How many of you gigging bassists own only one bass?

Lichtaffen · #1 08-30-2012, 08:50 AM

I gig twice a month with my present band and see no need to own more than one bass. I have a Lakland Joe Osborn and I love it to death. The band leader/producer loves my sound and has asked me to not change a thing (including string type). I sold all my other basses and I'm married to this one now. After years of buying/selling/trading I have my perfect sound (and look) and plan to be identified by it.

I know the argument for having backups, but he has a 51 P reissue that I could always grab if needed.

Anyone else fall into this category? You must own only one bass and be gigging.

**MostlyBass** · #2 08-30-2012, 08:51 AM

I own one electric and one upright. In 25 years of classical playing I've never needed a backup. Of course I wouldn't want to play anything other than my Solano bass anyways

MN_Bass · #3 08-30-2012, 08:53 AM

I have my one and only trusty P, 05 Lakland BG Skyline, it's well roadworn, but it takes whatever is thrown at it.

SoVeryTired · #4 08-30-2012, 08:56 AM

Depends on your definition of gigging... but I play live on a regular basis to a few hundred people at a time. And I only have one bass, one elctric guitar and one acoustic (I vary from week to week as to what I play, but bass most regularly).

If any of them failed there's a viable replacement either in the building (bass) or within a two-minute drive (guitars, via my brother-in-law).

I might feel differently if I was travelling and gigging but at the moment I know that I'm covered if anything goes wrong.

Dbassmon · #5 08-30-2012, 08:59 AM

Many bassists, including myself, like have a few different choices. P Bass, Jazz, Fretless, a bass strung with flats....etc.

A well maintained bass is about as reliable as it gets. Some will argue that a backup is good idea and that is hard to argue with although, I have never had a bass die on me, but it is possible.

Many of us enjoy playing different basses and have enough disposable income to afford more than one. They all have their own personality, so-to-speak, they play a little differently, sound differently and I get bored sometimes. Time to pull out the (which ever bass) and change things up. New bass, new ideas, renewed interest.

If you are a recording artist, some tunes call for different basses, if you don't have them, you can't play them. Helps to get recording gigs if the producer knows you have a varied arsenal of basses.

deshi00 · #6 08-30-2012, 09:00 AM

i did for a long time - now i own 4, 2 come with me to everyshow (they are in 2 different tunings, standard and drop c, so I have been considering bringing a 3rd as a back up in standard

Roscoe East · #7 08-30-2012, 09:03 AM

I don't exactly qualify for this club; I own seven basses, and I have on many occasions brought two or three at a time to a gig.

But -- ironically, or perhaps just inexplicably -- for many of my highest profile or most critical gigs, I have often brought only one bass. I have never needed a backup in almost 40 years of professional gigging, so the only reason I bring more than one instrument is if I need the expanded timbral palette a different instrument provides.

jlepre · #8 08-30-2012, 09:03 AM

I used to have over a half dozen EBMM basses. Because of financial constraints, I had to sell every single one. So for about 6 months I wasn't gigging, and had NO bass equipment. I have since bought 2 EBMM SR5's and a nice rig. I still wasn't really gigging, so I sold one of the SR5's to get another cab. Well now that I just started gigging again, I bought a backup (Schecter), and now I feel like I'm covered.

I like the idea of having a backup on a gig, even if I don't need it. I think in all my 30+ years of gigging, I've broken maybe 4 strings, and that was years ago, when I was digging in too much.

aasti3000 · #9 08-30-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlepre

I bought a backup (Schecter), and now I feel like I'm covered.

jlepre - How's that Specter P bass 5 string? So far so good? (sorry to be off topic)

jlepre · #10 08-30-2012, 09:13 AM

Well I had a chance to play this bass with a guitarist and drummer last night at a small jam. I have to say I was very impressed with how this bass really cut through the mix, but still had that Pbass thump. The controls are very sensitive, and it took me a few minutes to get the right combo. Pretty much half way on the tone, and 3/4 on the neck pup. Then I would adjust the bridge pup for the right amount of sizzle.

Next will be a live gig, but that won't be until October. So far I'm very impressed.

Edward G. · #11 08-30-2012, 09:14 AM

I used to be a one-bass guy for years, but now I think it's prudent to take a backup to a gig. Things fall over; connections come loose; stuff happens. As the infamous disclaimer for investments intones, past performance constitutes no guarantee for future results.

The show must go on, and I refuse to let it go on without me, so I take a spare. It's easy.

Lichtaffen · #12 08-30-2012, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward G.

As the infamous disclaimer for investments intones, past performance constitutes no guarantee for future results.

That is a very wise statement. I'm pretty sure at some point I'll buy another bass, but at this point I just want to focus entirely on one bass to the point that I know it like the back of my hand. We did have a gig in Philly (8 hours from me) where I brought the 51 P in a crappy gig bag as a backup. I always bring backups of all cables and a Sadowsky DI in case the amp craps out. I always have two cabs with me and I even have a backup amp at home if needed.

I didn't want this thread to focus on the backup concept. It was more an investigation to see if anyone has one instrument they stick to it exclusively.

SJan3 · #13 08-30-2012, 09:31 AM

For over 20 years I played a Stingray exclusively and never had a problem. Now I play a P or J depending on the gig. Rarely bring both so I guess I'm a 1 bass per gig guy!

xring · #14 08-30-2012, 10:02 AM

I do stick to one instrument exclusively. I have 5 basses, but my 2 mains are exactly the same, except for color. Haven't needed the back up yet, and will probably end up leaving it in the case at gigs instead of on the stand, ready to go. After thinking about it, maybe not - more apt to be stolen that way?

MIgroove22 · #15 08-30-2012, 10:26 AM

I have two basses, but my Fender Jazz bass is all taken apart and hasn't been played in probably a year. Good thing the only bass I need is my Rickenbacker 4003, which I love to death!

Lichtaffen · #16 08-30-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIgroove22

I have two basses, but my Fender Jazz bass is all taken apart and hasn't been played in probably a year. Good thing the only bass I need is my Rickenbacker 4003, which I love to death!

Put that Jazz back together!

Stilettoprefer · #17 08-30-2012, 11:06 AM

I always took two. My P and my Schecter.

The P only had a problem once. But it wasn't bad enough to stop me from playing it for the rest of the gig. It's tone was perfect for that band, so I didn't wanna swap out and readjust my amp to make the Schecter sound the same.

The Schecter had a problem once as well. The battery died during a marching band thing. Luckily my girlfriend had her P close by and I just used that for the rest of the game.

k31bassman · #18 08-30-2012, 11:07 AM

When I was gigging regularly (20 years ago), I never brought a backup. Just took my Alembic Series 1. Now I don't gig regularly and have about 10-12, depending on how I count them. Hmmm......

KeithKlaxwell · #19 08-30-2012, 11:18 AM

I've got about one half dozen basses in regular rotation for recording a lot of singer/songwriter, pop, rock, country. Precision does 75%, Hofner 10%, miscellaneous 10%, Jazz 5% if I had to guess the last few years in the studio. I really like contrasting tools but if I had to do it all on the P I wouldn't lose work over it.

CharlieD · #20 08-30-2012, 11:21 AM

I own more than one bass, but I usually just use one. Sometimes two if I need a fretless for something.