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Why do you (we) have so many basses???

#21
I buy them because I like them.
Practicality doesn't come into it, though I have stopped buying now.

I take either 3 actives or 3 passives on stage and a full double bass rig when it will fit, cos
1) you've partly won the battle with the musos if they gape at your gear and
2) it makes the girls go wow.

I don't need the money enough to have to sell any bass (that I liked enough to lay out money for in the first place), though space is the issue that has made me stop buying.
 
#24
Brad Johnson said:
If that ever happened with my wife I'd point out the profit I've made on my gear... ultimately I've pretty much paid for everything I own through trades, sales or gigs. Then we can compare that to any profit she's turned on any of her stuff and then we can decide if either of us is a drain on us.

;)
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Excellent point. I don't think I've ever LOST money on basses. Usually at least a small profit or at least break even. Because like you, I normally only buy something if I get a great deal on it.
 
#25
I only have 2 at any given time. I swap/switch/trade a lot. That is coming to an end. I just can't afford it. I have my trust Yamaha BB605 (Bart pups and Aguilar pre) that works for everything I do. I also have a Geddy Lee on the way - mostly for fun but we'll see. Maybe I don't "NEED" that B string as much as I think.

I also play a friends WAV4 for some jazz gigs. I haven't been able to justify one yet.
 
#29
Quite aside from any from any practical purposes, many basses are beautiful objects that, to a bassist, are also likely to be representational of one of our greatest loves in life - music and the low end. I get as much enjoyment (or more) out of looking at one of my basses in it's stand as a lot of people get from looking at that painting they spent X amount of dollars on.
 
#32
Brad Johnson said:
If that ever happened with my wife I'd point out the profit I've made on my gear... ultimately I've pretty much paid for everything I own through trades, sales or gigs. Then we can compare that to any profit she's turned on any of her stuff and then we can decide if either of us is a drain on us.

;)
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Yeagh...this right here.

I have 'em because I can. My wife just rolls her eyes. She neither comprehends, nor cares. I'm sure she just thinks it's better than me blowing my sheckels on booze and other wimmin.

Basses never take money from the family budget. Between being tight with my "walkin' around money", and finding an occasional MIM P-bass (or whatever) on CL for $120, cleaning it up, and turning it for $280, that's $160 more I can put towards my next conquest (I want a Lakland so bad). Do I need another? Hell, no! But they're what I do when I'm not running calls. Why deny myself?
 
#34
dlargent said:
We live in a consumer culture, where people often feel like they have to buy more, and never feel satisfied with what they have.
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+1

This is close to some of my beliefs about it being at least in part an obsession. A company puts out a new product a year later, making the previous model seem obsolete or inferior, so, people just have to have the new model. They're obsessed with keeping up with the Jones'.


Perhaps also the hope that buying something new will somehow make the person a better player?
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I wouldn't say perhaps in this case. There are people that buy new gear in the hopes that it will make them a better player.
 
#36
Out of my five, I have a jazz with rounds that covers anything and everything, a p with flats and foam, a six string (soon to be replaced with a 5), a fretless, and an upright. And I don't need any more: Each of my basses serves a purpose, does it well, and is gig-worthy.
 
#37
It's funny...

Back when I was poor, I had only one bass (a Ripper that I really liked), and eventually I got another (a Precision) so I'd have a backup. For a long time I just had those two basses, and I was perfectly happy with them. At any given time one or the other would be the favorite, but I got good sounds out of them and liked playing them. Life was good.

But there are so many other basses, that players I liked used, or that people raved about.... And I guess I just couldn't believe that there wasn't something special or magical about all those other basses. So as I dug my way out of student loan debt and started having some disposable income, I started buying more basses, just because I was curious about them, and wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Over the years, I got some really nice basses. But the funny thing is, I still seem to keep gravitating to the Precision---now I have a better Precision, but fifteen years and a bunch of basses haven't really changed much. My other basses are nice ones, great instruments, which makes it tough to sell them, but I don't seem to play them much, except when I think, "Wow, that XXXXXXX is a really nice bass, I should play it more." Then it comes out of the case for a while, but eventually it goes back and the P returns.

So, I've got a bunch of basses because I was curious about various brands and models, and just haven't brought myself to sell any of them (or been forced to sell them, knock on wood). In retrospect I probably would have been just as happy if I'd just stuck with the original Precision and Ripper, but then I would be overwhelmed with that "grass is always greener" feeling.
 
#38
Jeff K said:
She only has two feet. Ask her why she has so many shoes.

But I feel your dilemma. I sometimes feel guilty about having as many as I do. But not so guilty that I quit buying more... ;)
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Because you need multiple pairs of shoes to keep your feet from stinking. The more you rotate your shoes. the more time shoes have to dry and, thus, less time you have to spend soaking your feet in Clorox trying to get rid of the stinch. I love this website.:hiding:
 
#39
i still live with my mum (beeing 19 and poor as hell)

she wonders the same thinig

i have 6 and a half (im rebuilding one) and a few guitars... and some of my girlfriends.... and some of my best mates

all together i have

(im actually going to count)

23 guitars/ basses in my bedroom atm

i have no idea why i have so meny but i do
 
#40
I play in a lot of different bands and different basses work for different things.

My main players?

1982 Fender 57 RI P-bass with DR LoRiders. I use this for most everything I play.
1967 Fender Precision Bass with TI flats for things that a P-bass with flats is more suited for.
Ibanez Musician with SS rounds for when I need to cut through. Also the best bass I have for tapping and it sounds fantastic with chords. I only use this in one of my bands.
Fender Jazz Bass 70s Classic with a BAII bridge and TI flats for funk gigs.

Most everything else is either sentimental or on its way out.
 

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