Backups are worth the effort!

[Stilettoprefer]

Originally Posted by Stewie26

I agree. I think you could do a complete thread on this subject alone. I am real anal about keeping my Fenders and Gibson basses as close to new as possible. Get's to be a pain. Thats why I also own a beater. In fact I am using it in my avitar photo. No worries.

+1

Beater basses are great. Spilled beer on it? Oh well. Drop it off the stage? Oh well. Friend needs a bass for a week? Take it. Someone touches your girl while you're playing? Smash it over their head.

[Grateful]

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

How many people here always take a backup rig? I have one, but it's just another 150lbs of gear to lug around.

Guilty. I take a small amp head and a big amp head to gigs. If I can get away with using the small one, I do.

I don't take a 'back up' bass per se as I consider both basses I take to be primaries since they both get used. Never had a screw get that loose during a show though. On my bass, anyway.

[backup]

why are you talking about my people?

[Biggbass]

back up bass - yes...I usually keep a P and a J on stage
back up amp - no
but I do carry a Sadowsky pre/DI just in case the amp should fail and have it at the ready
on top of the amp for a quick DI switchover.

[mblackford]

I thought there was a $100 fine for showing up with more than one bass.

[Ubersheist]

Originally Posted by Russell L

I'm not a smart man. I have two basses, but mostly take just one. No backup amp either. Oh, I have others, but they're too heavy. Never had a breakdown in 50 years of paid gigs yet

I think that's how most people approach it. I think if you were gigging nearly every night, you'd probably bring more extra "back up" gear.

Personally, I always bring an extra bass, and often don't even bring it out of the car. It's saved me on more then one occasion. I never gig with anything other then a rock solid reliable amp. Right now, it's a Carvin Combo - the thing is bulletproof. My higher end EBS head and Aguilar cab is not, so it sits at home except for gigs that really need some watts for some reason.

I do always carry tons of extra cables, and one extra bass, but that's it.

Originally Posted by mblackford

I thought there was a $100 fine for showing up with more than one bass.

That's why I don't take the backup out of the car! What they don't know won't hurt my pocketbook!

[Ubersheist]

Originally Posted by Stewie26

I agree. I think you could do a complete thread on this subject alone. I am real anal about keeping my Fenders and Gibson basses as close to new as possible. Get's to be a pain. Thats why I also own a beater. In fact I am using it in my avitar photo. No worries.

+1000. I've got a super nice bass, but I probably play my cheap $100 Ibby beater since it's always around. I work out of town a whole lot, and it's so nice not to worry about bringing a $2000 bass.

I also agree about being able to put stickers on a cheap beater bass. I sort of did that very thing, but went further with it....

[Lee Bruton]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

It's called acting like a pro.

Spare bass, spare strings, spare instrument and amp cables, tools, tape for cables and emergencies, AC extensions, outlet wiring checker...

It's all part of acting like you've been there before and know what you're doing.

Also, having your equiment in good order help, find problems before they become one!

[klaus486]

Someone should tell Anthony Jackson how unprofessional he is for only bringing one bass.