1 bass or 2 for gigs

[Faith Nicole]

Usually just one. Recently with neck issues and post surgery I've been bringing 2, each hang differently off my shoulders. I'll also bring 2 if one of them is a new acquisition, just in case the new one fails or doesn't sound good enough in a live setting.

 

[Blue]

I brought none once …
By the time I drove home and returned, the band was starting the last set. We were not rehired.

 

[LowActionHero]

I started bringing a backup when we started doing alot of out of town gigs. I always left it in the truck. Never needed it.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Usually one. I bring extra strings (the old set from the last change). In most cases, the ods are far greater that someone will steal a bass thn you having an issue.

If the gig is important (as I you are playing for a record contract), or is responsible for paying your rent AND you are assured the second instrument will be safe (you are the only band/the instrument will be locked up), I would consider a backup.

 

[2saddleslab]

We play 75% 1/2 step down so I bring 2 basses, each tuned separately, which gives me a builtin backup.

 

[Core Creek]

One and done. Extra strings are packed, extra batteries, and I can run passive if the active circuit dies. I prefer to pack light.

 

[Altitude]

Anybody who wants to bring two basses to your gigs should, by all means.

If you have it in your mind that you need one as a contingency against failure, I’d ask if you carry redundant copies of these other things that are all way more likely to fail than a bass:

- cables
- strings
- batteries
- pedals
- power strips
- an amp head
- a speaker cabinet
- your car

Also where are you leaving your spare bass? Does it occupy some of the 4 square feet of stage you get? Does it sit in a case leaning against the wall near the door? In your car out on the street?

Again, you do you. I just take one. Been at it a while. Bunch of guys just have one.

 

[eldorado2001]

Backup everything.

 

[climber]

I've been playing professionally (truth) for 60 years. unless I needed both fretted and frettless I only bring a single bass. that said I do bring a spare set of strings, an extra cable, extra 9 volt and all my basses can switch to passive. I also do not bring a spare amp or cabinet. I suppose there could be a total disaster where the bass is destroyed, but that would put everything on a completely different level and I would probably just pack up and go home. LOL

the most disastrous thing that's ever happened was at a pretty big concert 3 years ago. it was at a large venue that has a backline. I plugged into their SVT with the refrigerator cabinet that I'd used many times before. I turned it on and it literally smoked! they didn't have a backup for it so I ended up playing through a JBL monitor. it didn't sound too band, and since we were all in DI's the audience never knew.

 

[ad9000]

I do a couple of gigs where the music is diverse enough that it's appropriate to bring a modern sounding bass, an old-school sounding P-bass with flats (and sometimes Nordy Mute) and upright bass. I don't like shlepping all of that gear, but in one case especially the paycheck justifies it. I also play in a couple of other situations where I might bring a 5-string and the P-bass. I keep them both plugged into an A/B box for easy changing.

If I can get away with it I prefer to bring just one bass. If I bring an active bass that doesn't have an easy battery change I will bring another bass to grab on the fly. I do try to keep on top of battery life in the active basses though, so that hasn't been an issue for a long time.

 

[climber]

...I always left it in the truck.

YIKES

 

[31HZ]

I have someone follow the band in a spare van pulling a spare trailer, with the spare PA, spare bass rig, full generator setup and the spare bass player, because I'M A PRO AND THE SHOW MUST GO ON

 

[JakobT]

I always bring two basses, two tube amp heads, two 810 cabs, my twin brother, and a spare band for good measure.

Just kidding, of course. I find the current obsession with redundancy to be a little over the top, myself. In the case of a big act on an international tour, I can understand it - but for most bands I know, including those I play in, it’s neither convenient nor necessary. Murphy’s law dictates that the one thing to fail will be the one you haven’t brought a backup for anyway, so you might as well save your strength for the gig instead of schlepping about lots of unnecessary gear.

I bring whatever the gig dictates, which is usually one bass and my Rumble 500, plus the gear that’s always in my gig bag. There are times when I need more stuff, but then I just bring whatever it is that I need. I certainly don’t double up on stuff «just in case».

 

[chris_b]

Bringing 2 basses isn't a hassle, and there isn't a "backup". I try both during the sound check and use the one I prefer on that gig.

I have also swapped amps during the sound check, if I find myself in a "difficult" sounding room.

 

[sleddogn]

Anybody who wants to bring two basses to your gigs should, by all means.

If you have it in your mind that you need one as a contingency against failure, I’d ask if you carry redundant copies of these other things that are all way more likely to fail than a bass:

- cables
- strings
- batteries
- pedals
- power strips
- an amp head
- a speaker cabinet
- your car

Also where are you leaving your spare bass? Does it occupy some of the 4 square feet of stage you get? Does it sit in a case leaning against the wall near the door? In your car out on the street?

Again, you do you. I just take one. Been at it a while. Bunch of guys just have one.

extra bass...yes
cables.... yes,
strings....yes
batteries....yes
don't use pedals other than tuner
powerstrip....yes
amp head....yes class D Tiny and goes everywhere just in case tube amp dies
cabinet...NO
Car .... come on..

and yes extra bass lives right behind rig in case...

not rocket science fella's...... but just do you

 

[Polfuste]

Part of the always 2 team. 2 failures, + 1 other bassist failure that i saved with lending him my bass.

 

[Ritter667]

I( haven't gigged for almost 20 years, but back when I did I ever only brought 1 bass, in fact it was all I owned back then.

Never turned out a problem.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

There is only so much space in the car. Extra strings, extra battery, but one bass usually.

 

[ILIA]

After decades of gigging and thousands of gigs and 10's of thousands of hours playing, my advice is to know your gear and whether it's gig-ready. Yes, bad things happen, but you're much more likely to experience a failure if the only time you touch any gear is on a gig. If you're regularly using your bass and in tune with it's state at all times, you're much more likely to catch anything before it becomes a problem.

Exceptions do exist. My worst was when a tuning peg on my upright broke without warning while tuning my bass. Carrying a spare bass wasn't an option and I had to have new wooden pegs turned for my 150yr old bass. Those will probably last another 150yrs, at which time it won't be my problem. It's otherwise pretty rare for a bass to outright fail without some warning signs, if you're paying attention.

^^This^^

If a bassist is playing & practicing regularly and performing regularly on a singular main instrument, the instrument gets "checked" everyday for many hours. So, any problems with the gear will get caught and fixed.

OTOH, if a bassist is juggling many basses, there is an increased chance of gear failure, because that bassist is not spending enough time on a single instrument because they are spreading their attention.

 

[GrapeBass]

Do u guys bring a backup bass to gigs? I’ve been gigging for the last 10 years pretty consistently and have never taken 2 basses. I do have extra strings and batteries but have never even needed those. My amp did die recently so I just went direct and problem solved.

What’s everyone think

While it would be nice to bring a couple of basses (or more) to a gig, IME, it depends on the actual gig itself. Most don't warrant more than one for many reasons including how much time and/or space you have. Logistical reasons. Ideally, I'd love to bring 2 or 3 but usually bring only one.