Why Not Just One Bass?

[thmsjordan]

I really like the idea of having just ONE bass which is the ultimate instrument of choice.

I have four, but there are two six strings, one with maple board and one with ebony (TRBJP), one fretless and one 4-string which was my first bass and will not get sold. It seems to me quite justified although one can have as many basses as desirable.

But I somehow dig more that Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten style who basically have had that "one" bass which has served them for years than that of for example Dream Theaters John Petrucci who has 10 new guitars for every tour. Of course, he develops them too but I like the idea of having the chosen one

+100 here. I agree, it is more appealing to me personally to have a bass that fills the bill, and then I can spend my time working on the music and not worrying about the bass.

I have met plenty of guitarists/bassists (and even sax players with their own group of saxes) who want 5-6 guitars onstage with them when they really need only one that they can play well.

Sometimes this is a substitute for technique, or at least an attempt at substituting for technique. Sometimes it is just the choice of a good player with enough cash to have the extra toys. And of course sometimes, in the case of studio guitarists for example, there is a genuine need to drag four or more guitars to a session. I mentioned earlier that I own and play three basses, all very different. I play on the East coast as a sideman and I sometimes get calls that require 2-3 of them (though not as often in this economy). So the need arises depending on what you do.

The whole issue is different for everyone of course. I remember Carol Kaye once mentioning the reason she started preferring studio calls on bass rather than guitar is that she only had to carry one bass rather than four guitars to sessions.

On the other hand, I have been hired by guitarist/leaders with a Strat, a Tele, an LP, and a Ric 12 who couldn't play any of them, much less tune them all.

And then there are people who just love to collect all these wonderful basses.

In the end the reasons for having one or having many are all the same in that the reasons are all different.

 

[ejaggers]

He who dies owning the most basses wins!!! 057912

 

[VWbug]

I can appreciate the idea of one bass, great for everything, no distractions etc.

I'm also at a time personally while trying to downsize, I've actually gotten more Don't know how that happened

 

[Kragnorak]

Let's see, I have different needs/wants:

1) 5-string fretless acoustic-electric guitar: My El Capitan works lovely for just picking up and practicing and writing songs. I often don't feel like plugging into an amp so my laboratory time increases with this instrument.

2) 5-string fretted bass: I have too many of these (2), as I was given them as gifts. They are Ibanez with Vari-Mid EQs which I love, but I think 1 needs to go away to make room for a Dingwall (There is an amazing sounding ABZ at a local shop I'm considering).

3) 5-string fretless bass: Another mainstay that serves a unique function. I would like to upgrade this at some point as well - it is another midgrade Ibanez Soundgear.

4) Upright bass: Because you can't play electric bass in an orchestra. Unfortunately my current plywood jawn is great for jazz but awful for projecting orchestrally. Therefore I will need to upgrade to a good instrument at some point, preferably a 5-string or with a C-Extension.

5) EUB: I got a 7-string Ergo because I got fed up with upright bass feedback. I haven't figured out how to pull a great pizz sound of it yet, but I love being able to bow in cello range or down to a low B while drummers and electric guitars are playing.

6) 6-string fretless: The merits of this instrument are more debatable than the 5, and therefore this is the first semi-redundant category. Still, my Steve Bailey Aria Pro II from the 90s has a meaty and mellow tone that is very different from the 5-string.

7) 6-string fretless: This is not redundant for me, although I don't use it much right now. I have played in power trio type original bands where I was writing songs that involved tapping, slapping and chording across all 6 strings and deconstructing some of those tunes down to a 5-string does not work so well. My bass itself is not that great, and I have fantasized about a lottery win that would enable me to upgrade to a 7-string Ritter with his custom tremolo system.

8) 4-string Fender. This is category #1 that is not fulfilled. I know I could use a meat-and-potatoes bass with solid old-school sound.

9) Chapman stick or Warr Guitar: category #2 unfulfilled. With the amount of tapping I do on original compositions, I have often thought I should just get a stick.

10) #3: Fretless Zon Hyperbass

11) Viola da gamba: Because a fretted 6-string instrument that is played with a bow sounds perfect for me.


