What is your back-up bass?

**Basschair** · #1 10-28-2006, 04:02 PM

I've got a custom Wilfer that was made for me in '99. After a few alterations, a new bridge, and new type of strings, it's become an amazing bass. Still, I find myself having to take it to and from work (music teacher) quite a bit now. I'm considering allocating funds for a second bass, and am curious to know what your first/second basses are? Is your second purely functional, or did you splurge on a really nice backup bass as well?

Cory Palmer · #2 10-28-2006, 04:15 PM

I don't have a back up bass but I did go through trying to buy a back up bow a little over a year ago. I was planning on buying a bow to have around just when I needed to get work done on my main bow but I wanted something to could still play decently. I ended up getting a bow that is better and the bow I used before is now my second bow. I'm actually trying to sell that bow right now. A Geroge Rubino german bow if anyone is interested. I imagine I would do the same thing with a bass so I will probably never try to buy a back up instrument.

**Jeremy Allen** · #3 10-28-2006, 04:18 PM

My main bass for eight years has become my backup bass, and I still use it all the time. But I'm selling it and replacing it with a New Standard Cleveland (which I'm picking up on Wednesday) because I can't afford to keep two carved basses (and besides, I'm looking forward to having a bass I won't hesitate to play outdoors and in some of the sketchier environments).

I've found that, if you're going to have a backup bass, it's really important that it be nice enough that you'll actually play it. I had an old Kay for awhile (with all of the original stuff--bad fingerboard, tailpiece wire, tuners, and everything) that, while fun to play, was just too different in quality and feel from my main bass for me to want to play all the time. (Oddly enough, bandmates often made comments like "hey, that bass sounds great--somehow 'woodier' than your other one"--it did sound great, but the feel was terrible and threw me off whenever I went back to the other bass.) Having a similar feel and string length seem to be important in a backup bass.

Judging from the couple of Shens I've played, I wouldn't hesitate to use one of them as a backup (or even as a main bass, as many people do).

**Basschair** · #4 10-28-2006, 04:26 PM

That's what I was thinking about doing. Something like a Christopher full-carved busetto, if I can find one near me to try out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johono5

My main bass for eight years has become my backup bass, and I still use it all the time. But I'm selling it and replacing it with a New Standard Cleveland (which I'm picking up on Wednesday) because I can't afford to keep two carved basses (and besides, I'm looking forward to having a bass I won't hesitate to play outdoors and in some of the sketchier environments).

I've found that, if you're going to have a backup bass, it's really important that it be nice enough that you'll actually play it. I had an old Kay for awhile (with all of the original stuff--bad fingerboard, tailpiece wire, tuners, and everything) that, while fun to play, was just too different in quality and feel from my main bass for me to want to play all the time. (Oddly enough, bandmates often made comments like "hey, that bass sounds great--somehow 'woodier' than your other one"--it did sound great, but the feel was terrible and threw me off whenever I went back to the other bass.) Having a similar feel and string length seem to be important in a backup bass.

Judging from the couple of Shens I've played, I wouldn't hesitate to use one of them as a backup (or even as a main bass, as many people do).

Marc Piane · #5 10-29-2006, 07:51 AM

My main bass is a Shen Willow. I love it and use it every chance I have.

but...

My other bass is a German laminate bass. It is a good bass and I leave it at my teaching studio as well as use it for outdoor gigs and questionable clubs. I've heard that plywood bass are a bit more durable. Using that bass helps my stress level when I am in the driving sun or a raindrop hits the bass or there are drunk a$$*%(^)$ everywhere.

bikerbassplayer · #6 10-29-2006, 08:07 AM

Ive got a 7/8 carved that is my orchestra bass. My backup
bass is a plywood Upton bass that I use amplified and it works
and sounds great for big band or small groups. Nice bass for
the money and I dont have to worry about dings or nicks.
IMO

CamMcIntyre · #7 10-29-2006, 09:37 AM

Right now-my backup bass is an electric [i know-blasphemy]. However, when i get the money-i'd like to pick up a fully carved NS Cleveland and have my Cleveland Ply become a "backup" bass.

take it easy.

Andy Allen · #8 10-29-2006, 10:06 AM

I recently splurged on two new basses - I bought Marco's Juzek, which I am very happy with as my main bass. I also bought an Azola BugBass II EUB for the latin stuff that I do quite a bit of; another fine instrument.

My old fully-carved bass (from Linear in Korea) is my back-up at present, but will be for sale soon; when I get around to it. I had hoped to keep it, but I live in a small apartment with my wife and two kids so I just don't have the space for two double basses. Once it's sold the Azola will be my back-up bass.

