Why have so many basses?

[nostatic]

Using G word stuff gonna have the Fun Police shutting this abomination down.
Actually I can't believe it's still up and running. This baby be viral with troll germs.

this should have been killed right after initial delivery...

 

[SJan3]

Well you can assume it is envy or anything you want. i could actually buy as many basses as i want. i don't see the point in buying more than i can be intimate with. my question was sincere.

If you can buy as many Basses as you want, I'd speculate that you're in the minority here. Most of us have to work hard to make purchases.

 

[BoomSTICK]

You can be intimate in different ways... Sometimes it takes the right bass to realize it :-D

 

[CereBassum]

a number of truly bad players with an armada of Fenders and really nice expensive basses i was just like what the hell. why not learn to play one before you buy 20 more?. just seemed rather crazy.

The reason is because they don't know how to play, and they think that getting a different/better bass will change that.

 

[Eilif]

-I think if you're playing regularly on any level two solid basses is a minimum. I have two that I take to almost every gig.
-Beyond that maybe you want to play fretless. Got one of those also
-Then perhaps you have your first bass. Me again.
-On top of that you may have a bass that has some historical value and/or is particularly unique. Guilty.
-There may also be something for knock-around/travel. Right here.
-Some folks may also have something they built themselves. That's me

So that's 6 right there. I've got a 7th too and while it is a slightly different flavor and very cool maybe I'll let it go. This is down from the 10 I had before. I really don't see myself ever getting lower then 5 or 6 but who knows.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

There's different levels and types of intimacy. Some of my basses enjoy a tender and more relaxed groove. Others hardly like to be touched unless I'm going to be really rough. I have one that only comes out on weekends or when my wife's away. And this one bass, oh boy, I can't even say what it likes...

 

[TheReceder]

I think any bass player must understand that there is a definite minimum to the number of basses you should have.
1. A bass that you never show your spouse. That way when she's mad at you you can break it out and she'll forget what she was originally mad about.
2. A backup bass that you never show your spouse, should she get mad about the bass you just showed her to try and get her to forget what she was originally mad about
3. A bass you're afraid to play because you might get fingerprints on it. As a matter fact no one should even look at it. (Reference: Nigel Tuffnells fender IV).
4. The bass that you bring to a gig where there is chicken wire protecting the band.
5. Your first bass, or one that's as close as possible to being your first bass. That way when your spouse still isn't talking to you can have something to talk to.
6. Your audition bass, this is just to show that you're a professional. This can be varied based on the style of music played by the band. After the audition you never have to play it again. Similar to bass #3, but it can be touched.
7. Most important. No matter what, everyone should have at minimum one RED bass.

If I missed anything, please feel free to add to the list.

 

[Mr.Ace]

I think any bass player must understand that there is a definite minimum to the number of basses you should have.
1. A bass that you never show your spouse. That way when she's mad at you you can break it out and she'll forget what she was originally mad about.
2. A backup bass that you never show your spouse, should she get mad about the bass you just showed her to try and get her to forget what she was originally mad about
3. A bass you're afraid to play because you might get fingerprints on it. As a matter fact no one should even look at it. (Reference: Nigel Tuffnells fender IV).
4. The bass that you bring to a gig where there is chicken wire protecting the band.
5. Your first bass, or one that's as close as possible to being your first bass. That way when your spouse still isn't talking to you can have something to talk to.
6. Your audition bass, this is just to show that you're a professional. This can be varied based on the style of music played by the band. After the audition you never have to play it again. Similar to bass #3, but it can be touched.
7. Most important. No matter what, everyone should have at minimum one RED bass.

If I missed anything, please feel free to add to the list.

You are spot on dude.

 

[CereBassum]

So that's 6 right there. I've got a 7th too and while it is a slightly different flavor and very cool maybe I'll let it go. This is down from the 10 I had before. I really don't see myself ever getting lower then 5 or 6 but who knows.

And you forgot a very common situation: Having a 4 and a 5. I prefer a 4 but when I used to gig or jam ( kinda old for that now...) I always took a 5 to cover anything that might come up.

(And now that I'm getting old and cranky, I'm scouting around for a short scale.)

 

[mikewalker]

and again, why not 3 or 4, or more?
and what if they don't expect to become great?

If you're going to say 1 OR 2, then why not more?
You really only need one!

OK, I know I am only 12 pages into this thread, so I apologize in advance if this has been mentioned ad nauseum just a page or two further on... but I am SO TIRED of these Internet urban legends, which seem to get propagated over and over and over and over again every couple of years.

SO let's set the record straight! The truth is, you don't need ANY basses to become great.

It's a little-advertised but absolutely undisputed scientific fact that "the greatest bassists of all time" simply pass their hands over the two inch Ampex tape as it is running, streaming the energy from their fingertips to rearrange the magnetic particles to form what will euphemistically be called their "Bass guitar track". (Nudge nudge, wink, wink - said the studio engineer!). This technique has been carefully passed on from generation to generation for good reason: none of those nasty strings and picks and callouses need get in the way of the most sublime and perfect musical creations!

 

[FingerDub]

If you can buy as many Basses as you want, I'd speculate that you're in the minority here. Most of us have to work hard to make purchases.

I don' think that's true. There are more quality bass options at prices that are lower than ever. You can get 2 year, no interest payments almost everywhere. You can find many great deals on CL all the time.

 

[GIBrat51]

Why? Several reasons:
- I had a repressive, deprived childhood, and I'm over-compensating for it now;
- Having a lot of basses is a Helluva lot cheaper than having a lot of Ferraris;
- I'm on a quest to find a lefty version (did I mention I'm a lefty? See "repressive/deprived childhood"above) of every bass I ever wanted;
- I'm a member of a secret group of really mean people, whose mission is to buy up every bass there is, so you can't have more than one. And finally;
How's the WiFi connection under that bridge of yours...?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Closed for local moderator review.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I also reported you for implied violence and and am wondering where the hell the mods are.

At band practice, not expecting a 600+ post thread to have popped up in one day and to have gone so far south in such a short time. This one’s staying closed.

Shorthand for those who have forgotten:
1. There is no gun talk, period
2. Be respectful of other’s choices. Someone doing something different than you does not mean there is a failing on their part
3. Be respectful of other posters. Being rude or insulting is not going to fly.