why do you have so many guitars

[MegaSwing]

I appreciate them on many aesthetic and practical levels. Were I not gigging and earning money with them, I probably would not have as many. I don’t consider myself a collector. THAT would cost a lot of money.

 

[hrodbert696]

Six pages and no one noticed... And the guy disappeared... As usual...

He only started the thread yesterday afternoon (my time zone). Not everyone hovers on TB 24/7 to have immediate dialogue. In some ways it can be overwhelming and off-putting to post something and come back the next day to six pages of responses to wade through...

The joke is that the ideal number of basses to own is n+1, where n = the number of basses you now have. One might extend that to add that <n = number of basses owned by someone less serious about bass than you, and n+ (>1) = number of basses owned by a self-indulgent dilettante.

My wife and I used to collect snow globes. We no longer do so actively, but I have a shelf with several dozen of them in my house. I will comment, I never once in my life got paid to gig a snow globe.

I know a guitarist who really collects guitars. He has closets crammed with dozens of them - high-end instruments, too. He did gig once upon a time, no longer does, and when he did I think there were only three or four of them he actually pulled out to play. He just likes them.

I have seven basses. Three fretted four-strings, three fretted five-strings, and a fretless ABG. They give me a little variety (as well as backup on a gig) that I like to have. Could I make music with less? Sure. But I like the options they give me. I'm currently pretty GAS free as far as basses go (my acquisitiveness now focuses on lighting and PA). But I wouldn't rule out that I would EVER get another one.

Or an upright.

 

[Shindig73]

The reasons I own multiple basses:

1. Backups. I have two fretless 5 strings now because the one I had at the time decided to crap out the day before a gig.

2. Laziness. I like my P bass with flats for some songs, and rounds for others. Stringing and restringing basses is a pain, so now I have two P basses.

3. Tone. A P sounds different than a J, which sounds different than a Stingray. Different songs call for different sounding basses.

4. Situations. I own a cheaper (but highly serviceable and good sounding) bass I take to gigs in environments where something could happen or that are harsh (e.g. outdoors in squelching heat).

So I have six basses: one fretless P, and one fretless J, one fretted P with rounds (and MM pickup in sweet spot) and one with flats, a J, and my beater. All bases/basses covered.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

My 4 is not too many or so many as the OP put it. They all feel, play, and sound great while bringing something different to the table.

 

[Polfuste]

The real question is: why beat this horse again and again? That is i don't understand.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

(Snipped for accentuation) ...
I know a guitarist who really collects guitars. He has closets crammed with dozens of them - high-end instruments, too. He did gig once upon a time, no longer does, and when he did I think there were only three or four of them he actually pulled out to play. He just likes them. ...

I didn't know you knew me that well!

With my gigging career over, I recently took stock of all the equipment I own (with an eye toward easing my survivors' burden) and I was astounded.

I have instruments in three closets (not counting the one in my studio which is [in my mind] what that one is there for, anyway) and in places around the house where it shouldn't be. I honestly don't know why SWMBO tolerates me.

 

[fishdude101101]

Because I want to. I have 5 basses. I play all of them almost everyday. Never felt the need to justify it. I spend several hours each day at a lucrative but miserable day job. My basses help justify the misery.

 

[Green Knight]

I'd have three nice ones if I could afford it, so instead I have one nice one and another that's Joker's Wild, changing every month or so. If I want one REALLY nice one, I forego the Joker for however long I keep it. Right now I have one bass, a Sadowsky. I'm not a pro and don't have time to play more than one bass anyway; I'm also too lazy to dial in the tones I like on ten different basses.

The real answer is NOVELTY, or rather, pseudo-individualized commodities that, for all intents and purposes, all do the same thing. The minute we are content with what we have, the engine of capitalism grinds to a halt. Luckily, I care about basses, not cars or vacation homes or high-grade narcotics, so I'm not digging myself into a ditch of penury.

 

[Tommy Sparks]

Different tones and or moods.

-2 P basses 1 with rounds and 1 with flats.
-1 Rick with flats
-1 J with 1/2 rounds
-1 Bird with rounds
-1 Beatles type bass with flats
this guy is a new addition this year. Taking me a bit to get along with the small neck but I like it.

 

[groooooove]

it's a collection. it's fun to have a whole bunch of stuff. i like the variety.

 

[Bass Mark]

I keep multiple basses around for practical reasons and aesthetic reasons.

I have a PJ with flatwounds, a StringRay with roundwounds. If I want that mellow sound I grab the PJ. I want that amped sound I grab the StingRay. No need to swap strings to get the right sound for the moment.

I did not like chonky neck of a 5-string, so I got rid of my 5-string and retrofitted a 4-string Jazz with heavier low tension strings for BEAD or ADGC tuning. I grab this one when I want the heavy metal sound.

I like the look of classic guitars like the 4003 and T-Bird. They sound distinct in their own right. But I considered these more collectors items than rigs I will play on a daily basis.

 

[socialleper]

Because I want it.

No goal.

I see a bass I think is cool and I can use, I buy it.

 

[swink]

Why do most people have more than one pair of shoes when they only have two feet?

 

[Jeff Hughes]

Because.....marketing! I wonder how much desire to buy instruments people would have if there was no internet, youtube, music catalog, or any kind of chance to see people playing instruments on a screen. Is the drive for more basses fueled by sights or sounds?

I think we sometimes manufacture reasons to have more. We convince ourselves that we need that one more tool to perform a certain job, gig, or situation. And maybe we do.

I have three Precisions that are all different colors, so it is a little like wearing a different color shirt from time to time. They play and sound incrementally different though.

 

[themickster]

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 bought a second Ibanez SR300E for playing at my girlfriend's flat. She died, and I bought a 600E to help with the feelings.

 

[MarshallAC50Stack]

1) For the money. 2) For the show. 3) To get ready. 4) To go.

 

[Micha84]

This is the premise to your entire post, and yet it's terribly flawed.

No need to get defensive or scientific, my post was intended as a joke. Sorry for not making that more clear.
Anyway, I do actually think that for most collectors the average price might be about a grand, obviously with some major exceptions (very cheap or wildly expensive items in the collection).

 

[Baker69]

I have 5 basses, all sound and play different to each other -viva la difference!

I do need to try and off-load some but when I do they always seem to get replaced (and more) - a bit like dragons teeth!

 

[wilberthenry]

I have two EBG's and one upright. I am no collector, but I also own a cajon, 3 acoustic gutoras and 2 electric guitars. Why? Mainly because I am too lazy to try to sell instruments on CL which would net me little $ for the aggravation and hassle I will encounter.

 

[portpc]

Collecting Guitars /Basses is an interactive pursuit. That's what makes it so much fun (at least for me)
I'm a minimalist in most areas of my life - I was fine with (2) basses a G&L Tribute JB2 & Hwy 1 P Bass and didn't need to but purchased an Epiphone Empress a couple months ago. But I did and totally enjoy it...

I actually have more nylon string classical style guitars - 5 at the moment -an instrument I enjoy as much as basses but because I'm busy performing at bass gigs I'm way behind in that dept!