Why have so many basses?

[Mr.Ace]

I have five basses and I’m great. You have 20 basses and you suck. You are not worthy of the basses. The great one has spoken Also Leo Fender did not play bass, and the OP seems to like his basses

 

[Mr.Ace]

No can do. i have only one account and it is allocated to my band . whatever i post shows up as band.but i would love to.

Yes can do, create a separate account to make negative comments on the unworthy. For instants:
I hate you and all of your basses you suck.
Or:
I play guitar and bass and I am great, I hate your YouTube video and I hate your face. I have spoken

 

[MyTomomi]

I'm one of those with expensive bass with limited talent.

My expensive SX bass boost my ego. I don't really care about talent when I play it.

 

[basslayer]

The basses all sound different and different music calls for different sounds.

 

[chris_b]

Humans collect stuff. It's what we do and it's cool.

Me? I'm in the "One bass to rule them all" camp.

I don't do collections. I just need one great bass that can make me sound good, and cover all bands, genres, songs and tunes I'm asked to play. One bass that let's me sound better than I am. Then, with the last go-to bass being my backup, I'm done.

 

[sikamikanico]

Judging by the emotional responses on both sides, I would say this is actually a very interesting question. While I usually don't spend much time following such threads, their frequency indicates something is going on.

OP, I think you won't find your answer here. I think your question is ultimately not specific to basses and bass players, so maybe search for a book or article that applies the question more broadly. I think it's really hard to answer such a question, but I wonder if psychologists or anthropologists might have some sense of the answer(s).

That said, OP, check your own biases and assumptions. At points, it seems like you're looking for a confirmation of your beliefs, and may be ignoring good answers. The truth is probably complex, multifaceted - in other words, your question has many answers.

We simply need to accept that everyone's different.

 

[superdick2112]

Certainly not to be judgemental or come across superior in any way.other but i often wonder why do so many people own so many expensive basses when they can hardly play one? maybe i am missing something here, but it just seems pointless and a waste. is it perhaps an insecurity thing . you know the more great basses you have will make you a better player? also it would stand to reason that a serious player would want to "bond" with one instrument and get to know it intimately. i would think that is important. in my first years i had one good 80s fender precision bass that was with me for many bands clubs and gigs. i didn't need 10 basses. was just wondering what others thought.

Your "shift" key seems to be working intermittently.
Is that part of your Troll Signature?

Not to be judgmental or come across as superior in any way, I often wonder why people post on public forums when they have no grasp of spelling or punctuation.
Maybe I am missing something here, but it just seems pointless and a waste.
It would stand to reason that a serious troll would want to master his preferred language before tossing out inflammatory drivel masquerading as legitimate discussion material, and blah, blah, blah.....

 

[Plectrum72]

A) One does because one can.
B) Skill or lack thereof is irrelevant to the ability to possess items.
C) It is none of my business what other adults do with their discretionary income if it is in compliance with the law.

I have a longsword that hangs on my wall. I am not a swordsman. I possess no martial fencing skills. It's not a family heirloom. Based on this criterion, should I not own it?

 

[Trouztrouz]

i have played with a number of people that were not good players that i tried to cultivate and nurture. never really ever worked out.

You don't say.

 

[Treebeard]

I like flipping basses - at least one every two weeks or so. It's like getting paid to demo instruments. But the better-playing ones hang out for longer.

ART COLLECTORS CAN RARELY PAINT THAT WELL I BET

 

[Trouztrouz]

i am not fun to work with in a band.

You don't say.

 

[Savagehenry]

I now have three and haven’t been playing a year, and I am not in any way being accused of being talented. I don’t play in front of any audiences, but...
To me, they are as much a form of artwork as they are a tool to someone perhaps like yourself. I display them because I think they are beautiful in their form as well as useful in their function.
Because I like building them as much as playing them, and so have accumulated three so far. My avatar has only the body and pickguard remaining from when I bought it. I have bought parts, sold parts and am not into it for much more than it’s original purchase price. I am now building basses from parts, and doing millwork, electronics, learning more about the more difficult details of a good set up. The money I’ve spent I consider tuition for learning, and never had this much fun at school.
Quite simply, they bring me joy.

 

[Trouztrouz]

i am a very modest person.

You don't say.

 

[Mr.Ace]

A) One does because one can.
B) Skill or lack thereof is irrelevant to the ability to possess items.
C) It is none of my business what other adults do with their discretionary income if it is in compliance with the law.

I have a longsword that hangs on my wall. I am not a swordsman. I possess no martial fencing skills. It's not a family heirloom. Based on this criterion, should I not own it?

You should not owne the sword. You should send it to me. I’m am descended from a long line of great swordsmen. My skill is inherent.

 

[DiMarco]

Certainly not to be judgemental or come across superior in any way.other but i often wonder why do so many people own so many expensive basses when they can hardly play one? maybe i am missing something here, but it just seems pointless and a waste. is it perhaps an insecurity thing . you know the more great basses you have will make you a better player? also it would stand to reason that a serious player would want to "bond" with one instrument and get to know it intimately. i would think that is important. in my first years i had one good 80s fender precision bass that was with me for many bands clubs and gigs. i didn't need 10 basses. was just wondering what others thought.

Bonding with an instrument is nonsense. They're just basses.
Words like "bonding" and "love" should not apply unless the players brain is malfunctioning.

Playing bass is a hobby, not business. I can have as many as I damn well please because I choose to.
Sometimes I like to grab a Ric, other times I want to play my five string Warwick or Zon. Simply because I can.

"when they can hardly play one" is just you talking down your nose.

 

[bassstrangler]

It's probably not a good idea to spend much if any time pondering why people do the things they do.

 

[brianrost]

7 pages in 8 hours

We have more than one because we want them and can afford them, that's all.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

I don't mean to brag, but I am probably the most modest person on this forum. When it comes to being modest, I am by far the absolute best.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Certainly not to be judgemental or come across superior in any way.other but i often wonder why do so many people own so many expensive basses when they can hardly play one? maybe i am missing something here, but it just seems pointless and a waste. is it perhaps an insecurity thing . you know the more great basses you have will make you a better player? also it would stand to reason that a serious player would want to "bond" with one instrument and get to know it intimately. i would think that is important. in my first years i had one good 80s fender precision bass that was with me for many bands clubs and gigs. i didn't need 10 basses. was just wondering what others thought.

Various reasons. In my case, as a working bass player, it's imperative that I'm able to cover many different styles and tones, plus I need at least 1 or 2 backup instruments, especially on travel gigs.

I have my main 'everyday' passive 4 string bass (which I use at 90% of gigs and sessions), a backup 4 string which happens to be active and has a very different tone than my main bass, a hollowbody, a fretless, a p bass (tuned down a half step to Eb currently), a 5 string, and a really special vintage bass. They all get played and certain artists I work with like me to use a particular instrument. Also, there's no way I'd show up to a session with just 1 bass!!

 

[JES]

Haven't read the whole thread but it's a kind of consumerism. We buy because we want to, because it's fun, to blow off steam, or whatever. As vices go, seems harmless to me. OTOH, GAS is never satisfied and those without it are probably happier in the long run (GAS for anything, not just basses). My parents were depression era babies and I envy their relationship to material things.

If we started a thread about people who were annoyed at people who got annoyed at people for their harmless pursuits would that be like the Invalid Link Removed?