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Why multiple basses?
- Thread starter Mister_GothFrak
- Start date
I have practical reasons to have multiple basses. I have one at my rehearsal space. I have one at home for practice only. I have a couple for gigging, at least one with flats and one with rounds at all times, and a main backup. And one in my closet that has sentimental value and comes out once in a while. And a Kala bass. And 2 or 3 that hang on my wall because they cover up a hole that’s there.
I have only 3. My fretted 6, my fretless 6 and my acoustic 5 string. My fretted 6 is my main player. My fretless 6 is for playing songs that need fretless. My acoustic 5 string is for playing around the house without needing an amp. I have no need for any more basses.
Seriously?
Why not have two or three or four, etc?
Having a backup is a good idea, isn't it?
I'm my opinion, you only need two. One primary and one back up. I have nine. Six electric and three acoustic. Most are P basses. Why? because to me they are like artwork. Different colors, hardware, electronics, wood. Each sounds slightly different. I like to think that they bring inspiration and that makes me want to play more and get better. Whatever makes us happy!
Different screwdrivers for different screws.
Listen to the difference between a Precision with old flats and with rounds, both are relevant but have different applications.
It's also a matter of preference.
So you answered your own question then. We can close this thread.I've got a handful. See my profile or signature link.
They're all in different tunings and feature different characteristics. i.e. I have an 8-string octave paired-string bass.
However, I was a homogenous tone across them so I can swap between songs and merely change a preset on an EQ pedal and nobody would know it's a different bass just by listening.
I've got a sound I like and I want to stick with it until I want to change it.
After retiring early, 62 in 2012, I started playing bass uke in mid 2014 with a 35 person uke group. To occupy myself, I like collecting and designing modifications to bass ukes and mini bass guitars. I used to have a large collection of different styles modified by Eric's Guitar and Pat Wilkins to look like commercial bass guitars, but with nerve damage to my neck spinal cord, I found that one type of bass uke is now most comfortable, a 21" scale violin/Hofner Chinese knock off, which I have modified to play better, and look different from each other. Here they are, plus all the bass ukes/mini bass guitars I've gone through.
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Pretty much this. Also, "why not" is an acceptable answer.
I own 6 Spector Euros. They all have the active EMG’s with BTS. Although they are all configured identically, they sound slightly different. My reason for having 6 is a mixture of variety in look combined with the fact that I use 3 for every show due to different tunings:
1. E / Drop D
2. Eb / Drop C#
3. D Std
The other 3 are tuned the same and I don’t swap tunings on basses. Therefor I have 2 in each tuning.
1. E / Drop D
2. Eb / Drop C#
3. D Std
The other 3 are tuned the same and I don’t swap tunings on basses. Therefor I have 2 in each tuning.
Same reason painters use more than one color. They make different sounds, and some work better than others on certain projects I’m doing.
1. Multiple tones / sounds (for both fretted & fretless)
2. Different feel for different playing styles (slap, pick, finger style)
3. Backup / redundancy
4. Different appearance / colors
5. Short term investment / trading stock.
6. To satisfy my materialistic wants.
It's simple as a "wanna be" musician that has played to some degree or another over 40 years you tend to own instruments that have good qualities and are worth hanging on to. I'm not talking as a collector, but as a musician. For example I have the first real Strat I ever purchased and played live with. It does have sentimental value, but it's also a 77' USA Strat that is worth some coin now (or maybe a nice present to leave to an aspiring musician). Like may of the other posters have said instruments provide a way to expand your sound. A LP doesn't sound or play like Tele, a PRS has it's own sound, as does a 12 string.
As for basses, I have 3, a P and a J. Acquired recently the J has become my primary gig bass, and the P is my back up. The third is an older Frankenbass I built that may go into the trade in pile.
Cheers
As for basses, I have 3, a P and a J. Acquired recently the J has become my primary gig bass, and the P is my back up. The third is an older Frankenbass I built that may go into the trade in pile.
Cheers
It was meant as a joke, I'm sorry if it confused anyone or just wasn't funny
To flex my perceived financial accomplishment. 
You will never see me with the same bass twice.
What else did you really expect with this question?
You will never see me with the same bass twice.
What else did you really expect with this question?
I own five basses and they all either sonically or ergonomically do something different (Jazz pickups, Precision pickups, dual humbuckers with active electronics, fretless neck, five-string, etc).
I wouldn't buy a sixth bass unless it gave me something those don't or improves upon the feature set of one I already have (at which point I'd sell the old one). Past that point I'd be collecting for vanity rather than utility.
I wouldn't buy a sixth bass unless it gave me something those don't or improves upon the feature set of one I already have (at which point I'd sell the old one). Past that point I'd be collecting for vanity rather than utility.
They sound different, feel different. Some have very significant differences (a 5th string, a lack of frets) and some just have different strings.
I keep two because when one's in the shop or something, I still have another one to play.
Simple as that.
Simple as that.
