Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Why multiple basses?
- Thread starter Mister_GothFrak
- Start date
And my apologies for not getting it. I’m too straight-man a lot of times!…It was meant as a joke, I'm sorry if it confused anyone or just wasn't funny
Cheers…..
I currently have 21 basses. There are about 10 of them that get played regularly so I’m in the process of reducing my inventory. Most of the play and sound a bit different.
I can definitely relate to this.
I feel like you need one more in that space next to the light switch. lol
- One all-rounder for pop and rock -- MTD Kingston Heir 4-string with rounds
- One for jazz -- Washburn AB40 with flats
- One for what I will, duo and trio gigs, and sight-reading gigs -- Ibanez Volo 5-string stung E-c with rounds
Because I like variety. All of my basses are fairly different from each other.
I still have my first bass, a Ric 4001. It's been modded and is arguably a better bass, but it no longer sounds like a Ric. Wish I had left it alone. I played the Ric over decade.
My next long term #1 was a Yamaha BB5000 (3-4 years). I wanted to learn 5-string and it was the best choice available to me. I never owned this model, but a couple were provided to me by the military in two different units. The low strings were more focused than the Ric.
My final #1 has been a Yamaha TRB6P. I wanted to learn 6-string and it was the only available instrument in the organization. I bought my own TRB6P to have a consistent axe for practice at home and civilian gigs. To be honest I was never very excited about the tone of this bass, but audiences seem to really like it. It's been my #1 since about 1995, and now feels pretty much like home.
Some of the instruments I have collected over the years were other basses I was interested in as a teen: Washburn Bantam, Fender Precision Elite 2, Daion PowerMark XB.
I also have a Modulus Flea 5, Modulus Genesis 5, and Tacoma Thunderchief. Despite being the most expensive, the Genesis is probably my least favorite in the collection.
I was very tempted by a Jack Casady for awhile, but pretty sure it's been well over a decade since I added a bass guitar to my collection. I did purchase a Hamer Cruise 5 with a 2-tek less than a year ago, but had to return it because the truss rod was snapped.
Recently I bought a NS Design 6-string EUB. I played this model in the military and had to turn it in when I retired.
I also am strongly considering buying an entry-level carved upright bass as well.
Amps are a different matter. When I was an active pro, I owned one bass amp and also had a couple of rigs in the military, including a duplicate of the amp I owned. Since retiring I have amassed a fairly large collection of amps (approaching 65 amps). All of my amps are awesome in their own way, but many of them don't really suit my typical live performance needs very well. Purchases were driven mostly by my curiosity about what people like and why. The first addition to my collection was a Trace Elliot V8 that was referred to as the "Grail" by legacy TB member Phyrexian. The threads on this amp were posted about 5 years before I even signed up for TB. To be fair, it's a great amp, but there are other amps in my collection I like better. As with bass, probably my least favorite amp was the most expensive.
I have 3:
1. Fender MIM P
2. G&L JB-2 Tribute
3. LTD B-204
All sound different or similar, depending on how I run them. One P, one J (because of course) and one with an active preamp. I figure I have many of the basses covered this way.
1. Fender MIM P
2. G&L JB-2 Tribute
3. LTD B-204
All sound different or similar, depending on how I run them. One P, one J (because of course) and one with an active preamp. I figure I have many of the basses covered this way.
Different basses inspire me to play differently.
Different material inspires me to play different basses.
But no matter which bass I play, I always sound like me. My band mates like that.
Different material inspires me to play different basses.
But no matter which bass I play, I always sound like me. My band mates like that.
I do it for different set ups and strings, different basses have different pickup arrangements and sounds. I tried to collect one or two of each type. Jazz, P, hollow body, fretless, upright. Flats or round wound strings. That sort of thing for me.
Adding to that, and thinking back on it. My first bass was an example of this philosophy early on I was trying to create, all at once apparently…
Last edited:
I like having the variety of different instruments. All of mine are fretted and roundwound, but there's still a big difference in tones.
My only rule I try to follow is making sure I don't get anything redundant. When I'm considering a new bass I try to think of what situations I would use it in and see if it adds something new to my collection. If I already have something thst I would reach for instead then I don't get it. If I can think of a scenario where I would reach for the new one first then I do get it.
My only rule I try to follow is making sure I don't get anything redundant. When I'm considering a new bass I try to think of what situations I would use it in and see if it adds something new to my collection. If I already have something thst I would reach for instead then I don't get it. If I can think of a scenario where I would reach for the new one first then I do get it.
I've had 3 groups of multiple basses running for several years, all for different reasons.
The first group was a collection and the most numerous.
Work had me bouncing up and down the country every week, with that came new music stores/local ads/pawn shops etc. Picked up a few Peaveys on my travels, then a few more. It was rinse and repeat until I realised of all the models Peavey had released I owned most of them. Decision to complete the collection or sell up was made for me when I found a Resolite, only 4 of those were made so I took it as a sign from above to keep going.
I stopped collecting Peaveys when they hit number 68, by then I had at least 1 of every model released from 1978 to 2010; both US and East Asian production.
It was a fun time. Learned a lot about the company, made plenty of contact with fellow Peavey buffs and through those contacts helped plenty of others find certain basses or fix their basses.
Second group is a mixed bag. Things I fancied trying like semi hollows, short scales, basses I missed first time around, basses I wished to revisit etc.
Third group is the important one, the basses I play. Around 10 years back I was introduced to the joys of the single coil P-bass. It was shortly after that I started building them. Figured there was no point in buying a Dirnt or Cabronita when I could just make one from scratch. Last couple have been a Sting V3 and a 51 slab body with the single coils set at 60's jazz bass positions.
Over the years, I'd become interested in this or that bass, and I'd get around to buying one with NO thought of 'I need this one for THAT sound, and this other one for THAT sound'. I'd just buy things I wanted, and when gig time I'd simply take whichever one was Today's Pet and go play it.
I think the most I ever had under the roof was six, which was way too many, as several of them just never got played. Right now I have four, and one of them hasn't seen daylight in quite a while. It's a great bass, but I've just been using one or two of the others as they have my attention right about now.
I think the most I ever had under the roof was six, which was way too many, as several of them just never got played. Right now I have four, and one of them hasn't seen daylight in quite a while. It's a great bass, but I've just been using one or two of the others as they have my attention right about now.
Fender Flea RW and a Squier Sonic P, depends on my mood... both are pretty great . Also a bonus as an extra if someone comes over and they didn't bring theirs or sum. One of these days id like to a sweet parts bass.
Last edited:
