Why Not Just One Bass?

[BritPicker]

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.



Really? Sure sounds like you think of people who don't share your minimalist values as immoral, planet-killing, consumerists...who are "not good". When one works hard for their money, one shouldn't be tagged a careless glutton by an anonymous person for enjoying it.

No not really, I was just saying the way I felt about it personally, for me. A bit like saying it's fine to be a homosexual if you like that kind of thing, but it's not what I like for myself. Not tagging anyone Engine.

 

[adivin]

For me, owning multiple basses is fun and it makes me happy. Quite simple really.

 

[thmsjordan]

Personally, I keep three basses but they are all very different. I have:

One Upright bass for Orchestral, Jazz, and the occasional folk gig. It gets used mostly as an orchestral bass, One Fretted Precision bass (4 string) for most of the General Business gigs I do. One fretless Electric P/J (also 4 string) for Jazz/fusion type stuff.

They are each different enough that they cannot really stand in for each other. The only one I could possibly do without is one of the electrics, but I would miss having the sonic possibilities of either.

I think there are good reasons to own several basses if you have the need. Collecting is another story, and not part of my experience. I know when I have owned multiple basses, I just ended up comparing them a lot and not getting much else done. Now I just own what I need and try to play those as best as I can. Speaking for myself here, I make more progress without the distraction of many basses. Others with more discipline and cash are probably having a lot of fun with the many different flavors.

One observation here, in my experience, it seems like jazz and classical players tend to bond to just one instrument, where I see musicians in other fields going for lots and lots of variety. Not sure why this is and I attach no judgement to it. Just an observation, I am sure there are exceptions on both sides of that fence.

 

[AfroCubanFunkMa]

Ok Doc.. You got me.. I'm that guy with 10 basses

But to my defense, I use them all pretty regularly due to the number and variety of gigs.. That said, I've gone through periods where I only used two or three regularly.. So the run-down...

Hofner Beatlebass - currently my main bass with Los Sugar Kings due to it's old thumpy nature.. Flats..

Fretless Ibanez P/J: my oldest, dearest and most favored bass.. Can even get away with using her on funk gigs..

5 string Jazz: first call for GB gigs.. The extended range is quite helpful for changing keys for different singers..

5 string Kona: backup for my GB gig.. Once I'm playing a 5er, I wanted to stay in the same headspace.. Plus I got it for a steal and dropped a nice Aguilar preamp in to make it stage-worthy.. Can sound like a Pbass..

3/4 Cremona Upright - half-steel / half-gut string monster for acoustic gigs and sessions..

Palatino electro upright: for when I want to play upright without lugging around the doghouse..

Alembic copy: it was a gift so I won't part with it but I rarely gig her these days.. Midrange growl is awesome..

4 string Jazz: old flats, passive bass, my go-to practice bass

4 string hohner steinberger style bass with Mike Lull passive pickups: perfect bass to strap onto the sissybar of my cruiser and roll to a backlined gig.. Also a great backup when there isn't much room left in the "van".

4 string G&L L2000: active tone and feel.. Great everything bass..

 

[spade2you]

Why not one? My point is not that multiple basses don't have advantages; that is undeniable. My point is that for many bassists, one bass does what we need, and we really are pretty happy with just one. I will certainly buy a second sometime next year, if not sooner. It's just that I am quite happy with only one, and if I had to stay at one for a while, I was would not feel deprived.

We can twist the question and use many debate models, but that question will always be one for the "why guys". Regardless, I'll bust that one with a simple fretted and fretless.

 

[erigod23]

My reason to use 2 basses at a time is because we write in 2 tunings: E standard and Drop C. Much faster for me to swap basses than tune. Also, that way we're not forced to make our set "All 'E' songs, followed by all 'C' songs." We can play whatever, whenever. The swap takes me 20 seconds.

 

[lomo]

On a more philosophical / moral level I personally think that runaway consumerism manifest in those with many many basses is not good. We need to think about how much we consume for the good of the planet. It all takes energy and resources, and for what? Once a person has a 5er a 4banger a fretless and one with flats on (assuming that rare person actually uses them) why go any further?

Not having a go at those who said they had 20 basses or whatever, just my own feeling on it.

Although I am definitely an addicted consumer of all things bass, I must admit this is entirely true, no matter how uncomfortable it may make some of us feel. The natural human tendency to collect may have been an advantage earlier in our evolution, but now it is clearly self-destructive to the species as a whole (along with several other seemingly irrepressible tendencies). I have 5 basses only because I love basses. 2 would cover all my needs.

 

[audiomitch]

There's a couple of false assumptions that I've notice pop up in this thread -

1. Nobody is claiming they NEED multiple basses. What we're saying is we WANT multiple basses. And so we have them

2. Playing versus collecting. You can do both. Really. In fact, I tend to play more when I'm inspired by different instruments. Everyone is different.

3. "Pros" prefer owning a single instrument. First of all, "Pro" is such a loose title. A lot of the local "pros" that I know (and I know a fair amount) have day jobs or a "significant other" to help pay the bills. Even the ones that are full time differ in their philosophy about gear. A lot of them don't care one way or the other. Give them a free bass and they're happy, they certainly wouldn't turn it down because they already have a bass. A lot of the famous guys seem to have a collection of basses. Cool, whatever. My point is it's hard to define a group called "pros", and then assign certain characteristics to it.

Anyhow, I think this is a fun thread, not one about absolutes or "right and wrong".

