why do you have so many guitars

[Jefenator]

Some thump, some growl, some are full-range, some have acoustic vibe, some punch through a mix more easily, some get lots of attention with their looks, some don't, some are good for rough duty, some provide redundancy on larger productions, some have extended range, some are easier to rock out on, and some are primarily wall art.
And you never know when a client might ask for fretless.

 

[conttador]

Anytime anyone asks how many I have and why, the basic answer I give is that it's because I am a collector of tones.

With that said, I have what I have mostly because I can, and having a steady adult income with liquid cash certainly helps. I do try to sell or trade something before buying another to keep it mostly within reason. I have several that I'll never get rid of because of being rare and almost irreplaceable, but there's a few that could be sold right now and I could turn around and buy them again down the road without much trouble.

My wife doesn't totally understand all of it, but the last time I told her how many are floating around she said, "At least it's not drugs!" There's WAY worse things I could spend money on, and at least I buy things that do hold enough value in the event they need to be sold. I've also done enough side jobs and gigs that pay for it all outside of my actual work income. It's much easier to justify when it's not coming from our joint income that pays the bills and feeds our bellies.

I can relate!!!

 

[TyBo]

For me, it's not about collection, it's about accumulation ... I want to know how an instrument will really feel and sound. How will it be if I do this or that to it? And so on. They build up over time - I like to revisit them, and rotate through them. And so ... lots of instruments.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

No two instruments are the same. Must've had 20 jazz basses in my 40+ years of playing, all were different from each other, even with matching specs.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

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 won't go into the first question because it seems to be a bit ... judgemental to me.

For me, the "goal" of having more than one bass (just like my guitars) is one of tonal variation.

I have one (passive) "Precision"-type bass, one (passive) "Jazz"-type bass, one (active) "P/J"-style bass and one (active) MM style bass.

I get different sound and tonal variations from each, especially between the two active basses which are widely separated on the "affordable" scale. One has three boost/cut knobs, a selection switch for specific mid-range sculpting, and passive/active switch.

The other has volume, blend, bass, and treble.

 

[tlc1976]

I have 5, in 30 years of playing. My first bass which I’ll always keep, the one I made which I will always keep (OK I always keep everything), a 7 string fretless, an Ibanez 5 string which is a Jazz in flashy clothing, and a Kramer P bass which is always a good idea to have.

I wasn’t looking for the P bass, and always swore I would never spend good money on a 4 string since the 5 already does it. It was at Goodwill for $120 with a broken string, chipped nut, and in a stand. Too much. So I waited 3 weeks for that color to become half price. Went in after work and it was still there so I grabbed it at $60. GF at the time was a Goodwill employee and happened to stop in so she gave me the employee discount so it came to $40 something. I figured at least I would get a stand and parts. But I quickly learned to love it. I check out basses online all the time, but my collection is complete and my money is better used elsewhere.

My most expensive bass was $350 and I get decades of use out of them. All in all it can be a cheap hobby.

 

[Shepsdad]

For the same reason I have four large roll around tool chests full of tools in my garage, every tool has a specific use. That, and I love the way guitars and basses look.

 

[Snakeman1066]

Aside from being in an originals band and a couple of cover bands ...I also own a small studio...and not only do i gig on the regular, but also I'm a session player in my local market...I have basically everything i NEED to cover just about every sound anybody could want...usually tuned differently and usually with different strings

2 Jazz Basses
2 P Basses
2 P/J Basses (main player and back up)
2 Rickenbackers
2 Basses with Double Humbuckers
2 Music Man Stingray Style Basses
2 Semi Hollow Short/Medium Scale Basses
2 Acoustic Electric Basses
2 Upright Basses

You don't see mechanics doing everything with just one wrench...or artist doing everything with just one color or paintbrush....why limit yourself?

at one time I owned well over 30...because i could...

for the record I also own a dozen skinny string guitars, three drum kits, and multiple keyboards...and even a couple Theremins...!!!

