Roland Rock Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 I have two, and am toying with the idea of going down to one.. Quote
bassbiscuits Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) Hello all I gig about 30-40 times a year on average, mostly playing bass in a covers band playing fairly a diverse range of rock/pop stuff. I have three basses - two Fender Precisions and a Sandberg jazz bass. I find they cover everything I need. I very seldom take more than one bass to a gig, tho I probably should as back up! If I had to narrow it down to owning just one bass I'd say I could get away with just a Precision. In terms of how quickly they wear, I'd say surprisingly slowly. I do play hard and loud but I don't treat them badly. My main Precision is 20 years old and has done about 75% of my gigs over the last 10 years or so, but the thick paintwork etc is miraculously almost perfectly intact. I'd expect the Sandberg's thinner soft relic finish to age a bit quicker tho! Edited January 7, 2016 by bassbiscuits Quote
Cameronj279 Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 I don't gig that often (generally only a couple every month). I only have 2 basses and because of public transport I can only really take one to each gig. Both of the basses I use are -what I would consider to be- extremely versatile so that makes needing a particular one not an issue. If I could have more basses then I certainly would but at the moment it's not meant to be! Quote
vbance Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 i always take 2 to a gig because i'm an expert at breaking a string. Quote
Rich Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 I've got more basses than I need but less than I want Gig-wise it usually comes down to an 'eeny meeny miney' between the same two -- my custom Shuker and my Sire V7 fiver. There are certain pubs that the Shuker will never see however. Quote
odysseus Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 Got 6, but playing in a rock and roll band I usually take the 2 Fender jazz basses. It'd look a bit odd playing Oh Boy on a 5 string headless Status! Quote
Vinny Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 Own 7, gig 2. (BB415 & The Legendary Shrinking Violet) Oh dear, I think I'd better start a 'For Sale' thread! Quote
HazBeen Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 Been doing 30-40 gigs per annum for many years now. Used to own lots of basses, now down to only 3. A 4 string PJ and 5 string JB which I will generally take to all the gigs, a Mono double keeps them safe. My 3rd is an acoustic that rarely gets used. I must say that I like having fewer basses, makes things much easier Basses wear, it's all mojo imo. Quote
Mudpup Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) Weekend warrior rock covers band bassist here - I usually do around 45 x 3 hour gigs per year and play at home every few nights learning new stuff. I only actually need 2 basses - I always take a spare to each gig although i've only ever needed to do an emergency switch once in 5 years when i broke an A string 30 seconds into an opening number. I usually switch basses on the second set just to rotate them a bit. Trouble is, i am up to 4 basses now! I had the luxury of a 3rd one and accumulated a 4th recently in a trade with the intention of moving one on but am struggling to give one up. I have 3 Stingrays and each sounds a little different and plays slightly different so i'm happy picking any of those up. The 1997 2 band eq has the most sublime almost twenty years worn in neck and bowel shaking organic lows. The 2002 3 band eq is really light and has a slimmer neck and is about to develop a John East preamp to give it a bit more booty - feels a bit more delicate than the 2 band. The other is a USA Sub which is an absolute monster - much less refined than the others and with the most amazing in your face gritty/slammy piano tone you could wish for even though its the cheapest of the bunch. This should be the one to lose as there are a few compromises like a painted neck and slab body which make it a bit less comfy to play than the others but i can't bear to give it up! Apparently its wired in series which is what gives it the magic. The 4th bass is an old Sandberg VM4 - lovely slim neck, great precision tone if i need something different and a lovely rock bass - hasn't had a look in since i discovered Stingrays as its a bit subtle compared with the others but i know i would regret it if i sold it....... Edited January 8, 2016 by Mudpup Quote
Delberthot Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 Playing in a wedding/function band my main bass is a Musicman Stingray 5 string with a Yamaha BB1025 being my backup. I also have a Yamaha BB425 to practice in the house with and a Lindo 4 string fretless to remind me why I never want to buy an expensive fretless to gig with ever again Quote
