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although the OP in the thread to which you refer was less than erudite at times: he was making the same/similar point! (and then some!)
so this thread exists to pimp that thread?I was just kidding because of THAT thread yesterday.
Or, it isn’t the meat, it’s the motion. I saw a guitarist’s collection yesterday day, 15 guitars, including 2 custom built ones built for boo coo bucks. I wouldn’t have paid $250 for either one, but that’s beside the point. I asked him how much time does he spend playing them. His response was not often. How long does it take you to touch each one through the course of a year, and he said he has never even touch all of them in the course of and he’s had most of them for almost 20 years.
I’ve posted this many times, I don’t get pleasure out of seeing something hanging on a wall, or in a case in closet. To me the joy in an instrument is what you can get out of it, and when it’s on a wall or in a case, IMO it serves zero purpose. It too much money to spend on unrealized potential.
And you're entitled to that opinion and the reason or rationale of why you own what you own, just like the guitarist you referenced is also entitled to the same thing.
As I've mentioned a few times before, I'll never rip on the guy who owns a bunch of guitars or basses, and also wont knock the guy who thinks one is enough. But if you think you NEED a bunch of different instruments and spend more time acquiring and can't even play them and think that having a mass amount of gear makes you a better player, then yeah, Ill pretty much make fun of you to your face.
First of all, thank you for allowing me the privilege of having my own opinion. LOL!! That doesn’t happen much in this neck of the woods...
No, I don’t think I came across as saying you can have too many. My intent was that is not for me, and the rationality behind my opinion. That said, if I offended anybody with what I’ve posted, please accept my humble apology.
Have a good one Vinny!
I wasn't quoting your post because I thought you said anything wrong, offensive, etc. I just liked what you had to say and agreed with you and just wanted to elaborate a bit on it with my opinion, but sorry you have a guilty conscience and are so defensive.
As I see it, the only mistake in your thought process in posting this was not asking the dork head from the other thread who wants to personally legislate who is allowed to own what, to weigh in with guidance. 
I fail to see the point of the original post, what does it matter how many you own...........you can still only play one at a time unless you have more arms and fingers than the rest of us
The philosophy of bass playing is not dissimilar from some ancient Eastern beliefs. As you progress you are able to shed excess basses. The very best bass players are those with no bass at all.
There are quite a few players I know who are great musicians that have one or only a few basses or guitars, aren't really that up on, or knowledgable on specs, brands, gear, etc., and quite a few don't own super expensive rigs, but they can play the heck out of their instrument, and funny thing, even though their rigs may not cost a lot, they always tend to sound great.
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Since I can't comment in THAT thread, I'll comment in this thread. Thank you mcnach.
Some of you may have seen my story in another thread. Taking a second run at the bass after 30 years. Bought a pawn shop special Ibanez a little over a year ago. In July was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease which caused what my doc called cornea melt. Had 3 cornea surgeries on my right eye and Prednisone put me in a state of depression, lost motivation to practice my bass...bla, bla, bla.
Meds changed, weening off Prednisone, depression ebbing, motivation returning.
But I still needed a kick start. First add two basses. The CAT BASS which I bought right here on TB and an opportunity presented itself to purchase a Charvel Eliminator. Add one bass instructor and I'm moving forward.
So I own 3 basses and I'm not very good. Each of my basses has it's own unique characteristic. Learning and understanding this I would think helps me to become a better bass player. The Charvel is by far the queen bee. She is less forgiving than the Ibanez so I have to be cognizant of my technique. This I believe can't help but make me a better bass player. So yes, owning a higher quality instrument will make you a better player, I do believe, can be a true statement.
Some of you may have seen my story in another thread. Taking a second run at the bass after 30 years. Bought a pawn shop special Ibanez a little over a year ago. In July was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease which caused what my doc called cornea melt. Had 3 cornea surgeries on my right eye and Prednisone put me in a state of depression, lost motivation to practice my bass...bla, bla, bla.
Meds changed, weening off Prednisone, depression ebbing, motivation returning.
But I still needed a kick start. First add two basses. The CAT BASS which I bought right here on TB and an opportunity presented itself to purchase a Charvel Eliminator. Add one bass instructor and I'm moving forward.
