Why have so many basses?

[Plectrum72]

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.....

View attachment 2909873

^^^^^^For the win!^^^^^^

 

[Topkat13]

Why not?

 

[Bass Man Dan]

I've played a few gigs at venues where if you show up with fewer than 4 basses, they wouldn't even let you in. They would cancel the gig right then and there. Other venues I've played, they would maybe let the gig happen if you had fewer than 4, but you could tell that everyone was laughing behind your back and the room would get quiet every time you walked in.

 

[scuzzy]

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.

Big fan of this.

I have contentment issues, so I buy lots of basses. I like them all. I enjoy playing them all. I play whatever one tickles my fancy at that moment. And I'm mediocre. If I had one bass, I'd still be mediocre.

 

[RolandMHall]

Lots of haters.......

If you want one bass play one. If you want 50 own 50. Life is too short to judge or be judged. Leave that to God. Enjoy life. Live and let live.

When I was young I had one cheap bass (a Dean) and I'm in a gear snob heavy town. Had no money for good gear so compensated by studying practicing and playing like my life depended on it so I could get some respect. He'll I knew guys back then with high end basses when we were kids. Bu most of them couldn't play. They had gear and we were envious of that it. Facts.

Almost 30 years later I'm an Internet ops change manager for a major company 22 yrs on the job. I still practice like my life depends on it daily. I can afford 2 foderas or a few US Laklands. But I chose to own 7 lakland Skylines instead.

Why.
Because I can afford that many
Each one speaks to me differently
I don't care what anyone else thinks
When I find a brand I like I stick with it.

But that's just me and that's the point. Do you. To hell what anyone else thinks.

Valuable lessons learned over 45 years of life.

 

[lfmn16]

Just curious: do you feel the same about people collecting fast sports cars even though they drive like an old granny?

Or people that have nice clothes but aren't supermodels?

 

[beatlebass64]

By the end of the year I'll have three.

Four string fretted, five string fretted, and four string fretless.

Should cover all my....basses.

 

[LowNloud1]

I'm with Twinjet (reply 13). The music I perform has more than one dynamic. Some call for a bass tuned to a different key so I can play it cleaner or more efficiently; Some call for a 5 string; some call for a fretless for its great effect on tone. I want to be as diverse with my tone and sound right for my parts as I can. Makes it fun. Others may not see it that way. It is just what works for me.

 

[unclebass]

At one time I had 5, but narrowed it down to 3. One stays at the house where we have our bible study, one stays at our church, and one stays at home for practice, occasionally trading locations just to keep it interesting. Also have 3 combo amps, one for each location. No bass I've had has ever cost me more than mid $300's, which is top end range for my skill level. Besides not being talented enough to justify a $1000+ bass, it hurts a little less if a budget bass gets damaged by me or someone else. I definitely have a current favorite, but lugging around a bass everywhere I go is not something I care to do.

 

[Boristhespyder]

Before I buy my next one, I’ll be sure to send you a tape so you can approve my purchase.

 

[Snaxster]

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.

Hello. Though I lack time for reading this whole thread just now, I can see that 1. you did not think this through much, and 2. probably you deserve the drubbing you are getting by many respondents.

Why have so many children? Why have so many friends? Why not listen to only that one song you like, and not to any other music ever?

As I recall, years ago the great Marcus Miller said that a player should commit to one instrument (not one type, as in bass vs. flute, but one unique example of one type, as in Jazz Bass serial number 12345 vs. any other bass). Yet Mr. Miller owns a formidable collection of bass guitars, I have heard. The two are not mutually exclusive: a player who commits to one particular instrument also can keep a collection of instruments of the same type.

There are many reasons for having a collection of basses that are, variously, similar, dissimilar, or a mix of both. Some you are reading in the replies to this thread; others may occur to you in time.

 

[Boristhespyder]

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?

 

[Spent]

Just in the last six months I have played 2 five strings, one 35” tuned E-C the other 35” tuned B-G, a six a fretless, and acoustic and a four string, all in band settings. I keep a bass at our rehearsal studio so I don’t have to drag my bass to work on rehearsal days, I keep one in my office so I can practice on occasion and a short scale in my bedroom for when I’m inspired. The rest are in my man cave/home studio. That’s why I have so many basses, and I play them.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Why? Because they can.

 

[JimmyM]

Hear that? That's the sound of all the people with expensive basses not caring what you think. Keep your eyes on your own paper and mind your own beeswax.

 

[Stephen Hurley]

I had a collection of seven before I had children. Married with two children... down to one. Mainly a space and huge unexpected medical bill(s) issue. No regrets though! I’m in my late 20’s so there’s plenty of time for me to accumulate more as my kids get older and more independent.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I have six basses and rotate them on a daily basis, the most expensive one is a Lakland Skyline D Dunn P bass that I bought here used for 799.00, the rest are Fender and Squier and a couple of builds, not expensive at all and I’m pretty decent at playing bass, so quit being judgmental

 

[Kmrumedy]

Hello. I can see that 1. you did not think this through much, and 2. probably you deserve the drubbing you are getting by many respondents.

An even scarier thought - maybe the OP DID think this through and still made this thread!

Posing the question - Is the OP either deliberately playing with us, purposely being rude, or just severely obtuse?

It's been a long time since we've had someone deserving of a good ole' fashioned TB beat down.

We're in before the lock.

 

[Bikeguy57]

People bringing multiple guitars and amps and huge pedalboards to gigs reminds me of the scene in Tin Cup where the Rene Russo character shows up at the range with all these accoutrements hanging off her. Cup's response after unadorning her? Grip it and rip it and let the big dog eat. (Paraphrasing)

Raoul?

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Bonding with one bass is kind of overrated. I have five basses and as long as I warm up with the bass I intend to gig with, I am fine for that gig. OP you say you don’t want to come off as superior but you do. I know owning five basses doesn’t make me a better player. I have been playing for twenty four years and am capable of doing what I do very well. Also, owning multiple cool basses is really fun and I love every one of my basses. I am happy to grab any one of them for a gig and I enjoy the variety. You insinuate that people own multiple basses to compensate for lack of talent and that “serious players” bond with one instrument. You are wrong. Sorry if it sounds harsh but putting a disclaimer before your post doesn’t really change the nature of your post. I hope this helps.