Questions for those of you with LOTS of MM Basses

[Baird]

Folks,

My questions for those of you with 5, 6, 7 and in some cases 10+ MM basses are:

- Do you play all of them, most of them, gravitate towards a couple of favorites?

- Buy them more as collector pieces or investments (E.g. DD, 20th, 30th and other special editions)?

- Need that many basses as you like to change basses on stage like Elton John changes clothes?

I personally currently only have a MM 4 and a MM 5 string but will be picking up a MM4 or 5 string fretless ASAP. I would MAYBE buy another fretted 4 string in case of a string break when playing live but beyond that, I don't see myself NEEDING more basses to play (want, of course, is a much different story ).

Just curious as to some of your answers.

Thanks!

 

[koogie2k]

I have 3 basses and a couple of EBMM guitars. So, even though I don't fit in the 5 or more category, I will answer anyway if you don't mind.

I play in a band. I use the 3 basses and they are all tuned differently. I like to keep the momentum in a show going, so I switch basses as needed fairly quick because I run on a wireless and use the same straplocks on my basses. I want more basses for the same reason, different tunings and configurations.

 

[RitchieDarling]

Hmmmmmmmmm.........................

Let's see.......

I use my 30th 'Ray in the studio.

I am selling my fretless Sterling..... To buy another.....

I wait on my Sterling Dargie Delights and Sterling Blue Dawn.......

I worship my buttercream Sterling.......

That's what I do with mine. I'm not in a band, so.......

Ritchie

 

[AnthonyD]

I've got two EBMM and three basses total - I've got at least one (and possible two) more EBMM on my list...

For me, each one serves a specific purpose - they all get played based upon the circumstance.

 

[slucas]

I have 6 as you can see in my sig. I play them all but mostly 4 stringers. My top pick is the 30th Anniversary ray followed by the 4HH Bongo.

 

[Slim]

I like to buy quality musical instruments rather than cars or jeweries so I own many basses and guitars and I drive a 1992 Nissan Pathfinder with 190000 miles on.
When I purchase a bass or a guitar it makes me happy
If you buy a quality bass or guitar at bargain price it will always return more than what you paid for
I made pretty good profit from buying and selling guitars so I am always buying them when I find a good deal
But I will never sell my favorite bass or guitar

 

[Aussie Mark]

Because I can. And Musicman Nut Dave can x 1000.

Seriously, I'm at the point where the EBMMs I have are all different to a certain extent. I've got a fretted Stingray, a fretless Stingray, a HH Bongo, with a HS Bongo on the way. I figure that should enable me to cover most situations.

In the past I've had multiples of particular basses, but I'm travelling lighter these days, so no longer follow the Noah's Ark principle.

 

[bassmancb]

I've got three giging basses that I use regularly in clubs, my others I use on special occasions and recording. It's nice to have a choice.

 

[Psycho Ward]

I buy as many lefty basses as I can to help all the lefty bassist of the world! I'm trying to increase the lefty market share so the builders (EBMM really ) will build them... of course there is the chance I would own most of the market...


I like having several basses, its fun. I wound up with my collection in my search for the ultimate bass. I went thru basses like shake and bake bags for a while, then I got my first EBMM. The first one was good so I tried another and then another, they are all keepers. I look forward to my Dargie, it's already a keeper too!

 

[mrpackerguy]

I gig fairly regularly. The '79 Sabre gets played every 4th or 5th gig. The '97 Ray gets played every gig as my mainstay. My DD DR5 HS will definitely get stage time.

I always bring at least two basses to every gig. The '97 Ray is there every time.

 

[bovinehost]

- Do you play all of them, most of them, gravitate towards a couple of favorites?

I gravitate towards favorites, sure, but those change from month to month and they all get played eventually.

- Buy them more as collector pieces or investments (E.g. DD, 20th, 30th and other special editions)?

