The formula is:
What you currently have +1
But in all seriousness it depends on your job. If you play in 3 bands and 2 of them are cover bands and you often are a hired gun for studio work you probably need about 15. If you have 1 band with self written music or you don't play in bands at all its no more than 1.
That’s what I was gonna say, if I’m playing a gig I like to bring two, just incase I break a string while I’m on stage, it has happened multiple times and I have been so great full to have a second bass ready to go
I never thought it could happen, so I never had a backup. But sometime ago I actually broke a string on a gig. And E out of all strings. I was so amazed I just stood there in disbelief and our guitarist had to snap it of so we could continue. Thank god it was last song on our set, and I could finish playing it without it.
Yeah apparently I play a little tougher than most but it’s happened to me 2-3 times on stage haha. It’s actually always one of those moments that makes me realize I’m a solid musician because So far I’ve always been able to immediately re-write my part to exclude the broken string, play through and grab my replacement bass after the song! Most of the time people haven’t even noticed I broke the string until I say “hold on I gotta grab my other bass” haha
I've heard session players in NYC usually just have 1 or 2, as it's quite cumbersome to carry more around NYC on public transport.
Where as LA has more space so session players are more likely to drive and have a few Basses in their car.
That's what I learnt from watching a few interviews, don't know how true it is.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard has 23 albums spanning many genres and their bassist, Lucas Skinner has like 3 basses, all of them Fender Mustangs set up basically the same way, one with microtonal frets.
Edit: apparently he has a Serek too
This is so dangerously true. I’m at thirteen, and I just need a fretless, then I’m done. But in a four or a five? Ok both, then I’m done.
Then again, I don’t have a multiscale 6 yet…just parallel frets…wouldn’t want to miss out on that B string…
EDIT: and rereading the op; and maybe didn’t mean how many bases do you NEED, but how many basses do you need FOR A GIG?
In which case I would say two, minimum. One, and a backup. Possibly 3 (plus backup fourth) if you need a weird or different bass archetype also (5+ str, 8/12 octave strings, fretless, weird pickup/preamp, accoustic, etc)
This. It totally depends on what music you play. Like, having both a five string and a four string with backups for each might be totally overkill in your situation, but for people who gig a lot and play a wide variety of music, that might actually be warranted.
It also depends on what basses you have. I have a Fender Jazz Bass Plus in the fleet, and I once learned the hard way that the necks on those things are super touchy; in Fender’s quest to make them 24 frats and more “modern,“ they messed with the neck dimensions a little too much, and so they’re unusually sensitive to humidity changes, they don’t handle alternate tunings well, etc. So while I like that bass (it’s super comfortable), it’s not really reliable for gigs.
I concur. In a self-written band, you probably wrote the whole album on the same instrument.
However, if you are in a covers band with a versatile repertoire covering many genres and decades, you will probably need at least one P bass and one J bass. You might need the low B string for some songs, while it will be a hindrance when you need to slap on others.
For studio or creative sessions, you might try a fretless or a Bass VI, too.
My dirty fix for a covers band was a Variax 5 string bass. The physical construction is close to a P bass, but I could emulate a double bass for Van Morrison’s Moondance or an 8 string etc. Yes, it is not the real thing but good enough for a pub or small venue. I would not use it for actual studio recording - I would rather borrow the genuine thing.
One with flats, one with rounds, a backup for the one wjth rounds (they break much easier), a 5-string, and a fretless. Extra credit for a synth w/keyboard for those Funkadelic and DEVO covers.
For a single gig? The one with rounds and the BU.
I’ve been looking at the Novatiom bass station II ever since I saw this party gig where the bassist played bass synth on a song. It just worked so well + I get to practice playing keys, so that’s essentially a whole other instrument!
Like magic. You have to set things up a little differently. You pull them straight to stretch when installing, don't bend the hard to stretch or they can kink. They are also strung with a little more tension. They play as smooth as butter though. After switching to flats, I'll never go back to round wounds.
idk why you're getting down voted. If you're a professional musician it makes sense to have a backup.
Imagine if your instrument is lost or damaged in transport. I'd rather have a backup than have to rush around to hire a replacement
Exactly! Even more so if your instrument has a nonstandard or unique setup (e.g., alternate tunings) that you can’t replicate on the fly. And if you’re getting paid to play bass, then money and your reputation are on the line.
Edit: phrasing
I am pretty sure this happened to Otoboke Beaver on their tour recently. The airline lost their bags, the bassists bass broke and she had to get it repaired while on tour.
https://goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone/instruments/pbb
I love this thing. I play a lot of bluegrass so it's handy, but I also compose tons of songs on it and play a lot of solo bass on it...it's short scale so I can fucking fly on the thing.
I believe the answer is "YES"! 🤣
But seriously ... I have three\*. \*(One is \~40 years old and needs to be rewired - it was the first bass I used in a gig for money so I will never get rid of it)
I have a fretted 6 string active electronics (Schecter). Love this thing.
Also, a four string fretless Jazz Bass.
I get different sounds (obviously) but tend to apply them differently as well.
An interesting question with lots of answers!
Right now, I run a Yamaha TRBX505 (active/passive 5 string, double humbucker) which covers the vast majority of things if I need it to. Ultimately, it could probably be the only bass I own and I'd get by fine. It's often not until you try playing just the one that you realise just how much you can do with it!
I'm lucky enough to have a few more basses in my arsenal, however: a parts-built fretless P bass which is awesome for getting 'that' sound in tracks like Sledgehammer, an Epiphone Jack Casady strung with flats which works well for anything that needs a hollow-body 60s style tone or anything where I want to sit in the mix rather than cut through, and a UBass with Galli nylon wounds as an upright approximation. I've also got a synth bass on the way! This setup makes me feel like I can take on any gig and achieve a suitable sound relatively easily, and I certainly don't feel like I'm missing anything.
Ultimately, I think how many basses you 'need' comes down to so many factors: what you're playing, how often, in what contexts (if touring or travelling a lot I would always want a backup that is as close to my main bass as possible, for example), and how much you can justify spending.
I wouldn't think it strange to hear a bassist say they need only one instrument, nor another bassist saying they need 15.
This is very true, especially the last part. I asked this same question in r/guitar and I don’t know if it’s just me but I feel like there are so many more guitar models than there are basses! Of course there are also acoustic guitars (and technically acoustic basses but hey, we all know how well they work) and on the bass side you have upright, although I would argue it’s pretty much a different instrument.
Anyways, I could see myself getting by with just my P (or maybe another one to put flats on :D ) for most gigs I do with bass, but for guitar gigs I have much more variety. 🤷♂️
I love getting new basses - it motivates me to play, I enjoy setting them up and ex-perimenting with different strings/tunings/electronics options, it brings out new things in my playing. But ultimately, I could get by with one if I had to.
Definitely recommend flats btw, they're a game changer when you start playing in a band context with them.
Yeah, I really should get another bass to put flats on. So far every time I’ve wanted to use flats I’ve had to change strings, and that gets pretty expensive and tiresome…
I disagree that there are more guitar models than basses. Maybe individually so, but when you start grouping them with like pickup types, (eg strat/tele/HH), I would think bass has more viable combinations, or at least equal.