So yes, I have redundancies in my current collection but my goal is to have instruments with unique functions.

 

[Syco_bass]

Does a carpenter have only one hammer? Framing, Drywall, Finish, etc. If you "specialize" that is one thing, but if you do many things, you need to have the right tool for the job. So yes, more than one would be necessary. Especially if you want to make a living playing your bass. Whether that means being a session player or performing in more than one band. The same holds true for sight reading, Nashville numbering system, tableture, playing by ear, etc. Is one better than the other? Not necessarily, but if you want to make the most of your oportunities, you probably should know or at least be fairly proficiant in more than one method.

Peace.

 

[Mulebagger]

I have a number of basses that help me to be more diverse as a player. However, I do admire those musicians that have found their one instrument which has become their musical identity.

Last year I played a gig and brought one bass ( I usually bring 2 ). It felt a bit strange. The guitar player brought 11 guitars and 3 amps for a two hour show we were playing. He was going after the exact look/ sound of each cover ( it was a reunion party we were hired to play). I brought just my Modulus VJ because every tune was done on a 4 string we covered.

I felt a little embarassed by his excess amount of gear and it really sucked to have so much of the stage dedicated to being a guitar shop. From that experience I gained some of a different perspective.

Now I'm down to 5 ( well 3 as I wait for two more)
4 fretted
5fretted 5 fretless
6 fretted
and a 4 ABG.

I'm also getting rid of my cabs to just one setup.

Just one bass... I could, but I wouldn't want to .

 

[Brad Johnson]

I really like the idea of having just ONE bass which is the ultimate instrument of choice.

I have four, but there are two six strings, one with maple board and one with ebony (TRBJP), one fretless and one 4-string which was my first bass and will not get sold. It seems to me quite justified although one can have as many basses as desirable.

But I somehow dig more that Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten style who basically have had that "one" bass which has served them for years than that of for example Dream Theaters John Petrucci who has 10 new guitars for every tour. Of course, he develops them too but I like the idea of having the chosen one

Marcus and Victor both have far more than one bass... they even gig with more than one bass.


To the OP, different strokes. It's funny that other people seem far more interested in the number of basses I own than I am. I just play whatever I feel like playing.

 

[bassist4dalord]

I have three basses- a Squier Standard Precision V (main bass), Squier Affinity P (in the process of finding a new home) and a Fender BG-31 (apartment bass). With these three (soon to be two), I'm set. My 5er is my main bass; I use it for everything. When I'm practicing in my apartment, I use my acoustic. The P is on its way out.

I am a paid musician for Red Letter Edition, a small worship ensemble from my Christian college. We lead worship at local West Michigan churches on Sunday mornings. My typical earnings are ~$60/month. This month, I'll be making $200 or so, but we have an unusually high number of performances for 4-month period. So, my income has paid for my basses. I'm in a good place- one for gigs, one for practice.

Works for me!

 

[hifibass]

For YEARS I brought only one bass to my gigs, more seemed stupid. That is until the day that my brand new (original '76) B.C. Rich "Koa Eagle Custom" cut out on stage. That bass has A LOT of switches knobs and wiring! So here I am, in the middle of the Catskill Mountains late on a Friday night, with a dead bass and an angry crowd.

We stopped the show and asked if there was a local with a bass we could use for the rest of the night. There was, nice kid, worst bass I ever played..... completely dead past the 7th fret.

Since then there has ALWAYS been a backup, might be a fretless or "B" bass but it played in tune and I could access all it's notes. Ken

 

[Baird6869]

If you gig, IMO it is unprofessional to show up without a backup. Even a crappy $50 bass left in the car is acceptable.

I have had saddles come undone and the spring fired the screw into my cabinet (found it 6 months later), had input jacks malfunction, strings break, etc. bad stuff can and will happen.... Even with the best gear.

 

[grendle]

For YEARS I brought only one bass to my gigs, more seemed stupid. That is until the day that my brand new (original '76) B.C. Rich "Koa Eagle Custom" cut out on stage. That bass has A LOT of switches knobs and wiring! So here I am, in the middle of the Catskill Mountains late on a Friday night, with a dead bass and an angry crowd.

