Not bringing a backup finally bit me in the rear

[Fretlessboy]

I hope the audition went well. I was with the United States Army Field Band "The Volunteers " for 6 years

[electracoyote]

I think OP is doing us all a great service by reporting his experience of what happens when your number comes up.

I think he'd be doing us an even greater service if he searched for one or two of the most recent threads on this topic and shared his experiences there as well. Not for the stubborn "veterans" who long ago decided they aren't carrying spares, but for the up-and-coming bassists who still have an open mind and some things to learn.

I've been carrying two basses to any session, rehearsal, or performance since the day I could afford to buy two basses. My number has come up--a couple of times. I've since added an outboard preamp and micro head, just in case. And my Magic Green Bag, the contents of which have bailed out not only me but almost every other member of my bands.

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by AndreBas

In order to change a broken string some folks carry a second bass to all of their gigs? What about replacement strings_

It only takes a second to grab another bass. It takes a bit longer to change a string.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by elgecko

It only takes a second to grab another bass. It takes a bit longer to change a string.

In all the concerts I've seen by national acts over the past 40 years, I have almost NEVER seen a guitar/bass player or his tech changing a string while the audience waits. I guess Clapton did it once in his early days, and the crowd got bored so they started the "slow clap" thing...Which is how Clapton got the nickname "Slowhand."

Once I saw AC/DC in their early days when Bon Scott was still alive. Angus refuses to play a backup guitar, only that red vintage SG. Well, sure enough, he broke a string, and a roadie bolted out from side stage like a ball boy at a tennis match with his ass on fire, removed the broken string, installed, wound, and tuned the new one to pitch in about 3.5 seconds flat. It was amazing to watch.

The rare exception aside (or a roadie who is that fast), I'd recommend not burdening your band, the audience, the venue owner, etc., by just bringing an el-cheapo backup to get you through the set.

[JimB52]

I used to bring a backup, and would play it for a set just so I didn't feel it was a wasted effort, because I've never had a bass fail. Never broken a string in 40+ years of playing, either. I do usually play simple basses though. Fender P or J most of the time, and have a fairly light touch. .

[Broadstbully22]

I always take a back up. Mainly because I have it set up for a different sound and tuning. But its always there if something happened to my main bass. I don't know if it would matter. Of my main bass got messed up I would probably be to upset to continue. Lol

[jamestown94west]

Originally Posted by thunderbird66

Sorry, i just don't get it. An extra bass, strings, batteries, & cords are essential to me. All the above is the minimum too not to mention tools, tape, wire ties, etc. Man, i drive a corolla and can get all that including my stack in there. Small price to pay for piece of mind.

I have all those things with me. I've carried a tool box full of spare parts and tools for years. It was sitting on the floor right behind me in the pic that I posted. None of.that is any good when your input jack has broken into pieces and you don't have another one with you, or the time to solder a new one in. I had the backing plate off the bass during the show, and had two batteries and a screw driver sitting out in case I needed it. There was nothing else I could've done. I'm gonna fix this bass and carry it as a backup. I'm dropping it off to have it fixed and thoroughly gone thru tonight. Then I'll go back to playing my trusty jazz bass as my daily driver.

[bassistjoe93]

I started bringing a backup years ago. I played with a singer song writer and organ player at a college outdoor festival as the main act and I only brought my one bass. 20 minutes into the gig, after a flawless soundcheck earlier, and the bass just goes haywire. Crackling, popping, shorting out. Really embarrassing. I unplugged and went over to the guitarist in the opening band and asked if I could play his guitar and amp. So I played rhythm and co-lead guitar with the guitar player we were playing with. Found out it was a crappy input jack. Still got paid though! Most embarrassing musical moment in my life.

[JaamE]

I've never not had a car :-)
I think if i did regular gigs i'd pick up a cheap back-up bass too though.

[Groovy_Gravy]

The one time I forgot a spare Bass I broke my A string at the gig and had no backup set or bass. I had to finish the gig without the A. I did it pretty good though..surprised myself actually.

[jamestown94west]

Originally Posted by Fretlessboy

I hope the audition went well. I was with the United States Army Field Band "The Volunteers " for 6 years

The audition went great! They really liked me, and said I was welcome to join the band.

Now I just have to drop weight and get in shape so I can enlist and get thru basic and AIT.

