2 basses on stage - cord tangling advice?

[kesslari]

For those of you who use (and switch between) 2 or more basses onstage - got any tips for avoiding cord tangling (other than just using one cord and plugging/unplugging)?

I'm currently using a Morley ABY, which works great, and I can switch basses quickly enough to keep the dance floor going (e.g. in a 4-8 bar drum breakdown).

But I'm definitely encountering some cord tangling problems.
Any tips?

[stflbn]

Two wireless body packs set on the same frequency communicating with the same base station.

Personally I just swap 1 wireless body pack when I swap basses.

[stylonpilson]

Firstly, make sure that the leads between your ABY and your instruments are no longer than they need to be. Buy shorter leads if necessary.

Secondly, have a system. You'll need to experiment to get the right sequence, but the basic trick is to make sure that for the instrument you are taking off, its lead does not cross over the lead for the one that you are putting on. It will slow down your switch slightly, as you may need to lift one bass before you can put the other down.

S.P.

[FunkMetalBass]

I keep a stand on either side of my amp. I put one down on one side and pick up the other.

If you've got the money, though, I highly recommend you go the wireless route.

[SteveC]

My 2 bass days are mostly gone, but when I did/do it, I used a Tuner/Mute pedal. Hit mute, pull the cable, swap basses, insert cable, hit mute, play.

[JTE]

Only one cord is the best I've found. I have a Boss TU-2 tuner before my DI and my amp. When I step on it it mutes the signal so I pop out the cord, swap basses, and plug in. Hit the tuner again and I'm back in business, before the drummers' done with the never-ending rolls on the toms

It's a LOT less cluttered and less dangerous than the days I used an A/B switch and a cable for each bass.

John

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by kesslari

For those of you who use (and switch between) 2 or more basses onstage - got any tips for avoiding cord tangling (other than just using one cord and plugging/unplugging)?

I'm currently using a Morley ABY, which works great, and I can switch basses quickly enough to keep the dance floor going (e.g. in a 4-8 bar drum breakdown).

But I'm definitely encountering some cord tangling problems.
Any tips?

It's really easy, actually; just get two stands.

That problem happened to me when I was trying to pick one up and put the other down on the same stand; if you do it the same way every time, you twist the cables around each other every time you do it. With two stands, you can't twist them up; one cable is always on the top. If the cables get a little tangled, you can just pull them apart because there can't be any pullthroughs. It makes it easier and faster to switch, too, when you only have to handle the instruments one at a time.

I discovered this by accident and felt pretty stupid when I thought about it.

[BlacksHole]

I use two stands, one to either side and rarely tangle my cords even when they are very long.