I have the best so why look for more?

[Grand Wazoo]

In my views I have the best bass in the world. Yeah it's a 2000 SingRay5, translucent red with maple neck & fingerboard. It's my second one, the first one was an exact similar one only it was a 1990 model, different p/up, circuit board and body wood, I sold it in a moment of madness (finances and other issues) 10 years later I decided to get another similar one, I was not a fan of the ceramic p/up sound so I've changed the ceramic for an alnico one. Ahhh bliss! "my sound" was here again, I've never looked back since!

Yeah it's a single H but, believe me guys, when it boils down to it, this bass does anything I want it to do.

I see some of you guys have a different MM for each night of the week, and by God I take my hat to you guys for being wealthy enough to be able afford them all, BUT... is it just a collection frenzy or do you REALLY use all of them all of the time and don't you find switcihng back and forth between basses, never convinced or satisfied as to what sounds best or suits you the most? Hmmmm I've only got this one (and the two vintage PR$ are in safe storage) but I am glad that when it comes down to play with my band there is only one bass I take along and a million less chances to be unhappy with the sound or thinking sh*t I should have brought the other one!

Monogamy is the rule of the game and the key to happiness, in my book!

 

[Duarte]

It's great when you love one bass and it is all you need. I had that with my Ray, until I had a momentary lapse and bought that beautiful fretless. I like having different basses (but I've only got 3 at the moment) just so I can change if I feel like it, they all get equal playing time.

I suspect that may change when the bongo arrives...

 

[Eek]

This forum is mostly for rich people / collector's.. mostly.

I 100% agree with CaptMoto though

still waiting on my expensive first and hopefully last (unless i live very long and it break and i get rich and i see a sweeter bass) musicman sterling bass

I can understand a 2nd bass for "backup" though (im not selling my cheap bass just for that)

Though I'm not a collector and I don't really understand people who do (unless being rich + bored, but there's better ways to spent your money on imo)
but that's just my 2cents.

 

[Psycho Ward]

I have twenty basses, but I have even more shirts so you can understand my needs.


I don't think this forum is just for rich people, it's for anyone who loves EBMM products, you don't even have to own one.

I love bass guitars, can't play them all that well but I love them. My collection started by simply trying to find a better bass. Then I discovered EBMM basses and found that better bass. Then I bought more of them because I loved the first one. All of the them are a little different, some have flats on them, one has tape wound strings but every one of them is ready to gig all night.

During this holiday season I tend to play the red and green ones more. For country gigs I play the sunburst ones more. For blues gigs I go with the black ones and for church I go with the whitest one. See I need 10 Balls.

 

[Big Poppa]

This forum is for rich people mostly?

Hummmmm

I learned that you dont get far counting someone elses money or choices. Maybe that time spent could be working generating income and getting your bass.

This is for diehards, kooks, mmaddicts...Or as I like to call you guys affectionately Knuckleheads.
I can tell you that the demographic is older due to the price point and the endorsee base we have. I can also tell you that I dont assume that any of you are rich. I actually feel that most here make a big sacrifice to own the pieces they own.

Capt The point you make has been discussed. A lot. Usually by a strong newbie that dives in in a big way. Ask Adouglas about it. He was really vocal about it. Guess what+ he found out that he enjoyed having choice and was willing to make choices in his life to have those basses. Talk to me in a year...just amybe you may find the desire for another.

You know whats funny...the sterling 5 is outselling the stingray five....The other interesting thing is that the new humbucking is ceramic. I would have never guessed it.

 

[MingusBASS]

This forum is mostly for rich people / collector's.. mostly.

I would have to disagree. This forum is made up of enthusiasts and fanatics who enjoy talking about EBMM basses...mostly. I doubt that many of us are rich, and I'm not aware of many collectors that take part in the forum.

On second thought, adouglas has a killer Beanie Baby collection. Now, that's what I call rich.

 

[Sweat]

This forum is mostly for rich people / collector's.. mostly.

I 100% agree with CaptMoto though

still waiting on my expensive first and hopefully last (unless i live very long and it break and i get rich and i see a sweeter bass) musicman sterling bass

I can understand a 2nd bass for "backup" though (im not selling my cheap bass just for that)

Though I'm not a collector and I don't really understand people who do (unless being rich + bored, but there's better ways to spent your money on imo)
but that's just my 2cents.

Wow so I own several MM guitars, and that makes me rich, thanks for telling me this I feel so much better now!

And no there is not better ways to spend disposible income.

