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Gospel Instruments => Bass Guitar => Topic started by: JoashStilltheman on January 27, 2007, 01:52:36 AM

Title: How many basses
Post by: JoashStilltheman on January 27, 2007, 01:52:36 AM
So how many bass guitars do ya'll have? and what type? I have a 5 string..should I buy a 4 and 6?   
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: malthumb on January 27, 2007, 07:15:58 AM
So how many bass guitars do ya'll have?

4, with a 5th on the way

and what type?

In order of use......

Alembic 5 string
Marchlewski 5 string
Fender Marcus Miller 4 string
Alembic 4 string

waiting ever so patiently for a Roscoe LG-3005 fretless 5 string

I have a 5 string..should I buy a 4 and 6?   

Depends on your rationale for wanting / needing a 4 or 6 string.  I bought the Fender Marcus Miller primarily because it was on sale at a ridiculously low price and my intent was to turn it around quickly and pocket the profit.  I'm keeping it because it plays nicer than I expected and because I've started doing a bunch of old school / Motown gigs.  Anything I can play on a 4 I can play on a 5, so I don't really need a 4 at all, but sometimes not having the extra string when I know I don't need it frees me up a bit and let's me go after the neck more aggressively without worrying about having to mute the B string.  Other than that, it's a question of which bass do I feel like playing today.

As for a 6 string, I used to own two, one fretless, one fretted.  They were both really nice and sometimes I regret ever selling them.  I bought them thinking I'd work on some Wayman Tisdale stuff and some Gerald Veasley stuff, that includes a lot of soloing in the higher registers.  I never found the time to do it justice.  So the only real benefit I got from having the 6 stringers was I could go 3 octaves across the fingerboard without moving up and down the neck a lot.  There's a lot to be said for that, but given that I was in the mode of reducing my bass count, my 6ers were far more expendable than my 5ers, otherwise I'd still have them.

Peace,

James
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: DWBass on January 27, 2007, 07:26:22 AM
I had 11 at one time! I had to thin out the herd a bit so now I'm down to 4. 2 5 strings and 2 4 strings.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: MikeGee on January 27, 2007, 07:48:22 AM
I have 3 right now..........

$ string is Ibanez srx300 my 5 string is an Ibanez sr305 and my fret less 4 is a Fender Jazz fret less.

I am working on one more and this is it.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product?full_sku=519638%2e215

I want a cheap back up that is solid. It might say Squier but it feels and sounds like a Fender.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: gambit23435 on January 27, 2007, 08:22:07 AM
4 right now. i just sold one 5 string.
Current count is 3 5 strings and one 6 string.
The two that get the most use are DP Custom 5 string and the Schecter Stiletto studio 6 string.
 8)
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: dhagler on January 27, 2007, 11:34:26 AM
I currently own a Silvertone 4-string Precision (someone was kind enough to install an EMG Pickup in it) and an SX 5-string Jazz.  On the way is a Fender MIM 4-string Fretless Jazz, which will eventually replace the Silvertone (the wife won't let me keep more than two basses at a time!  ;))
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: Andrzej on January 27, 2007, 03:32:34 PM
Fender Custom Dinky J-Bass 4-string
Warwick Thumb 4-string
Warwick Custom Dolphin SN 5-string
Warwick Custom Dolphin SN Fretless 5-string
Warwick Custom Streamer Stage I 5-string
Pendragon 5-string (still being constructed)

The Streamer will be going to a new home soon as I am blessing my church's new bass player.  Providing my Pendragon bass ticks all my boxes (when it is eventually built!) I will probably sell off my Warwicks one by one and replace them with more Pendragon basses.  We are still working through the design and electronics package at the moment, so it's not quite right yet.  We originally put Andy's (company owner and luthier) handmade soapbars in it, but the tone was quite brittle, so we are going to install a very tasty 18v EMG electronics package into it instead.  The bass looks sick!  I have to remember to take a picture of it the next time I am at the workshop to show you what the bass looks like.  If you think Warwicks are strange looking...you ain't seen nothing yet!

It's up to you if you want to buy a 4 or 6 string bass aswell as your 5-string.  I like to have a 4 and 5-string bass just to swap around when I get bored.  My style or technique doesn't dramatically change depending on how many strings I have under my fingers.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: LO_RIDER on January 27, 2007, 07:40:02 PM
I have  4:

JB Player acoustic 4 string
Lakland Skyline 44-01
Lakland Skyline 55-01
Lakland Darryl Jones Skyline 5 string bass
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: sixstringpoet on January 27, 2007, 08:52:23 PM
i have 6

ken smith 6
warwick 6 wideneck
ken bebensee custom 5
toby pro 6 (i hate it)
squier bronco bass 4 (for my son)
lado custom 6

if you are comfortable with a 6 string then go for it.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: JoashStilltheman on January 27, 2007, 11:53:01 PM
So where do ya'll get the money to buy all those guitars. I guarantee if u were playing keyboards u wouldn't afford to buy so many. Yamaha Motif Es starts at $1,700. U can't have too many of those.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: Andrzej on January 28, 2007, 01:21:53 PM
So where do ya'll get the money to buy all those guitars. I guarantee if u were playing keyboards u wouldn't afford to buy so many. Yamaha Motif Es starts at $1,700. U can't have too many of those.

