JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Bass and Drum Forum How many basses & why?

This phenomenon seems to be more prevelent with guitarists than bass players, but I was curious what you think. Guitarists can't ever seem to have enough guitars. I know this from personal research.:-)

Are bass players the same way? Do you have/use more than one bass? If so, why?

I'll start - I have a few:
Red Bass Collection with EMG and Active EQ (a broad range of tonal possibilities)
Rogue - Hofner bass copy (when I'm in a Beatle mood) - the only bass I would use when playing with TLT :-)
8-string silver sparkle (like the Cheap Trick one - neck heavy and unbalanced, but a nice complement for folksy and pop arrangements
Fretless - one I made with flame maple and koa - this thing growls!

Each has a unique tone and depending on the song and arrangement, I'd choose the appropriate bass.

Your turn.

Many of us are afflicted with GAS---Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

But in the bass department, I have but one: my trusty 1972 Burgundy Rickenbacker 4001. It does all the tricks, and life with only one bass doesn't get much better.

But if I were to get more basses, I would want a fretless, an eight string, a five string, a Hofner, a Fender Jazz and a Fender Precision, an Alembic, a WAL...

So much gear, so little cash.

I've only the one, a very nice Valley Arts (pre-Samick, pre-Gibson), but really, really want an acoustic bass (guitar, not stand-up) of some sort. Unfortunately, I also really, really want a lot of other gear and only have so much money. Right now, I sort of fake it by using baritone strings on an old Ovation guitar.

I've got three electics: my workhorse 5-string G&L that covers most of what I need in an electric; a Peavey 4-string fretless for fretless; and, a Washburn AB-20 acoustic/electric 4-string.

For upright, I have an Englehardt 1996 with a Fishman pickup system. I'll be trading the Englehardt for a 1954 Kay in a few weeks, in return for some production work I've done on a bluegrass album.

To me, instruments are tools. I couldn't stop myself from playing a valuable collector's item, so I don't collect basses, I get basses I need.

All the Best,
Mike

Hi Tom

I had only the one Bass for many, many years, my 1974 Fender P

I had to sell it last month due to poverty, I detune my guitar and use it like a bass

Thanks everyone for your responses. It doesn't seem like bass players have G.A.S. as bad as guitarists.

I have a 1978 Rick 4001 which I use for all my recording and most of my playing.

I also have a Hohner acoustic bass guitar which I use for folk festivals and jams. Many in the folk scene are intimidated by solid body electric instruments.

Ah, I'm not alone in my Rick Addiction. You even have on in your avatar!

Cheers!

-Lyle

Mike (sub) - Sorry to hear about having to sell off the bass. I remember doing the same thing fo rmy "bedroom recordings" with the guitar. I tried running it thru an octaver to get a deeper sound. Or sped the tape up, and played along (after tuning to the new pitch-whatever it was). When you slow it down, it has a different tonality. Not like a bass, but different.

Hey Lyle and Andy - I always liked the sound and feel of the Ricks too. My late brother had one of those stereo 4001s I think for years. He never used it in stereo though. Do either of you have that option and do it?

Mike Dunbar - I totally agree about having them as worktools and not just to have as a collection. I've always had a thing for tone, so I have lots of variations of string instruments. Each is unique, and I thought some day I'll need that tone. Like the Yayli Tambur for example, is kind of like a wobbly bass banjo. Very unique, but I've never needed it. So I am considering thinning out the herd.
I forgot one other bass that I had - it was bought as a repair project cheap because it didn't work. I refretted it, rewired it, and thought that the kids would have something to use when they come around. I think it was a LOTUS or something. Whenever I've played out with it, everyone comments on how good of a tone this one has.
Kinda makes me laugh - the cheapest one I have everyone likes.

Stephen - did you have to widen the slots in the nut of the Ovation for the baritone strings to fit? I'm considering adding Mandocello strings to one of the hawaiian style slides I play so I can add deep deep notes.

Hi Tom,

Yes I have the Rick-o-Sound output jack, but I never use it. I never had two different amps for the same bass, but it's a remarkable effect for those who do. I just like it for the versatile tone and for the slim neck and for the gorgeous design.

Cheers!

Lyle

The Rick in my avatar is my 330/12.

I used to use the stereo output all the time but not with stereo amps. Instead, ran each pickup to a separate compressor and then to different channels in my bass amp, which was an Ampeg B-25 back then. Each pickup would trigger the compressors differently, which resulted in an interesting sound which could be further enhanced with separate tone controls for each pickup. Now days, it is difficult to find a bass amp with two separate input channels, so I use the mono output any more and the compressor built into the amp.