So I own 3 basses and I'm not very good. Each of my basses has it's own unique characteristic. Learning and understanding this I would think helps me to become a better bass player. The Charvel is by far the queen bee. She is less forgiving than the Ibanez so I have to be cognizant of my technique. This I believe can't help but make me a better bass player. So yes, owning a higher quality instrument will make you a better player, I do believe, can be a true statement.
Wrong. The rules are different for basses with tort. Only tort. Also, I've done some mathematical analysis, and the number optimal number of basses you have to acquire before you liquidate is 14. This is where the maximum amount of performance improvement can be reached assuming that you end up keeping two basses, and that barometric pressure is constant at 500 feet about sea level. Of course, both remaining basses have to have tort.
I will not explain the math - it is very complicated, and very hush-hush.
Geez, so many insecure people here who feel the need to justify to us all about WHY they own more than one bass, and thinking that it's all about having to earn the right to own a bunch, more than one, etc. when I don't even think that was the original point here. I don't see members who own one bass dropping everything to type up a reply that justifies their rational off only owning one instrument, but you guys with more than one seem to have this urge to really want to feel justified or validated about why you do what you do and have what you have.
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I used to own something like 15-16 a couple of years ago, now I only have 9, so I thought I was improving nicely.
However, THAT thread that popped up yesterday made me realise that 9 is far from ideal. I will never be a great if I have 9 basses. It seems I need just 1-3 basses to be great, and only then I will have earned the right to buy other basses. I see the error of my ways now. I feel very bad I deprived serious bass players from their hard-earned and deserved instrument. I apologise unreservedly.
Can someone please point me in the right direction?
1) How many basses should I go for? Is it one, two or three? The mother of all threads did not leave that very clear. I read it all but it got closed before a consensus was reached.
2) Where do I get my accreditation to show I earned the right to buy more basses after that?
3) Is the accreditation recognised internationally? Or does that just apply to one country? If so, do I need to resit exams in every country I want to buy a new bass from or is it just a matter of filling in the right forms and send a fee through Western Union or something?
4) Does colour matter? It appeared to me that there were different rules for RED basses. But again, I am still confused. I feel I know nothing. That thread was devastating to my self-esteem.
5) Do I get to become great faster if I donate my obviously surplus instruments to a Home for the Deprived Serious Bass Player? Or do I get at least a gold star that I can attach to the back of the headstock of my bass (singular)?
6) What's the secret handshake for Serious Bass Players Club?
7) Yeah, I know [6]... but I had to ask.
Right... my coffee is finished. I'd better go play some... I've been asked to record a bassline for a CD that will be sold for charity containing a bunch of UK ska and reggae bands, so I'd better get on with that. I'll have to decide carefully what to record with. I don't want to be seen as stealing the place of Serious Bass Players, so I'll probably use my Squier Jazz, as apparently the authorities tolerate Squier instruments at all levels is seen as a sign of humility, which I really need, considering my horrible horrible crimes [*].
[*] and that's before they realise how badly I have modified some of those instruments... like the Squier... it cost me £75 used, in poor condition, but as I am not a great I didn't know it was not worth it, so I put some Area J pickups on it and added a J-Retro preamp... as if spending money would somehow make me better. I now know I was just compensating...
edit: this post is in jest, because of this:
Why have so many basses?
I'm still laughing from following the other thread until the bitter end and it's ultimate demise, but then saw your funny retort. well done!Even though you did it for fun, this one has a nicer 'more positive' tone (apparently folks weren't following the other thread). I have about 10 and another 10 or so 6-stringers and can play them all as they all have their own unique purpose, I don't have much redundancy in the overall stable.
I have an Ibanez SR1406te that I might release back into the wild at some point so maybe another TB'er can benefit from it's tone/play-ability but otherwise happy with the overall number, of course >2 per other 'professional guidance'.
I say 'enjoy them all while you can'!
It comes down to math, really.
You have 9 basses, but you need one to keep playing, so 9-1 = 8
8/100 = .08
So, your playing will improve 8% for every bass that you sell.
That's us scienced out!
Only if you can show me your certificate of Greatness that indicates how many basses you deserve... I don't want to get in trouble again
One thing you're great at I can confirm is buying basses, now stop doing that and go practice to get better at playing them.
Dude, keep up