I collect stuff and not other women. I'm happy my wife is happy.
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
It’s a consumer thing in part, we get conditioned to think it’s a badge of success or of being a professional.
For others it’s a collector thing or a perfectionism thing, seeking the best of all worlds or something just right and never finding it exactly.
In my youth I had exactly two basses for quite some time and I was happy. One electric, one acoustic. Then, I got a TB account and went a little nuts.
Seeing all the cool stuff on TB I became a collector and bass flipper for several years. I also modded the heck out of my instruments or tried to build one myself thinking I could get the perfect one.
What I found is none of it really made me happy. In fact caring for my stuff or always chasing something unobtainable was more of a pain than it was worth.
I’m trying my best to be a minimalist now. Only buying what I am really sure will provide me with happiness. It’s a learning process to unwind the American consumer conditioning so I am not always perfect but I did downsize to two basses now with plans to buy a third.
I’ll have at most four basses I’ve decided. A Fretless, a P, a 5 string and an acoustic. I have the acoustic and the P now. I’m taking my sweet time getting the other two so I am really sure I get the right thing.
Nothing like a nice implication of fatal violence to spice up a long conversation. Gotta love when others have been chatting on a post all day and then one person comes by and gets it all shut down after investing 30seconds in the convo
I think this post is absolutely judgemental. Especially that part about "when you can hardly play one". How do you know?
Some people who own many basses can play extremely well. Would you have said this to John Entwistle? Is there really a competency test before you can buy a bass? Or a 2nd bass? Or a 10th bass?
Let's all do things our own way and respect each other, especially our differences, how about that? Buy whatever you want.
As for a serious player bonding with a specific instrument, I've known some who feel that way, and others who feel you should be able to get a good sound on almost anything. That's why Max Roach never did endorsements - he felt a good drummer should be able to make any reasonably good, well maintained drum set sound good.
I know when I got my bass stolen years agi and had to borrow a bass to do gigs it was reassuring to know that I could get the job done with any reasonably good instrument. And that's also why I own more than one bass now- I always bring a spare, and if anything were to happen to my main basses I would have others to play without having to borrow or rent one.
I went years (40) playing one bass. Then got a minor flack for not having a backup, I thought it was ridiculous because I'd never had a problem with that bass in my life. So I bought a cheap bass, (that I fell in love with), and to the chagrin of a bandmate started using on stage. Seemed the old fender had better stage presence than the cheap peavey. Well, the Peaveys were cheap enough that I bought every one that I came across and started rotating them for a little bit of a joke. Of course now I'm one of those guys that's constantly looking. I added in a couple "nice" basses, but nothing I'd call boutique (whatever that is.) but now I'm an addict. I really enjoy taking what most people think is a piece of junk and doing a setup to unlock it's potential.
Mr.Ace
Bass players rule!
- Sep 8, 2015
- 1,120
- 1,050
- 49
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by Fusion ( maker of killer gig bags)
I’ve posted about 6 times on this thread. So check back through the entire thread and find out how much time has been spent on a particular subject, and not just skim through. I am not threatening violence, although I can see how that would be perceived. The op has stated that he is
“Huge” and from ny. I’m from ky and we like our freedom here to think and buy what we want without comment from yankees. I work as a licensed commercial/industrial electrician. My job is extremely physically and mentally challenging, and dangerous. If I work to buy something that makes me happy and someone doesn’t like it because of my level of proficiency compared to there’s all I’m saying is I take offense to that. And I would like to have a conversation in person with the self proclaimed “non judgmental” individual with the gripe. That’s all, no violence.
Well just to make the OP’s head explode, I just picked up playing guitar (sub-novice?) and today my Rickenbacker 325c64 Miami arrived. A horribly expensive guitar but as it epitomizes early Beatles it inspires me to learn. And I love having it. Fortunately I did not have to pass a playing test to buy it. Whew!
I have read the entire thread and jumped in back when it started... I also understand that dude said his height and weight. But none of that is even in the same ballpark as posting a large firearm with the words "maybe someone should come tell me that I dont deserve it".I’ve posted about 6 times on this thread. So check back through the entire thread and find out how much time has been spent on a particular subject, and not just skim through. I am not threatening violence, although I can see how that would be perceived. The op has stated that he is
“Huge” and from ny. I’m from ky and we like our freedom here to think and buy what we want without comment from yankees. I work as a licensed commercial/industrial electrician. My job is extremely physically and mentally challenging, and dangerous. If I work to buy something that makes me happy and someone doesn’t like it because of my level of proficiency compared to there’s all I’m saying is I take offense to that. And I would like to have a conversation in person with the self proclaimed “non judgmental” individual with the gripe. That’s all, no violence.
If you wish to make the comparison that you dont need to be an expert marksman to enjoy nice firearms... thats totally fine. But adding a picture of a gun and saying somebody should COME tell you that you dont deserve it is really no different from inferring that you will shoot somebody if they suggest it. Its a ramped up version of "come say it to my face" and is totally inappropriate in an otherwise civil conversation.
I only posted one other time in this thread. I have a job that a simpleton can do, and that's the way I like it.
I'd say I'm an average bass player, And I question whether anyone else in this whole TB community can say the following....
I once bought a bass because I liked the knobs.
I'd say I'm an average bass player, And I question whether anyone else in this whole TB community can say the following....
I once bought a bass because I liked the knobs.
Are you insinuating that I have been civil?!
Game on brother!
lmao hahahahahahaha i meant civil in the grand scheme of things.. hahaha. sliding scale
I see the intent of the OP did come across in a way that is easy to take several ways.
