Your 3 basses for the most well-rounded stable

[Wolfenstein666]

If you had to pick three basses to own that would cover the most band situations which would they be? This isn't a "which bass is better" or "which is more versatile" it's a "which three would YOU choose?"

Let's keep it civil, ya animals.

I'd personally choose a Fender P, a Fender J and a Rickenbacker. I think that pretty much covers it, except maybe a good active sound.

 

[morgan138]

Right now I've got three on my wall: 70s lawsuit (Ibanez) Jazz, Peavey RJ-IV (active P-J with a flexible preamp), Peavey T-40. Pretty balanced roster -- the Ibanez plays really well and covers your basic jazz bass sounds, the RJ plays super fast and comfortable and covers clean/modern/punchy, the T-40 is clunky but can do all sorts of sounds the other two can't.

 

[Wolfenstein666]

Right now I've got three on my wall: 70s lawsuit (Ibanez) Jazz, Peavey RJ-IV (active P-J with a flexible preamp), Peavey T-40. Pretty balanced roster -- the Ibanez plays really well and covers your basic jazz bass sounds, the RJ plays super fast and comfortable and covers clean/modern/punchy, the T-40 is clunky but can do all sorts of sounds the other two can't.

I've heard the T-40's are super versatile, and as a bonus can be used for strength training purposes

 

[Fat Freddy]

I'd go for a P/J (Passive).... Hollowbody (Active)......P (Passive).....

Maker of your choice.....

 

[Funky_Be]

Fender P/J, MM StingRay 5 and then a rotating third for GAS purposes : )

 

[BassKees]

I pretty much got it covered now with a 5 string J (Boerjes), a 5 string Stingray (SBMM) and a 5 string fretless (Ibanez GWB1)

 

[filmtex]

I currently have three. A '59 Precision I use for recording. A 2014 American Special P and a Squier Fretless P -I use these two for gigs. These work for me. YMMV

 

[lz4005]

Your have to have at least one active, one passive, one fretless. And one of the above with a low B.

 

[chris_b]

If you don't include a requirement for a DB, then a P bass, a 2 pickup active bass and a hollow body would cover anything I've been asked to play in the last 50 years.

 

[grillman]

I play funk, rock, latin jazz, jazz and hip hop.

Active MM 4 strings
Active Swing (Korean) 5 strings
Passive Fretless Jazz

They cover all my needs.

 

[Wolfenstein666]

If you don't include a requirement for a DB, then a P bass, a 2 pickup active bass and a hollow body would cover anything I've been asked to play in the last 50 years.

I do not include DB, not because they're not relevant but because I've played ONE, ONE time and I don't know near enough about them to discuss them with any semblance of intelligence.

 

[Remyd]

Peavey T-40 for the wierd flavor and passive knobs plus Jazz and Ric'y noises
Nice (ie Lackland/Sadowski/FenderCS) P of some descritpion for Bluesy goodness
A fretless 5er with a ton of electronics, maybe an Ibanez SRF705? Something boutique? There aren't a lot of choices.

I think that takes care of everything (except acoustic)

 

[Fat Freddy]

If you don't include a requirement for a DB, then a P bass, a 2 pickup active bass and a hollow body would cover anything I've been asked to play in the last 50 years.

I have a 2 pickup active hollowbody that just about covers everything that I need.....

The P is there just because and the P/J is a backup....

 

[Nedmundo]

My three USA G&L's cover everything I need: M-2500; JB; SB-2. So I have a modern active five, great J-bass, and huge-sounding P/J. If I needed a fretless, I'd probably swap the SB-2 for one.

 

[chris_b]

I do not include DB, not because they're not relevant but because I've played ONE, ONE time and I don't know near enough about them to discuss them with any semblance of intelligence.

That's the sum total of my experience with them as well.

 

[Helix]

Jazz
P
Ray

 

[Commreman]

I have my needs covered as follows:
1. '64 P;
2. '06 Passive MIA Jazz FSR;
3. Valenti Jazz with Sadowsky Electronics;
4. MM Sterling single H.

With the exception of the '64 P, all of my basses have Hipshot D Tuners installed. I can cover just about any gig or studio situation you can think of with that stable of basses,

 

[Dynomuttasaurus]

If I had to pick off my wall of inexpensive basses that cover the bases for a gig out of town of unknown consequences...
1) Fender Precision Lyte (active P/J)
2) Ibanez Black Eagle (passive J)
3) Washburn SHB40 (active MM/J)

 

[tfer]

I've got them.

A fretted 6, a fretless 5 and an upright 4.

 

[El-Bob]

Jazz
P
Ray

This for me, if I were gonna own 3 basses.

More accurately, I would be happy with an approximation of each, all 5-strings (my preference).

Something with passive single coils, something with a passive split-coil (or two), and something modern and active with a humbucker.