• 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 Not Just One Bass?

#61
Dr. Cheese said:
I currently have just one bass, a Peavey TL-5, and it works just fine for what I do.

Realistically, the collector in me will always want multiple basses, but I am becoming much more comfortable with just owning one bass.?

I know I'm just rambling, but the longer I read TB, the more I feel a need to put my love of bass in its true place: a hobby. When I read here about actual working musicians, I realize that I just am not doing what they are doing, and there is no need for me to have the amount or type of gear that many of them are rocking (I know a bunch of guys who work would be pretty happy with my Peavey and Eden.)
Click to expand...


Do you have any outside hobbies, or habits? Not you - just in general....to anyone along this thread......

everyone is different...we dress differently, prep our coffee differently ....season and grill our steaks, shave and shower in our own fashion......smoke, drink or not.....indulge in whatever...or don't.....

If you like to buy - build - collect - play one or many instruments - gear - strings, etc.......or like one only - DO IT! Life is too short - make sure you priorities are close to "in-line"....and do what makes you smile if you can -

My opinion - YMMV.....etc.....
 
#63
i have spent most of my life with a single bass,although i traded/sold often,so there was always something different to play. after being completely out of music for about 10 years,i started playing again,and restarted the cycle,but started keeping basses instead of trading. at one point i had 12 basses,and i really didn't like trying to maintain them. i got down to 3,but now i am up to 6. i don't make a living gigging,but enjoy playing in 2 different bands,very different types of music. i like being able to bring different basses to practices and see how they affect my playing approach. i absolutely COULD do all of this with one bass,but this is my hobby and my passion,and at this point i don't have to. i own 3 Ric basses,,a fl yamaha,which i only occasionally use,and a danelectro hodad,which is great but pretty much pales before my rics,and finally a frankenstein jazz bass that a friend made for me out of spare parts,and has sentimental value.(plus it sounds great) . as coolhand said,it's a bit of an obsession/addiction. plus its just fun. i played a MIJ Fender Mustang bass a few weeks ago,and was smitten with it,but I am not at this point planning on any other bass purchases. i would like to get down to 3 again. (maybe 4...argghh)
 
#64
I currently have 4, with 1 on the way (4 Fenders, and a Musicman coming). I know I have about 2 basses too many, but I can swing it for now...and it brings me quite a bit of pleasure. I used to be a car guy, but I hate driving anymore, so I'm more than happy with what I have there. Clothes...T-shirt and jeans guy (shirt & tie at work though). It's what makes me happy...I don't gamble, or buy fancy things...don't eat out much (my wife and I cook and eat healthy).

BUT...

I'm sure I won't play forever...and if my wife and I do ever manage to have a kid...that will be my number one priority. I've always mentioned that if I decide to give up playing in bands, I'll probably sell off and buy one very nice bass to noodle on...probably a unique Rickenbacker or Lakland, or vintage Jazz bass. For now, I like my Fenders.
 
#65
Dr. Cheese said:
I currently have just one bass, a Peavey TL-5, and it works just fine for what I do. Prior to getting the Peavey, I had a Yamaha TRB5II, and it worked just fine for me too. The bottom line is that I love basses, but I am not a working musician, I just volunteer at a church. Seriously, I don't even practice that much lately. Work and family keeps me pretty busy, and I barely have time to play at all.

Realistically, the collector in me will always want multiple basses, but I am becoming much more comfortable with just owning one bass. I think I am also just getting cheaper. Yesterday, I was checking out the Skyline 55AJ, which is a really nice bass for $1,300, but the more I think about it, I keep thinking why not find another Yamaha or Peavey for $700 or less, and put the extra money to something else?

I know I'm just rambling, but the longer I read TB, the more I feel a need to put my love of bass in its true place: a hobby. When I read here about actual working musicians, I realize that I just am not doing what they are doing, and there is no need for me to have the amount or type of gear that many of them are rocking (I know a bunch of guys who work would be pretty happy with my Peavey and Eden.)

I'm not saying I'm over GAS, or done buying basses. I just feel much less of a need to own expensive gear compared to how I felt years ago. I think TB and age have really made me see things differently.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but you're just not welcome here anymore.
 