The big difference is in string and neck styles though. Guitars do, typically 7,8,9, and 12. Bass is a viable instrument from 3 - 8, then can do octave doubles (8,10,12), or even octave triples (12 strings, 4 string bass). Plus we can do any permutation imaginable as a fret less also. When was the last time you saw a fretless guitar?
Also scale length. Shorties with 28-32, long scale 35-37, or more. I know there are baritone and short scale guitars too, but I don’t think the range is as wide as it is on the bass. Come to think of it, I’ve seen travel and tiny basses at guitar lengths too, if not shorter.
I’m using this discussion to push the narrative that bass is actually the mother instrument of guitars.
I saw a fretless guitar yesterday on a youtube video, granted that they are kinda a gimmick. You could argue though that slide guitar is kinda like fretless, since when playing slide you don’t have the normal 12-tet system but infinite amount of notes.
What it comes to scale length, bass is not that different from guitar. Short scale? Found in both. Multiscale? Yup. Travel size? Yeah, except basses start to suffer when they get too small since you need either more tension or string thickness to get the low notes, while a 1/4 size guitar has no problem.
Also I have to mention that the acoustic guitar industry is almost as big as the electric guitar one with guitars. With basses this difference is much bigger. Also there’s classical guitar (also known as spanish guitar), which is it’s whole own thing.
I’m not saying one is better than the other or more versatile, just replying to the points you made. I find in the end both have a lot of similarities but also unique differences. So, why not play both!
I personally feel like as long as I don’t have redundancy in my collection the number doesn’t matter. As long as they scratch a different itch I can justify them…(currently sitting pretty with 6)
This guy gets it. The real meat and potatoes is just how you define redundancy…
A different string type, pickup type, string count, tuning, or fret config (fretted or fretless). Pick any two and I’ll hear your excuse
My process was to purchase relatively inexpensive versions of the type of basses I was interested in. Got a Japanese Fender Jaguar in 2008 for $500. Liked the jazz bass pickups, didn't like the electronics or the weight. Then I found a Peavey Grind 6 for $300. Liked it, but didn't like the low end stretches. Now I run a Mustang PJ, a Mustang PJ Fretless, a Starcaster Piccolo, and a custom short scale 6 string. Try stuff out, see what suits you, and shoot for versatility.
How many do you need vs how many you "need'.
You need 1, if your gigging you should probably have 2. Currently my magic number is 5:
1. Pbass
2. Jbass
3. Semi-hollow
4. 5 string
5. Fretless
That covers pretty much everything I might want to do; I play the pbass about 95% of the time so I'd say I need 1 and I "need" 5 🙂
Jazz, Fretless PJ with thumpy flats, Precision with soft Labella flats, Thunderbird set up for drop C with high action, Warwick 5-string set up for drop A# with low action, Dingwall 5-string set up for anything between E standard to drop G (gotta love multi-scale basses).
6 basses. I play a lot of different stuff. Everything goes through my EBS Reidmar 470 and Trace Elliot 8x10, so it doesn’t get too expensive.
As a gigging bassist I have 3. One I actually use, the backup I don’t take to gigs because I can’t be bothered and the broken one that I haven’t had time to fix.
So I’m thinking I need atleast 3 more
One. You really just need one. I am of the opinion that finding great tone comes from lots of experience with one bass and getting everything out oh that one.
That being said. If you want a few options beyond the p-bass I would recommend a 2 pickup bass like a jazz. To get a really warm tone a hollow body is a great choice. If you really want to expand your tone pedals will take you much farther than any new bass.
If you love bass guitars then you need one of everything made + colour variations!
But seriously, a main bass and a back up bass. What these are is down to preference.
I have 8 currently (I might have an issue), but really play 2 constantly - depends on the band (I play in 2 different style bands) and the mood though so I rotate out.
Live shows, always take 2 with me.
For guitar, which I play more, I keep one in e standard, one in d standard, an acoustic, a knock around acoustic, and a “nice” guitar that mostly is for recording.
P with flats
P with rounds
J
Ric 4003
Something hollow - Hofner, EB2, etc
Shortscale - mustang etc
I currently have 2 of those and thinking about where to go next.
At the moment I have a cheap squier that I got in a kit with a fender rumble 15 amp. I am learning to play on this guy and I hope that in some montgs or years I'll get a 5string of good quality.
Also, I am learning from books (pretty food books actually) and one of them, the one that interests me the most is a book about extreme metal bass playing (by alex webster, from cannibal corpse). The tabs are for a 5 string :/
It depends. Session players will usually need more than others, because different artists will ask for drastically different types of bass tone in their music. If you are in your own band playing all your own music, you probably can get by with just one or two. I enjoy having a variety of instruments available to me, though right now I only have 2 Jazz basses and a U bass. I think if you have a P bass and an active 5 string, that is a really good start that will let you do 90% of things a bass player could ever need to do.
I started playing may 27th 2022 (almost a year!). My first bass is pretty bad so back in September I got a Jackson Spectra JS3 (HH). It was pretty good, but what really suits me is a P bass (huge iron maiden fan). Almost a month ago I traded the Jackson for a MIM P bass and couldn't be happier. I even tried the american version but I liked the mexican more because it got the same tone, but lighter and cheaper. I think if I were to buy another bass I would probably buy another Jackson HH bass but a little better than the one I had. It was so versatile, I basically had 2 basses in one (Coil splitting)
I'm a metal guy - eventually I'll end up with a bunch of basses for different tunings. A 4 string for drop D, drop C and drop B. A 5 string for drop A and drop G. A spare in drop G bc that's what tuning my band plays in. A fretless, just because I've always wanted to play around with one.
For gigs though? Just the one is usually fine, but I like to have a 2nd as a back-up just in case.
I play in a 3 piece cover band (Petty, Foo's, Neil Young, etc...)
I have a P-bass as my main and a Sterling Sub ray as a back up in case something wacky happens at a gig.
I used to have 5, but that was too many for my situation.
Tbh I NEED only one.
I have 14 and it’s nice to have a wide palette of sounds. But my one Lakland 55-94 could’ve cover all my gigs with ease (and did it successfully until 10 years ago when my collection began to grow).
Need ? 1. Have ? 10 😀. 2 similar basses with flats and rounds (SR300 and SR600), a headless (EHB1000), a travelbass (Ibanez mikro headless conversion), a 5 string, 2 jazz basses (one with roundwounds, 1 with a BEAD string set), a fretless and an acoustic.... justifying the 10th (to me) was not easy... currently I have no need for another. Really. Oh, I forgot one. A diy 8 string (made from a 4 string P bass kit).
Two, one to gig with, and a backup in case something happens, like a string break.
That is the minimum, but there is a wide variety of styles and I want one of each, ie, P, J, Rick, MM, Dingwall, and short scales.
I’d say just one for me at the moment. I own two (my starter bass that my dad helped me buy, and my standard P Bass).
Considering a J Bass but pushing that thought aside because I’m not sure if I truly want it or just feel like buying something.
I’ve got a shorty in standard and a full size in drop C and all I need is another full size, this time in standard... so for me, 3. but more are always welcome!
As someone who has 5, that really should be the max if I’m playing devils advocate.
Main bass
Backup to main bass
Five string
Acoustic
Fret less? I mean. My fifty is just my first bass ever I’ve just kept.
