It depends on how many styles of music you are able to play. Each bass, depending on the body & top woods in the build of the instrument will dictate the tone, with the electronic package & pick-ups included. Sharper tones for harsher music or definition(grunge, metal, heavy rock) will come thru on different basses. Deeper tones for R&B, funk and jazz/blues you can pick up on the down side with the proper tone woods or build. Also consider passive/ active & 18 volt systems for a little extra kick!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Why do you own more then one bass?
- Thread starter ics1974
- Start date
I like variety in tones, body shapes and sizes, colors and overall feel, even though I only play metal at the moment.
its a functional piece of art thats a tool that makes art. You dont just have one screwdriver in your tool box, of course not, you probably have a roll of duct tape too.
Talkbass -
The place where you can get educated, insulted and have your use of english corrected in the same thread!
Yes, I am one of those anal individuals that cringe with improper useage and spelling.
Dan K.
"English" should be capitalized.
I have two basses. I use my BTB for all recording, all shows and all playing in general.
And then i have my squire p-bass that i use mainly for gathering dust, it also makes an excellent paper weight if you have a big enough desk.
And then i have my squire p-bass that i use mainly for gathering dust, it also makes an excellent paper weight if you have a big enough desk.
Partly because they can sound differently. Jazz fretted 4, ibanez roadster, Washburn b-20, retrovibe vantage.
But the rest I love the different tones from...
4 string fretless jazz
4 string fretted Acoustic
4 string fretless acoustic
8 string fretted
8 string fretless
12 string fretted
( looking for a 12 string fretless )
I play them all live. I often bring 3 to a gig and at all 3 because its fun.
But the rest I love the different tones from...
4 string fretless jazz
4 string fretted Acoustic
4 string fretless acoustic
8 string fretted
8 string fretless
12 string fretted
( looking for a 12 string fretless )
I play them all live. I often bring 3 to a gig and at all 3 because its fun.
why? just cuz I can. All the money I save by not taking drugs I buy basses with..........OK, maybe thats not the best analogy
I keep thinkin' I'll play better with a new(er) bass.
I need to rethink my strategy, as it's not working.
I need to rethink my strategy, as it's not working.
That was pretty much the excuse I had for getting my Squier VM J after I got my Fender MIA Jazz, which was pretty much BS, as I had no situation where I needed a backup. I wasn't in a band or even playing with anyone at all. The third bass is a Squier VM P, because it was close to a '78 Fender P I had that I loved, except the Fender had a RW board, but I wanted a maple board like on the Squier, after that, I got an Sx Ursa 1, primarily out of curiosity after all the hoopla for these basses here on TB. I sold that to a friend who expressed an interest in playing bass for about Fiddy bucks to help him out, I still have the other 3, and am considering getting a Fender MP Tele bass, and that will likely be it.
The main reason I got all these basses, if I were to be honest, all boils down to I wanted them and I got them because I could, despite what excuses I could come up with otherwise.
I don't know, seems a pretty good analogy to me!
I can get along fine without (other) drugs, but take my basses away and I go a bit funny in da head...that's addiction for ya!As for why have more than one bass...well I have 5 and there's always room for more, because I think they're beautiful and each has its own character. But I also have one - just one- that I will never part with!
No dust gathering, each bass gets used, but I have multiple basses mainly because...
To stop the voices in my head.
They keep telling me to mod my basses, but they also keep coming up with cool new ideas for different basses / different mods so I will continue to buy basses when I can afford to do so.
["Pssst, hey! That bass is cool, but it doesn't come in the right colour; that bass would sound really good with this pickup combination; nobody has done that combination before; you don't have that kind of a bass, you've never even tried one like it, try it and see; what if you get a gig where you need to...; that song would sound good with a bass that has..."]
If I sacrifice enough basses (a couple dozen ideas yet to go) to the madding mod gods, then maybe the voices will finally shut up and I can get some peace.