#71
I'm down to one bass now.. My Highway One P-Bass.

I also have a few guitars, but I've had them for years. Only new one is a MIA Strat....

If I do get another bass I'm thinking a 5 string or a Jazz... In a perfect world I hope to get my old G&L Tribute 5 string or my MIA Jazz bass back again...:)
 
#72
dvh said:
I have to ask - how much real world difference does that make?
Click to expand...

Not so much. I have several basses: an Alembic Essence 4 & a MK SS 5, a Dingwall Z3-5 , a Carvin LB76WP, an acoustic 5 (B-C) fretless by D. Berkowitz, an Elrick Piccolo 6 on orde,r and a Dingwall SJ4 (B-D) on order. I think my wife is getting me a UBass for Xmas.

I would love to find a really nice unlined fretless 5 and am thinking of either a Roscoe SKB or an FBass.

They make me happy and inspire me to play more. I think it can enliven creativity. To each his own!
 
#73
Right now up to 6 different bands and 100+ gigs during 2011 (and a day job/career - I don't sleep much). Could I cover all that sonic ground with a single bass? Maybe - but not nearly as well as I can with different tools. Right now I'm down to two basses but they could not be more different - Rob Allen Deep 5 fretless and Fodera Yin Yang Std. I've got another three coming in Dec that will round out the lineup and give me more flexibility.

Just depends on the gigs you're playing and the styles of music.
 
#75
A Squier Affinity P-Bass (heavily modded), a GK MB115 combo amp, and a boatload of Boss pedals are all I need. I'm not planning on playing the Fillmore* anytime soon, so this setup fulfills my needs for now. I am GASsing for one of those new basses GFS is selling, maybe in the new year I'll pick one up and see what they're all about.





* Yes, I know the Fillmore closed decades ago, it's just an expression. I could have said Carnegie Hall! ;)
 
#77
I play in several bands and usually have a couple of projects going and no one bass covers all the tones. I have my favorites but all my basses get regular finger time. I like having choices because I play differently on the various basses and the variety of tones allows a lot of freedom.
 
#78
stratovani said:
A Squier Affinity P-Bass (heavily modded), a GK MB115 combo amp, and a boatload of Boss pedals are all I need. I'm not planning on playing the Fillmore* anytime soon, so this setup fulfills my needs for now. I am GASsing for one of those new basses GFS is selling, maybe in the new year I'll pick one up and see what they're all about.


* Yes, I know the Fillmore closed decades ago, it's just an expression. I could have said Carnegie Hall! ;)
Click to expand...

The Fillmore West in SF is still open, so you still have time. :)

I used to have 5 or 6 basses, but that seemed excessive (or maybe just too hard to explain to my gf :D). These days, 3 is a good number for me: 1 P-bass with flats, 1 J-bass with rounds, and a fretless. That gives good versatility for playing old-school stuff and something more modern. And for sucking on fretless.

I still get GAS, but try to mitigate it by selling a bass if I buy a new one. And by always buying used!

I don't know what causes the GAS for me -- some of it is the desire for a shiny new toy. But there is also some vague idea that if I find *just the right* bass, something will click and I'll finally be really good.
 
#79
Engine207 said:
This.

I have six. My Ric, which was my only bass for 25 years; a J; a P; a fretless; a 5er; and a Peavey T-40...cause it was my first bass. Okay...seven if I count my work (practice) bass, which stays at the firehouse. Do I need them? No...but I like them and play them all.

I don't buy them if they're not a screaming deal and, like A-Step, if I find one silly cheap, I know I can flip if I decide to. I'll go ahead and snare it, then...when I make a few bucks on it, that money goes into my "bass money" fund. I use those shekels when I find some gear I really want (I'm buying recording gear now), so I don't take food of my family's supper table.


QUOTE]

Thats pretty much me , any bass i own right now i could make money off , i wont buy a bass if i will lose money on it, and this has allowed me to buy MANY basses not restrict me .I buy around 30 basses a year.
Click to expand...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back