why do you have so many guitars

[Ignatius]

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...

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.

 

[Mark_70]

значит просто собирать? it's also like collecting a collection of planes, cars?

Agree - on some level it's no different than collecting paintings, gnomes or wine. Yes, they are tools but if the family is fed and the bills are paid, what's wrong with having a couple different tools

Regards
Mark

 

[satantango]

I've got space, and don't need the money

and it's nice to have options when you're not in the mood for your usual go-to.

 

[DirtDog]

For me, it’s an insatiable need to satisfy something I don’t have the self-reflective ability to understand.

Or, maybe it’s just that like all those different shapes, colours and sounds! Yeah, that’s it.

seriously though, each of my guitars and basses has a different job to do and different sounds to make.

 

[Bobbadfinger]

I hate to remove strings and then put them back in the instrument. It damages the silk on it.
So I need another platforms to try new types of strings.

Good one, huh ?

 

[rorsini]

For me it's been about finding the right instrument as I evolve my own personal sound. As my preferences evolve, so does the axe. I try not to buy anything that I can't sell.

Also, why does an oil painter have more then one brush? (I know it's not exactly the same, but kinda: Art!)

 

[BlueTalon]

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 certainly isn't about investing money. Bass guitars are a horrible investment if the goal is to make money with every sale. And I think I can speak for everyone here about that.

Your first question is interesting. How can the number of bass guitars translate into the quality of playing? If all the bass guitars are the same, then of course more bass guitars does not translate into better quality of playing. But if they are different, then you start to learn how the differences feel in your hand. Some will be easier to play than others. The more you understand what the differences are, the better you can predict how a new bass will feel. One day, you might pick up a bass, and playing it will feel effortless, and then you will understand what the search was about. For many of us, that means we have acquired several basses along the way.

For about 35 years, I only had one bass. Then, one day, I bought a bass for $200. Sometime after that, I bought one for $100. That started a collection of basses that I got for $300 or less. Then I decided to build a dream bass, and the total I spent for all the parts and services was about $1800. When I first got that bass in my hands, it was so much better than any other bass I played, I could literally play faster than I ever could before. It's the bass currently in my profile picture. It became my main bass for about 7-8 years.

But that bass is heavy. So a couple of years ago, I decided to get another bass, and I spent about $2500 on it. It was my first custom order bass, and I was very pleased with the results. That became my new #1.

I'm single, and I own a home. I'm at a time in my life when I can afford to get another nice bass, maybe once every couple of years. So for me, it is partly about collecting. Partly, I have sentiments toward many of the less expansive basses I bought earlier. I enjoy things that are unique or unusual. To be honest, some of my basses don't play very well, but I still like having them. Some I have given away.

I hope this answers your question. Nice to meet you Sergey. This thread has shown me that my Russian is very rusty. I should brush up on it.

 

[Bikeguy57]

Based on the Cyrillic script in the first couple posts, and lack of response, I'm guessing Russian troll.

 

[BlueTalon]

Based on the Cyrillic script in the first couple posts, and lack of response, I'm guessing Russian troll.

Not all Russians are trolls.

 

[Paul New]

Humans accumulate stuff. I can't prove it.

I have 9, though none are super valuable. My least expensive is one of the famous $89 Jazzes from rondo, and the most valuable is an original 68 P.

I'm 71 so soon many of them will be sold or donated.

 

[semiprohooker]

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...

At one point I had 20 some odd basses. I was a hired gun for a long time and many gigs would request a specific look and in my head the gig needed a certain sound. So I would buy an instrument for that run. Sometimes I really dug it and kept it. Other times I got rid of it. Before I knew it I had close to 30 basses. I've since condensed them down to 10 (6 of which I'm emotionally attached to and will never sell. They either belonged to someone in my life or were gifts.) The other 4 are tools that do slightly different things. P with flats, P with Rounds, 5 string travel bass, 5 string t-bird style bass.

In theory, I could play everything I ever wanted to with one nice 5er, and it would work well enough. But I personally prefer to play a p with flats if possible. Sometimes I need rounds though. And sometimes I need a 5. See where this is going?

 

[bmusic]

Polyamory isn't for everyone, it's true.

My wife (I only have one of those) and I have a lot of coffee mugs. The one I pull out of the cabinet on any given morning reflects my mood that morning. Or maybe it's a day where I'm going to go drink my coffee in the gazebo—farther away from the coffee maker—so I need a bigger cup. Or I'm going for a drive, so I need a cup with a lid.

I completely respect people who just have one—hey, you've only got one mouth, right?—and I do aspire to a simpler life. You know, "imagine no possessions" and all that.

But in the meantime, if I see a video on YouTube of one of my favorite coffee drinkers shredding with his morning cuppa, it's nice to be able to pull out my similar ceramic mug and get that experience. Or, you know, to be able to pick whatever cup best suits the song.

 

[steimlem]

i like having 2 basses and 2 guitars so i always have 1-a backup if needed 2-a different option/variety

sometimes i go up to 3 if i wanted to try out something new or find a deal, but then i'll sell one shortly after to go back to 2 each

 

[Benji bassman]

I don't have as many as most people on here, but I am often chasing a tone (sometimes even a look or a feel). Pedals and amps are another fun way to chase a tone and spend all of your money. And then selling stuff is no fun, leaves you feeling empty, and generally you don't get what you think they are worth. I only have three basses though, and four electric guitars and two bass amps and four guitar amps though. I tend to play them all at least once a year, although when I play out I have my favorites.

 

[DJ Bebop]

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...

I do it to have a representation of various basses used over time with either flat or round wound strings on them. Most all are budget instruments, not collector's grade at all but yes, это странность первого мира.

 

[J-Mags]

I feel as if I have enough basses, but I feel kind of sad about the fact that I have enough basses and not enough money. Browsing through the classifieds isn't fun anymore.

 

[sgiacomo]

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...

The number of bass guitars doesn’t translate to quality playing unless it inspires one to play more often…

 

[LetItGrowTone]

For tonal variety, a new bass is a lot cheaper than a finger transplant.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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...

No collector here, but if I was a full time working pro/session player, I assure you I would have as many as I needed to fill the demand. 4 stings, soprano, baritone, 5 strings, flats, rounds, tapes, active, passive, different brands....... You start doing the math here, and it amounts to having a lot of basses. Good question though.

 

[bassbrad]

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...

My collection is a working collection as I record, compose and perform in several different bands or situations that present the need or opportunities for those different choices of basses.
There are several factors for me the primary is that some basses offer different sounds or playing feels that effect the way I play and utilize them. Those differences can be differnt types of strings, tunings, pickups and electronics. Others have different construction or wood types. Others employ vastly different techniques like electric, acoustic, fretless or played upright or with a bow.