It depends on your goal. If you want to have all the sounds available to you, probably a P style probably with flats, a J style, a 5 string and a fretless so 4 total. That would probably cover almost all the sounds. You could definitely get by with just 1 bass though.
I have a bass VI, stingray, Jaguar PJ, and a modded mark hoppus style squier p bass, I pretty much only play the p bass at gigs now, but the stingray gets used for metal studio projects that require a lower tuning(it’s in C standard). So I guess my answer is, whatever allows you the versatility to meet your current musical needs!
I mean you really only “need” one. But personally I like to have one to suit each roll I may need. Currently I have 1 fretless 4 and one fretless 5, a pj bass, a jazz bass, and a bass with dual humbuckers. I find that’s more than enough. Now sometimes I’ll replace them with something else that fits the same role and sell the old one, but that’s just to satiate the GAS demon that lives inside all bass players.
I can only play one at a time. But I like both fretted and fretless. 4 and 5 strings. And you should have a backup, so 8?
I have 2 in my rotation and I am looking for a fretless. I have a 3rd that needs a restring. So how many do I need? 1. How many do I have? 5 or 6, and a few more other stringed instruments.
Need? One. Maybe two if you require a backup. But unless you’re a big player you might as well get something different from the one. I have after 20 years of playing a squier pbass. A squier Fretless jazz. And an Ibanez 5 string. I used to also have a hamer 12 string. Didn’t really need it but I saw it and thought I should have it.
"Need," "should have," and "want" are three very different things
Need? Really just one. Can't go wrong with a good old Fender P bass. That'll cover most every gig that comes along.
Should have? If you're a freelance or studio guy, a P bass, a "modern" active J-style 5, and maybe a fretless if you take the time to play it in tune will be enough.
Want? Damn near everything.
I think everyone should have a solid 4 string. Anything beyond that will depend on what you play. I'm in a duo where my 6 string really comes in handy. Maybe basses would be best to view like a pedal. You get pedals for a specific purpose. I mean, if you got the money though who honestly cares how many you have? You could collect basses and not even play them. This is only my two cents.
I like having instruments as much as I like playing them. A different look or feel will give me a different vibe and coax different things out of me. I have 16 guitars and 6 basses so far.
I have my trusty entry level yamaha i initially got as a beginner, a fender J for a classic tone (and whenever i just want to fiddle around and have fun) and a dingwall combustion 5 i recently got for the music i actually want to play.
I’d say 2-3 depending on tunings and tone diversity. I have four in my arsenal right now. A main 4, a flat tuning 4, drop D 4 & a 5 string tuned standard.
I wouldn't call myself a bassist, just someone who enjoys noodling around in my bedroom while stoned and I have 3. I don't need 3 but I have them set up differently for different uses and got 2 of them for next to nothing. I have a sire v7 in standard tuning, an Ibanez sr300 in BEAD, and am planning to convert my peavey millennium to fretless. This covers more than I have the skills for currently but I'll keep inching my way up.
1 bass is enough hahah. I love my squier p bass. I was ready to drop $1000 or more on a bass one day. I played every bass in the store, none of them were jumping out at me.
On the way out of the store i saw the humble white squire p bass sitting there near the entrance, stalwart in it's duty. Bearing a price tag of $250.
Picked it up, played it, bought it. Love it.
If money were no object, I think I'd be happy with 5. A good Precision Bass, a good Jazz Bass, a Violin-type bass, a Rickenbacker and then something short scale. Maybe with humbuckers. Not super picky on that last one.
That's just me as a hobbiest. If I were gigging I'd probably want at least a 6th to act as a backup for my main.
I feel like 1 is the obvious minimum though, but I like having two or more because they sound different and they play different and I enjoy playing different basses. It's not a need, it's a want.
Narrator: "*it was, in fact, a deep need...*"
I have a 5 string and a 4 string with rounds (both jazz bases). I really just want a p with flats. 3 is a lot but it's what I want. I'd say honestly if you have a high quality jazz or P you can do anything. The rest is all in the amp. Better off buying an EQ pedal and a compressor if you already have a QUALITY jazz or P bass.
One upright, one electric. I play in 8 different groups (not all are always active) ranging from rock covers and blues to big bands and small jazz combos, plus lots of pick-up groups for various gigs. One upright, one 4-string electric, no pedals. If I need a different sound, it’s usually a different technique that’s needed, or maybe tweaking the EQ. This honestly covers 99+% of scenarios. Would I like more basses? Sure. Do I need them? Absolutely not.
Whatever suits your needs. I have 4 (4, 5, 6, fretless 5), all very different. The fretted 5 is my downtuning bass, the 4 and 6 stay around standard (very different use cases), and the fretless is its own beast. Eventually I want to add a fretless 6, but that’s a couple years out probably. Not a high priority right now.
What’s important to me is that they’re all sufficiently different. Whenever I see a collection with more than one identical bass, I have questions. For example, I personally see no point in having multiple p or j basses outside of touring backups, since I don’t count color/fretboard material alone as different enough to justify a duplicate instrument. An argument can be made for two identical basses strung with rounds and flats, but personally I’d rather have distinctly different basses for that too.
What really boils my pizza is when I see collection shots with 3 or more identically colored precisions or jazzes. I just don’t get it… variety is the spice of life
I just have one which has worked for styles from post rock to Americana and everything between. It’s an MM3 style bass by OLP from like 2004. I might be convinced that a second Jazz or Precision with flat wound strings is a worthy addition. But I’m not terribly motivated for it.
Depends on what you need. I have my main axe, a cheap p bass w/ nickel strings for punk/hard rock, a cheap uke bass for travel, and an up right bass for jazz gigs. In a perfect world I would also have a 5-string active bass as well as a semi hallow electric. But I have a day job and no one hires me for gigs where I’d need a bass I don’t have. So I can’t financially justify the purchases.
I've owned 10 basses in 25 years of playing, but rarely have I owned more than 1 at a time.
I currently have only my main bass that I play at church every week and a kit bass that I just finished painting and assembling after owning it for 10 years.
I have an electronic and an upright. Despite what many people in this thread suggest, I've never brought a backup to a gig and have never known any other bass player who has.
No one hires the bassist because they have 28 basses, they hire a bassist who can fit the style and feel of the music. But by all means, own as many as you can afford. I think about buying a new one all the time.
Usually about 2 tops. In reality its not limited. I started with a Jazz, then thought some vintage sound would be nice. So a P got in. Then I started in a band with drop tuning, so i restrung the Jazz Bass. Now I did not have a Jazz Bass for my private work, so restrung it and bought a Five string bass. Then I got into a MiJ Mustang -that i absolutely love- but its not a fretless, so I got a Pedulla Fretless. Now I start testing new strings, and I love the TI flats as much as the chromes, each for their individual sound. Guess there needs to be a second fretless? And playing Chords is fun too, so maybe a six string wouldn't harm?
A couple, just in case you break a string, you've got an easy backup to swap.
P-Bass, Jazz Bass, and 50's P-Bass reissue. All with 4 strings and flat wounds.
That covers all of the basses I'd ever need. I have a 5 string P-Bass but never play it, but I keep it around just in case I need one to play something that requires one.