Capt the question really should be why not own more than one!
All of mine are different and each has its own unique tone and feel, plus it is my hobby, everyone needs more than one.

 

[midopa]

toys are good for the soul

 

[fidooda]

because the best keeps on getting better?

my 20th Sr5 is a tone MONSTER for recording!

 

[fidooda]

forgot to add....because in this financial turmoil, purchasing these instruments, that are quite essential for my sanity, it's quite nice to know that in 20-25 years they will probably be worth the same amount new (or dare i say more?). That's not even taking into consideration all the good time i have playing with these instruments.

 

[adouglas]

On second thought, adouglas has a killer Beanie Baby collection. Now, that's what I call rich.

They're my wife's! Really!


I agree about the whole "rich" bit. I'm not rich...you should see the neighborhood where I live...but I choose to spend my money on good gear instead of stuff like cars and travel and going out on the town.

I'm also old enough (turning 50 in about six weeks) to have more disposable income than the younger guys, and I think it's safe to say that the regulars around here with many basses are overwhelmingly older as BP says. When I was in my 20s with the typical utter shortage of money I was playing $175 basses and I would never have dreamed of getting a name-brand instrument.

The first time I spent over $1000 on a bass was only three years ago... my DG Bongo. There are guys around here in their 20s who are fortunate enough to play Music Man instruments. They're miles ahead of where I was at that their age...even the guys with SUBs.

At heart I'm really a one-bass guy... one fretted, one fretless. Yes, I do own two fretted Bongos so I'm contradicting myself, but having that second bass gives me convenience that makes it worth the investment to me. I don't have to think about carrying gear around with me and leaving it in my car on practice days (yeah, I know, rationalization at its best).

Do I GAS for more basses just to have more variation? Sometimes a bit, but not really enough to act on it at the moment. I appreciate the sentiment, though.

What I've never understood is the idea of collecting for its own sake or for investment purposes. I'd be a terrible collector...I'd be using everything all the time and wearing it out.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am fortunate enough to own several basses and am hardly rich. It's all about choices. Everyone decides where they are going to spend their money and what hobbies they will take up.

While I like the idea of having one bass to cover everything, I also like being able to pick a different one every now and then that feels, looks and sounds different. It will inspire me to play in different ways. Do I need it? No, I could get by on one bass.

Each instrument is a work of art in itself. I love to took at them as much as I play them. I've always said: if I were to lose both of my arms, I'd still keep my basses!

 

[Duarte]

I'm a penniless student.

I like music man basses because I love the sounds they make and the characteristics they share, but they are each their own bass and are useful for different applications. I also love to walk into my room and see them hanging there and go 'he he, ohhhh right'.

 

[bovinehost]

In my views I have the best bass in the world.

And there you go. Nothing wrong with being happy with what you have. I guess I have, then, 'a few' of the best basses in the world.

I see some of you guys have a different MM for each night of the week, and by God I take my hat to you guys for being wealthy enough to be able afford them all, BUT... is it just a collection frenzy or do you REALLY use all of them all of the time.....

None of the above. Bass guitar is what turns me on. I don't care about cars (other than reliability) or jewelry or - well, name a hobby. I care about basses. The only other thing I've ever really collected? Rhino statues. (Don't ask me.)

So like a lot of guys my age, I've bought or traded for or acquired a few basses that now have a lot of meaning to me and whether or not I play them every day or even every week doesn't matter.

Nor am I wealthy (hah). I'm in my fifties and have been playing bass since I was a kid. I don't think it's particularly unusual to have 9 or 10 basses at this point.

... and don't you find switcihng back and forth between basses, never convinced or satisfied as to what sounds best or suits you the most?

Variety is the spice of life! And there was an experiment done with a rooster; leave him in a pen with one hen, and he'll mate with her once and then spend the rest of the day pecking at bugs and whatnot. But put him in with four or five or six hens, and guess what? Monogamy might be the most stable option, sure, but I'm a guy and we know what guys THINK even when they're terribly and hopeless faithful. (I'm talking about basses, right? Probably.)

This forum is mostly for rich people / collector's.. mostly.

You've apparently never been to a Forum party.

Jack

 

[Russel]

I don't think this forum is just for rich people, it's for anyone who loves EBMM products, you don't even have to own one.

That's me.

Though hopefully she'll be mine on the 27th.

It's a love thing. I always thought it went without saying that musicians and money were not friends.

In my experience, musicians either have no money or way too much of it. That is, the folks that make music a career.

