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10-14-2009, 12:03 PM
| | | | Should I be taking back up strings to gigs?
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I've never broken a bass string and I don't know how likely it is, but with my luck I'm sure it could happen to me while at a gig. So, is it a good idea to bring a set of strings to gigs with me or is it not very likely to break a bass string?
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10-14-2009, 12:05 PM
| | | | Just get a $50 bass on craigslist. Cheaper than some strings.
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10-14-2009, 12:06 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida | | | Just keep your newest old set in your case/gig bag. You may never need it, but at least you have peace of mind.
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10-14-2009, 12:06 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by paf77  So, is it a good idea to bring a set of strings to gigs with me | Yes. |
10-14-2009, 12:07 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brookfield, CT | | | I always bring a (old) set. That way, I never need them. Murphy's law.
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Originally Posted by Lesfunk I have trouble staying in shape because I'm a lazy, fat, piece of crap; not because I'm a musician. | |
10-14-2009, 12:11 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Here we are... | | Yeah,if you dont have a back up bass,bring some strings.Better safe than sorry.Plus,if you break one you wont have to go to GC and have them charge you 10 bucks for one string. 
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10-14-2009, 12:12 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brookfield, CT | | | The strength of a string is inversely proportional to the distance you are from a replacement string.
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Originally Posted by Lesfunk I have trouble staying in shape because I'm a lazy, fat, piece of crap; not because I'm a musician. | |
10-14-2009, 12:18 PM
|  | Bass lines like a big, funky giant | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southern MN | | | What if a solder connection on your output jack, volume pot, etc. breaks? I find it's much MORE peace of mind to have a backup bass rather than just a set of backup strings. (Although I also bring along my most recently-removed set of stings.) |
10-14-2009, 12:20 PM
|  | a/k/a Steve Cooper | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Huntington WV | | Quote:
Originally Posted by smogg Just keep your newest old set in your case/gig bag. You may never need it, but at least you have peace of mind. | +1. Works for me.
By packing the most recent old set you don't tie up $$$ in an extra new set, and the strings already are wound, bent, and cut for your tuning pegs.
I only broke a string onstage once (maybe twice..?) in 30 years--but it was never any trouble to carry my old set as spares. |
10-14-2009, 12:24 PM
|  | Real Basses Have 5 Strings! | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Colorado | | | I have never had a bass quit working at a gig and I have not broken a string at a gig but it is a good idea to have a backup bass and a backup set of strings. And if you are playing a big show have a backup amp. |
10-14-2009, 12:40 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Burlington, Vt. | | | Always!
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10-14-2009, 12:42 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA | | | No! Never gig with any back-up plan whatsoever.
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10-14-2009, 12:48 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Perth, WA, Australia | | | Get a set of cheap new strings or keep a set of yer old ones. I always carry a set of the cheap Warwick strings left over from when I got a bulk deal years ago. They don't take up enough room in the gig bag for it to be an issue.
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Last edited by phatbass : 10-14-2009 at 12:50 PM.
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10-14-2009, 01:05 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA | | | be prepared!
like Murderface says "It's all about being professional"
i take a back bass to gigs
and the previous set of strings to practice
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10-14-2009, 02:18 PM
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Staff Writer: Bass Musician Magazine, Endorsing Artist: Please see bio | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, MI | | Quote:
Originally Posted by smogg Just keep your newest old set in your case/gig bag. You may never need it, but at least you have peace of mind. | This. It doesn't take up much room at all, and the one time I broke the B string (that's right, I said it), it only took a minute or so to grab that old string, put it on and finish the set. |
10-14-2009, 04:32 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX, USA | | | I rotate my strings. I have a set installed on the bass, and a new set in the package in the case. When it is time to change the strings, I buy a new set and replace the strings in the case, and then install the strings from the case onto the bass.
This works well if you don't have a backup instrument. Even if you do have a backup, it never hurts to have a spare set of strings handy. For example, when the string breaks, you simply grab the backup and finish the set, then during the break, you can put the new strings on your main bass and return to it for the next set.
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10-14-2009, 04:43 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Louis, MO | | | I always carry a spare bass. I tend to break/wear out/need to adjust/etc batteries, battery clips, cables, pickups, bridges, trussrods, saddles, nuts, and jacks. I've never broken a string but have wished I'd changed them before a gig.
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10-14-2009, 04:47 PM
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Endorsing Artist: Eden Bass Amplification | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chicago | | | Absolutely bring an old spare set. Its also useful to have a tuner onstage that allows you to tune silently so you dont make an even bigger scene. Boss TU2 pedal is what I use. |
10-14-2009, 04:49 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern VA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by scottbass What if a solder connection on your output jack, volume pot, etc. breaks? I find it's much MORE peace of mind to have a backup bass rather than just a set of backup strings. (Although I also bring along my most recently-removed set of stings.) | +1
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10-14-2009, 05:30 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago | | Quote:
Originally Posted by dmusic148 I always bring a (old) set. That way, I never need them. Murphy's law. | Quote:
Originally Posted by dmusic148 The strength of a string is inversely proportional to the distance you are from a replacement string. | So true. The first time I ever broke a string on a gig was the first time I skimped on strings or a backup bass. It was my E string so I moved every string down a space (A to E, D to A, G to D) and played without a G. I will never forget a backup bass or strings again.
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