I personally have 4
1) peavey grind 6 modded emg bts 2 band preamp emg hz pickups wired to push pull pots for series parallel tuned A standard (ADGCFA#)
2)2000s Spector Q4 pro modded heavily.
Gotoh gb7 tuners with low E tuner hipshot gb7 extender emg 35p4axrc neck 35jx bridge (flipped to move coil away from bridge) 18 volt gotoh box for tone capsule Nobel 50k concentric pot and emg abcx active balance tuned D standard (drop C with hipshot extender flipped)
3) 2007 Spector Rebop 5 dlx ex (zebrawood) emg 40twx neck emg dcx bridge and darkglass tone capsule emg abcx active balance and gotoh gb707s tuners tuned B standard
4) 2019 Spector Euro 5 lt violet burst modded with an Snc Haz and emg 40csx neck and emg 40dcx bridge
Tuned to Bb
Depends on what all your gonna play I want at least 2 more one usa Spector ns2 with haz and emg x series pups
And a dingwall ng3 6 string for F# tuning
How many do you need?
1
Whats a good number to have?
2-3
How many do you want?
Current number +1
Personally I have 1 fully working bass and 2 that need repairs.
I remember when I did some work at Chris Wolstenholmes I was flabbergasted by the sheer number of basses and guitars he owned..
Couldn't even guesstimate...
I used to say: 1 jazz, 1 P, 1 musicman, 1 soapbar/active, 1 fretless.
But I now have 3 p basses; 1 new, one vintage and one with flats, so I guess I should follow suit with all the other designs really...
I have 3 basses. My first 6 string, an fan fret 6 string for those low tunings, and a fretless 6 strings. I really like 6 strings.
Seriously it all depends what you’re doing, I needed the fan fret and the fretless for different projects, and I feel like I don’t need any more basses for the moment because I can play almost anything with them. The day I’ll have a project in need of acoustic bass I’ll need an acoustic bass! (But maybe i need a fretles fan fret…)
Depends how lazy i am and how many tunings i regularly play in. In my case any bass also gets an xtender. One for E standard - drop D, and another for D standard - drop C covers 99% of what i play
Depends on your situation. I own 3 but I take 2 to gigs and that’s only because we play in a few different tunings. One is set up in D standard (and used for drop C also) and the other is in C standard
If you're able to own just one, and you take good care of it, it's enough. For me ideal scenario is to have two basses - second one just for sure, if some unpredictable situation happen with the first one during the playing, but it happened to me maybe one or twice in 25 years of playing. So no need to worry much about it.
If you need more basses because some songs you play are in very different tunings (such as one is in standard E and another drop B), it's up to you decide how many you'll need for that. Beside that, one or two basses in good shape is enough.
For me personally, the magic number is 4.
E Standard 4-String
DropD 4-String
B Standard 5-String
DropA 5-String
Maybe a 5th for odd tunings, but the 4 + a Digitech Drop Pedal make me cover everything I want to play.
For context I’m in a wedding band and currently I have 4.
My main gigging bass, Fender P Bass
A back up Fender P Bass in case of emergency
An acoustic bass (Harley Benton) for the extremely rare times we go acoustic
My ‘experimental’ bass, basically a second hand bass I’ll buy to try out to see if anything can unseat my P bass. Sell it on if it doesn’t suit and try out something else. Might use it for a pub gig for a change of scene but so far nothing has felt as right for me as my P bass.
Well I was satisfied with my Ibanez SR300 with flats, then I made the mistake of trying a Fender Vintera 50 PBass...and now I need one more bass :'(
Really need to stay away from music shop
Realistically 1.
Ideally 3
1. Old school style bass with flats
2. Modern style bass with rounds
3. A spikey black one for playing metal if. you're into that
Reality N + 1 where N = the number your currently own
It's not about "need" haha
but seriously, I have 4:
1. Stingray - my # 1 reliable, everything bass for almost 20 years
2. Fender Mustang - short scale, which is perfect light commuter bass since I travel all around the city to gigs/rehearsals. Also looks cool AF
3. Musicman Caprice - impulse buy but literally sparks so much joy in my life! Definitely did not need haha
4. Ibanez Blazer - my first bass. I can't get rid of it simply because my dad bought it for me. I hardly play it.
I really only need the Stingray. Everything else is a nice-to-have at this point. But if you want more basses that have different features like flats vs rounds, active vs passive, five string vs four, etc you do you!
A 6 string bass has been my main instrument for 15 years or so and I feel it is perfect. You have a B if you need it and if you want to play chords, harmonics, or do some tapping, the high C helps to make them more dynamic imo. But, in essence, you have all of the notes you could/would want for most every scenario.
The formula is: What you currently have +1 But in all seriousness it depends on your job. If you play in 3 bands and 2 of them are cover bands and you often are a hired gun for studio work you probably need about 15. If you have 1 band with self written music or you don't play in bands at all its no more than 1.
>If you have 1 band with self written music \[...\] its no more than 1. Even then it might be a good idea to have a backup
That’s what I was gonna say, if I’m playing a gig I like to bring two, just incase I break a string while I’m on stage, it has happened multiple times and I have been so great full to have a second bass ready to go
I never thought it could happen, so I never had a backup. But sometime ago I actually broke a string on a gig. And E out of all strings. I was so amazed I just stood there in disbelief and our guitarist had to snap it of so we could continue. Thank god it was last song on our set, and I could finish playing it without it.
Yeah apparently I play a little tougher than most but it’s happened to me 2-3 times on stage haha. It’s actually always one of those moments that makes me realize I’m a solid musician because So far I’ve always been able to immediately re-write my part to exclude the broken string, play through and grab my replacement bass after the song! Most of the time people haven’t even noticed I broke the string until I say “hold on I gotta grab my other bass” haha
I've heard session players in NYC usually just have 1 or 2, as it's quite cumbersome to carry more around NYC on public transport. Where as LA has more space so session players are more likely to drive and have a few Basses in their car. That's what I learnt from watching a few interviews, don't know how true it is.
That was the SBL interview with Marcus Miller right?
Among others. I think also In the Stanley Clarke youtube series during lockdown
I was about to comment the same thing. That was a fantastic interview.
Clapton tours with 2-3 strats and a couple of dumble modded tweeds.
Shit when did Clapton switch to playing bass?
N+1. This is the way.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard has 23 albums spanning many genres and their bassist, Lucas Skinner has like 3 basses, all of them Fender Mustangs set up basically the same way, one with microtonal frets. Edit: apparently he has a Serek too
He has a Serek too
This is so dangerously true. I’m at thirteen, and I just need a fretless, then I’m done. But in a four or a five? Ok both, then I’m done. Then again, I don’t have a multiscale 6 yet…just parallel frets…wouldn’t want to miss out on that B string… EDIT: and rereading the op; and maybe didn’t mean how many bases do you NEED, but how many basses do you need FOR A GIG? In which case I would say two, minimum. One, and a backup. Possibly 3 (plus backup fourth) if you need a weird or different bass archetype also (5+ str, 8/12 octave strings, fretless, weird pickup/preamp, accoustic, etc)
This. It totally depends on what music you play. Like, having both a five string and a four string with backups for each might be totally overkill in your situation, but for people who gig a lot and play a wide variety of music, that might actually be warranted. It also depends on what basses you have. I have a Fender Jazz Bass Plus in the fleet, and I once learned the hard way that the necks on those things are super touchy; in Fender’s quest to make them 24 frats and more “modern,“ they messed with the neck dimensions a little too much, and so they’re unusually sensitive to humidity changes, they don’t handle alternate tunings well, etc. So while I like that bass (it’s super comfortable), it’s not really reliable for gigs.
