1 bass or 2 for gigs

[Jugghaid]

Would love to know the real breakdown between those who play in original only bands vs cover bands. I'm in the original only camp, thus it really matters to me how it goes off.....guess when you pop a string or battery goes dead during mustang sally, you just take another shot, walk off stage and drive home.

I play in both and prepare the same.

 

[wjcstp]

The main difference seems to be level of professionalism for the gig. Sure, if you're getting paid to play a wedding or other event you should do what's necessary to make sure it goes smoothly, bring redundancy for everything. On the other hand, plenty of smaller clubs have very little space to stash gear, so it would be a bit much to bring 5 basses and 2 amps if you're playing a 30-minute opener at a bar and you have friends in the other bands who can bail you out if something breaks.

 

[ctmullins]

Would love to know the real breakdown between those who play in original only bands vs cover bands. I'm in the original only camp, thus it really matters to me how it goes off.....guess when you pop a string or battery goes dead during mustang sally, you just take another shot, walk off stage and drive home.

You seem to be suggesting that the expected level of professionalism and preparedness is somehow higher for an originals band, and that "mere" cover bands can approach things much more casually.

If that's what you're suggesting, then I think that's a pretty crappy attitude.

 

[murphy]

Murphy is immortal !

I'm not feeling it!

 

[Geri O]

You seem to be suggesting that the expected level of professionalism and preparedness is somehow higher for an originals band, and that "mere" cover bands can approach things much more casually.

If that's what you're suggesting, then I think that's a pretty crappy attitude.

Totally.

 

[bass12]

I usually bring just one bass. Maybe it's a Montreal thing, but I don't know any local professional bassists who bring two to bar or club gigs. Larger gigs and tours might be a different thing.

 

[JC BASS 91]

October of '23 I was at a private party gig, 45 minutes from home. I only had the bass I had selected to play that evening, a 2000 Carvin LB-70. Soundcheck went great. We got up to start set one and I went to check tuning and noticed my A string was out. Tuned it and watch the tuner on my GT-6B slide back out of tune (flat). Tried again. Same thing. Then I tuned it and looked at the tuning peg. I tuned it, watch the tuner stay still while the POST slipped. Then, this happened.

So, there I am, 45 minutes from home with a dead bass. Fortunately, someone in the audience that lived 5 minutes away had a bass I could borrow. It wasn't ideal, but I made it work. Our drummer told me afterwards how impressed he was that I was able to take that bass and rock the entire show with it.

I now have a double gig bag and have two basses at every show. This bass, built from a kit, pretty much lives in the back portion of that double gig bag and is my 'permanent backup'. I won't gig without a backup ever again.

I have since replaced all of the knockoff Carvin-branded tuners on that Carvin bass, including replacement of the knockoff 'Hipshot' Xtender key. I didn't think of it that night, but I probably could have made due with that bass by swapping out the G string tuner for the A string tuner and gotten by.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

My motto for most things is one is none, two is one. I like having a backup for everything. Saves a lot of frustration. Insurance policy for free.

 

[Sufenta]

Always two. I changed my 9v right before we went on one show and that was the moment the wire to the battery box broke. Would have been screwed if I didn't have a back up.

 

[shoot-r]

Two.....always.

I feel being prepared for problems while playing live, (a back-up amp head, strings, cords, bass, ect.), is just being professionally respectful to the band I'm working with and especially to the audience I'm playing for.

 

[RavenousPoe]

Further question for those that bring two, because you all are making me paranoid

I try to have my setup built around one trip so that I can help the drummer and stand by any unloaded gear for the sake of preventing theft. Do you all have something similar to the Mono Dual Case to carry two at once, or two totally separate cases/gig bags and make multiple trips?

 

[groovepump]

2 Basses
2 Heads
2 Cabs (unless I bring a 4 x 10)
Multiple cables.. both instrument and speaker
Extra Strings
Tool set

Exactly... Agreed. I do the same. And I have used my backup amp at a gig. I loaned it to the lead guitarist when his glorious tube amp went into
thermal limit and did not recover. He used my Ampeg BA210 head, and after the gig told me it sounded pretty good for guitar. I also carry spare
guitar strings, because the guitarists always break strings, but never seem to be able to find their own back-up sets. And, not surprisingly, neither guitarist carries ANY tools.

 

[vindibona1]

A backup? Not yet. On my regular Friday gigs there is a house bass I could use in an emergency. I really should carry extra strings, though bass strings are pretty tought. When I gave my first bass away in 2007 that I purchased in 1967 it still had the strings on that I had installed, again in 1967. I have done stupid stuff winding strings with a drill-winder, winding the wrong way and over-tightened a string or two in my days. Never had a string let loose in a rehearsal or gig.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Always 2 basses.