 

[Nephilymbass]

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 better than seeing people spend their money on drugs or an aftermarket exhaust for their car lol

I’ve been back and forth on the right number of basses for me. I currently have 3 (a main player 5 string, a backup 5, and an acoustic) I have had as many as 5 at once. I can see myself owning 5 or even more basses in the future but I wouldn’t go about it the same way at all. Looking back when I had 5 before they were really too similar. They were all fretted active 5 strings strung with wounds. I might buy a bass tomorrow but I’d probably buy a p bass and put flats or tapewound strings on that I’d rarely ever change. I definitely wouldn’t try to keep fresh roundwounds on 5 basses again. That said other people can do whatever they want in my opinion.

As for the money side of the conversation. You know some people don’t realize that some of us aren’t super wealthy. I’ve always had pretty nice gear because playing bass is what I enjoy. I don’t have a fancy sports car, I don’t have a super expensive house. It’s kind of funny really. I remember way back in the day in my early 20s I played a gig with a bass that retailed for over $5k. A guy who (very proudly I might add) had driven to the show in his hummer asked me in the parking lot after the show how I could afford such a bass. I told him “well I don’t have a hummer” lol

 

[REMBO]

Actually, Each Different Bass Is Like a Paintbrush! different tones and different uses for each!

 

[Nightman]

Having a lot of basses/guitars is the key to utopia. If you aren’t able to understand that then you are not on the same journey, and it’s cool!

 

[Jazz Ad]

Q: How many basses should a normal person have?
A: About three.

Q: Umm, that sounds more like a bass enthusiast to me.
A: No. A bass enthusiast has about ten.

Q: That sounds more like someone who is obsessed with basses.
A: No. People obsessed with basses can have dozens.

Q: Dozens? Yike! That sounds like a psycho!
A: No. Psychos seldom own basses, or at most may have just one or two.

Q: Ah, now that sounds like a normal person.
A: No. A normal person has about three. We already covered that.

 

[Lammchop93]

Because I enjoy it.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

Im 64. I keep forgetting where I put the others.

 

[thrashingbass]

I have too many headphones/earphones, even more perfumes, but only four basses, one of which is barely used (it needs some tuner work where someone before me messed up the headstock a bit, but it does sound good and has been "upgraded" a bit.)

In my case, not only I deem most basses "expensive" overall (even the affordable ones because *I always want to switch out things*), but they occupy a lot of real state I do not have. So I am focusing on loving and using the ones I have, and sometimes invest in pedals for alternate sounds. Having a bass you know and feel comfortable with is a boon. And I *really* do not need more than what I currently have.

Had I unlimited means and a huge house, I wouldn't mind obtaining more, though basically by now I know what I like, and need nothing too esoteric, especially pickup-wise.

No need to judge others for having many basses. Let others do whatever makes them happy. Another bass or two won't harm anyone, unless you have a family to support and have a bad GAS issue.

 

[MIMike]

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.

Don’t speak for me on that I have done pretty good with basses as investments.
The trick is careful buying. I have owned about two dozen basses total and never lost money on a sale. Actually, made pretty good profit a few times.

Per the OPs original post; people collect all kinds of things, and if you have a passion for something, professional or not, dive in and enjoy it (them).

 

[B-Mac]

Because I want to
Because I like to
Because I can

 

[mistermikev]

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...

Joe Bonnamassa and Slash (among many others) have ridiculous collections of guitars. Willie Nelson has played the same guitar for the last 50 years. QED.

 

[lokikallas]

Variety is the spice of something or other...

 

[ryco]

Different basses for different styles and sounds.
Also picked up basses I just liked and wanted over the decades.

Fender P modded for T40 and rock, RB gigs in the '80s
Gibson Ripper fretless for jazz and blues gigs '70s
Ricky 4001 just cuz I always wanted one - worked out GREAT for punk gigs 80/90s. Plus can run stereo.
Jackson Concert 5 for deeper notes for fusion and metal stuff.
Musicman Sterling for slapping funk and fusion. Liked the smaller body than the Ray.

Any of these basses could cover just about any style and gig - it's just fun to have a lil' assortment of axes/tools.