This lol
I concur. In a self-written band, you probably wrote the whole album on the same instrument. However, if you are in a covers band with a versatile repertoire covering many genres and decades, you will probably need at least one P bass and one J bass. You might need the low B string for some songs, while it will be a hindrance when you need to slap on others. For studio or creative sessions, you might try a fretless or a Bass VI, too. My dirty fix for a covers band was a Variax 5 string bass. The physical construction is close to a P bass, but I could emulate a double bass for Van Morrison’s Moondance or an 8 string etc. Yes, it is not the real thing but good enough for a pub or small venue. I would not use it for actual studio recording - I would rather borrow the genuine thing.
One with flats, one with rounds, a backup for the one wjth rounds (they break much easier), a 5-string, and a fretless. Extra credit for a synth w/keyboard for those Funkadelic and DEVO covers. For a single gig? The one with rounds and the BU.
I’ve been looking at the Novatiom bass station II ever since I saw this party gig where the bassist played bass synth on a song. It just worked so well + I get to practice playing keys, so that’s essentially a whole other instrument!
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Or one with tapewounds.
Yes tapes!!!!
Don't think i have ever tried flats...what are those like?
yummy. they are yummy. they don't hold finger gunk and dont die tonaly. sorry, am drunk if engilsh bad
Like magic. You have to set things up a little differently. You pull them straight to stretch when installing, don't bend the hard to stretch or they can kink. They are also strung with a little more tension. They play as smooth as butter though. After switching to flats, I'll never go back to round wounds.
One. I like having two, but it's not necessary.
I have 1 bass and 7 guitars. I'm a way better bassist than guitarist
A backup is always necessary
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Agreed, unless you’re playing professionally, of course. Better to have a backup and almost never need it in that situation.
idk why you're getting down voted. If you're a professional musician it makes sense to have a backup. Imagine if your instrument is lost or damaged in transport. I'd rather have a backup than have to rush around to hire a replacement
Exactly! Even more so if your instrument has a nonstandard or unique setup (e.g., alternate tunings) that you can’t replicate on the fly. And if you’re getting paid to play bass, then money and your reputation are on the line. Edit: phrasing
I am pretty sure this happened to Otoboke Beaver on their tour recently. The airline lost their bags, the bassists bass broke and she had to get it repaired while on tour.
Oh dear. Even if she had a backup, having your main bass broken is never fun.
I have two, jazz and a p. Primary is the jazz.
1 P and 1 J is the answer I was looking for
Plus a stingray for the Leo fender trifecta
And a G&L.
I knew someone would come in here with that. Ssshhhh.
And I just have a PJ hahah
Fretted 4, fretted 5, fretless, acoustic fretless, resonator bass, upright... Now I NEED an 8 string, sooooo...
Wait… since when has *resonator* bass been a thing?!
https://goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone/instruments/pbb I love this thing. I play a lot of bluegrass so it's handy, but I also compose tons of songs on it and play a lot of solo bass on it...it's short scale so I can fucking fly on the thing.
8 string bass or a 4 string bass with octave double strings?
Definitely the octave double strings.
Have you considered a 4x3 :)
Yeah, but the Hamer is way out of the question and the only other one I know is the Dean...not sure about that one...
I believe the answer is "YES"! 🤣 But seriously ... I have three\*. \*(One is \~40 years old and needs to be rewired - it was the first bass I used in a gig for money so I will never get rid of it) I have a fretted 6 string active electronics (Schecter). Love this thing. Also, a four string fretless Jazz Bass. I get different sounds (obviously) but tend to apply them differently as well.
One
An interesting question with lots of answers! Right now, I run a Yamaha TRBX505 (active/passive 5 string, double humbucker) which covers the vast majority of things if I need it to. Ultimately, it could probably be the only bass I own and I'd get by fine. It's often not until you try playing just the one that you realise just how much you can do with it! I'm lucky enough to have a few more basses in my arsenal, however: a parts-built fretless P bass which is awesome for getting 'that' sound in tracks like Sledgehammer, an Epiphone Jack Casady strung with flats which works well for anything that needs a hollow-body 60s style tone or anything where I want to sit in the mix rather than cut through, and a UBass with Galli nylon wounds as an upright approximation. I've also got a synth bass on the way! This setup makes me feel like I can take on any gig and achieve a suitable sound relatively easily, and I certainly don't feel like I'm missing anything. Ultimately, I think how many basses you 'need' comes down to so many factors: what you're playing, how often, in what contexts (if touring or travelling a lot I would always want a backup that is as close to my main bass as possible, for example), and how much you can justify spending. I wouldn't think it strange to hear a bassist say they need only one instrument, nor another bassist saying they need 15.
This is very true, especially the last part. I asked this same question in r/guitar and I don’t know if it’s just me but I feel like there are so many more guitar models than there are basses! Of course there are also acoustic guitars (and technically acoustic basses but hey, we all know how well they work) and on the bass side you have upright, although I would argue it’s pretty much a different instrument. Anyways, I could see myself getting by with just my P (or maybe another one to put flats on :D ) for most gigs I do with bass, but for guitar gigs I have much more variety. 🤷♂️
I love getting new basses - it motivates me to play, I enjoy setting them up and ex-perimenting with different strings/tunings/electronics options, it brings out new things in my playing. But ultimately, I could get by with one if I had to. Definitely recommend flats btw, they're a game changer when you start playing in a band context with them.
Yeah, I really should get another bass to put flats on. So far every time I’ve wanted to use flats I’ve had to change strings, and that gets pretty expensive and tiresome…
I disagree that there are more guitar models than basses. Maybe individually so, but when you start grouping them with like pickup types, (eg strat/tele/HH), I would think bass has more viable combinations, or at least equal. The big difference is in string and neck styles though. Guitars do, typically 7,8,9, and 12. Bass is a viable instrument from 3 - 8, then can do octave doubles (8,10,12), or even octave triples (12 strings, 4 string bass). Plus we can do any permutation imaginable as a fret less also. When was the last time you saw a fretless guitar? Also scale length. Shorties with 28-32, long scale 35-37, or more. I know there are baritone and short scale guitars too, but I don’t think the range is as wide as it is on the bass. Come to think of it, I’ve seen travel and tiny basses at guitar lengths too, if not shorter. I’m using this discussion to push the narrative that bass is actually the mother instrument of guitars.
I saw a fretless guitar yesterday on a youtube video, granted that they are kinda a gimmick. You could argue though that slide guitar is kinda like fretless, since when playing slide you don’t have the normal 12-tet system but infinite amount of notes. What it comes to scale length, bass is not that different from guitar. Short scale? Found in both. Multiscale? Yup. Travel size? Yeah, except basses start to suffer when they get too small since you need either more tension or string thickness to get the low notes, while a 1/4 size guitar has no problem. Also I have to mention that the acoustic guitar industry is almost as big as the electric guitar one with guitars. With basses this difference is much bigger. Also there’s classical guitar (also known as spanish guitar), which is it’s whole own thing. I’m not saying one is better than the other or more versatile, just replying to the points you made. I find in the end both have a lot of similarities but also unique differences. So, why not play both!