We stopped the show and asked if there was a local with a bass we could use for the rest of the night. There was, nice kid, worst bass I ever played..... completely dead past the 7th fret.

Since then there has ALWAYS been a backup, might be a fretless or "B" bass but it played in tune and I could access all it's notes. Ken

+1

I always bring a back up just in case something unforeseen happens that I can't fix on the spot.

 

[Brad Johnson]

If you gig, IMO it is unprofessional to show up without a backup. Even a crappy $50 bass left in the car is acceptable.

I have had saddles come undone and the spring fired the screw into my cabinet (found it 6 months later), had input jacks malfunction, strings break, etc. bad stuff can and will happen.... Even with the best gear.

That highlights the need to really stay up on your instrument and don't let any maintainenece issue slide... they'll bite you at the most inopportune time.

I take two basses mainly for variety so of course none of them ever fail on a gig... they know the other bass is just hankering for some stage time

 

[chuck norriss]

I was blessed by your post thanks Doc.
I'm down to two basses--still trying to sell one of them--and one guitar.

 

[whitespike]

I own two but only play one. The other one is my first bass but the main has been like an appendage for the last 15 years of my life (exactly half). My brother ( guitarist ) is the same about his one guitar. He actually only owns one. Not for any financial reason.

Personally I would prefer an array of amps to get different sounds.

 

[ksandvik]

I have an interesting observations about famous bass players (even guitar players) that swear they have their one and only 'love.' I've seen pictures of them playing other bass guitars (or guitars), too....

I think Eric Clapton did the right thing and stopped being attached to an instrument, he plays a Strat for a while and then puts it out on an auction to raise money for various benefits.

 

[senp5f]

Most of the working musicians I see have only one or two main instruments, usually a main axe and a backup.

That's simply because most of them can't afford to have that much money tied up in basses. Recording, marketing, touring -- it all takes upfront capital investment to make money off it in the long run, and many many musicians have to fund it themselves these days.

 

[AmieLouHat]

I had a backup bass for a while when I used to play on a boat. Now I've got just one bass and it seems to work out well. I usually have to bring my guitar too because the guitarist in my band can't play a set without breaking a string.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Most of the working musicians I see have only one or two main instruments, usually a main axe and a backup.

That's simply because most of them can't afford to have that much money tied up in basses. Recording, marketing, touring -- it all takes upfront capital investment to make money off it in the long run, and many many musicians have to fund it themselves these days.

+100

There is nothing wrong with having what you need. Collecting is great too, but my gut feeling is that most of us actually use a wide variety of basses less than many of us think we do. I'm going to get a second bass soon simply because a backup gives me some security.

 

[GregT]

I have always ended up with Fender Jazz basses. I love them, but the truth is that I have really always wanted a Precision. Yesterday I traded in my MIM Jazz toward an Ampeg PF500 head. I felt comfortable doing that because recently found a MIM Precision that plays great. Long story long, I was really wanting the Made in USA Fender Precision they have at Guitar Center. It is sunburst and has the lightweight tuners and the more massive bridge. I have been looking at it for weeks. but...$1199.....plus tax! Well, yesterday they had an identical used one in nearly perfect condition. The "one bass" I have always wanted since I was 20 (55, if you must know). I really only need one bass. Finally I have the one I've always wanted. There is always a slight chance it will get lonely without a Jazz bass to keep it company.

 

[TripleDouble]

I used to do the session/sideman/hired gun thing and that required having a number of instruments that could fit whatever musical style I was playing. I think I had 6 basses, 4 guitars, and a pretty decent banjo and mandolin. Now that I mostly only work on personal and creative projects, it's 2 basses, 2 guitars, and a much cheaper banjo, and a SMOKIN home studio from the $$ gained from selling some gear that was mostly for show. Bass wise, I have a Jazz and a MM Sterling left, and I'd be totally happy with just either one of them since both can get me to 90% of any tone I'd really need on top of doing their specific thing really well. Actually, maybe I should send one packin...