Going with the stated intention?
I have 14 right now. Many I built from parts and almost all I have modded.
Most are rather modest in price - Brice 5 string fretless ($300) and an Epi EB3 ($300)
at the bottom $$ and two Rics including a BlueBurst at the top. I have gigged in the NYC area
for 45 years in original and cover acts but never "made a living" at it. Few originals acts can do that.
Making a living in pro audio is close enough for me !
I LOVE comparing and exploring different expressions of the makers craft.
Not much different than Leno and his cars I suppose.
For decades I had just four, an 8 string, a Jazz, a P, and and PJ fretless.
BUT...I did find myself irked when I used to attend "Martin Parties" my neighbor had.
Backyard soirees where people with lots of $$$ who could barely play C G D chords
in first position open would drag (yes literally drag) $4000 Martin acoustics across the lawn
from strum circle to strum circle playing painful renditions of Dylan and Leonard Cohen songs.
In fairness there were a few there who COULD play the shizznit out of those wood boxes.
So to each his own as long as they are not dodging the mortgage or spending their kid's college money.
I WAS weirded out when I met a guy with 22 Music Man Stingrays and nothing else!
All 4 stringers to boot. That I cannot get my head around - no variety no point - in my book.
Going with the stated intention?
I have 14 right now. Many I built from parts and almost all I have modded.
Most are rather modest in price - Brice 5 string fretless ($300) and an Epi EB3 ($300)
at the bottom $$ and two Rics including a BlueBurst at the top. I have gigged in the NYC area
for 45 years in original and cover acts but never "made a living" at it. Few originals acts can do that.
Making a living in pro audio is close enough for me !
I LOVE comparing and exploring different expressions of the makers craft.
Not much different than Leno and his cars I suppose.
For decades I had just four, an 8 string, a Jazz, a P, and and PJ fretless.
BUT...I did find myself irked when I used to attend "Martin Parties" my neighbor had.
Backyard soirees where people with lots of $$$ who could barely play C G D chords
in first position open would drag (yes literally drag) $4000 Martin acoustics across the lawn
from strum circle to strum circle playing painful renditions of Dylan and Leonard Cohen songs.
In fairness there were a few there who COULD play the shizznit out of those wood boxes.
So to each his own as long as they are not dodging the mortgage or spending their kid's college money.
I WAS weirded out when I met a guy with 22 Music Man Stingrays and nothing else!
All 4 stringers to boot. That I cannot get my head around - no variety no point - in my book.
If I were a singer, and could purchase another voice, so I could sound like 2 different singers, and it only coast $1000, I'd do it in a heartbeat. If I were a piano player, and could have a Bosendorfer and a Steinway in my house, and they cost $1000 each, again, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
If I played cello, or upright, or bassoon, or...pretty much any other acoustic instrument...same equation.
We're very lucky. We can have a dozen pro caliber basses for less than a lot of players need to spend for one instrument. If you do this for a living, or you live to play, a few (or a dozen) basses is not extravagant.
If I played cello, or upright, or bassoon, or...pretty much any other acoustic instrument...same equation.
We're very lucky. We can have a dozen pro caliber basses for less than a lot of players need to spend for one instrument. If you do this for a living, or you live to play, a few (or a dozen) basses is not extravagant.
SOOOOO true!! Ive had this convo with my mom recently. I told her that my Zon, P bass, and Jazz bass combined are less than a crappy upright piano that most grade schools use in the music room.
Mr.Ace
Bass players rule!
- Sep 8, 2015
- 1,120
- 1,050
- 49
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by Fusion ( maker of killer gig bags)
I’m sorry if I scared u. My 12 gauge is loaded with non lethal rounds. And I would not use it in an argument. I never said it would be used. It was an example. I was also stating that I have posted many times and I have put in more then 30 seconds on the “CONVO”
So most everything you are typing is false and unfounded.
I like collecting them. I also use them for pit shows and it allows me to work, where if i didn't have some I wouldn't have been able to take the gig. I'm defiantly lacking in my electric bass skills and while i'm working on it, I am a very good reader. Because of this, and because I sound good and convincing, I can get a lot of theater gigs. I need to have:
an upright bass, a 5 string fretted and a 5 string fretless bass. I have had an upright and a 4 string fender jazz since the start of 2012. Last year I needed a 5 string so I bought one, hated it because of the body shape and sold it after the show ended. Bought a 5 string that felt more like my fender, then needed to add a fretless. Didn't have any fretless work but didn't want to turn any down because I don't have one. 1 month after getting my 5 string fretless I got my first fretless show gig. Then another one last month and I have one in april. its about needing the tools and the variety.
I keep my fender because it still sounds better than my 5 string IMO. I use it whenever I can (live show gigs with an original band and a show next month that doesn't go below E). My only splurge bass is a fender p bass that I don't play because I haven't had a chance to since getting it....
an upright bass, a 5 string fretted and a 5 string fretless bass. I have had an upright and a 4 string fender jazz since the start of 2012. Last year I needed a 5 string so I bought one, hated it because of the body shape and sold it after the show ended. Bought a 5 string that felt more like my fender, then needed to add a fretless. Didn't have any fretless work but didn't want to turn any down because I don't have one. 1 month after getting my 5 string fretless I got my first fretless show gig. Then another one last month and I have one in april. its about needing the tools and the variety.
I keep my fender because it still sounds better than my 5 string IMO. I use it whenever I can (live show gigs with an original band and a show next month that doesn't go below E). My only splurge bass is a fender p bass that I don't play because I haven't had a chance to since getting it....
- Status