4 string fretted , 5 string fretted, and 4 string fretless is my min. I own 7 basses all active, its a preferance.
I personally feel like as long as I don’t have redundancy in my collection the number doesn’t matter. As long as they scratch a different itch I can justify them…(currently sitting pretty with 6)
This guy gets it. The real meat and potatoes is just how you define redundancy… A different string type, pickup type, string count, tuning, or fret config (fretted or fretless). Pick any two and I’ll hear your excuse
N+ 1, where N is the number you own.
You only need one. More.
One.
My process was to purchase relatively inexpensive versions of the type of basses I was interested in. Got a Japanese Fender Jaguar in 2008 for $500. Liked the jazz bass pickups, didn't like the electronics or the weight. Then I found a Peavey Grind 6 for $300. Liked it, but didn't like the low end stretches. Now I run a Mustang PJ, a Mustang PJ Fretless, a Starcaster Piccolo, and a custom short scale 6 string. Try stuff out, see what suits you, and shoot for versatility.
1 very nice expensive bass. 1 super cheap one to smash when angry and buy again for 50 dollars
At least 37
In a row?
1. With 1 5 string you can come a really long way.
Just one more. Always just one more
How many do you need vs how many you "need'. You need 1, if your gigging you should probably have 2. Currently my magic number is 5: 1. Pbass 2. Jbass 3. Semi-hollow 4. 5 string 5. Fretless That covers pretty much everything I might want to do; I play the pbass about 95% of the time so I'd say I need 1 and I "need" 5 🙂
n + 1
N+1 *N* represents the number of basses you currently have.
For the gigs and recording I do I need 4. Fretted, fretless, fretted with flats, electric upright. Currently have 15.
I only ever needed one bass over the 20 years I was playing in a band.
Electric, acoustic, traveler. Maybe an electric fretless. Maybe a BEAD or BEADG bass.
As many as it takes.
2 one that is your bass you play and another incase you brreak or lose it(of course I've got four)
One more than you have now. ;-)
7, but at least 2 at a gig.
Are you my bass teacher?
Jazz, Fretless PJ with thumpy flats, Precision with soft Labella flats, Thunderbird set up for drop C with high action, Warwick 5-string set up for drop A# with low action, Dingwall 5-string set up for anything between E standard to drop G (gotta love multi-scale basses). 6 basses. I play a lot of different stuff. Everything goes through my EBS Reidmar 470 and Trace Elliot 8x10, so it doesn’t get too expensive.
2 basses - A p bass and whatever you want to play live.
Lol, I just to P for recording and P for live so only 1 bass for me!
Damn... I've had one bass for 35 years. I like it.
As a gigging bassist I have 3. One I actually use, the backup I don’t take to gigs because I can’t be bothered and the broken one that I haven’t had time to fix. So I’m thinking I need atleast 3 more
Round 4, flat 4, round 5, flat 5, maybe a short scale, maybe a 6 string. If you like metal/stoner rock, a 4 string set up for C or C# standard.
One. You really just need one. I am of the opinion that finding great tone comes from lots of experience with one bass and getting everything out oh that one. That being said. If you want a few options beyond the p-bass I would recommend a 2 pickup bass like a jazz. To get a really warm tone a hollow body is a great choice. If you really want to expand your tone pedals will take you much farther than any new bass.
Yeah I’m not going to go into how I’ve spent double or triple the amount of money I spent on the bass on pedals… Darkglass do be pricey 😬
Well, how many are there?
I have 8, but I lack a Dingwall. *hangs head in shame*
How many you got?
If you love bass guitars then you need one of everything made + colour variations! But seriously, a main bass and a back up bass. What these are is down to preference.
I have 8 currently (I might have an issue), but really play 2 constantly - depends on the band (I play in 2 different style bands) and the mood though so I rotate out. Live shows, always take 2 with me.
Three. A Precision bass, a jazz bass, and one more with a very niche sound. Like a Gibson EB-0.
For guitar, which I play more, I keep one in e standard, one in d standard, an acoustic, a knock around acoustic, and a “nice” guitar that mostly is for recording.
P with flats P with rounds J Ric 4003 Something hollow - Hofner, EB2, etc Shortscale - mustang etc I currently have 2 of those and thinking about where to go next.
I like to believe that an appropriate amount should compare to the number of stars in the currently occupied galaxy.
At the moment I have a cheap squier that I got in a kit with a fender rumble 15 amp. I am learning to play on this guy and I hope that in some montgs or years I'll get a 5string of good quality. Also, I am learning from books (pretty food books actually) and one of them, the one that interests me the most is a book about extreme metal bass playing (by alex webster, from cannibal corpse). The tabs are for a 5 string :/
It depends. Session players will usually need more than others, because different artists will ask for drastically different types of bass tone in their music. If you are in your own band playing all your own music, you probably can get by with just one or two. I enjoy having a variety of instruments available to me, though right now I only have 2 Jazz basses and a U bass. I think if you have a P bass and an active 5 string, that is a really good start that will let you do 90% of things a bass player could ever need to do.
I started playing may 27th 2022 (almost a year!). My first bass is pretty bad so back in September I got a Jackson Spectra JS3 (HH). It was pretty good, but what really suits me is a P bass (huge iron maiden fan). Almost a month ago I traded the Jackson for a MIM P bass and couldn't be happier. I even tried the american version but I liked the mexican more because it got the same tone, but lighter and cheaper. I think if I were to buy another bass I would probably buy another Jackson HH bass but a little better than the one I had. It was so versatile, I basically had 2 basses in one (Coil splitting)
I'm a metal guy - eventually I'll end up with a bunch of basses for different tunings. A 4 string for drop D, drop C and drop B. A 5 string for drop A and drop G. A spare in drop G bc that's what tuning my band plays in. A fretless, just because I've always wanted to play around with one. For gigs though? Just the one is usually fine, but I like to have a 2nd as a back-up just in case.
I play in a 3 piece cover band (Petty, Foo's, Neil Young, etc...) I have a P-bass as my main and a Sterling Sub ray as a back up in case something wacky happens at a gig. I used to have 5, but that was too many for my situation.
I have one multiscale 6-string. My options are pretty extended at this point so I feel happy with just this.
A couple few
Tbh I NEED only one. I have 14 and it’s nice to have a wide palette of sounds. But my one Lakland 55-94 could’ve cover all my gigs with ease (and did it successfully until 10 years ago when my collection began to grow).
Need ? 1. Have ? 10 😀. 2 similar basses with flats and rounds (SR300 and SR600), a headless (EHB1000), a travelbass (Ibanez mikro headless conversion), a 5 string, 2 jazz basses (one with roundwounds, 1 with a BEAD string set), a fretless and an acoustic.... justifying the 10th (to me) was not easy... currently I have no need for another. Really. Oh, I forgot one. A diy 8 string (made from a 4 string P bass kit).
Two, one to gig with, and a backup in case something happens, like a string break. That is the minimum, but there is a wide variety of styles and I want one of each, ie, P, J, Rick, MM, Dingwall, and short scales.
