old garage band. again you figured me out. i really need attention. what else could it possibly be.
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 have so many basses?
- Thread starter Lefty4string
- Start date
-
- Tags
- many
- Status
at least something got figured out
Look at the buttons on the right hand side of a post you want to reply to & hit Reply:
Then it will be clear who you're responding to & which post of theirs you're referring to.
I like to be taken to dinner before I get figured, usually. Its only 1... maybe therexll be something to figure after dinner.at least something got figured out
Cool! Me too.
I've never thought myself good enough to join the mediocre bass player's club here.
But if I just buy three or four more basses, I am validated and can sign up. Yay!
Everyone has their reasons and rationales for what they do. Some are strictly collectors, others enjoy "the chase" so to speak from hunting down and finding good deals or having the latest greatest more than playing, some like a particular brand or model and enjoy finding many examples of the same model, etc., others have the expendable income and just love guitars and basses and just want a bunch of them. Others may be session musicians who are lucky enough to have the financial means to own a herd of instruments that truly allow them access to a ton of different sounds and tones and are tools that they use to make their living. None of those examples are right or wrong and it's all good!
I'll never bash anyone for having an excess of instruments. Heck, I myself had a second bedroom FULL of gear of around 20 guitars and basses, vintage Fender amps, lap and pedal steels, etc. Around two years ago I just decided that less was more, and although I'd play with people now and then, I no longer playing in a band, and owning all of this gear wasn't making me a better player. I was always consciously or subconsciously thinking in my head, "If I only had THAT bass, or THAT guitar" I'd be able to get to that place I want to be as a player. Total bull plop! I sold off a LOT of gear and currently have two Precision basses and a Fender Rumble 500. I concentrate more these days on becoming a better player and less time searching for that next great deal. I've become a better guitar player, bass player and singer as a result. Don't get me wrong, I still will fall prey to a good deal to try something out if it crosses my path, but usually I end up selling it off pretty quick because I realize I've lost focus and really don't need, and in fact don't want another instrument.
Understand, I'm not saying this is what everyone should do or needs to do, I'm just sharing my own experience. As mentioned, we all have different reasons why we play, collect, own, etc. None are right or wrong reasons and none of us has to justify the number of instruments we own to anyone else. But with all that said, and I'm sure this WILL strike a nerve with some members here because there's a glimmer of truth to it...a lot of us here should probably spend more time practicing, learning and honing our craft and less time on the message boards and time thinking we need that new/new to us bass because what we have is holding us back. The gear isn't what's holding you back from getting to your goals as a player, it's the lack of time you're putting into actually sucking it up and learning how to play! With one or two good quality instruments (the ones I kept are an '08 American Standard P and a Classic 50's P) that are set up to your specs are pretty much all you need. As a hobbyist player or someone who jams with buddies, are just starting out, etc., you're absolutely fooling yourself thinking that at this point you need a bunch of different basses that cover every possible/potenital situation you come up with in your head! If you're not an experienced player it doesn't matter if you own a passive bass, an active bass, a 4 string, 5 string, 6 string, fretless, some with humbuckers and a few with single coils, etc., and have a room full of gear. If you cant play the darn things you're still gonna sound like crap and not have the chops to hang.
More gear isn't going to make you sound better! It can actually be a distraction and keep you from where you want to be as a player in a lot of cases. And before those guys that might fall into this category jump all over that statement and accuse me of saying that only experienced or virtuoso players deserve to own a bunch of gear, thats NOT what I'm saying at all. I'm just saying that many of us aren't being honest with ourselves and thinking that more gear will make us somehow a better player, because it wont.
I'll never bash anyone for having an excess of instruments. Heck, I myself had a second bedroom FULL of gear of around 20 guitars and basses, vintage Fender amps, lap and pedal steels, etc. Around two years ago I just decided that less was more, and although I'd play with people now and then, I no longer playing in a band, and owning all of this gear wasn't making me a better player. I was always consciously or subconsciously thinking in my head, "If I only had THAT bass, or THAT guitar" I'd be able to get to that place I want to be as a player. Total bull plop! I sold off a LOT of gear and currently have two Precision basses and a Fender Rumble 500. I concentrate more these days on becoming a better player and less time searching for that next great deal. I've become a better guitar player, bass player and singer as a result. Don't get me wrong, I still will fall prey to a good deal to try something out if it crosses my path, but usually I end up selling it off pretty quick because I realize I've lost focus and really don't need, and in fact don't want another instrument.
Understand, I'm not saying this is what everyone should do or needs to do, I'm just sharing my own experience. As mentioned, we all have different reasons why we play, collect, own, etc. None are right or wrong reasons and none of us has to justify the number of instruments we own to anyone else. But with all that said, and I'm sure this WILL strike a nerve with some members here because there's a glimmer of truth to it...a lot of us here should probably spend more time practicing, learning and honing our craft and less time on the message boards and time thinking we need that new/new to us bass because what we have is holding us back. The gear isn't what's holding you back from getting to your goals as a player, it's the lack of time you're putting into actually sucking it up and learning how to play! With one or two good quality instruments (the ones I kept are an '08 American Standard P and a Classic 50's P) that are set up to your specs are pretty much all you need. As a hobbyist player or someone who jams with buddies, are just starting out, etc., you're absolutely fooling yourself thinking that at this point you need a bunch of different basses that cover every possible/potenital situation you come up with in your head! If you're not an experienced player it doesn't matter if you own a passive bass, an active bass, a 4 string, 5 string, 6 string, fretless, some with humbuckers and a few with single coils, etc., and have a room full of gear. If you cant play the darn things you're still gonna sound like crap and not have the chops to hang.
More gear isn't going to make you sound better! It can actually be a distraction and keep you from where you want to be as a player in a lot of cases. And before those guys that might fall into this category jump all over that statement and accuse me of saying that only experienced or virtuoso players deserve to own a bunch of gear, thats NOT what I'm saying at all. I'm just saying that many of us aren't being honest with ourselves and thinking that more gear will make us somehow a better player, because it wont.
Last edited:
Beard forums are notoriously catty....
You know the old standby’s
His beard isn’t even long enough to justify that beard cream.
You only have one beard, why do you need more than one comb.
An argument as old as time itself
Yes... that is it. Then just type your response below it. The curser will automatically be where you need it.
I pretty much thought that the thread about Danny Partridge’s bass rig could never be topped, but now I’m not so sure.
You only need one or two carrots to be a great rabbit.
I just spit out my pre workout mix hahahahahaha
It’s a pretty dubious honor.
When I learn all the ins and outs of basses it was fascinating, made me want to own all of em. If I scooped up every bass that caught my eye my house would look like Guitar Center (except the instruments wouldn't be overpriced junk). I am an amateur, a weekend warrior, but I do play live with local bands. I understand noone in the audience will give a damn if my bass was made in US or China, or if it's genuine vintage or a cheap shameless copy. But I care. I only own 3 basses...a 4 string Schecter (the workhorse), a 5 string neck thru Schecter (which I am in the process of modding, stay tuned) and a 4 string US Spector. The Spector was absolutely unnecessary, talent wise I do not need it or deserve it, but it's ownership has stopped me from pulling the trigger on 6 or 7 other basses because it simply can't be beat.
your record appears to have been scratched and is stuck repeating the same mantra...
anything else that actually illustrates why you think the number of basses someone has should be related to their ability?
(and you probably just need ONE to become a good player, but that's entirely besides the point... or you think being a promiscuous player makes learning more difficult?)
edit: I see you're just pasting the same stuff like a spoiled child who doesn't manage to get his way. What an idiot.
- Status