Nah. I like basses. I think basses are cool. I have one or two that might be considered rare or collectable or even valuable, but those have such meaning to me personally that I could never consider selling them in any case, so it really doesn't matter what they're worth. So guess what? I play them without reserve and without fear.

Mostly it's just that I like basses. And of course I mostly like Music Man basses.

Just FYI, even before I was a mod here and pals with Sterling, my collection was still amazingly Music Man heavy.

This is from about....four years ago, maybe a bit more than that.

A pre-EB SR4 in black, a black sparkle Sterling, Heinz The Wonder Bass, a black sparkle SR4 and a trans orange SR4.

Can you tell this was pre-Bongo?

Jack

 

[Kirby]

I agree with Jack. I go through stages. I am on a Sterling kick right now and a 5 string kick, but I know soon I will head back to my two bands and the 30th.

Each one sounds different, maybe not different enough to justify having all of them, but they put a smile on my face and the audience's too so I don't mind buying them. Each one has special show memories etc. behind it.

 

[Road Pop]

I take 3 basses with me on every gig. The only case I've opened since October is the Sterling case. Why... play one. I own several basses. EBMM is on top of their game. The new pups (HH) is wicked. I want to try the H/S soon. With all the colors and pups... NO one can go wrong! I like J type of basses and the EBMM basses says I don't anymore. I'm gonna find me a used single pup Sterling one of these days.



Sorry to hi-jack this thread!

 

[Bill]

I have 3 basses, 2 of them being EBMMs. Those are an SR4 & an SR5. My other bass is a Preci$ion. I feel like I have all the basses I'll ever need with these 3.

(The Stingrays are my favorites!)

 

[Musicman Nut]

Too Many Music Man Basses

Well I take 3 basses also to most gigs, I'm lucky enough to own 159 of these basses, As far as collecting them? not sure why you'd collect New Basses other then to play.

Ernie Ball/ Music Man makes the best Basses on earth for my style and Liking, I just happen to have extra Hair cut money so i buy everyone I like.

Every bass gets played one time or another, with about 140 gigs a year they get used.

I don't buy them to impress no one but me. Hope this answers your questions.
Thanks DJ

 

[bovinehost]

Dave, I wondered how you would answer this question.

Makes sense, though.

Jack

 

[PocketGroove82]

I got a couple EBMMs and I love'em all and play'em all.
I know they aren't 6,000 dollar basses, but I still get all anal every time I take one out to a gig...even though I've seen the punishment these instruments can take, I can't help but be careful 'cause I want them to look good for a long long time.
Each one I buy is slightly different from the others, so I'm expanding my tonal palate with each EBMM.
Some sit better in the mix than others (don't know why!), but each has it's own thing to say. Also, some gigs I just feel more honeyburst and others, I just feel more crimson.

 

[phatduckk]

ive got 6 of em and only 1 dup... I have 2 single H Sterlings

I definately like my blue dawn single h and my HS the best but i still cycle thru all of em as far as playing time goes. usually ill grab the one with the newest strings, wear those out, then grab the next one with newer strings etc till they all die... then i restring em and repeat the cycle.

 

[delberthot]

I have 4 right now.

My main one is my lava pearl SR5 which goes to every gig as I am mainly a 5 string player.

I have an '88 stingray lined fretless that I am restoring right now as one of its owners wasn't very kind to it.

I also wanted to have 2 'special' basses, something a bit different, so that is why I have bought a 30th anniversary SR4 and have a 20th SR4 on its way. They will still get used as that is what they were made for but the 5 will see the most gigs

 

[Moondog]

I have 6 w/another on the way . . ALL StingRays.
Different strings/tunings is a good reason for me
to own more than one w/the same config.
+ a 2-band, fretless/piezo, HH, & HS - All of them
get played - I tend to cycle them thru a rotation.
- wife prefers I hang no more than 3-4 on the wall
so I'll keep a couple in their cases for weeks/months.