Carry on

 

[nortonrider]

Honestly,
If it wasn't for my recent infatuation with tapping and tenor tuning,
I could easily get away with only one bass.
Actually, I could right now except that I am lazy and like the convenience of just picking one up and playing in whatever style I am in the mood for.

I have never had a need for a "backup" bass, I have never has a bass quit working or broken a string. It probably does happen, but not to me.

I've got 2 amps right now, but one is in the closet and doesn't get played so I can obviously get by with only 1 amp too.

 

[bassbenj]

Why not one? My point is not that multiple basses don't have advantages; that is undeniable. My point is that for many bassists, one bass does what we need, and we really are pretty happy with just one. I will certainly buy a second sometime next year, if not sooner. It's just that I am quite happy with only one, and if I had to stay at one for a while, I was would not feel deprived.

The question is do you or will you need the advantages multiple basses give? If the music you currently are playing is perfectly suited to your only bass and you aren't interested in working on anything that would require a different bass then having more than your current bass is a waste of space and money at the present time.

But then comes the second question. Might you play music in the future that would be better played with a different bass or might you be interested in learning something different in the future (fretless bass for example)? If the answer to that is "yes" then you have two choices: One is when "later" comes you sell your present bass and buy the one you will "need". The other is to keep looking around for things that interest you and put them away until you get interested.

There are advantages to both ways, but my experience is that selling the old one and buying the new one tends to cost more because bargains and "the" instrument do not magically appear when you decide you want one. They appear when they appear! So to me meticulously maintaining the "one bass" rule means you'll be paying more and probably won't have the killer bass for the money you'd have if you just kept your eyes open.

Also the "one bass" rule means that once you move on, you can't easily go back to your former ways. Maybe you won't want to. OK. Different strokes.

 

[adrian mccullou]

I had my p bass stolen from a gig last weekend. The next day i was in a recording studio and had to pick between my stingray and my jazz. Options and backup plans kept me in business!

 

[kellyrojo]

Sorry that your bass got stolen---bummer!

I have 2.5 basses.
1) An amazing l2000
2) An 86 Ibanez PJ MIJ
2.5) An ibanez atk that I lent out for 6 years got back then had stolen from me recovered it, lent it out and just got it back.....its beat to s and not gig worthy but it is great to have at work to practice when i have downtime.

I gig 5-10 times a month and could easily live with just the L2000. I could probably live with just the PJ too as it is pretty versatile and plays very well. In my opinion we could all probably GET BY with just one bass but a lot of people will need a few basses for various applications...and there is nothing wrong with that.

There is something to be said about overconsumption though....I think we all have to remember that our money is making a statement when we spend it so we should keep that in mind when purchasing anything!

Finally to each their own--you want to own 1 bass cool--you need 20 cool too.

 

[spade2you]

Anyhow, I think this is a fun thread, not one about absolutes or "right and wrong".

Carry on

Musicians tend to be absolutists.

 

[cnltb]

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.

To be able to do all work I get I'd need one fretted and one fretless bass.

Having only one would mean I'd work less.

 

[B0SSB3AT5]

I play for a worship team and for various bands here and there. I used to own five basses.
1) Schecter Stiletto Elite 5
2) Ibanez 4 string
3) Gary Willis Fretless
4) Acoustic 4 string
5) Electric upright with arched bridge for arco

I loved this because each one had a specific sound that I could use for different styles and occasions. Thats how i justified purchasing all these. I ran into a rut and had to sell all but my Schecter which I use most often. Now all I want is a fretted 5 and a fretless 4. I'm opting to sell my schecter and get a Carvin SB5000 and a jazz style fretless.

 

[SteveC]

I play for a worship team and for various bands here and there.

Now all I want is a fretted 5 and a fretless 4.

This is what I've decided will cover gigs for me. I have a Sadowsky MV5 and a Rob Allen Mouse lined fretless 4 string. If these basses can't cover my gigs, I should probably quit playing

I suppose a P bass would be good for my horn band gigs - lots of Soul/R&B/funk stuff but I can never seem to get into P basses. For now I favor the neck pickup on my Sadowsky and roll off the VTC a bit. Close enough for now.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

As I said before, a Fretless would be nice, but I would need to put in the time to improve my intonation.

For what I do, one fretted bass is enough, and I don't need a fretless. To be honest, I notice stuff like roundwounds versus flats or a P versus a J, but I am not convinced that most listeners notice. People notice if you sound good, but most cannot really pick one bass over another. That said, having multiple basses is fun.

 

[crustychef]

I don't like having a ton of gear. 2 basses is all I like to roll with. I could see myself with a third but am in no rush to get one. I am about to go down to one and stay there for awhile. I think it will force me to really get to know my bass in and out.

I am also in the camp of i like really good quality instruments. The little things bug me over time. That being said I have a cap of $1500 for a bass but it has to be just right.

 

[SteveC]

I am right there with Dr and crusty. I don't like a lot of gear. I think my Sadowsky is probably all I NEED but the RA is nice to have - although it is for sale.

I also can't do cheap basses. I've tried, but if I'm gonna have one bass it's gonna be a good one. I do have about a $2,000 limit though.

 

[B0SSB3AT5]

Yes Steve that was what I was thinking as well. My limit on one bass is $2k. That being said, I'm trying to get as close to my "perfect bass" as I can get. Not really custom, one-off items. More like the right woods and electronics that work well together and helps me get the sound I want. I've learned to rely more on my technique and how I play while getting my pre to work in my favor. I think this can be had for under 2 stacks.