Am I the only one?

[wraithwrider]

I've been playing bass for about 20 years now (I was 40 when I started ) and I love the rewards from just playing the baseline.

Thanks to a fair amount of OCD in my nature I've owned a huge number of basses in that time, an embarrassingly large number including many fine EBMM basses, 4's, 5's, Sterlings, Singray's (5's) and Bongo's. I now have my first Stingray 4 and I love it. I've owned as many as 23 basses at any one time although I have a sane 8 at the moment and I feel settled.

My point is, give me a bass and I'll adjust and play it. Sterling neck, Stingray, Jazz or Precision, 4 or 5 string, asymmetric neck, flat neck or fat neck/board....

Am I rare in this? I see so many folk saying they can't get on with this neck profile or that body shape.

Peter

 

[sanderhermans]

Nope you are not alone my friend altough i love the feel of a sterling neck. I can get verry happy playing sr4, sl4, p and j basses.... also alot of people have a preference for body contours or not. But i really dont notice that much of a difference. If it sounds good its all ok for me. But of course i have my favorites.

 

[nurnay]

I'm more comfortable on a Sterling neck, but I can play pretty much anything. Well, except when I tried to play a Dingwall. Those fanned frets were too much for me.

 

[BigDBass]

I like the concept of fanned frets. I only got to try out a Dingwall once. It sure didn't seem like it was "for me" right off the bat, but perhaps with time you might adapt and potentially even get "hooked" on it. Players that like them seem to leap to the extreme and really love them!

 

[Golem]

I've been playing bass for about 20 years now (I was 40 when
I started ) and I love the rewards from just playing the baseline.

Thanks to a fair amount of OCD in my nature I've owned a huge number
of basses in that time, an embarrassingly large number including many
fine EBMM basses, 4's, 5's, Sterlings, Singray's (5's) and Bongo's. I now
have my first Stingray 4 and I love it. I've owned as many as 23 basses
at any one time although I have a sane 8 at the moment and I feel settled.

My point is, give me a bass and I'll adjust and play it. Sterling neck,
Stingray, Jazz or Precision, 4 or 5 string, asymmetric neck, flat neck or fat
neck/board....

Am I rare in this? I see so many folk saying they can't get on with this neck
profile or that body shape.

Peter

Not alone !! I coulda written that post, except for minor details, such as
you starting at a younger age than me ... and size of your flock ? I passed
that, a few times over, waaaaay back.

Maybe as late starters we both/neither achieved the level of finesse that
would bring us to gripe about neck profiles [etc]. I just laff at that stuff !
I mean, I'm not numb, I can feel the difference if it's significant, but does
it matter ? Nope.

 

[wraithwrider]

Not alone !! I coulda written that post, except for minor details, such as
you starting at a younger age than me ... and size of your flock ? I passed
that, a few times over, waaaaay back.

Maybe as late starters we both/neither achieved the level of finesse that
would bring us to gripe about neck profiles [etc]. I just laff at that stuff !
I mean, I'm not numb, I can feel the difference if it's significant, but does
it matter ? Nope.

Made me smile.

 

[BigDBass]

For me it's much more about the finish of the neck than the shape/width/profile.

I love the oil finish of my EBMM's and US Laklands. I like the smoothness and the feel of real wood. The high gloss finishes of some other popular brands just feel too sticky or tacky or something.

One thing I do find, and enjoy, is that different widths inspire me to play differently on a subconscious level. A narrow skinny neck makes me play more notes, shorter/faster notes, seemingly whether I want to or not. A wider, fatter neck makes me play less notes, smoother and longer. So I enjoy watching/listening to how I play the same songs differently depending on what bass I play and how it speaks to me.

 

[eligilam]

Agree with OP. I've been playing for 25 years now, and when I decide I want a bass, spec's be damned, I'm going to own it and play the heck out of it. My SR Classic has that tiny radius ("baseball bat neck") that's extremely different than my other non-EB axes (skinny Jazz neck, weird Steiny neck, P-bass Wal necks, glossy and wide Ric neck, etc). The point is, when I was GASsing for a Classic SR, I got one, then adjusted to it's spec's instead of the other way around. Life's too short, IMO.

 

[nervous]

I'm with the OP as well. Similar variety of ownership but I have never allowed myself to own more than I need. Until now... That said I have enjoyed most of everything I have owned and love the variety. On other forums I read a lot of bluster and wonkish regurgitation but I can't ever imagine being that sensitive to much of the level of subtlety I hear discussed. I sometimes think players play and talkers talk. But I'm a self taught hack so what do I know. I just like making the noise.

 

[Golem]

Not only do I not give a ratzass about neck specs,
but I enjoy the variety in my flock/herd/harem or
whatever it is. Neck profile/specs is nothing that I
ignore. I relish it for its differences, which when
they're significant enuf, actually affect my playing.

I've got pencil necks and huge fat tight radius URB
type necks and everything in between. And acoarst
it affects my fretting and my right hand, and note
choices, cadence and prolly lotsa stuff. But thaz the
reason for having all the variety. Guess that means
it's more of a harem than a flock or herd ? I'm just
all too happy doing them all

 

[wraithwrider]

A whole lot of what has been said reflects exactly how I feel. Glad I'm not alone

 

[Golem]

`

You're never alone here.

Just stand up front and confess:

"Hello. My name is Wraithwrider,
and I'm a bassaholic. I have been
remanded here for treatment cuz
I violently ripped all the tweeters
outa my home theatre rig".