I was blessed a few years back to be sponsored by Warwick and they built my basses for me and provided my backline for a very good price.  I sold whatever equipment I had at the time to finance a lot of it plus I had some cash to burn when my band got signed back then.  I am no longer sponsored by them, but I still have a good relationship with the company.  I am fortunate to pick up a new endorsement with Pendragon Custom Guitars.  They are a new company here in the UK and I am really happy and flattered to be their main endorsee.  They primarily build custom made acoustic guitars, but they are branching out into building electric guitars and basses.  There are also plans to make upright basses too.  Andy, the company owner, is an incredible luthier and his work makes your jaw drop!  He wanted me to help him with the bass design development as this is a new area for him (not that it shows!).  My first bass will be FOC as I am helping with the design development, but I may have to pay for the basses that follow, but at a good price again.  How much they will cost is still a mystery.  Put it this way, the base cost of his acoustic guitars start from £3000 ($6000)!!!  Thats before the extra cost that you add to change what you want with it!
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: jeremyr on January 28, 2007, 02:03:33 PM
So where do ya'll get the money to buy all those guitars. I guarantee if u were playing keyboards u wouldn't afford to buy so many. Yamaha Motif Es starts at $1,700. U can't have too many of those.
A new Ken Smith 6'er starts out around $5,000.

Roscoes new around around $2,500 - $3,000

MTD Americans are $2,500 +

Keyboards are CHEAPER then a quality built bass.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: BigFoot_BigThumb on January 28, 2007, 07:02:48 PM
A new Ken Smith 6'er starts out around $5,000.

Roscoes new around around $2,500 - $3,000

MTD Americans are $2,500 +

Keyboards are CHEAPER then a quality built bass.

I've seen custom basses with a sticker price of $7,000 and up.  My dream bass(a Conklin custom 5-string) is gonna run me at least $5500.  Gotta save up for that.  The keyboard(A Roland Fantom X7) I'm planning on buying is gonna be $2500.

When all is said and done I plan to have about 5 basses total.  They all will have a specific purpose.  Right now I just have my Yamaha TRB 5-string, and a Fender Jazz copy with electronics that are absolutely shot.  I may rebuild it or just frame it like it was some art or something and buy a new one.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: malthumb on January 28, 2007, 07:39:25 PM
I've seen custom basses with a sticker price of $7,000 and up.  My dream bass(a Conklin custom 5-string) is gonna run me at least $5500.  ...


I could shock you by telling you what these cost.  The list price on the 5 string was 5 digits back in 2000.  Today it would be obscene.  Rest assured I paid nowhere near list, but still more than a sane person ought.  Oddly enough, I got both of them within days of each other in June 2000.  It was a very good bonus year, is all I gotta say.

(http://shutter13.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/02/002/6F/F6/6F/C3/EH4OUrZI+3RF5ezuPCQED93KYxwz56y-0300.jpg)

Peace,

James
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: JoashStilltheman on January 28, 2007, 07:52:14 PM
I could shock you by telling you what these cost.  The list price on the 5 string was 5 digits back in 2000.  Today it would be obscene.  Rest assured I paid nowhere near list, but still more than a sane person ought.  Oddly enough, I got both of them within days of each other in June 2000.  It was a very good bonus year, is all I gotta say.

([url]http://shutter13.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/02/002/6F/F6/6F/C3/EH4OUrZI+3RF5ezuPCQED93KYxwz56y-0300.jpg[/url])

Peace,

James


Those u wanna keep in a glass cabinet with air conditioning
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: JoashStilltheman on January 28, 2007, 07:52:44 PM
A new Ken Smith 6'er starts out around $5,000.

Roscoes new around around $2,500 - $3,000

MTD Americans are $2,500 +

Keyboards are CHEAPER then a quality built bass.

I see...true dat!!
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: JoashStilltheman on January 28, 2007, 07:54:40 PM
I was blessed a few years back to be sponsored by Warwick and they built my basses for me and provided my backline for a very good price.  I sold whatever equipment I had at the time to finance a lot of it plus I had some cash to burn when my band got signed back then.  I am no longer sponsored by them, but I still have a good relationship with the company.  I am fortunate to pick up a new endorsement with Pendragon Custom Guitars.  They are a new company here in the UK and I am really happy and flattered to be their main endorsee.  They primarily build custom made acoustic guitars, but they are branching out into building electric guitars and basses.  There are also plans to make upright basses too.  Andy, the company owner, is an incredible luthier and his work makes your jaw drop!  He wanted me to help him with the bass design development as this is a new area for him (not that it shows!).  My first bass will be FOC as I am helping with the design development, but I may have to pay for the basses that follow, but at a good price again.  How much they will cost is still a mystery.  Put it this way, the base cost of his acoustic guitars start from £3000 ($6000)!!!  Thats before the extra cost that you add to change what you want with it!


