

Maybe the thread should be retitled "Reasons to tell my spouse to justify why I own so many basses?"

I'm single, so I beg to differ here.

 

[rtslinger]

I use to have only 5, now I have 26. Most are gifts from my family (what do you get the guy who loves to play bass nearly all his life?) Ah bass gear. So BD, Christmas, Fathers day, Wedding Anniversary, for years. They are all different and have their own appeal. I rotate them through out the gigging season some have flats some have rounds two basses per show. All but my A/E which I normally practice with is used live. Nothing collects dust in some closet or under a bed. The challenge is up keep having them all set up and gig ready. But I love doing that as well.
I told them no more at #13 but hey when do kids listen to their parents right?

 

[zontar]

I only have two basses
a short scale fretted bass and a regular scale fretless--so different basses.
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I have guitars too--but each is different, not just colour, but in some way that makes for different playing.

Mostly though--because it's fun.

 

[Zach77]

I have 3 basses.

A P/J that belonged to my late son. I often play it to remember him. It doesn't leave the house much, except if I have a gig around hid birthday I will bring it out.

A Lakland J that was my gigging bas for over 10 years. Best sounding bass I have ever owned. But age starting catching up with me so I reluctantly (but now gladly) bought a short scale bass.

A Lakland HB30 that is my main gigging bass. The shorter scale and reduced weight make playing much easier and a lot more fun.

I have 3 electric guitars and all 3 get played regularly. All also have strong sentimental value.

I have 2 resos, 1 with sentimental value, 2 lap steels (different tunings) and 1 Mando.

I gig with bass, lap steel and Mando regularly. I play guitar and lap steel in a pick up band. Well, that is over 10 instruments for me.

I do not begrudge anyone their choice to have many basses, or any other instrument. They are things of beauty and they bring joy to people. That is enough reason for me.

I buy/sell pretty much, continually. Lol. I have 3, I primarily use, the others come and go. One of my main is the Lakland HB30!! Love that thing. I don't know why it doesn't get more attention, but I'm happy to have my own little piece of heaven. Don't think that will be going anywhere anytime soon. Light, effortless, and sounds phenominal.

 

[Taborius]

I certainly understand the desire. G.A.S. and all that. Coming from starting on Drums, I've had one method that's helped me avoid getting into too big of a pit. I salivate over gear all the time, the thing that stops me short is one question; "Does it do something that your other doesn't do?". That is literally the only way for me to not own 20 guitars and basses and hundreds of pedals/amps/whatever. So far so good, but man it gets dicey.

 

[TrevorG]

Let's face it, there's big endorphin rush for many of us with a new bass. I know worse addictions. I restrict myself to what's in my "comfortable" price range and has functionality separate from my other instruments. I'm barely a part time player at the moment but wouldn't miss a beat if I went pro tomorrow. Got everything ready. That said, I think people with more than twenty don't have a collection, they have a shop without an "open" sign!

 

[bassdude51]

G.A.S.

 

[Morningside]

How can the number of bass guitars translate into the quality of playing it? What is the goal of having 10 or 20 guitars? Is it just collecting? Investing money? Maybe nostalgia for the time when you couldn't buy it? Honestly, I don't understand...

It's like any other hobby. People get into it for different reasons. There are great bassists out there who have been playing the same black, off-brand P bass for twenty years without making any modifications. Then there are hard-core collectors who research and accumulate basses the way some people acquire rare stamps.

I'm a tinkerer. I like having multiple basses because I enjoy modifying them. I only own three basses at the moment, but if I bought a fourth, it would mostly be for the purpose of customizing it. Maybe I'd try out a new color, like Sherwood green, or a new finish, like tung oil. Maybe I'd install a TV Jones or Bisonic pickup. That whole process is fun. I like researching hardware and learning how to do things like replacing the dot inlays. I can't imagine ever owning a dozen or more basses myself, but I enjoy having my own little collection of "custom" instruments.

Recently, I've been considering getting a Telecaster. In part, it'd be nice to have an electric guitar (which I don't currently), but also it would just be fun to experiment on. Do I need it? No, but it's a hobby.

 

[chris_b]

I'm happy that people buy as many basses as they do, because when they decide to sell a few, to make room for more, I get to pick up great bargains.

Keep it up, gang.

 

[ics1974]

I'm have had many bass guitars but trying to sell a few right now so that I will only have 2. A 4 string Stingray and a 5 string stingray HH.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Because they look cool altogether