Cheating on your favorite bass...

[Jamieboy]

Wondering just how wierd I am for having these issues over inanimate objects....

 

I've got a beautiful Sandberg TT which was a 10 yr anniversary gift from my wife. It's amazing and I delight in it every i play it. Feel very lucky to own it.

 

But I've recently bought a Sire Z3 as something cheaper to use in less salubrious venues and as I'd fancied sampling the stingray-ish vibe.... and I bloody love it. Massively exceeded all my expectations and I just love the sound. 

 

Got a gig tomorrow where there's no reason not to take the Sandberg, but I really want to use the Z3. Genuinely feel a sense of guilt about it. 

 

Anyone else feel any qualms like this?

[bassbiscuits]

Ha ha yep I do the same. I find joy in playing cheapy basses even though I know my “better” ones would be great. 
 

Sometimes I just love the chance to play seven shades out of a cheap bass on stage and making it work for me. 
 

I do feel bad when I leave a bass at home as they are meant to be gigged. First world problems tho eh 

[Geek99]

I only have two , a 4 and a 5. Both quite cheap / the four was cheap but a present from partner. 
the 5 is a sire so not super-expensive 

 

cheating isn’t really a thing for me 

Edited Saturday at 20:16 by Geek99

[Lozz196]

I kind of understand this, whilst I won’t gig my fave Precision as it means too much to me to chance it I would feel guilty if I decided to record with a different instrument, even if it was due to needing a sound the fave couldn’t do.

[paul_5]

My main squeeze is fretless, but occasionally I need something with the little speed bumps on it for a different sound. It does feel a bit weird then.

[MichaelDean]

Yeah, I got my Dingwall Combustion as an engagement present from my wife when she got her ring. Huuuuuuuge sentimental value. Then after a difficult few years mental health wise after our daughter was born, we thought we'd get eternity presents now we're all doing better. She got a ring, I got my Spector Icon 😅 It does feel a bit like cheating on my Combustion. And then that feels a bit like cheating on my Mustang which I'm now even considering selling...

[neepheid]

No, I have a harem to manage. Strict rotation is the only way to do this. I accelerate the rotation by playing two different basses at the (two set) gigs.

 

The only sentimentality I have is that Mrs. Neepheid bought me my Reverend Triad, so it would be last to go in a fire sale type situation.

[synthaside]

I bought a "cheap" classic vibe p bass to play my own wedding over in Latvia to save me travelling with my ray , Sometimes, Ive taken it to gigs which need two tunings .. and a quick swap.

 

 The last time I

We giggled I didn't swap I retuned the p to standard and kept going as it sounded immense ..  I was quite literally dancing with another woman Infront of my rather outraged .. Stingray .. ...  Even the photos look like I'm having more fun.

 

I'm considering doing it again ... Especially  as I've now got an anagram which removes the need for two basses as the pitch shifter is great....Send help or a good divorce lawyer

Edited yesterday at 11:05 by synthaside

[Franticsmurf]

I bought my only brand new bass in 2021 - a Sterling Stringray 34HH - which was meant to be the bass that would appear in all the band photos, the one I would develop my signature sound on, the 'One bass to rule them all and in the darkness bind them' instrument. Alas, my eye wandered and over the years I have bought and played other basses with various shameful excuses - it's too heavy/too big/doesn't fit the band image. I need a semi acoustic/fretless/headless/spare for stage. In my defence, the main band I pay with have such a range of styles of music (from C&W, through folk, blues, rock and heavy rock to a bit of grunge and punk although not all in the same gig thank goodness) that several types of bass seems logical and as we're a 13 piece, it's sometimes a tight squeeze on stage, so the headless basses come in handy.

 

With a recent series of depping gigs, I thought I ought to get my act together and come up with a consistent 'signature' sound so the bands know what they're getting. Fortunately, the Sterling bears no grudges and together with my amp, cabs and minimal board it has found a place in my heart once more.  

[chris_b]

Basses are tools. Buy the bass that makes you happy. Play the bass that fits the gig.

[Sté]

17 hours ago, Jamieboy said:

Wondering just how wierd I am for having these issues over inanimate objects....

