Why have so many basses?

[willsellout]

Seems like the OP wastes a lot of energy on a question about other people's choices that in no way affect him/her. But...personally I have zero debt. I make plenty of money. I like basses. Yet both of my basses were under 500.00. My next bass will likely be the same.

 

[bobalu]

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 ...

Everyone plays for a different reason. Professional, studio, semi-professional, hobby, fun, as second instrument, whatever. Maybe they are collectors first and just play occassionaly. Whats wrong with variety if thats what you want and can afford? Not sure why you would care how many basses a person owns and judge someone for it. (you said you weren't being judgmental, but then you go on to mention insecurity and no point/waste of time. Just saying ). Leave each to his own I always say. Peace.

 

[BurnOut]

I'm sure I'd be on your list as not a good player with to many basses and guitars. I have a feeling lots of great players are also on your list like John Entwistle & Kip Winger.
I've only been playing 3 years and have about 9 basses. I'm sorry I have more than my ability rates with you. I'm not a great bassist, but I am getting better every day. Why do I have so many, because I'm one that jumps on a tremendous deal when I see one. Not every time, but if it's something I like and the price is stupid low, I'll probably end up buying it. The same reason I have so many guitars. When grunge hit, no one wanted the big hair Kramers, I was buying $1000 guitars for sometimes as low as $100. I bought as many as I could afford, now they're up into good money again. I didn't necessarily buy em to make money, I just dig em. If they're bringing money now that's a plus for me, but I'm not selling. They'll probably be extra money for the wife when I'm gone. The basses were just great deals on CL, I could afford them and I jumped on the deal. Most were around $100, I've never broke $300, and that's only a couple, all nice basses.
I find it hard to believe collectors have kept you from getting an instrument. If you want something it's out there. Sure a 65 Precision is gonna cost you, that how old rare things work.
I didn't join TB to make friends, but I have. I love the fact I have friends I made here from around the world.
My older brother is probably comparable to you skill and gig wise, probably bigger. I was in a battle of the bands over the summer (I know, not my idea) but it was one of the bigger things I've done in my 3 years as a bassist. I called my brother to see if he had any advice, he told me to "Have Fun" that's what I did and continue to do. You should try it sometime, feels pretty damn good. I want things to be right, but I'm not gonna go thru all this to play and not have fun.
Sincerely a Mediocre Bassist "with to many basses",
Peace N Chicken Grease

 

[gazzatriumph]

I am currently in an industrial band as the singer and guitarist. i am always angry. i never get to play bass.

You seem very angry about something that's not important.

 

[mcnach]

well, that was the quietest rage-quit I've encountered in a while...

Disappointing.

Now that the OP is gone I'm going to have to go play bass to ensure I have earned them when the bass police comes knocking...

 

[AcridSaint]

Not absurd. i have been playing since the late 80s professionally. have been in many types of bands from here in PA to Northridge, and Hollywood ca. Played spring break Daytona in the 90s. just so much. i remember a time when musicians were serious and there were not a lot of hobby people. Gibson quality is going down? Music man. i have had to send a stingray back because of fret problems. i could go on about quality control issues. and not just about basses. i also play guitar. had quality control issues. pa system issues . expensive home studio monitors issues. "quality control" is a problem when too many people are buying . not absurd at all.

It is absurd. People buying a "fleet" of "nice" instruments also don't want poopy quality control. You're making up a problem that doesn't exist. I'm not a great player and not a "pro", my buying a '93 G&L didn't stop you from getting that pro bass you needed. It wouldn't have stopped you if I bought a Fodera either.

 

[BurnOut]

For someone so into doing things his correct and right way. His rage over us not good players with to many basses blinded him to the reply button. But his random answers made him look all the more angry and out there.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I'm not sure how the OP could start a thread with that OP (very judgemental, even if it's stated that it's not supposed to be), and not expect a ton of blowback!
It reads to me like, "Why do you suck so bad, but own so many instruments?!".

 

[Fat Freddy]

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.

I'm very late to the party here but......

I just love 'em......Their, shapes, their colors, their feels, their different voices.....

I think of them as usable art.....

 

[Tommyc]

Though you can have hundreds of a thing, you can only use one at a time. So you only really have that one at that moment of use. I can only guess beyond the 2 or 3 basic bass voices, i.e. Precision, Jazz, active etc. that they're constantly looking for something and not finding it.

 

[Hevy T]

I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, gamble, womanize, watch tv, go to concerts, don't dance, or go to clubs (unless I am playing)...

Gotsa have something to live for besides work and sleep

 

[mcarp555]

I'm sure many people here remember the thread from a few days ago regarding Quincy Jones thinking Paul McCartney was the worst bassist he'd ever seen.

Anyone want to let Paul know he should not own so many instruments? I know he's got at least three Hofners, a Ric, a Jazz, a Yamaha, a Kay, a Wal, an upright... Geez, no-talent bum! There are more deserving left-handers out there who could benefit from owning those. And of course, the fact that the newest of his bunch is probably twenty years old (at least) has contributed to the decline in quality of newer basses.

 

[Barticus]

For not being judgmental, that post if pretty judgmental.

