Absolute Gear for working bass player

Precision or Jazz bass
DR Hi-Beams

Oh yeah, and skill.

 

A BASS
An Amp
The Knowledge of how to make sound come out of his instrument.

Sorry man I couldn't resist. Everyone is going to have different opinions. I guess if you are a pro-studio guy, you may want to have a Jazz and a P bass, a tube amp and then maybe a solid state amp to choose from.

Just different strokes for different fokes.

 

Knowledge will get you farther than gear.. Have your chops down.. Be able to sight read... Develop your improvisational skills

 

A good set of headphones.

 

IMHO:

A good P-bass and a good modern sounding bass (these days a 5 string is pretty handy on the modern tip, but make sure the bass still has a solid warmth to the sound), a tuner, a reliable amp that you know how to get a good sound from quickly, and ideally can carry yourself, a good sounding DI, and enough of a supply of strings that you'll never ever show up to a rehersal/gig/session with dead strings, extra batteries for anything that needs them.

If you're going to be trying to join a rock band, having some components to add to a collective PA can be very helpful, even if its just for rehersals.

 

When/if this thread reaches a couple of pages, we should have an attached poll to find out how many of those who post are actually "professional" (i.e making a living as) bass players.



Hence, I will offer no opinion. I would like to hear what is said by those who make their living as a bassist.

 

Ok then..

Bass, strap, strings, cord and at the very least a good, reliable combo amp with a direct out..

JMO

 

Ooooh! I can answer this one!

A bass and any sort of amp/speaker capable of putting out at least 300 watts. That's about it. It's nice to have a Fender of some sort, but many bassists prove every day it's not necessary to own a Fender. Studio bassists, yes, they should own a Fender or two. Live bassists can pretty much use anything.

 

I don't see what money has to do with it, frankly. You can be a "working bass player" at a semi-pro ("trying to go-pro") level, be busting your ass doing sessions and club dates and not clearing a dime, and your opinion on this thread would be perhaps more valuable than someone who eeks out a living playing a standing gig at a hotel (or whatever).

I, for one, have never made a significant amount of money playing music, but have been in a band signed to a major, and have in the past worked very very very hard at the "business" of making music. Money and art don't get along.

 

I'd add a good DI to the list if he/she is a gigging bassist.

 

-Emergency repair toolkit that goes with you to every gig and includes a few screwdrivers, allen wrench set, pliers, wire cutters, etc.

-Extra 9v batteries

-A heavy duty electrical strip

-Duct tape

Lonnybass

 

I have worked as a session or working player, and still do.
Early on, I payed attention to interviews of my favorite session bassists like Wimbish, T-bone, and Randy Jackson on their reccomendations and my experiences now has the same.

Multiple basses; active and passive 4's, and a 5, and always have a backup for your main players. Flexibilty is key, and having basses for specific jobs keeps employers happy.

Amps; either a modular that you can strip down or add to for small or big jobs, or I think even better is having a big rig and a small combo, because you can use one as a backup if need be. Again probably a backup head if for you modular because you never want to be caught with no working amp.

Tool box that has emergency stuff; a DI box, plenty of batteries, spare cables and replacement jacks both for cables and a bass, various size screwdrivers and a couple wrenches, cutters, extra strands of wire, and most important a soldering iron, spare fuses, tubes, power strip and an extension cord,

A good reliable vehicle.

 

HI

A good bass, quality amp with a good DI, quality mic and stand if u sing, cables for the mic and bass, extra bass strings, tools in case something breaks, tuner, working vehicle to get u there, good attitude, practice, practice, practice

Always a good idea to have backup equipment for all i listed above, especially the cables and bass.

Rob

 

All you really need is knowledge. Some places already have basses and some houses have their amps/PAs in place. That is extreme, but you did ask for essentials.

Realistically, you need a bass, amp, chord, strap if you stand. A tuner, backup bass, and some sets of strings would be really nice.

 

1- A wide, comfortable strap.
2- Earplugs.
3- An understanding and supporting wife/girlfriend (because the low $$, the long hours, and the groupies!!!)

 

+1

It's possible (in fact, it's quite likely) that most of the gigging players here care as much about the gigs they play as the guys who do it for food, clothing and shelter. After all, the big guys are getting paid well for their work- we're the ones who struggle to fit our gigs/rehearsals/practices in with our real jobs/lives. Time is money, and we have less of both because we love playing.

 

Jazz
Good DI
Spare strings in the truckloads

 

A monkey and a plywood violin.

 

At least one hand.