blue Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 [quote name='vbance' timestamp='1452204363' post='2947689'] i always take 2 to a gig because i'm an expert at breaking a string. [/quote] I started playing electric bass guitar in 1966. I've yet to break a single string. I thought string breaking was for guitarist. Blue Quote
Delberthot Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 The last string I snapped was a B on Warwick Thumb 5 in 2008 because it wasn't tapered. Quick check with the Bass Centre and I had a tapered Elites 135 guage string on its way. Before that it must have been about 1998 Quote
vbance Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1452215216' post='2947803'] I started playing electric bass guitar in 1966. I've yet to break a single string. I thought string breaking was for guitarist. Blue [/quote]C'mon Blue you're not trying hard enough ;o) Quote
ead Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 [quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1452121098' post='2946818'] I think I am gonna try and keep mine as minimal a possible, will try and keep a max of 2 basses [/quote] Traitor Quote
M@23 Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 One bass, 50 odd gigs last year and slightly more this year. Just my Sandberg VM5 Supreme. Though a second bass will be ordered this year. Quote
basexperience Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 [quote name='vbance' timestamp='1452204363' post='2947689'] i always take 2 to a gig because i'm an expert at breaking a string. [/quote] Get your bridge checked, you probably have a burr or two there which is catching the windings. Get some micro-files and get the bridge smooth again. Or get a roller bridge, I can recommend those! Quote
odysseus Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1452215216' post='2947803'] I started playing electric bass guitar in 1966. I've yet to break a single string. I thought string breaking was for guitarist. [/quote] More or less the same here. The only string I ever broke was a superwound G 25 years ago when I was horsing around trying to pull off ridiculous bends in practice. I know a few pick players who break strings now and again. A few years ago I knew a guy who use a 50 pence piece as a pick (seriously!) and he broke strings regularly, not surprisingly! He had all the finesse of a charging rhino. Quote
vbance Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 [quote name='basexperience' timestamp='1452247351' post='2947942'] Get your bridge checked, you probably have a burr or two there which is catching the windings. Get some micro-files and get the bridge smooth again. Or get a roller bridge, I can recommend those! [/quote]i'm sure it's down to my awful playing technique, i play mainly with my thumb pulling away from the body. i don't ping strings all the time but when you get comments from guitarist's stating,"i've never seen a bass player snap a string before" you start to wonder what's up. Different strings on different basses except my acoustic. So I always take two and so far never needed to take three...but you never know. Quote
CamdenRob Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 [quote name='odysseus' timestamp='1452248668' post='2947957'] A few years ago I knew a guy who use a 50 pence piece as a pick... [/quote] bet that sounded good... Quote
jacko Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 I have 7 basses and take 2 to gigs. a 5 string fretted and 5 string fretless. I'll shortly also be starting to use my NS5 upright for gigs. The rest are on stands in various rooms to pick up whenever I'm in the mood. I use a Kelly dragonfly fretless 5 exclusively for learning songs Quote
The-Ox Posted January 8, 2016 Author Posted January 8, 2016 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1452242140' post='2947872'] Traitor [/quote] haha, if I told you the one bass I have was an ACG would that make things better? Quote
The-Ox Posted January 8, 2016 Author Posted January 8, 2016 I would have more but just sold my Rick yesterday! So gutted, it was a real beauty to play. Making way for a synth and potentially a theremin, and also to put a roof over my head for uni Quote
tedmanzie Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 I've done two gigs in four years. I've got two P Basses, one with flats the other with rounds, because when that 3rd gig comes knocking I want to be ready for anything! Quote
Beedster Posted January 8, 2016 Posted January 8, 2016 [quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1452275797' post='2948465'] I've done two gigs in four years. I've got two P Basses, one with flats the other with rounds, because when that 3rd gig comes knocking I want to be ready for anything! [/quote] A man after my own heart Quote
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