Why? Because I want to. It isn't because this one is great for this, and that one is great for that. It is simply because I want to.

LOL

I thought the exact same thing when I read this - ‘not to be judgemental’... kind of like saying ‘with all due respect’ prior to insulting someone.

I can certainly play all of the basses and guitars that I own... fours, fives and sixes...

I’ve never really listened to what others think, I suppose if I had I would not be able to afford the nice instruments that I’ve owned.

For the record, for all of you that can afford to buy whatever instrument (or other toys) you desire ‘good for you!’ Knock yourself out, whether you can play them or not... maybe getting the ‘right one’ will cause you to play more and get better. At the very least, enjoy every one you buy.

 

[WalWarrior]

I owned 53 basses up until 2 years ago. While it's fun collecting basses, most were tools that I used and rotated in an out for different tunes. I gigged most of them, the guitard in the act got pissed because I would change instruments too often in a show. (I took 4 basses to each gig, 4 is too many during a show?) I'd structure the sets to keep 1 instrument on my shoulder for 5 tunes, then I'd change. Anyways, down to 20 instruments now. Just changing batteries and strings was becoming a full time job. I used the proceeds of the 33 instruments I sold to finance a total exterior renovation of my home, and they paid the entire bill. The rest I will sell off in my sixties, and keep 3 or 4 until I can play no longer.

 

[jdthebassman]

it is a sickness. I have been collecting since high school and at one point ended up with over a hundred. my wife would give me grief until she saw what they were going for on ebay ,now she finds good deals for me.

 

[Bassbeater]

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

Better safe than sorry though.

 

[BassBrass]

Thanks, I'd actually forgotten this one or never saw it even though Python (and Dr Who) were on every night here in the 70s.
I seem to like having about a dozen basses. No space for more... But ever open to new enchantment, I Did happen to find a certain Japanese Fender PJ bass to have a remarkable tone Just yesterday. I think I'll trade something vintage I play least and bought to fit a category. I deleted a paragraph about my cornet and high brass mouthpiece collections. your welcome. This probably is a troll thread, but it's entertaining

 

[el murdoque]

You could expand that initial post with the following argument:
Not talking about 'expensive' in the sense of US made Fender, but Fodera/Ritter/High end Dingwall/Carl Thompson expensive. Five figure price tag neighborhood. These basses are not better than others that cost 'only' half as much.
Not better from a purely technical standpoint. If you only consider what mechanical effort it takes to play such an Instrument and what comes out of the 1/4 inch plug. A very well made bass for $5k will be top shelf in terms of playability and feel.
It will also be top shelf in terms of sound. A $10k+ bass will, if at all, be only able to top that by the tiniest of margins.
They are so expensive because the used raw materials are rare and usually there is a lot of 'woodporn' (pardon my french) going on. There is art baked into a tool. A surplus of stuff that absolutely no one can hear on a record, even the most educated audiophile on a high end system.
So what's the point in buying something like that, if you already have one or more high quality basses?

It always boils down to 'I want one and I can afford it (or the less intelligent way: I want one so bad, I'll buy it and somehow make do with the huge, gaping hole in my finances), so I'll get one'.

I've seen the guys that played for 20+ years and own a Squire P bass as their only instrument. They rock. And sometimes, they suck. Depends on the player.
I've also seen guy playing basses I have wet dreams about on stage, guys that own a dozen more of this caliber.
They totally sucked. Or they rocked. Depends on the player.

What I can say is that my respect for people I consider a better player than me is bigger, no matter if it's the one bass guy or the guy that recently had to add a room to his mansion because he ran out of walls to hang basses - whereas my respect for the player I consider inferior to myself is less, no matter what type.
This is just human, I guess. Basses are just things. Buy them or don't. Neither the Fender Custom Shop nor Fodera offer chops to go with their most expensive instruments. That part is up to you.

If you're a top player, you know you can use a $400 bass to lay down a groove and make people dance like there is no tomorrow. You can also do that with a $4000 or even a $14000 bass - maybe even slightly better, but rest assured that 99,9% of the audience won't be able to tell the difference by their ears only.
If you lack the chops, the quality of the instrument won't help. You're stuck with your clumsy fingers.

I think that in my youth, people with top notch gear that could not play properly were in fact grinding my gears, at least a little. I grew past that.

 

[Hevy T]

I feel i was very humble and politically correct about how i posted my dislike of collectors who can't play well and put Youtube videos up showing their 20 guitars that they can't play. you only need one to get good.

It may not about getting good or succeeding at an instrument!

I know a girl here where I live that has vintage gibsons, fenders and just ordered an American Jackson and she is well not even at a beginners level to say it nicely. She has a brain injury and this is what she likes and how she copes! Her dad goes to her to local jams so she can get up and have her moment in the sun. But this is her thing and the entire community supports her! Kinda like when your kid brings you a pic that they did of you that looks awful as compared to real paintings, but it is the most treasured thing that you own

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I have a fretted four, a piezo-only fretless four, and a fretless five. So they're all different. I'd like to add a fretless 5, and a fretted and fretless pair of 6s...because I want to.

But I really don't understand the folks with 17 fretted 4 string tobacco sunburst P-basses. Seems more like a neurosis than anything else.