Jimryan Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 (edited) I know if I had the money and storage I'd happily have hundreds. However, these days I only have two. More recently built...well, bought and modded beyond recognition squier P and my OLP 5 string. I like them both, but do I really need both. I really quite like the idea of one bass. No "what one today" thoughts, just pick up one case and I'm off. Or perhaps it's finances talking? The extra cash would be handy and yeah, one's 4 and the other's 5, but the 4 has a hipshot fitted and I rarely go below D. I'd like to travel in the future and two would be a pain. Then again, it is a 5 and it is a very pretty blue sparkle finish, but it is bloody heavy in comparison. Thoughts? I want both, don't need both, I like both, I like the idea of just the one. I'm terribly confused over this. Edited November 22, 2012 by Jimryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Depends. If you are a regular performer in a pub/club band like me, I'd say you need 3 basses. One to play with - one to have as a backup bass (string breakages/electrical fault etc) - and a third bass to use when one of the other two is out of action ..... e.g. when it's with the guitar tech. Might be a handy idea to have a drop D machine head on the backup bass for flexibility. I'm ignoring when things get more complicated depending on the type of music you play - when you might need a fretless, five string etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimryan Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 Hoping to be gigging regularly again shortly. I understand the idea behind having a back up, but I've never taken one or needed one in the past (something will happen now that I've said it). The 5 really isn't essential. I thought I needed one when I got it, but barely used it and its not made it to a rehearsal or gig since its purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Build a stingray preamp clone in the OLP - you'll unlock a load of different tones and find a reason to have more than one. Also they (should) sit in different places in the mix. I used to pickup whatever of my 2 basses fitted better in the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimryan Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 Good comment, but when modding the P, I was trying to make it as versatile as possible, which is why I fitted in some quarter pounders and a series wired ceramic MM bucker. I'm also considering making it active to tick all the boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Need? No. I have 4 though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 If we only needed and [u]wanted[/u] one bass, BassChat would have a membership about the tenth the size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 This is a question I`ve asked myself a fair bit over the last year or two. I know a few bassists with only one bass, and they`ve never had any trouble. But, a few weeks ago, I got to a band practice, and my bass wouldn`t work - turns out a solder joint had gone in it. Had I not had two basses, well I would have been in the mire. So although I love the idea of having just one, as a regular performer two is better. And they`re both the same, so it`s not an excuse for having different basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 This is forbidden territory, Jim. Significant others may read. Please rename or delete thread thankyou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 BTW, my wife really believes they're all Bontempi's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 It is not about need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimryan Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 Haha, sorry, was purely to help me decide. My main reason for this is I'm hoping to get about a bit next year and like the idea of one case. A bass, a selection of mooer effects and a micro head and I'm pretty much good to go anywhere. However, for you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 FWIW, I'm on a mission myself: try everything I can get my hands on, and sell everything that I don't love to death. Do all of this before Alzheimer seriously kicks my butt. Be left with one or a few basses that the kids can inherit. Outside this mission I'm really a one instrument type of guy. Had the very same synth for 3 decades and the same piano module. But I see the reasonability in owning more basses than one, as relayed by others. best, bert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Having one class D lightweight head and one bass is very handy for gigging, I have four of the same bass and three Genz heads now as that setup is so practical Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimryan Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 Exactly that pete, though I'm eyeing up the TC BH250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceChick Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 I believe I have the magic 3 for my needs.... A 4 string, a 5 string and a fretless. I didn't think I needed the 5 string until I got it... Now I am using it for several songs in our set, although I have never needed to go below the low D but to me having the 5 gives a quicker change than drop tuning and gives me a spare bass just in case. Your decision mate, but I know I'd keep both!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 I just like playing well designed basses that I associate with different songs. When I get bored of one bass, I'll use another...depending on my mood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 What are these 5-string devices that people speak of? They will never catch on. Keep the 4-string Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 Put flats on the 4. There, now you need both. That's why I've got two bass guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 Both mine work really well for me... I have a 1st call, but sometimes the stage brings out a very pleasant surprise and I use the other one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 I can't imagine doing a semi-pro level gig (ie pub/club gig that pays reasonable 'expenses') without a backup bass. I play all the drop-tuned covers with my 4-string, and use the 5 for the Alter Bridge songs that we do (both go to low . I could use either bass for any of the songs in an emergency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinyd Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1353620115' post='1876759'] I really quite like the idea of one bass. No "what one today" thoughts, just pick up one case and I'm off. [/quote] I agree with this bit - I find that the amount of time I spend thinking about basses is inversely proportional to the amount of time that I spend actually playing the things so I tend to follow the "less is more" principle, although if I were gigging regularly I'd probably invest in a Squier or something for backup. Edited November 23, 2012 by tinyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashell Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 I don't suffer from GAS and I don't do loads of gigs, but I still feel happier with 2 basses. I just like the peace of mind of having a back up. I don't think 2 is excessive, even if you're a bit hard up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimryan Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 I've just had another read of this, and noticed that I failed to mention 1 other bass. My very first bass. Cheap stagg job, but I could never part with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr zed Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 Had the very same synth for 3 decades and the same piano module. Hope these were also Bontempi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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