 

[bradfordws]

I'm going to have to go ahead and agree with most of you guys here - we're not rich, we just love basses - especially EB/MM's. A rich guy / collector has old Fenders worth $20,000 or more. I hate to mention the F word, but those are the ones that are worth a ton of dough - the ones made in the 50's and 60's. Personally, I don't want to own something worth that much money. You could never take it out on a gig because you'd be too worried about it getting ripped off. I know a guy with a Ritter. I think it's worth $10,000. Huh? My quick story - I'm 44 and I'm not rich; been playing bass since 1978; one of my first "real" basses was a MM Stingray - it was stolen - bought another one - sold it and strayed for a while because I wanted to get into a 5 string and MM didn't make one yet; bought and sold another Stingray 4 around 1996; wasn't crazy about the Stingray 5, so never bought one - didn't like the larger body and large pickguard; I thought the Sterling was a cool bass and put it on my wish list shortly after it came out - finally bought one a couple years ago; I used to wish that they'd put out a Sterling 5; I got my wish this year and now own 3 Sterling 5's - I have added a Sterling 5 fretless to my GAS list.

Back to the topic, it's nice to have different basses to choose from. I have one of each pup configuration on the Sterling 5 - and in three different colors. My SUB5 is a refinish in sparkle silver, so I use that in my disco band sometimes - BUT I'm playing my new silver Sterling 5 HH lately - can't help it - it looks great and sounds better than the SUB. I have a few other non-EB/MM's but that's part of being a total bass enthusiast. I'll never have a collection like John Entwistle, but then I'm not a full-time player and couldn't afford a collection like that anyway. I think you guys would agree that if you were a full-time player and made good money, you'd have a pretty large "bass wall" - you know, with the peg board and a bunch of hangers - like at Guitar Center!

I'm happy to hear from BP that the Sterling 5 is outselling the Stingray 5! I'm sure there are still plenty of SR5's being sold, but I'm really glad to hear that the Sterling 5 is doing so well, because that means it will be around for a while - I may need to go ahead and pick up a few more!

 

[jlepre]

At one point I owned 10 balls.

I have since trimmed my collection to 5, but it wasn't due to not liking the 5 I let go. I did my weeding process for a couple reasons.

The main one was that we just bought our first house, and there were things that needed to be done. These things cost money.

The second, and main reason was that I had some basses that were very close in tone and configuration. Take a look at my signature and see that I have just about every flavor, but I tend to lean toward the HH versions.

 

[the unrepentant]

This forum is mostly for rich people / collector's.. mostly.

Eh? I'm a 17 year old student... how much money do you think i have?

Just thought i'd add, yes, for a 17 year old, i am pretty lucky in the basses that i own, and i suppose i'm one of the better off 17 year old bassists, but by no means rich. I feel pretty lucky to have the basses that i have, and probably the reason that i'm lucky enough to have them is, as BP said, sacrifice. Aside from guitars and guitar upkeep (strings etc and the occasional FX pedal), all i really buy is food and a CD once a week. I don't own a car, and i couldn't if i wanted to, i don't spend a lot of money on drink etc like a lot of kids my age do. I spend money on basses/guitars because that's what i love.

And to answer the original question, why not own a few basses? Each of mine has a purpose and i'm pretty much sorted for basses aside from maybe getting a fretless and a six string. Each has it's own sound/use to me (ok my MM basses sound fairly similar but my parents are divorced and i have one at each house) and i don't think i could really part with any of them...

 

[strummer]

I am glad that when it comes down to play with my band there is only one bass I take along and a million less chances to be unhappy with the sound or thinking sh*t I should have brought the other one!

I certainly don't have any "vintage" basses like yours, so no risk of me being unhappy about the sound whichever bass I decide goes best with the gig;-) And the few real vintage basses I do own would make me happy if they just had one more string

I'm really not sure why you feel the need to share your thoughts with us on this? If you just said "Yay, I'm so happy my SR5 does everything I want from a bass, I don't gas for any other bass" then fine, but for some odd reason you are attacking all of us owning more than one decent bass?

Well, I currently own 3, and I will in the close future own at least two more, simply because I love basses. I don't collect other stuff, I don't give a s*it about cars or clothes, I like basses, amps and nice pa stuff.

And for the record: I am in no way rich, I just choose to spend the little extra money available on basses.

 

[Smakbass]

In the end it doesnt matter play what you got.....whether you have one MM or 22, as long as what you have is working for you. As a musician the main goal should always be to create interesting music and too entertain. An instrument that plays great and is manufactured well is of course essential to this, but at the end of the day you can only play one at a time.

I myself only have one MM..of course I may own a few other brands.