But why spend so much on a custom bass when half the people won't tell what kind of bass u got. Unless u wanna shape it into some symbol like Prince or Victor Wooten
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: malthumb on January 28, 2007, 08:14:01 PM

But why spend so much on a custom bass when half the people won't tell what kind of bass u got. Unless u wanna shape it into some symbol like Prince or Victor Wooten

It's not about impressing other people.  I've owned a number of basses over the years, and other than other bass players, most people couldn't tell one from another.  And they certainly couldn't care less.  The 5 string in the picture is the first custom I ever ordered.  I specced it to have all the features and characteristics I liked best about previous instruments I had owned.  Same thing with the 2nd custom I ordered.  My 3rd custom is still being built.  It's not as "specialized" as the other two.  It's more of a choice of materials and options as opposed to the level of detail that went into the other two.

One thing each of my customs have in common.....I ordered them with the intent of keeping them for as long as I can play them.  Then I'll pass them on to my kids.

Peace,

James
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: BigFoot_BigThumb on January 28, 2007, 10:54:26 PM
I could shock you by telling you what these cost.  The list price on the 5 string was 5 digits back in 2000.  Today it would be obscene.  Rest assured I paid nowhere near list, but still more than a sane person ought.  Oddly enough, I got both of them within days of each other in June 2000.  It was a very good bonus year, is all I gotta say.

([url]http://shutter13.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/02/002/6F/F6/6F/C3/EH4OUrZI+3RF5ezuPCQED93KYxwz56y-0300.jpg[/url])

Peace,

James


I know about those Alembics man.  I knew 2 cats that played them.  That's a serious bass.  You hardly see them these days.  I'm thinking about getting the Epic 5-string.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: gambit23435 on January 29, 2007, 10:08:53 AM

But why spend so much on a custom bass when half the people won't tell what kind of bass u got. Unless u wanna shape it into some symbol like Prince or Victor Wooten

For me, it was to build a bass that was comfortable in my hands and sounded good. I did not do it to impress anyone. I did it because most standard production basses just don't feel at home. Don't get me wrong they sounded excellent I tried the fenders, Musicmans, trabens, cort, warwicks, and spectors. But with long fingers like mine a skinny neck just did not feel comfortable at all. So I had one built. The price was very reasonable for a custom bass.  :)
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: DWBass on January 29, 2007, 10:45:51 AM
(http://www.ritter-royals.com/bilder/instrumente/0637-flora-aurum/0637-flora-aurum.jpg)

Quote
"The Flora Aurum"

Floral Pattern Fingerboard Inlay made of massive 24Carat Gold
Every single Inlay-Leaf is decorated with a Black Diamond (set in Platinum)
The Bridge, the Tuner Buttons and the Knobs are handcast in massive Gold
2 flawles Brillant-Cut Diamonds (3,3ct) are placed on top of the 2 Knobs
Tiny green Brillant-Cut Diamonds serve as Knob Position Marks
The handshaped Body is made of a one piece Highest Figured Quilted Maple
The Nut is made of at least 10000 years old Mammoth Ivory


Wanna know what this one's going for?? Better take a second mortgage on your home to pay for this one! $100,000!!



Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: Torch7 on January 29, 2007, 01:52:23 PM
([url]http://www.ritter-royals.com/bilder/instrumente/0637-flora-aurum/0637-flora-aurum.jpg[/url])

Wanna know what this one's going for?? Better take a second mortgage on your home to pay for this one! $100,000!!




([url]http://www.ritter-royals.com/bilder/instrumente/0637-flora-aurum/0637-flora-aurum.jpg[/url])

Wanna know what this one's going for?? Better take a second mortgage on your home to pay for this one! $100,000!!



Wha???  :o ?/? :-\ :D
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: bgranger on January 29, 2007, 01:58:17 PM
I've gone thru about 20 but now have 2. Pedulla J2000 Rapture 5 string and Lakland 5501 Deluxe. Will have a Pedulla Thunderbolt 5 later this year. I don't buy basses for what others think. Buy what you feel helps you create and release what is inside you. You have to try lots of different basses and see what feels right. Just because it may be made by someone who some may consider the best in the business does not mean it is right for you. A $5000.00+ custom may inspire you. Then again, a generic P bass copy may be what inspires you.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: MikeGee on January 29, 2007, 02:55:21 PM
I could shock you by telling you what these cost.  The list price on the 5 string was 5 digits back in 2000.  Today it would be obscene.  Rest assured I paid nowhere near list, but still more than a sane person ought.  Oddly enough, I got both of them within days of each other in June 2000.  It was a very good bonus year, is all I gotta say.