Here's us running thru "We're an American band"

[two fingers]

I bring a backup everything. I have guitar strings and don't play guitar. I have batteries and don't use them. I have a dozen different kinds of picks and I only (rarely) use one kind. I have an SM58 and rarely have to provide my own vocal mic. I have so many cables and adapters that if the only thing in the building I could possibly make noise through was an old hand crank record player, I bet I could hook into it somehow. I have an active and passive DI and rarely use them on purpose. I have several sets of strings. I have gum, BC powders, Immodium, Advil, and a dozen other assorted first aide and medicinal products. I have just about every kind of tool that can adjust a guitar or take apart an amp on stage. I have more tools (including a cordless drill with a gagillion attachments) in my SUV at every gig. I have a spare head on stage.

Anyone in the band can walk up to me and say "Hey do you have a (I look at the box).......OK I'll look in the box. Thanks" My case that holds most of this stuff (including the spare head) is known far and wide as The Box of Doom. That box alone has gotten me dozens of gigs. People who don't even know me call me about a fill-in gig. At some point during the conversation they will almost always say "I hear you have this box of stuff. You bring that with you, right?"

We have a spare car in case one of ours doesn't crank one morning.

Yes. Have spares.

[JazznFunk]

My Dad always drilled redundancy into my head growing up, coupled with the fact I was a Boy Scout (motto: Be Prepared) so I have a backup for my backup across a wide spectrum of gear - particularly when it comes to strings, batteries, stands, picks, direct boxes (yep... the Swiss Army Knife of gear in many ways), straps, and cables of all types. As for basses, I always carry my primary Lakland and then a backup of some sort. I like having my passive Precision as a backup for when 'all else fails'. My bandmates think I'm neurotic sometimes I'm sure, but I've saved their butts many times when they've needed something essential, so they don't question me.

[JimmyM]

I never used to bring a backup bass. But last year, I had a battery for my EMG's die on me 10 seconds before a show started and cause it to sound like I was plugged into a fuzzbox, and I had a wire break loose from my 76 Precision during a soundcheck. Didn't have a backup either. In the first case, I just did the show and turned down the treble (I actually thought it sounded pretty cool), in the second case I borrowed a soldering iron from the soundman and fixed it well before the show started.

So I still don't bring a backup. As a matter of fact, I just did a week on a cruise with one bass and only the strings on it because I forgot my backup set. Went fine. Learn how to think on your feet...that's the best skill! So bite me, backup wussies!

[jamestown94west]

Most of the stuff that you guys are carrying with you, are all things I carry too. Just not an extra bass! Im gonna tell my friends about this thread, and show it to them, because they make fun of me dragging around my box of gear. Its been referred to as my "blankie" like Linus from the peanuts.

[punkjazzben]

Originally Posted by jamestown94west

The audition went great! They really liked me, and said I was welcome to join the band.

Now I just have to drop weight and get in shape so I can enlist and get thru basic and AIT.

Here's us running thru "We're an American band"

Awesome! Well done

Is that guitarist playing a guitar that looks like an assault rifle?

[HolmeBass]

Originally Posted by AndreBas

In order to change a broken string some folks carry a second bass to all of their gigs? What about replacement strings_

Sure, but having to stop and change strings, let's say after the second song of the second set, can really be a drag. Taking a minute to fine tune the backup is way better, then change strings at the set break. I always carry a spare bass and amp, and it's saved my bacon more than once.

[jamestown94west]

Originally Posted by punkjazzben

Awesome! Well done

Is that guitarist playing a guitar that looks like an assault rifle?

Hah, yea, he really likes that thing. It's cool for novelty value, but I picked it up briefly to get a closer look at it, and its not that great of a guitar. However, it does sound absolutely fantastic. It has some very nice electronics and hardware.

[avvie]

I was a Scout as a kid and I take that "be prepared" stuff seriously. I've seen what happens when you don't. Once I broke a string and finished the set with my backup and this guy gave me the coolest compliment: he said "yeah, I saw when that string broke but I knew by watching you play ' this guy has extra strings!' "

[ckdhaven]

I have never needed a backup and never had one until last week. After reading the stories of things gone wrong for others, I decided to buy a back up..

1st bass.. 2011 Fender American Jazz Standard
2nd Bass.. 2012 Fender American P-bass Standard.

I love them both and the 1 & 2 may go back and forth!!

I now have 2 basses that are to "my standards" and no worries.

I also carry a Radial Bassbone DI just in case something should go wrong with my GK1001RB amp..

I guess I'm set for "most disasters.."