Andy

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #9 10-29-2006, 11:00 AM

New Standard LaScala laminate. It's the perfect second bass for me.

robgrow · #10 10-29-2006, 11:07 AM

This past Summer, I got an Upton Hawkes Hybrid as a second bass. However I like it so much, it really has become my main bass lately, so I guess my carved flatback is my backup bass now.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #11 10-29-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robgrow

This past Summer, I got an Upton Hawkes Hybrid as a second bass. However I like it so much, it really has become my main bass lately, so I guess my carved flatback is my backup bass now.

Marcus Johnson · #12 10-29-2006, 04:40 PM

Ken Smith, the Ultimate Backup Bass Guy. I never get tired of looking at the pics, BTW.

Now, you need someone to engineer a gigantic tie rack sort of contraption, to present the proper bass du jour at the push of a button.

ps.... I know I requested the same thing in another thread, but please keep us posted on the Oliv/Eudoxa combo as time passes.

Rob Sleeper · #13 10-29-2006, 06:27 PM

Damn Ken, I so envy you. All those awesome basses! What a collection you have.

**Basschair** · #14 10-29-2006, 06:38 PM

Geez, now I'm wondering how I went so long without at least considering a backup bass

Marcus Johnson · #15 10-29-2006, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Post #23 in the Strings [DB] forum.

Mahalo, dude, I was out on the road and missed that one somehow. This is a string combo I'd love to get my hands on sometime.

Sorry for the derail. I have no backup bass at the moment.

Jazzman · #16 10-29-2006, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamMcIntyre

Right now-my backup bass is an electric

Ditto on that. Although, usually when I buy a new bass, it takes a while to sell the old one, so that becomes the "backup." On the other hand, when I upgrade, my current bass will surely become a permanent backup.

**Basschair** · #17 10-30-2006, 08:34 AM

You definitely have a point Ken. I'm just now getting to the point where it may be a good idea to consider a second bass for work (K-8 school) so that I don't need to worry so much about travelling with it, let alone worry about the kid-related accidents.

I think I'm more envious of the opportunity to play all of those basses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Not everyone 'needs' to have a back-up Bass. I used the same Bass for 15 years and only changed if it was in repair (happened only once) or while buying and selling Basses I wanted to try one of them on a gig fitting for that Bass, or, the gig was in a place not safe for my best/main Bass.

The Basses you play are only relevant to what you need or can afford. This is a hobby and business for me mainly but the hobby part is the main reason. It is a business because I have to buy and sell in order to afford the climb up the ladder. The playing I do justifies me doing any of this to begin with.

If your Basses are plys, hybrids or entry carved and they get 'your' job done, that's all that matters. Even though I have some great Basses, I still know of many great Italian Basses that might make mine look like someone else's back-up.

It's all relative..

Ike Harris · #18 10-30-2006, 09:02 PM

As a backup to my Kolstein(which is for sale BTW) I have the old American Standard, intended for the country gig but set-up well enough for jazz stuff or whatever. That one goes on the bus, most of the time on a bunk but occasionally underneath. It's well padded in the Messina bag and the guys know how picky I am about looking after it. So far no mishaps. Also bring in a stray bass from the college I teach at once in a while for some playing and TLC. On the horizon is a new Azola Lightning Bug for the airlines to toss around. Visit to the shop was great and will expound on that later on the appropriate talkbass channel!

Ike

**Basschair** · #19 11-02-2006, 08:11 PM

So, no one else has a back up bass?

Heifetzbass · #20 11-03-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basschair

So, no one else has a back up bass?

Actually... I do.

I purchased a Christopher 5 string busetto (hybrid) for my backup/experiment bass. I have a really nice orchestral instrument, but I wanted to play around with this 5 string.

It is strung with a high C and I put a low c extension on it. It was my first attempt at a removeable c extension with no hole drilled for the string. It is working out pretty well, when I get a minute to take some pics I am going to post on the setup/repair.

I took it out of the house for it's first gig- a mozart choral festival... the sound on the instrument is "new", but overall it is pretty good. Nowhere like my other instrument, but not bad. Very good for the money.

One of my friends called this morning and had a little accident with his bass. He needs to borrow one for Shosti 7 next week. So one of us will play the 5'er... not sure who yet- guess we will draw straws.

If I get really good at the 5'er and like this new hi C- I will eventually invest in a real good instrument and convert it.

HTH,
Brian