Switching Basses?

Interceptor · #1 11-15-2008, 09:24 PM

OK, maybe I'm just getting old and inflexible.

As my playing continues to advance, I find switching between different basses harder to do. I seem to be able to extract the "best" out of only one bass at any time frame. I'm actually at the point of dumping all but one bass.

Am I alone on this, or on to something?

JimmyM · #2 11-15-2008, 10:13 PM

You gotta do what it takes to get yourself over. I think it makes for a fun visual aspect, but I think you're much better off sonically playing the same bass all night if you can help it. I generally only bring one bass to gigs now, maybe two if I need a particular sound my main bass doesn't get.

Interceptor · #3 11-15-2008, 10:28 PM

OK, I'm feeling better. Thanks Jimmy!

I'm going beyond single gigs, and very seriously considering concentrating on focusing on one bass for everything I do. What seems to be coming into focus for me is the fine details. I can only get really quiet and precise on one bass at a time. If I choose a different bass, it takes me a few weeks at best to get refined again.

JimmyM · #4 11-15-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Interceptor

OK, I'm feeling better. Thanks Jimmy!

I'm going beyond single gigs, and very seriously considering concentrating on focusing on one bass for everything I do. What seems to be coming into focus for me is the fine details. I can only get really quiet and precise on one bass at a time. If I choose a different bass, it takes me a few weeks at best to get refined again.

Then your choice is clear.

madbassplaya · #5 11-15-2008, 10:53 PM

I like to have two basses at a gig. However, I only use one during the gig. The other is just for backup, incase something goes wrong.

Murphy's law-what can go wrong, will go wrong.

Slax · #6 11-15-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

I like to have two basses at a gig. However, I only use one during the gig. The other is just for backup, incase something goes wrong.

Murphy's law-what can go wrong, will go wrong.

+1.

I mainly focus on my main bass and bring a back up to rehearsals and gigs just incase Murphy shows his ugly head.

bggeezer · #7 11-16-2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

I like to have two basses at a gig. However, I only use one during the gig. The other is just for backup, incase something goes wrong.

Murphy's law-what can go wrong, will go wrong.

++1 I only take my back-up to gigs, If I break a string during practice, it only takes a couple of minutes to change it.

Mind you my main bass is a 4003, so its very reliable and versatile ....but you never know.

I do use my back-up bass once in about 6 or 7 practices, and more often at home, to keep it in my "muscle memory" and to give it a run out every now and again. I don't believe in having gear sitting around never getting used.

atheos · #8 11-16-2008, 06:45 AM

Another +1 for backup. A string can be replaced quickly enough but if anything else fails a backup is way better solution than trying to fix something like broken tuner on the fly. That or something else like that is something than can happen to ANY bass regardless of the quality.

Interceptor · #9 11-16-2008, 12:38 PM

I appreciate the response!

I obviously minimized the importance of a back-up.

Deacon_Blues · #10 11-16-2008, 04:31 PM

I've never really cared for a backup bass. During the 7-8 years I've been a bass player (more or less intensively), I've never needed one. It was another story back when I played guitar and broke strings every now and then.

I'm fine with bringing a bunch of backup cables and a set of strings in the unlikely event of a string breakage. I've even gone to gigs even without an extra string set.I've never broke a bass string while playing so I haven't felt the urge to always keep a set in my gig bag.

I bought a Radial BigShot I/O A/B-switch a while ago because I thought I'd start to bring two basses to gigs more often. However I'm too lazy to do that so I'm thinking of selling it. It could be something for you though.

perfektspace6 · #11 11-17-2008, 10:22 PM

If one does it for you then thats all you need.

I have one really pretty bass that I put on stage behind me and it only gets played once a set because I can't do that song with my fretless. Funny how sometimes the most expensive bass gets the least amount of play.

Lesfunk · #12 11-17-2008, 11:02 PM

I like to play one bass for a couple months or so then switch to another one to play for a couple of months.
I enjoy it this way because I get reminded of the special feel and tones each bass has to offer. It generally takes about 2 gigs to make the adjustment to a different bass feel wise but it's fun.
All my basses are top shelf and sound great so it never matters which one I play.
I agree that it is great to have one bass and know it intimately. But who says you cant know more than one well?
I'm like a bass polygamist . I enjoy getting to know all my basses.

nysbob · #13 11-17-2008, 11:28 PM

I like to use a couple - I generally go between a fender fretless and an EUB. The character of each is different enough to justify it.

There was a point in time that I had 3 bass guitars and an EUB on stage. It was fun having different sounds, but not so fun when they all got ripped off after a gig in Louisville.

Scot · #14 11-18-2008, 01:30 PM

Call me lazy but...

I bring only my Fender J to electric gigs and my Wan Bernadel to upright gigs. I bring extra strings just in case but never or very rarely need them.