A cable in case the wireless fails.

A DI box in case my amp fails.

A spare mic in case my vocal mic dies.

Tape, tie wraps and extra cables for other issues.

I try to be prepared.

 

[Geri O]

Further question for those that bring two, because you all are making me paranoid

I try to have my setup built around one trip so that I can help the drummer and stand by any unloaded gear for the sake of preventing theft. Do you all have something similar to the Mono Dual Case to carry two at once, or two totally separate cases/gig bags and make multiple trips?

Mono Dual Bass case.

Goes on my shoulders just like my single-bass ProTec cases. It’s a little heavier, but manageable.

 

[NeilJazz]

October of '23 I was at a private party gig, 45 minutes from home. I only had the bass I had selected to play that evening, a 2000 Carvin LB-70. Soundcheck went great. We got up to start set one and I went to check tuning and noticed my A string was out. Tuned it and watch the tuner on my GT-6B slide back out of tune (flat). Tried again. Same thing. Then I tuned it and looked at the tuning peg. I tuned it, watch the tuner stay still while the POST slipped. Then, this happened.

View attachment 7178156

So, there I am, 45 minutes from home with a dead bass. Fortunately, someone in the audience that lived 5 minutes away had a bass I could borrow. It wasn't ideal, but I made it work. Our drummer told me afterwards how impressed he was that I was able to take that bass and rock the entire show with it.

View attachment 7178157


I now have a double gig bag and have two basses at every show. This bass, built from a kit, pretty much lives in the back portion of that double gig bag and is my 'permanent backup'. I won't gig without a backup ever again.

View attachment 7178160


I have since replaced all of the knockoff Carvin-branded tuners on that Carvin bass, including replacement of the knockoff 'Hipshot' Xtender key. I didn't think of it that night, but I probably could have made due with that bass by swapping out the G string tuner for the A string tuner and gotten by.

This happened to my bass as well. Good thing it was just a rehearsal. When doing paid/professional gigs I always bring a bass even if it just sit in the car just incase of emergency. Nowadays, I have a MONO dual gig bag that I am using to bring 2 basses to the gig.

 

[Jugghaid]

Further question for those that bring two, because you all are making me paranoid

I try to have my setup built around one trip so that I can help the drummer and stand by any unloaded gear for the sake of preventing theft. Do you all have something similar to the Mono Dual Case to carry two at once, or two totally separate cases/gig bags and make multiple trips?

I have a dual Mono bag. Works great. But I don't load in in one trip. Two at a minimum.

 

[ctmullins]

October of '23 I was at a private party gig, 45 minutes from home. I only had the bass I had selected to play that evening, a 2000 Carvin LB-70. Soundcheck went great. We got up to start set one and I went to check tuning and noticed my A string was out. Tuned it and watch the tuner on my GT-6B slide back out of tune (flat). Tried again. Same thing. Then I tuned it and looked at the tuning peg. I tuned it, watch the tuner stay still while the POST slipped. Then, this happened.

View attachment 7178156

So, there I am, 45 minutes from home with a dead bass. Fortunately, someone in the audience that lived 5 minutes away had a bass I could borrow. It wasn't ideal, but I made it work. Our drummer told me afterwards how impressed he was that I was able to take that bass and rock the entire show with it.

View attachment 7178157


I now have a double gig bag and have two basses at every show. This bass, built from a kit, pretty much lives in the back portion of that double gig bag and is my 'permanent backup'. I won't gig without a backup ever again.

View attachment 7178160


I have since replaced all of the knockoff Carvin-branded tuners on that Carvin bass, including replacement of the knockoff 'Hipshot' Xtender key. I didn't think of it that night, but I probably could have made due with that bass by swapping out the G string tuner for the A string tuner and gotten by.

Good on ya! Be sure and give your spare a run-thru every month or so, to make sure it’s still working properly.

 

[2saddleslab]

Further question for those that bring two, because you all are making me paranoid

I try to have my setup built around one trip so that I can help the drummer and stand by any unloaded gear for the sake of preventing theft. Do you all have something similar to the Mono Dual Case to carry two at once, or two totally separate cases/gig bags and make multiple trips?

Mono Dual Bass case.

Goes on my shoulders just like my single-bass ProTec cases. It’s a little heavier, but manageable.

Mono Dual for me as well. Two trips are typical for me but when one is necessary the shoulder straps are a welcome feature.

 

[dougjwray]

Would love to know the real breakdown between those who play in original only bands vs cover bands. I'm in the original only camp, thus it really matters to me how it goes off.....guess when you pop a string or battery goes dead during mustang sally, you just take another shot, walk off stage and drive home.

Yes, but if you ruin "Brown-Eyed Girl", the crowd might threaten you with physical harm.