Choosing a bass from the stable for a gig?

[kokorollc]

Well, after 25+ years of bad GAS I think I'm finally content. At least for the time being. I've managed to assemble my holy grail collection that I started lusting over back in the very early days of bass player mag. Be careful what you wish for. Now the problem is selecting a bass for a gig. Half joking, not a bad problem to have, but I do make an effort to play everything I own. Doesn't make sense to me to own fine instruments and not use them. Wondering how other people go about rotating their arsenals for gigs, recording, practice, etc. I think I put way too much thought into selecting the right tool for the nights gig. Sure is fun though

[Biggbass]

I rotate depending on what the gig, venue, and staging is like. For concrete floored bars, patios, etc I use my Fender Road Worn P. I once had a leather strap break on me about 4 inches above the upper horn strap lock...the leather was old and just split in half...and my guitar fell to a concrete floor while I didn't have a 'safety' hand on it. After that I started packing a rug to roll out on concrete floors and I use the RWP for those gigs.
For elevated stages where we have room to move around and not bang into each other's headstocks, as well as being physically separated from the audience or dance floor, I take my higher end basses. Usually a P and a J, either Sadowsky or Lakland.
For wine bar & coffee house type gigs when I'm playing in a duo and doing acoustic rock and old Beatles stuff I use the Hofner CT.
For all those scenarios I run thru a MB LM3 with either a 102P for the smaller rooms or the 102 & 151 for bigger rooms and DI to FOH.

This morning we had a gig in a 3000 SF events room at a nearby lake playing at a 5K run fundraiser for victims of domestic violence. There was a nice elevated theatre type stage inside the bldg and breakfast from a local French bakery. We kicked it off at 8:30am with a 1 hour set. After getting in last night from another private event gig and not hitting the sheets until 1am, this morning's gig was fueled by strong coffee! The Sadowsky P was the weapon of choice...set on active.

[Lo-E]

Originally Posted by Biggbass

I rotate depending on what the gig, venue, and staging is like.

+1. I try to keep active in several different genres, so that narrows it down right off the bat. Then I try to establish 'rules' for certain bands like only fretless or only 5-string or only flats so that the basses get rotated regularly between different bands (one band, for instance, is 4-string, fretted, active basses only - at the bandleader's request). After that, it just comes down to which bass has the freshest strings!

[skwee]

See, you could have your spouse pick one at random from the other room, and then you have the challenge of figuring out how to make it work in the show. (The mark of an artist? Dunno. But a fun thing to try…)

[NYCbassist]

It's actually kind of an easy choice for me. I have the most fun playing my Ric so It's my Gigging bass. Even though I can play faster and a bit better with my Jaguar.

[Lo-E]

Originally Posted by skwee

See, you could have your spouse pick one at random from the other room, and they you have the challenge of figuring out how to make it work in the show. (The mark of an artist? Dunno. But a fun thing to try…)

I like this! Now you've got me thinking....

[nostatic]

This is one reason I try to limit the number of basses I have (my max is 5) - just too much trouble picking what pair to take to a gig if there is more to choose from.

That said, depends on what band:

straight jazz where I'm a sideman - RA Deep 4 fretless and usually YYD 4-string
my band (mix of jazz/funk/soul/pop) - YYD 4 and MGS 5 strung E-C (I do comping on some songs)
Steely Dan tribute - YYD and M4V
Like Karaoke - YYD and Lull M4V
WCB - MGS 5 and one of the 4-string fretted

When the 5-string fretless shows up (strung E-C) I'll have more angst Sometimes I'll switch it up but I've got some songs arranged for a particular bass so if I'm going to play them I'll want that instrument. Pretty much bring a pair to any gig though.

[alembicguy]

I rotate by gig accordingly. I've done a Blues Brothers review that had to be a Fender. My regular bar drunken gig doesn't require a specific bass but it does require a couple stay home( just don't like wiping dribbled jagermeister off my Alembics). Country gig I fill in on I go to my Tobias pro because it sits so well with the tone of the group.

[kokorollc]

I like the spouse selection. My wife always wants me to play the Smith because of the S on the headstock. She likes to think it stands for her name. Sara

[Snarf]

Originally Posted by kokorollc

Well, after 25+ years of bad GAS I think I'm finally content. At least for the time being. I've managed to assemble my holy grail collection that I started lusting over back in the very early days of bass player mag. Be careful what you wish for. Now the problem is selecting a bass for a gig. Half joking, not a bad problem to have, but I do make an effort to play everything I own. Doesn't make sense to me to own fine instruments and not use them. Wondering how other people go about rotating their arsenals for gigs, recording, practice, etc. I think I put way too much thought into selecting the right tool for the nights gig. Sure is fun though

My method:

P Bass - if the guitar player has a lot of highs and/or lows (Fender player, strat sound)

J Bass - if the guitar player has a lot of mids (Gibson player)

If no guitar player, flip a coin.

Five string - if I need it.

[Bert Slide]

I currently have a Rick, a stingray, two jazz basses and an upright. I've been looking for a P and then I will be content that I have everything I need. As for rotation I gig them all but currently am in two bands on DB and only one on EB and the jazzes work so well for that band that I usually just bring both of those.

[NYCbassist]

Originally Posted by Bert Slide

I currently have a Rick, a stingray, two jazz basses and an upright. I've been looking for a P and then I will be content that I have everything I need. As for rotation I gig them all but currently am in two bands on DB and only one on EB and the jazzes work so well for that band that I usually just bring both of those.

So no love for the RIC??

[HolmeBass]

My SSD ( think Spector) 4-string has been my workhorse for years. It sat very well in a dense pop band with acoustic guitar, and sound great with my Dead cover work. The SSD is also a workhorse in my new original music group which is doing ska, reggae,and rock. I back it up with my Warwick streamer stage I.

Recently I've been working on a vintage funk project, and some tunes, like the O'Jays "Love of Money" and most of the Stevie Wonder stuff just scream out for my 77 jazz, so it's cool to be in a project where that bass shines. Still some stuff in there will need the SSD too, so it's shaping up to be the first project where I see myself having to switch basses mid-set for certain songs.

[Bert Slide]

Originally Posted by NYCbassist

So no love for the RIC??

Love it and was gigging it regularly about 50/50 with a jazz. It's an '84 4001 and could do with a better setup and has some intonation issues up high. Great tone for a lot of the stuff we do but I fear it is suffering from the bridge issues common on old ricks. Neck relief looks good to me, but I have the string heights down almost as far as they will go and I can't get the action quite where I want it. The Jazzes are much more comfortable to play for long periods so I am temporarily retiring the rick from gigging until I can get a tech who knows more than me to check it out.

[Bassist4Eris]

For whatever band I'm with (I'm usually with two or three) I'll eventually settle on a main instrument, and maybe an alternate for certain songs.

[jmattbassplaya]

To me, it's all about the ability to hear myself in a mix. Because of that I tend to use EBMM StingRay basses pretty darn exclusively (although I'll dabble with new toys as they come in ).

[Ric5]

I go between owning 10 or 20 basses. I always take 2 or 3 basses. But chosing which ones can be hard.

[Darren Low]

Apart from not having enough money, this is the reason I try to control my GAS.

[thedudebrah]

Whatever matches your "outfit". Girls love that.

[Kmonk]

I bring an MIA Fender Jazz and an MIA Precision to every gig.