([url]http://shutter13.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/02/002/6F/F6/6F/C3/EH4OUrZI+3RF5ezuPCQED93KYxwz56y-0300.jpg[/url])

Peace,


James




I was online one day and custom made an Alembic the final cost with out taxes, insurence amd shipping was $18,000 and some change. As of right now I couldn't even buy a bass that's a tenth of that price, one day I will.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: ddwilkins on January 29, 2007, 04:45:11 PM

But why spend so much on a custom bass when half the people won't tell what kind of bass u got. Unless u wanna shape it into some symbol like Prince or Victor Wooten

It's in our blood as musicians, especially us acoustic playing musicians, to want something custom made to our specs.  An assembly line produced bass, doesn't compare to a custom made bass...although I have seen some that came close.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: JoashStilltheman on January 29, 2007, 06:23:42 PM
Well it's good I asked coz now I've learnt something. I had thought bass was bass!
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: BigFoot_BigThumb on January 29, 2007, 07:37:21 PM
([url]http://www.ritter-royals.com/bilder/instrumente/0637-flora-aurum/0637-flora-aurum.jpg[/url])

Wanna know what this one's going for?? Better take a second mortgage on your home to pay for this one! $100,000!!






I like Ritter basses very much, but he can keep that one.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: JoashStilltheman on January 29, 2007, 07:53:15 PM
I like Ritter basses very much, but he can keep that one.

Yeah the top if curved awkwardly. Don't look too pretty for a 100K
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: jeremyr on January 29, 2007, 09:15:37 PM
Yeah the top if curved awkwardly. Don't look too pretty for a 100K

All of his bass' have that same kind of shape to them. 

They're artistic, but honestly who needs a bass with 3.3 carats in the tuning knobs? 
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: MikeGee on January 30, 2007, 07:37:01 AM
Well it's good I asked coz now I've learnt something. I had thought bass was bass!


I usta think a keoboard was a keyboard.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: noinwe on February 02, 2007, 07:39:38 PM
hello i'm new to the web sight. just wanted to say hello, to all my favorite bass palyers. to answer the question. i have three basses. lakland 5 skyline, yamaha trb 5, tbc(the bass company) 5. the
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: noinwe on February 02, 2007, 07:45:34 PM
hello fellow bass players. i am new to the this  sight.  to answer your question. i have 3 basses. i have a lakland 5 skyline, yamaha trb 5, tbc(the bass company) 5. the lakland is a great bass, with
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: JoashStilltheman on February 04, 2007, 09:43:22 PM

I usta think a keoboard was a keyboard.

A keyboard definitely aint a keyboard. The very tone of it is so fake for cheap boards.
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: malthumb on February 04, 2007, 10:54:16 PM
.....The very tone of it is so fake for cheap boards.

Ditto for basses
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: H2_Ro56 on February 05, 2007, 06:50:28 AM
Presently, I have 3:

Cort Curbow 5 "Ruby"
Setup and handsigned by Greg before he passed away.  I don't play it much for fear of ruining the signature.
Washburn XB600 (my first six) "Ms. B"
Just needed something to practice with.
Ibanez SR405 "Shug"
This is my workhorse bass although it's works well in cerrtain Gospel applications, I find it more efficient in Top 40 and some studio sessions

I'm working on two more "Weapons of Peace"
Title: Re: How many basses
Post by: Andrzej on February 05, 2007, 01:12:18 PM
([url]http://www.ritter-royals.com/bilder/instrumente/0637-flora-aurum/0637-flora-aurum.jpg[/url])

Wanna know what this one's going for?? Better take a second mortgage on your home to pay for this one! $100,000!!






That reminds me of a time that I played a bass at a show in the UK 3yrs back.  I walked into a stand, I picked up a really beuatiful bass that I have never seen before and started to play it.  I can't remember the manufacturer's name...Spike or Razor...something like that.  They are not actually a bass manufacturer or make any instruments at all.  If memory serves me right, I think they were a electroncis research type company exploring new developments with musical instruments.  I was really getting stuck into this bass when a sales guy approached me.  "Like it?" he said to me.  I said "Heck yeah!  I never played anything like it!  What's the retail one one of these?".  This is when I put it back on its stand and checked for scratches..."£60,000!!".   Thats almost $120,000!!!!  You can buy a brand new Porsche and still have change for that kind of money!  Suffice to say that I got out of there very quickly with a very sheepish grin on my face and made my way over to the Fender stand!  Ever since then I have been a lot more cautious before picking up an instrument at a show to test drive.  Look at the price tag first!