How Long does it take you to change basses?

[JimmyM]

I used to be able to change basses with a wireless and Straploks in 5 seconds. It now takes me about 8-10 seconds on average. Not too shabby for an older dude.

How about you all?

[gsys]

...between upright and electric in a couple (slow) measures. Faster going from electric to upright than the other way around.

[seanm]

I just don't

But the couple of times that I did switch basses 10 seconds sounds about right. No way I could have done it in 5!

I had both basses plugged into a bassbone, tuned and ready to go. Separate straps on each bass. I had one bass tuned normal and the other tuned drop-D.

I switched to just tuning down and back up between songs. Carrying the second bass and the bassbone and assorted cables was too much of a hassle.

[Dkerwood]

My axe changes take WAY too long. I have to unplug, take one guitar off, put the other one on, plug it back in, and double check tuning. I've thought about using an A/B box, but I don't worry too much about it. My bassist talks during the transition, so it's certainly not dead time.

[Jazzin']

Never had to do it under pressure. I'm curious how long it would take. Since I do have a couple footswitches to mute (I only need one), it should be fairly quick.

[Munjibunga]

About 10 to 15 seconds.

[DblG]

10-15 here too. Both basses have a strap and a cord plugged into it. I keep the end of the cords velcro'd to my cabinet right in front of the inputs to my amp. I turn the pre all the way down, hang the first bass on the stand, put the second bass on, switch plugs, turn the pre back to where I had it set and play.

I tried to keep both plugged in and perform this task by turning the volume on the bass all the way down and switching, but the second input must be padded so I had to adjust the pre everytime. It was easier to just unplug/plug two different cords and put the pre back to the original position.

gg

[Depth_Charge]

I can swap between my basses in about 8-10 seconds as well, not that I've actually timed it.

My vocalist, however, cannot recognise in that same space of time that I'll be ready to play my part before the intro finishes, usually resulting in him calling everyone else to stop then asking me what I'm doing and if I'm ready...usually just as I straighten back up ready to start playing wondering why everyone else stopped

[Roger Pounders]

what if you have 3 basses on stage? Bassbone only has 2 Inputs.... anyone know any product that has more than 2 inputs?

[BassChuck]

I've never had to do this. Isn't there some kind of stomp box that would have 2 ins and 1 out (an in from each bass and the out to the amp)? No unplugging required. Just stomp on the switch as you moved from one bass to the other.

How do guitar players do this?

[KPJ]

If it is a planned change, I can do it in 5 to 10 seconds. All of my basses have their own straps, so there is no strap switching. If I'm wearing my wireless transmitter on the strap, before the last song that I'm playing with that bass starts, I'll pull the transmitter off the strap and hook it on my back pocket. Song ends, hit the mute on the transmitter, pull the cord, swap basses, plug in cord, hit the mute again and I'm back in business.

[nickelseye]

No longer then 10 seconds. Same as other people have posted, the second bass has it's own strap. I simply mute the signal, unplug the wireless system (AKG Bug), plug into the already tuned bass, unmute and I'm ready to go. I only need to switch for one song, but I usually end up playing the second bass until the guitarists switch.

The 2 guitar players in my band however, sheesh! They take their time, switch guitars, fumble for the cables, tune up, proceed to play a chord or two...to ensure they still work I assume. After they're organized, it takes them approximately 45 sec. to a minute, they have the audacity to ask me if I'm ready...like I'm the one holding everyone up!

It's very annoying at times, especially when the crowd is ready to get down and everyone's waiting on the guitarists. It's at the point that the drummer and I sometimes start a song without them.

[JimmyM]

Your guitarists should do an oldies gig with Bowzer. You take 45 seconds to change guitars on one of his gigs and he'll have you replaced before you flip the standby switch on.

[nickelseye]

Yeah, it's quite frustrating. We'll just have to start more songs without them.

[Dave Muscato]

I can do it 10 times, back and forth, in less than 3 seconds.











Did I mention that I have a Line6 Variax?

In all seriousness, I actually have 2 Line6 Variaxes, and I've never had one fail (yet), but I don't imagine it would take me more than about ten seconds. I keep my backup on a stand behind me, with its own strap (with straplocks). All I'd have to do would be step on the volume pedal on my Pod xt Live floorboard, unplug the cable and slip the end into my front pocket for a second, whip around, switch, plug back in and turn the volume pedal back up. I bet I could do it in less than 10 seconds.

Dave

[Passinwind]

It'd take me at least half an hour at most venues, since I'd have to go home and get another bass.

[squierplayer120]

About 7-10 seconds.

I've got both basses equipped with straps, one cord going straight into the amp. I just take one off, unplug, and plug back in. Not the hardest thing ever. See, my basses hold tune, like, forever.

[Kael]

It takes me until I'm done. I don't dilly dally around, but I don't sweat shaving a few seconds when swapping instruments. If it takes me 15 sec's, great. If it takes me 30, oh well.

[XtraLongScale]

Between 15 to 30 seconds. My basses are less than ten feet away from me most times. I don't consciously go for speed, though. My singer's a schmoozer, so there's no dead air. I only switch between two basses for tonal choice, not tuning, four times a night. My two guitards have 5-6 guitars each & change axes every couple songs or so for tuning reasons. Yup, I'd rather be the bass player in that scenario

[jsbass]

I wish I was rich and each bass could have a nice leather strap and its own wireless transmitter on it ready to go.