How often do you switch basses during a gig ?

fearceol · #1 06-08-2008, 01:22 PM

I have two basses -one with flats and one with roundwounds. I play in a blues band. Some songs suit the flats and some the rounds. I normally just bring one or the other bass to a gig. Lately I've been thinking of bringing both. I've been playing for about two years, so I still have a lot to learn.

Would I be considered a show-off by switching basses during the gig ? Especially when I dont have the prowess to warrant this. Lots of good blues bassists I've seen use just the one bass. My gut instinct is " go for it, if it makes the music sound better" !!

All opinions appriciated.

fishtx · #2 06-08-2008, 04:59 PM

Hardly ever...I usually bring two basses to the gig, but only so i have a backup in case of a technical problem.

kissmybASS01 · #3 06-08-2008, 07:03 PM

Same situation. I play in a blues band and on our multi-night gigs (Thur-Sat, or Fri - Sat) I bring both my fretless and fretted basses. On our single nighters, I just bring my new MIA Jazz bass.

If I'm lucky (not always tho..), the drummer or guitard give me time to "switch outfits" before counting in the next tune.

Usually the count in starts and I'm screaming "Not ready!!! Not ready!!!"

Our guitard brings his two guitars (one of his many Les Pauls and his new US Strat). I would say if you play enough material that warrants switching between the two (i.e. more than one tune) do it. Don't just do it for looks or gimmicks (a la Cheap Trick with their wall of axes)

tomvelsor · #4 06-08-2008, 07:14 PM

depends on the setlist..and what kind of band im playing with. regardless, i could really play any of my basses for anything..but sometimes i like to switch to my fender J for slap stuff. all my other basses are 6 strings..on an average night ill probobly only switch 3-4 times. sometimes more around 10. fairly often i dont switch at all.

kesslari · #5 06-08-2008, 07:43 PM

I'm switching now between fretless and fretted.
With an A/B box and both instruments tuned and strapped, it's remarkably quick.
I prolly only switch 3-4 times a gig.

JKT · #6 06-08-2008, 08:28 PM

I use my Barker bass with flatwounds for ballads and swing tunes some blues rock stuff,etc.

When I need to slap or get more growl I grab the P-bass. I could easily do the whole gig with either bass but I use the bass that suits the tunes best. I have come to appreciate the expanded palette that both basses give me.

JKT

CamMcIntyre · #7 06-08-2008, 08:32 PM

Depends on how many tunes each bass will be used on.

That being said-the main time that i bring multiple electric basses to a gig is when i need my 6 for 1 or 2 tunes. I'll play my 5 for the rest. The reasoning? I like the feel & sound of my 5 better for 99% of the tunes.

The only tunes i typically play on my 6 are the ones where i function as the primary chordal instrument-so i do a lot of tapping chords while the guitarist switches to either percussion or just leads.

The other 99% of electric gigs-i'll take my Ray5 as my main bass and either my 6 [Douglas cheapie-saving for a Bongo 6] or my P-bass as a backup.

Most of the gigs that i switch basses on are Upright Bass & Electric. For switching-I use a Morley ABY box. Eventually, i want to either get a 2 channel head w/switcher capability or a Radial Bass Bone.

fearceol · #8 06-09-2008, 02:20 AM

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've been considering all the opinions. I think I'll settle on the one that suits the most songs and stay with that. Maybe in the future, when my playing is more mature, and I'm playing more varied material, I can reconsider.

It will also mean less gear to transport too.

Thanks again.

brianrost · #9 06-09-2008, 09:34 AM

I'll only bring two basses if I need two.

On most blues gigs I'll bring both a P-bass and an upright.

I play in a band with bagpipes, the piper has two sets of pipes pitched in D and G that are never in tune with each other. I bring two Steinbergers, tune one to each bagpipe and switch when the piper does.

Other than those two cases I'll bring only one bass, and I've been doing that for over 25 years.

Lonnybass · #10 06-09-2008, 10:05 AM

I will normally only switch to a different instrument in case an alternate tuning is needed or if a fretless is warranted. In most cases, however, I find that switching to another bass only can create more work for the sound crew in finding the "sweet spot" for each instrument, especially if they haven't had a chance to soundcheck it against the rest of the mix. As Leland Sklar told me, many venues simply demand a singular clean bass sound - anything more than that can simply overcomplicate things!

Lonnybass

LilRay · #11 06-09-2008, 10:30 AM

It would be about tone to me. If I dug the way a particular bass sounded on a given song, I'd switch.

Not to mention staying in tune. I can just about switch basses as quick as I can retune.

It's all preference. All in all do whichever makes you feel best while your performing.

Later R.

**Pacman** · #12 06-09-2008, 11:36 AM

Most gigs I bring my jazz and an upright. Depending on the show order, I might be switching back and forth every other tune (which I hate). On electric gigs, I usually don't switch at all.

Phalex · #13 06-09-2008, 11:45 AM

I switch from electric to box for about three or four tunes, and then back to electric.

bstringrandy · #14 06-09-2008, 12:06 PM

Because our set list is so varied, I take 3 basses to the gig but only swap during breaks.

Set 1: Unlined Fretless Dean Edge 5 - Usually easier listening up front.

Set 2 and 3: Fender Geddy Lee Jazz - Classic rock and dance stuff.

Set 4: Spector US bolt on 5 - harder, more alternative material.

I have played an entire gig on the fretless just to see if I could get through it, but I like rotating the wear and tear around. The guitarist brings 3 guitars to every gig so I have to balance the stage out

...

Randy

Blueszilla · #15 06-09-2008, 12:12 PM

I always bring two, a 5 and a 4, the 4 is mostly there as a backup, as some others have said. If I switch it's usually only once, I'll use the 4 for the tune or two where I get a solo. Sometimes not though, I'll just solo with the 5, depends on the venue or how tired I am.

fearceol · #16 06-09-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianrost

I play in a band with bagpipes, the piper has two sets of pipes pitched in D and G that are never in tune with each other.

That sounds like a very interesting band !

Thanks again to all who replied.

four2oh · #17 06-09-2008, 12:32 PM

in my bluegrass band, i started off switching between my 2-string washtub and my 4-string bass banjo depending on the tune. But lately, its become more of a "feel" thing.. i'll switch to which ever bass calls to me in between songs (if i have enough time to make a switch, that is). it's also a nice mental challenge to force myself to transpose what i would normal play on the 2-string washtub to the 4-string bass banjo and vis-versa, working the brain as well as the fingers.

Vic Winters · #18 06-09-2008, 01:11 PM

Whenever I switch tunings that involves more than one string or for a song that requires slap.

Band 1:

Bass 1: E A D G and D A D G
Bass 2: Eb Ab Db Gb

Band 2:

Bass 1: E A D G
Bass 2: D A D G
Bass 3: C G C F

MakiSupaStar · #19 06-09-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by four2oh

in my bluegrass band, i started off switching between my 2-string washtub and my 4-string bass banjo depending on the tune. But lately, its become more of a "feel" thing.. i'll switch to which ever bass calls to me in between songs (if i have enough time to make a switch, that is). it's also a nice mental challenge to force myself to transpose what i would normal play on the 2-string washtub to the 4-string bass banjo and vis-versa, working the brain as well as the fingers.

Do you have pictures of that 2 string washtub? I'd like to see it.

nsmar4211 · #20 06-09-2008, 03:18 PM

Been thinking about this myself, put a set of Blue Steels on a backup bass and realized it'd be awesome for slap... to eq my main bass for slap requires more time than a switch would. My problem is finding a stand that I trust! I have nightmares of basses getting knocked over

So if you've got a good stand, heck go for it