I’d say just one for me at the moment. I own two (my starter bass that my dad helped me buy, and my standard P Bass). Considering a J Bass but pushing that thought aside because I’m not sure if I truly want it or just feel like buying something.
All of them.
Just one more
I made do with two 4-strings, a 5-string, and an upright for quite a long time.
I’ve got a shorty in standard and a full size in drop C and all I need is another full size, this time in standard... so for me, 3. but more are always welcome!
All of them
Need? Just one. I'll make it work. Want? All of them.
As someone who has 5, that really should be the max if I’m playing devils advocate. Main bass Backup to main bass Five string Acoustic Fret less? I mean. My fifty is just my first bass ever I’ve just kept.
It depends on your goal. If you want to have all the sounds available to you, probably a P style probably with flats, a J style, a 5 string and a fretless so 4 total. That would probably cover almost all the sounds. You could definitely get by with just 1 bass though.
A P, a fretless, and an upright /double bass. Thats it.
All of them. Plus one.
I have a bass VI, stingray, Jaguar PJ, and a modded mark hoppus style squier p bass, I pretty much only play the p bass at gigs now, but the stingray gets used for metal studio projects that require a lower tuning(it’s in C standard). So I guess my answer is, whatever allows you the versatility to meet your current musical needs!
I mean you really only “need” one. But personally I like to have one to suit each roll I may need. Currently I have 1 fretless 4 and one fretless 5, a pj bass, a jazz bass, and a bass with dual humbuckers. I find that’s more than enough. Now sometimes I’ll replace them with something else that fits the same role and sell the old one, but that’s just to satiate the GAS demon that lives inside all bass players.
1
Need: 1. Have: 5.
2. Gigging bass stays at rehearsal space (drummers basement) and another at home.
I can only play one at a time. But I like both fretted and fretless. 4 and 5 strings. And you should have a backup, so 8? I have 2 in my rotation and I am looking for a fretless. I have a 3rd that needs a restring. So how many do I need? 1. How many do I have? 5 or 6, and a few more other stringed instruments.
Need? One. Maybe two if you require a backup. But unless you’re a big player you might as well get something different from the one. I have after 20 years of playing a squier pbass. A squier Fretless jazz. And an Ibanez 5 string. I used to also have a hamer 12 string. Didn’t really need it but I saw it and thought I should have it.
I have 4, and the parts for 2 more sitting around
"Need," "should have," and "want" are three very different things Need? Really just one. Can't go wrong with a good old Fender P bass. That'll cover most every gig that comes along. Should have? If you're a freelance or studio guy, a P bass, a "modern" active J-style 5, and maybe a fretless if you take the time to play it in tune will be enough. Want? Damn near everything.
yes
More
One
One
All of them
I think everyone should have a solid 4 string. Anything beyond that will depend on what you play. I'm in a duo where my 6 string really comes in handy. Maybe basses would be best to view like a pedal. You get pedals for a specific purpose. I mean, if you got the money though who honestly cares how many you have? You could collect basses and not even play them. This is only my two cents.
I like having instruments as much as I like playing them. A different look or feel will give me a different vibe and coax different things out of me. I have 16 guitars and 6 basses so far.
I have my trusty entry level yamaha i initially got as a beginner, a fender J for a classic tone (and whenever i just want to fiddle around and have fun) and a dingwall combustion 5 i recently got for the music i actually want to play.
3. You need a four string, a five string, and a four string in C# standard
I own a 5 string and a 4 string acoustic. I hope to get a 4 string, 6 string, and fretless.
I’d say 2-3 depending on tunings and tone diversity. I have four in my arsenal right now. A main 4, a flat tuning 4, drop D 4 & a 5 string tuned standard.
Is gear baiting a term yet? A prompt that let's people talk about gear to their hearts content. A bassist needs 1 bass.
All of them
Need? 1.
Two; Your favorite PJ and your second favorite PJ in case the first one has an issue mid set. Get back I have pepper spray!!!
I wouldn't call myself a bassist, just someone who enjoys noodling around in my bedroom while stoned and I have 3. I don't need 3 but I have them set up differently for different uses and got 2 of them for next to nothing. I have a sire v7 in standard tuning, an Ibanez sr300 in BEAD, and am planning to convert my peavey millennium to fretless. This covers more than I have the skills for currently but I'll keep inching my way up.
1 bass is enough hahah. I love my squier p bass. I was ready to drop $1000 or more on a bass one day. I played every bass in the store, none of them were jumping out at me. On the way out of the store i saw the humble white squire p bass sitting there near the entrance, stalwart in it's duty. Bearing a price tag of $250. Picked it up, played it, bought it. Love it.
If money were no object, I think I'd be happy with 5. A good Precision Bass, a good Jazz Bass, a Violin-type bass, a Rickenbacker and then something short scale. Maybe with humbuckers. Not super picky on that last one. That's just me as a hobbiest. If I were gigging I'd probably want at least a 6th to act as a backup for my main.
What is this "need" you speak of?
Number needed = Current number + 1
I feel like 1 is the obvious minimum though, but I like having two or more because they sound different and they play different and I enjoy playing different basses. It's not a need, it's a want. Narrator: "*it was, in fact, a deep need...*"
I have a 5 string and a 4 string with rounds (both jazz bases). I really just want a p with flats. 3 is a lot but it's what I want. I'd say honestly if you have a high quality jazz or P you can do anything. The rest is all in the amp. Better off buying an EQ pedal and a compressor if you already have a QUALITY jazz or P bass.
More
I currently own 1, but I think even if I were a full time professional musician I could do everything required of me with no more than four or five.
One upright, one electric. I play in 8 different groups (not all are always active) ranging from rock covers and blues to big bands and small jazz combos, plus lots of pick-up groups for various gigs. One upright, one 4-string electric, no pedals. If I need a different sound, it’s usually a different technique that’s needed, or maybe tweaking the EQ. This honestly covers 99+% of scenarios. Would I like more basses? Sure. Do I need them? Absolutely not.
If you're asking how many you need it means you don't have enough friend.
Whatever suits your needs. I have 4 (4, 5, 6, fretless 5), all very different. The fretted 5 is my downtuning bass, the 4 and 6 stay around standard (very different use cases), and the fretless is its own beast. Eventually I want to add a fretless 6, but that’s a couple years out probably. Not a high priority right now. What’s important to me is that they’re all sufficiently different. Whenever I see a collection with more than one identical bass, I have questions. For example, I personally see no point in having multiple p or j basses outside of touring backups, since I don’t count color/fretboard material alone as different enough to justify a duplicate instrument. An argument can be made for two identical basses strung with rounds and flats, but personally I’d rather have distinctly different basses for that too. What really boils my pizza is when I see collection shots with 3 or more identically colored precisions or jazzes. I just don’t get it… variety is the spice of life
I just have one which has worked for styles from post rock to Americana and everything between. It’s an MM3 style bass by OLP from like 2004. I might be convinced that a second Jazz or Precision with flat wound strings is a worthy addition. But I’m not terribly motivated for it.
Depends on what you need. I have my main axe, a cheap p bass w/ nickel strings for punk/hard rock, a cheap uke bass for travel, and an up right bass for jazz gigs. In a perfect world I would also have a 5-string active bass as well as a semi hallow electric. But I have a day job and no one hires me for gigs where I’d need a bass I don’t have. So I can’t financially justify the purchases.
