Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Your 3 basses for the most well-rounded stable
- Thread starter Wolfenstein666
- Start date
-
- Tags
- most
Out of my current collection, I'd get by with the following:
1. 69' Fender Franken P/J with flats - this would cover just about everything. It's my main workhorse at the moment and covers classic P and J tones.
2. Yamaha TRB 5II 5 string with rounds - this would cover the active, 5 string, modern thing whenever it was needed.
3. 71' Ibanez EB3 short scale with flats- this would cover the times that something a little different was needed. the neck pickup sounds great and with both pickups it can get close to a Hofner-ish, hollowbody vibe too.
1. 69' Fender Franken P/J with flats - this would cover just about everything. It's my main workhorse at the moment and covers classic P and J tones.
2. Yamaha TRB 5II 5 string with rounds - this would cover the active, 5 string, modern thing whenever it was needed.
3. 71' Ibanez EB3 short scale with flats- this would cover the times that something a little different was needed. the neck pickup sounds great and with both pickups it can get close to a Hofner-ish, hollowbody vibe too.
If I had to have just three basses to do it all, I'd track down a Variax 5 string. I used to have the 4 string and, in combination with the Line 6 Bass Pod XT Live, I had bass models, amp and effect combinations dialed in for any situation.
I would then pocket the leftover money and pat myself on the back.
I would then pocket the leftover money and pat myself on the back.
1) Active 2 pickup with 5+ strings
2) Passive P, PJ or JJ 4 string
3) Fretless (preferably a hollowbody)
I think I'm there, there's no sound I can't cop with these 3 (although some might say I'm cheating with the last bit ):
Sadowsky reverse PJ 5
Yamaha BB1600
Clement singlecut fretless 5
I also use a VB-99 with the Sadowsky and sometimes the Clement so I can do Rick and MM sounds on the Sadowsky and fretless J, MM and upright sounds on the Clement.
2) Passive P, PJ or JJ 4 string
3) Fretless (preferably a hollowbody)
I think I'm there, there's no sound I can't cop with these 3 (although some might say I'm cheating with the last bit ):
Sadowsky reverse PJ 5
Yamaha BB1600
Clement singlecut fretless 5
I also use a VB-99 with the Sadowsky and sometimes the Clement so I can do Rick and MM sounds on the Sadowsky and fretless J, MM and upright sounds on the Clement.
Fender Active Jazz V, Squier Passive P5, Fender EA Bass. Got all my needs, covered including camp fire... 
I only have three fully functioning basses so....
• Number one all around go to bass is my fretless 5 string Stingray. It does everything I really want a bass to do and MUCH more.
• Next in line is the fretted 5 string stingray. It's really only needed for slap. And it's DAMN good for that. But the fretless ray is also really good for slap so the fretted ray is just in case you REALLY need to get all sorts of stupidly bright and funky.
• Bottom of the barrel is the G&L L2000 4 banger. If you need to play 'difficult' material with the greatest of ease then grab the classic G&L. It's like riding a bike with training wheels.
• Number one all around go to bass is my fretless 5 string Stingray. It does everything I really want a bass to do and MUCH more.
• Next in line is the fretted 5 string stingray. It's really only needed for slap. And it's DAMN good for that. But the fretless ray is also really good for slap so the fretted ray is just in case you REALLY need to get all sorts of stupidly bright and funky.
• Bottom of the barrel is the G&L L2000 4 banger. If you need to play 'difficult' material with the greatest of ease then grab the classic G&L. It's like riding a bike with training wheels.
Just to be clear, is everyone listing:
A) their 3 favorite basses that they own
B) which 3 basses (owned or not) we think would cover all styles we normally play
C) 3 basses (owned or not) that would cover virtually all styles (which is how I took the question)?
Granted some of us may own basses that fit option C, of course.
A) their 3 favorite basses that they own
B) which 3 basses (owned or not) we think would cover all styles we normally play
C) 3 basses (owned or not) that would cover virtually all styles (which is how I took the question)?
Granted some of us may own basses that fit option C, of course.
Sorry 3 won't cut it. Must haves include.
Precision Bass
Jazz Bass
Modern Soapbar Jazz type
Modern 5 string
Fretless bass
Upright bass
I might be able to eliminate the straight Jazz. Still need 5. That said I did every gig from rock to Jazz on a P bass for the first 25 yrs of my pro career. I don't want to do that anymore.
Precision Bass
Jazz Bass
Modern Soapbar Jazz type
Modern 5 string
Fretless bass
Upright bass
I might be able to eliminate the straight Jazz. Still need 5. That said I did every gig from rock to Jazz on a P bass for the first 25 yrs of my pro career. I don't want to do that anymore.
If I had to choose between 3 different basses and the possibility to use only one, but to switch between roundwounds and flats within a second, I would go for only one bass, most likely my Jazz.
