26 years of playing primarily at church from rock style, gospel, blues, classical.....holiday productions with a full orchestra. One bass at any one time. I have never owned two basses at the same time. 4's, 5's, active and passive. Been playing a warmoth passive 4-string p bass for the past 8-years.....don't feel like I'm missing out.....too much more to learn on it.
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Why Not Just One Bass?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I'm rather sure one instrument is better to learn and discover. It's already difficult like that. Having to adapt each time you switch bass seems counterproductive to me. Now, gassing about another bass is something else. Now, I really don't need another one, but I surely would like to have one or two others, for the pleasure of owning and playing them...
I think also that there is much more in the player than in the instrument/gear and so on. A lot of people fool themselves believing that next piece of gear will be the solution to play better. I think one instrument is highly enough to evolve, no need for a patch or a fix to be better.
Now, I'm sure you guys are more advanced than I, and can surely justify to own several basses for different style or play.
I think also that there is much more in the player than in the instrument/gear and so on. A lot of people fool themselves believing that next piece of gear will be the solution to play better. I think one instrument is highly enough to evolve, no need for a patch or a fix to be better.
Now, I'm sure you guys are more advanced than I, and can surely justify to own several basses for different style or play.
I was just thinking about if I could purchase a Warmoth fretless neck and alternate between that and the original neck on my Precision. Does anybody else do that or think about doing that?
I am a Peavey fan, so getting a nice Cirrus cheap worked for me. If you have to have a custom bass, just take the financial hit and move on. Life is not all about sheer practicality.
For you one and others one bass works because your needs/wants/whatever only require one. For me and others two or more basses are required. My bass playing is a hobby like your's but I want to play in a bluesy fusion band so I want a nice jazz bass with halfrounds, however I also want to play some conceptual electronic stuff so I want a six string fretless.
It's like if you enjoy both mountain and road biking. You can ride a mountain bike on the road but hell, if you have the money and the desire, wouldn't it be nicer and easier if you bought a road bike as well? If you only like one, just get one.
It's like if you enjoy both mountain and road biking. You can ride a mountain bike on the road but hell, if you have the money and the desire, wouldn't it be nicer and easier if you bought a road bike as well? If you only like one, just get one.
I really do admire you folks that can get by with one bass! Unfortunately, my situation does dictate the need for multiple basses. I'm in multiple, working bands that play songs in multiple tunings AND, I'm the guy that's had a bass take a crap in the middle of a show and didn't have a spare with me.
Perhaps after I stop working, I'll be able to get down to one bass, until then, I will have at least two...
Perhaps after I stop working, I'll be able to get down to one bass, until then, I will have at least two...
I'd like to think I have 9 or so basses because I need the versatility, but truth be told, every gig I have ever had could easily be covered by any one of them.
I just like to have a bunch of basses, although I admire the thrift and embrace of simplicity of those who own just one.
I just like to have a bunch of basses, although I admire the thrift and embrace of simplicity of those who own just one.
Yes, that works! Kind of a hassle changing out the neck, but much cheaper and you get a really quality product.
I am a working musician, I do play a variety of gigs where more than one type of bass is useful but with that said..... I could easily do everything I do with a jazz bass. I choose to have multiple basses simply because I love basses and am infatuated with certain builder's products. But could I do everything I do with one..... absolutely. Might even be a better player if I spent more time practicing than buying, selling and trading basses.... but I have doing what I do. It brings me enjoyment.
Well, as a carpenter, I would use different saws, hammers, whatever, for different jobs (trim, framing, etc.). I sort of think of basses as tools as well. My minimum is 2 basses, a 4 and a 5 string, one w/ flats, and one w/rounds. I also usually also have a third cheapo "trunk bass" to just throw in the car "just in case I need a bass", and not have to worry about. As a semi-retired bassist, I hear what you are saying as a hobbyist. Everyone has diff. needs, wants, etc. I have one expensive bass I'll never sell, but in reality, have had cheaper basses that play and sound virtually as good. I'm getting ready to go jam out at the beach w/a friend's band. Bringing the $100 Squier Protone 5 "trunk bass" and plan on rockin' it w/no apologies whatsoever. In actuality, sure, I could get by easily w/ one well made and set up non-high end bass.
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You have just put the thoughts I've been having for a long time now, & made sound like perfect sense thank you. Like you work & family take up most of my time,and the time I have to myself sometimes I can't get the motivation to pick up my bass. I own three but only really play one the Rickenbacker 4003, the other two are & have been in cases for a while now and I can't see that changing any time soon. I would like a real Fender Precision (again) but if I do, then it will be second hand no more new basses for me. I still love the Bass Guitar like I did 26 years ago, but I have other things now that I have to put first.
1992 Ric 4003 - 1964 Hofner 500/1 - 1989 Squier Precision MIK
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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Why Not Just One Bass?
Dude ... don't say that ... not even in jest ...
The thought of only owning one bass freaks me out.
Dude ... don't say that ... not even in jest ...
The thought of only owning one bass freaks me out.
Thanks for the kind words! Whether, I have one bass or five. My goal is to have music be fun, and not a source of stress or frustration.
If I had to get rid of every bass but one, there is no doubt in my mind that my career would continue along as it always has. I almost never bring more than one bass to my gigs (well, more than one electric...I also double on upright on most of them), and when I do, it's mainly to show off the collection or do comparisons in a live environment as I'm not a fan of changing basses in the middle of a show...I have enough to do with the upright. But I'd still want to have two in case one has to visit the shop, and since nobody's forcing me to have only one, I think I'll be keeping all of them 
But I'm totally behind those of you who are fine with only one. For years, I really only had one good bass, and I kept gigging.
EDIT: Did I post this once before? Apologies if I did.
But I'm totally behind those of you who are fine with only one. For years, I really only had one good bass, and I kept gigging.EDIT: Did I post this once before? Apologies if I did.
To me, that's part of the fun. It helps to fight off complacency to think about adapting.
I ran with one bass for years - but I've come to have varying "needs" (at least in my mind!) - I want a good, slappable 4, a good 5 that will let me do the same, a good fretless. Right now I have a few "spares" - a 5 string Zon strung E to C just to see if I like it (I'll probably sell it soon), two Lakland 4-94s (again, likely sell one of them soon) and two Zon fretless 5s. But for me, a 4, a 5 and a good fretless are my minimum kit.