 

I've got a beautiful Sandberg TT which was a 10 yr anniversary gift from my wife. It's amazing and I delight in it every i play it. Feel very lucky to own it.

 

But I've recently bought a Sire Z3 as something cheaper to use in less salubrious venues and as I'd fancied sampling the stingray-ish vibe.... and I bloody love it. Massively exceeded all my expectations and I just love the sound. 

 

Got a gig tomorrow where there's no reason not to take the Sandberg, but I really want to use the Z3. Genuinely feel a sense of guilt about it. 

 

Anyone else feel any qualms like this?

That should be a Sire thing. Exact same feeling with my U5. Became my #1. Period.

[Linus27]

I've got a gorgeous 1987 Fender Japan 62RI Jazz that my dad bought me brand new when I was just starting out. It's the best sounding and playing bass I've ever had and is my no.1. I've played this bass at thousands of gigs and pretty much on everything I've done, from tours, TV, 2x John Peel Sessions, Radio 1 roadshows and so much more. Its incredibly sentimental to me as my dad supported me all the way up to getting signed but passed away a few months before I signed. The bass has been fretless for the last 14 years and still gets played at gigs all year.

 

However, I got asked to play Glastonbury this year and it was a fretted gig and I was so torn from putting the original fretted neck back on or use my Fender Japan Precision. I felt so bad for not playing Glastonbury with the bass my dad got me and have that extra bit of history sealed into that bass. In the end I did use my fretted Precision but I felt very guilty for not using my no.1 bass. What it does mean though is I'll never sell my Precision bass as that's the bass I played Glastonbury 🤣

[miles'tone]

7 hours ago, Linus27 said:

I've got a gorgeous 1987 Fender Japan 62RI Jazz that my dad bought me brand new when I was just starting out. It's the best sounding and playing bass I've ever had and is my no.1. I've played this bass at thousands of gigs and pretty much on everything I've done, from tours, TV, 2x John Peel Sessions, Radio 1 roadshows and so much more. Its incredibly sentimental to me as my dad supported me all the way up to getting signed but passed away a few months before I signed. The bass has been fretless for the last 14 years and still gets played at gigs all year.

 

However, I got asked to play Glastonbury this year and it was a fretted gig and I was so torn from putting the original fretted neck back on or use my Fender Japan Precision. I felt so bad for not playing Glastonbury with the bass my dad got me and have that extra bit of history sealed into that bass. In the end I did use my fretted Precision but I felt very guilty for not using my no.1 bass. What it does mean though is I'll never sell my Precision bass as that's the bass I played Glastonbury 🤣

Well that's a couple of bass problems I could live with! 😆

I'm raising my coffee to your dad, good man x

[Owen]

I am a bass tart and will go with any bass. This is why I have more than I need. Every bass I pick up makes me think "ooh, this is nice, we could be happy". Absolutely tragic. 

[JapanAxe]

No, it’s never occurred to me to think like that! I decide which bass I think will work best for the gig and take that, and sometimes a spare.

[HeadlessBassist]

Nope, no qualms whatsoever. I'm happy to use a cheaper bass for certain less well heeled venues, but generally I think you need to use the bass that fits with who you're playing with - If I'm playing theatre and Warner shows and the music is all 50's & 60's, it'll be a passive Jazz every time (yes, I know the Jazz didn't appear until 1960!), and if I'm playing lots of 80s and later in my Duo/Trio, I'll take a Status or a GB along. Right tool for the right job.

 

It's the best excuse for having lots of basses - "They all do different jobs." 🤫

Edited 1 hour ago by HeadlessBassist

[neepheid]

And I'm of the unpopular opinion that they all do the same job.  Now, which one will make me look fancy tonight?

[BigRedX]

For my current band I only own one bass that is suitable. At some point next year I'll probably buy another one, but it will most likely be exactly the same model but in a different colour. I'll then decide which one I'll be playing and which will be the back-up based on what I am wearing on stage.

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

And I'm of the unpopular opinion that they all do the same job.  Now, which one will make me look fancy tonight?

 

Is the stage big enough for me to take a headed bass if I want to?

 

Do I really need frets?