Seriously though... If I could only afford beans & rice for every meal, then that's what I'd eat and live. If I could only have one bass, I'd live. Luckily, I'm not an impoverished packrat and can afford the spice of life, variety.
To stop the voices in my head.
They keep telling me to mod my basses, but they also keep coming up with cool new ideas for different basses / different mods so I will continue to buy basses when I can afford to do so.
["Pssst, hey! That bass is cool, but it doesn't come in the right colour; that bass would sound really good with this pickup combination; nobody has done that combination before; you don't have that kind of a bass, you've never even tried one like it, try it and see; what if you get a gig where you need to...; that song would sound good with a bass that has..."]
If I sacrifice enough basses (a couple dozen ideas yet to go) to the madding mod gods, then maybe the voices will finally shut up and I can get some peace.
Seriously though... If I could only afford beans & rice for every meal, then that's what I'd eat and live. If I could only have one bass, I'd live. Luckily, I'm not an impoverished packrat and can afford the spice of life, variety.
Roy Vogt
Supporting Member
- Sep 20, 2000
- 4,433
- 537
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Kiesel Basses, Ampeg Amplification, Hotone Ampero II effects
Its to satisfy the need of wanting and wanting better stuff. We as humans desire newness and change at an alarming rate. The reality is that the general audience will not know the difference in tone so owning multiple bass guitars is really a moot unless you are a hobbyists. Even in the studio, with technology, you could use a First Act bass and probably make it sound like a Sadowsky. Maybe?
This is probably what I would have answered. My 13 basses are here to just to satisfy my need. I can have just one and I can get by with that one, but I just don't want to.
I have owned up to 4 basses at once and am currently down to one.
My main issue is I am so used to the feel of my main P-bass that others don't FEEL right.
I used to have a Peavey Cirrus as well, great bass, but I hated that the 35" scale neck length just messed up my feel when I went to switch to it, plus the 2 batteries. IE I had to look at the fretboard a lot more when playing out because it screwed with my muscle memory.
I guess at some point I may get another P-Bass that has a different tone, or maybe a Spector with the PJ pickups for variety.
I like the 1.75" nut, the jazz skinny nut cramps my hands.
Honestly couldn't see owning more than 2 though, unless I became a major recording dude, or in a serious band like Aerosmith or something.
My main issue is I am so used to the feel of my main P-bass that others don't FEEL right.
I used to have a Peavey Cirrus as well, great bass, but I hated that the 35" scale neck length just messed up my feel when I went to switch to it, plus the 2 batteries. IE I had to look at the fretboard a lot more when playing out because it screwed with my muscle memory.
I guess at some point I may get another P-Bass that has a different tone, or maybe a Spector with the PJ pickups for variety.
I like the 1.75" nut, the jazz skinny nut cramps my hands.
Honestly couldn't see owning more than 2 though, unless I became a major recording dude, or in a serious band like Aerosmith or something.
I like the diversity of the sounds between each of them as well as the body shape and style.
One can NEVER have too many basses! 7 at the moment here and no two sound or look alike .
One can NEVER have too many basses! 7 at the moment here and no two sound or look alike .
Hi
I have 3 Warwick Streamers and 2 Fender J.
Actually I only use the Wicks in band environment. 1 main, 1 spare 1 fretless.
The sound of the Fenders doesn't suit too well but they are both keepers since I had my best years (I'm quite sure) with them and I'm somewhat attached to them
I'm also looking forward to one more Wick with another PU combination.
But when I strip it all down, I could probably do with 1 bass.
I have 3 Warwick Streamers and 2 Fender J.
Actually I only use the Wicks in band environment. 1 main, 1 spare 1 fretless.
The sound of the Fenders doesn't suit too well but they are both keepers since I had my best years (I'm quite sure) with them and I'm somewhat attached to them
I'm also looking forward to one more Wick with another PU combination.
But when I strip it all down, I could probably do with 1 bass.
