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Why own SO many basses?

How many basses do YOU own?

  • Just 1!

    Votes: 30 7.8%

  • 2-4

    Votes: 169 44.1%

  • 5-8

    Votes: 96 25.1%

  • 9+

    Votes: 88 23.0%
  • Total voters
    383
  • Poll closed .
#21
I am not gigging, and have limited discretionary income. I usually own 2 at a time, my Peavey Fury which will not go away ever, and whatever I am currently playing with church. It has been a Schecter Stiletto 5 but I just got an AM STD P5 that will become my main. I actually have the Stiletto listed on CL locally. If it sells, I will upgrade the amp.
 
#23
My goal was to have virtually every bass sound at my command. Good quality players instruments at a low price.Soooo,
P, J, violin , hollow types, 4 and 5 string
Round, flatwound strings
Long scales, short scales.
A fretless, an SG.
Hand picked for sound and playability vs. price and bling.
Though I still get gas, I promised Mrs. RED J a moratorium on buying more. She doesn't really care that much, but a promise is a promise. More for me than her. ;)
 
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#24
I find that I can't resist a good deal on a good bass. I have 6 and my wife looks at me like "you can only play one at a time right?" But I always smile and say "yes, but I am practicing playing more though" and smile back. I don't spend much on basses - mine all fall into the budget category usually with my most valuable being a Carvin B series and my new Thunderbird Classic Pro IV. So I don't really have lots of money tied up in them, which I explained to my wife one day. So really I think I'm more of a collector just rescuing basses that need a home and to be played at a gig now and them. I gig them all! I just grab the 2 I'm "feeling" on a night and go out the door! I let one go if I feel like I don't grab it very often, so the herd is at capacity right about now I'd say. Unless someone has a Yamaha 304 They want to get rid of cheap....then my cap would become 7 maybe :) it's all relative my friends!
 
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#25
Let your friends roll their eyes. It's good for them. Keeps the eyes loose and flexible.

Okay, I don't really know that, but the guy rolling his eyes probably has 10 pairs of shoes in his closet. What guy needs that, but hey, it's his shoes...

I have 4. I think that's as many as I need. Unless I find a good deal on an upright.
 
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#27
Just one more...then I'm done. Honest.

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#30
I have 22. I play everyone of them at least 4 hours a year and have had most of them for over 7 years and some of them as long as 35 years. I don't collect basses. I also don't sell basses I love. The rest move to different homes. Why do I have more than 1 bass. Well, I am a grown man with a job, house, wife, 5 cars and a Harley. Why the hell would I not own more than 1 bass??
 
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#31
1.the unique beauty of every bass
2.i was thinking my rw P would be enough for any situation. but soon after i found out i should use something more midrangey for recording (a J maybe). i think the rw is a giggin' inst. also i should get a gibson SG for some darker tones. and also a squier cv 70 for the looks. and ...
 
#37
I love Fender Precisions and come at owning basses as 90% collector and 10% musician. I have amassed an excellent collection of 1950s and 60s Precisions.

Let's face it, there are iconic versions of the P bass, and those are the ones I have concentrated on.

My motivation is two-fold. I personally find Precision basses to be beautiful; to me they are art. But I enjoy playing them too. What I find is each bass inspires me to play different music. If I watch a Stones video from 60s with Keith playing a sunburst/tortoise/rosewood, I go grab mine too. If it's JMJ playing his 70s mocha/maple on Miss You with Beck, I go grab mine.

I love my Precisions :-)
 
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#39
DavC said:
different basses that have different sounds .... or more or less strings ...

I also play keys ( my main instrument ) and guitar ... so funds get spread around the room .. !!
Click to expand...
Ok, Keys are my main instrument too. In fact, up until about 2 years ago, all I played was keys, and used programs like Kontakt for my P, J and Ric bass sounds, not to mention stuff like the Realguitar series for my electrics and acoustic stuff.

Tbh, they do a good job for the basic stuff, but when it comes to more subtle, out in front stuff, those programs leave a lot to be desired.
 
#40
I love basses and have fallen in love with too many. Eventually I'll sell a bunch. At present, I'm trying to get rid of at least one for every new-to-me bass I acquire (through trades, usually).
Curiously, I have very little GAS for amps and am quite practical when it comes to any gear besides basses themselves.
 

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