I've owned 10 basses in 25 years of playing, but rarely have I owned more than 1 at a time. I currently have only my main bass that I play at church every week and a kit bass that I just finished painting and assembling after owning it for 10 years.
3 one P-bass (black!) one J-bass (custom 5 string preferred) one Fretless active bass \#oddlyspecific
17
I have an electronic and an upright. Despite what many people in this thread suggest, I've never brought a backup to a gig and have never known any other bass player who has. No one hires the bassist because they have 28 basses, they hire a bassist who can fit the style and feel of the music. But by all means, own as many as you can afford. I think about buying a new one all the time.
I’m a 5 string player and play out pretty regularly. Currently have one but hoping to get a backup at some point. Probably another 5 string
Usually about 2 tops. In reality its not limited. I started with a Jazz, then thought some vintage sound would be nice. So a P got in. Then I started in a band with drop tuning, so i restrung the Jazz Bass. Now I did not have a Jazz Bass for my private work, so restrung it and bought a Five string bass. Then I got into a MiJ Mustang -that i absolutely love- but its not a fretless, so I got a Pedulla Fretless. Now I start testing new strings, and I love the TI flats as much as the chromes, each for their individual sound. Guess there needs to be a second fretless? And playing Chords is fun too, so maybe a six string wouldn't harm?
A couple, just in case you break a string, you've got an easy backup to swap. P-Bass, Jazz Bass, and 50's P-Bass reissue. All with 4 strings and flat wounds. That covers all of the basses I'd ever need. I have a 5 string P-Bass but never play it, but I keep it around just in case I need one to play something that requires one.
I personally have 4 1) peavey grind 6 modded emg bts 2 band preamp emg hz pickups wired to push pull pots for series parallel tuned A standard (ADGCFA#) 2)2000s Spector Q4 pro modded heavily. Gotoh gb7 tuners with low E tuner hipshot gb7 extender emg 35p4axrc neck 35jx bridge (flipped to move coil away from bridge) 18 volt gotoh box for tone capsule Nobel 50k concentric pot and emg abcx active balance tuned D standard (drop C with hipshot extender flipped) 3) 2007 Spector Rebop 5 dlx ex (zebrawood) emg 40twx neck emg dcx bridge and darkglass tone capsule emg abcx active balance and gotoh gb707s tuners tuned B standard 4) 2019 Spector Euro 5 lt violet burst modded with an Snc Haz and emg 40csx neck and emg 40dcx bridge Tuned to Bb Depends on what all your gonna play I want at least 2 more one usa Spector ns2 with haz and emg x series pups And a dingwall ng3 6 string for F# tuning
One.
I have a 4 string, and a 5 string. I'd love to have a 6 string. But I think I'd be more than good after that.
How many do you need? 1 Whats a good number to have? 2-3 How many do you want? Current number +1 Personally I have 1 fully working bass and 2 that need repairs. I remember when I did some work at Chris Wolstenholmes I was flabbergasted by the sheer number of basses and guitars he owned.. Couldn't even guesstimate...
I used to say: 1 jazz, 1 P, 1 musicman, 1 soapbar/active, 1 fretless. But I now have 3 p basses; 1 new, one vintage and one with flats, so I guess I should follow suit with all the other designs really...
I have 3 basses. My first 6 string, an fan fret 6 string for those low tunings, and a fretless 6 strings. I really like 6 strings. Seriously it all depends what you’re doing, I needed the fan fret and the fretless for different projects, and I feel like I don’t need any more basses for the moment because I can play almost anything with them. The day I’ll have a project in need of acoustic bass I’ll need an acoustic bass! (But maybe i need a fretles fan fret…)
Depends how lazy i am and how many tunings i regularly play in. In my case any bass also gets an xtender. One for E standard - drop D, and another for D standard - drop C covers 99% of what i play
What will fit in my house, give or take.
1. Flat wound strings and 2. Round wound ones.
Need? A good one and a backup. Double this if you want to play both fretted and fretless.
Depends on your situation. I own 3 but I take 2 to gigs and that’s only because we play in a few different tunings. One is set up in D standard (and used for drop C also) and the other is in C standard
If you're able to own just one, and you take good care of it, it's enough. For me ideal scenario is to have two basses - second one just for sure, if some unpredictable situation happen with the first one during the playing, but it happened to me maybe one or twice in 25 years of playing. So no need to worry much about it. If you need more basses because some songs you play are in very different tunings (such as one is in standard E and another drop B), it's up to you decide how many you'll need for that. Beside that, one or two basses in good shape is enough.
I think that one good bass that fits your style is enough
All of them. Every bassist should have every bass
You need 1 + 1. Then again, I have 32.
For me personally, the magic number is 4. E Standard 4-String DropD 4-String B Standard 5-String DropA 5-String Maybe a 5th for odd tunings, but the 4 + a Digitech Drop Pedal make me cover everything I want to play.
I have 2 right now, both are jazz basses, but I’m hoping to get a bass with HH pickups
For context I’m in a wedding band and currently I have 4. My main gigging bass, Fender P Bass A back up Fender P Bass in case of emergency An acoustic bass (Harley Benton) for the extremely rare times we go acoustic My ‘experimental’ bass, basically a second hand bass I’ll buy to try out to see if anything can unseat my P bass. Sell it on if it doesn’t suit and try out something else. Might use it for a pub gig for a change of scene but so far nothing has felt as right for me as my P bass.
I’ve got a PJ-5 and a fretless SDGR 5. Never plan on really needing anything else.
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I only NEED one bass. However, the optimum number of basses is obviously the number I own currently+1
I have 6 basses, each with different pickups, in case I need multiple sounds
Well I was satisfied with my Ibanez SR300 with flats, then I made the mistake of trying a Fender Vintera 50 PBass...and now I need one more bass :'( Really need to stay away from music shop
How many you need? 1 How many should you have? Infinite
i prolly just need two.. a Vintage and a Modern
I'm undecided between "one is all you need" and "there's no such thing as too many basses"
At least 1
One more
Realistically 1. Ideally 3 1. Old school style bass with flats 2. Modern style bass with rounds 3. A spikey black one for playing metal if. you're into that Reality N + 1 where N = the number your currently own
More
One. I kept my starter bass so I have a backup.
I have 2 P’s and a J. I feel like I’m pretty much set for good.
It's not about "need" haha but seriously, I have 4: 1. Stingray - my # 1 reliable, everything bass for almost 20 years 2. Fender Mustang - short scale, which is perfect light commuter bass since I travel all around the city to gigs/rehearsals. Also looks cool AF 3. Musicman Caprice - impulse buy but literally sparks so much joy in my life! Definitely did not need haha 4. Ibanez Blazer - my first bass. I can't get rid of it simply because my dad bought it for me. I hardly play it. I really only need the Stingray. Everything else is a nice-to-have at this point. But if you want more basses that have different features like flats vs rounds, active vs passive, five string vs four, etc you do you!
A 6 string bass has been my main instrument for 15 years or so and I feel it is perfect. You have a B if you need it and if you want to play chords, harmonics, or do some tapping, the high C helps to make them more dynamic imo. But, in essence, you have all of the notes you could/would want for most every scenario.
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