Keeping the second bass on stage

[davecanady]

I've been sharing a 5 guitar rack on stage with the guitar player but my basses don't sit well in the rack and they all bump each other.

A web search came across a String Swing brand bass hanger that attaches to the rack rail on the amp rack. I was also thinking about screwing a guitar hanger into the side of the amp rack case. When I use both of my speaker cabs, a hanger would be high enough off the floor for the bass to clear. I think this would be safer than sharing the floor stand.

Shared thoughts and experiences would be appreciated before I go buy something.

[kesslari]

I'd buy a floor stand. That's what I use.
A hanger screwed into the side of an amp rack case seems to be just begging to be busted off getting moved around.

[grifff]

I have one of those Warwick RockStand things that holds 3 instruments and I have two guitars and one bass and they don't bump each other if I'm moderately careful. I'm not sure I know what a guitar rack is so this post may be useless.

[davecanady]

The side hanger is removeable...only the block stays attached.

The rail hangers folds into the rack. You can even close the doors on the rack case with it still attached.

I have stands. People keep bumping into them or cords catch them and pull them over. We seem to gig on very small stages.

[stflbn]

I keep an Atlas two bass stand on stage with my 2 gig instruments on it.

[mcapote]

mounting it to your cab your asking for the vibration to knock it loose sooner or later. I just use a $10 floor stand next to my cab

[PJSShearer]

I use the Warwick 3 way Rockstand as mentioned above as I use a combo on stage these days. It takes up less space than two stands and is solid as the rock of Gibralter!.

With my old rig (which was tall enough) I tied a leather thong (the kind that comes with acoustic guitar straps) through a rack handle so a loop hung slightly below where the nut of my Bass would be if I stood it on end. Then to "park" my instrument I looped the thong over the headstock of my Bass and let go!!.
Trust me, it works.

[The Wrench]

String Swing also makes a removable hanger that attaches to the side handle of an SVT. Installs, if you can even call it that, in seconds and works like a charm. A big +1 to String Swing...

[davecanady]

Good info gents. Thanks. I'll check the Warrick stand and the other String Swing system.

[JTE]

I tried a lot of different options, and found having two GOOD stands that suspend the instrument by the headstock is the best solution for me. Stands or rack designed for multiple instruments take up a lot of real estate on stage which severely limits my options for putting them in safe places. Having two Ultimate stands allows me to tuck one bass in on either side of my rig far away from cables, wandering singers, and "audience participation".

John

[MrRumble]

I use the Warwick bass stand also. Holds all 3 of my basses neatly with no banging if I'm careful. Tried a upright tripod stand and watched it tumble over once already just taking my bass off the stand. Would be afraid of the same if the hanger were attached to my rig and it all went over because of a clumsy move on stage.

[Pilgrim]

I have a Hercules 3-bass stand but never use it on stage...great stand and very stable, but too big, esp for small stages. I play one bass and leave the backup in its case next to the stage. If I need to have a spare on-stage, I use an Ultimate stand for it and locate it next to my amp where no one else has any business being.

[ataraxia]

My band uses the 5 guitar/bass stand... usually positioned either behind the cabinets or on the far wall if there is enough room. we only have one backup bass and 1-2 guitars on it at a time so that lets us leave an empty space between each instrument so there's no chance of them getting banged up.

[bassteban]

Hire a hottie to hold your 2nd.

[ugly_bassplayer]

Originally Posted by bassteban

Hire a hottie to hold your 2nd.

+1.

[davecanady]

The basses need to be positioned for quick access....no case off stage. We go normal tuning, 1/2 step down, Drop C, Drop D.... We've established the sets to make easy guitar swaps. The second bass still in the case would be a PITA.

One of the cab mounted hangers has the arms that swing closed so the guitar couldn't bounce off. The whole stack could fall over but it would take a big hit (drunk dancer falling onto the stage) to knock it over.

I still think one of the hangers would be nice.... or the hottie

[walterw]

Originally Posted by JTE

I tried a lot of different options, and found having two GOOD stands that suspend the instrument by the headstock is the best solution for me. Stands or rack designed for multiple instruments take up a lot of real estate on stage which severely limits my options for putting them in safe places. Having two Ultimate stands allows me to tuck one bass in on either side of my rig far away from cables, wandering singers, and "audience participation".

John

+1! the multi-instrument stands are just big obtrusive carousels, while two good stands can each be tucked wherever. you can even put the stand for the axe you're playing off-stage and just swap instruments off the one stand left up there with you during the set.

i like the hercules tripods that hang the guitar by the headstock; they're stable, fold up small with no removable (lose-able) parts, and don't gouge up the back of the neck like the old steel hamilton hangars.

Originally Posted by bassteban

Hire a hottie to hold your 2nd.

hire a hottie to hold my what, now?

[davecanady]

Don't go there Walter. I just joined the Short Scale Club!

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by walterw

hire a hottie to hold my what, now?

Yes, now.
OR
You mean you don't have a *spare*?