A resounding YES, IMO. I used to not think so until I showed up for a three hour gig and the hipshot tuner on my E string broke off in my hand while tuning during soundcheck. I had to use my backup bass...which I had considered not even bringing...
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Active bassists: Is a second bass necessary?
- Thread starter Amaru
- Start date
A resounding YES, IMO. I used to not think so until I showed up for a three hour gig and the hipshot tuner on my E string broke off in my hand while tuning during soundcheck. I had to use my backup bass...which I had considered not even bringing...
OK, you have no choice but to pay your rent.
If the other bass you have has to go, then do it and replace it with a cheaper backup, asap.
Active basses = batteries = battery failures = embarrassment.
If the other bass you have has to go, then do it and replace it with a cheaper backup, asap.
Active basses = batteries = battery failures = embarrassment.
IMO a second bass is necessary, but the more important thing here is paying your rent.
So, pay your rent, then get back on your feet and buy another bass.
So, pay your rent, then get back on your feet and buy another bass.
Sometimes heavy touring, playing every night for months on end. Playing pro--whether live or sessions for almost 20 years, so lots of playing time. Mostly sessions now. I'm not trying to sound like I'm doing something better than anybody else mind you--I'm just surprised 'cause I really have only broken one string in all that time! Some of my basses get new strings every few weeks (the ones that I like bright rounds on), my basses with flats I keep them on as loooong as possible. I have one P with what must by now be around 6 year old Labellas that I've played the heck out of. I lean towards the heaviest set any bass will handle, regardless of what brand/type of string, so maybe that's part of it. I play hard if the music requires that sound, but admittedly I'm not doing much of that these days--used to though. Pick, fingers, whatever the music calls for.
I guess I'm just lucky---Now I've probably completely jinxed myself though . . . .
I guess I'm just lucky---Now I've probably completely jinxed myself though . . . .
I've always brought a backup, and it has saved me . But if you can't pay the rent you know the priority. I will say that if you're going to gig with only one bass don't use Blue Steels. They will sound great then go rubbery and break without any warning. I have not had any problems with strings since switching. And I have heard the same story from several other bassists.
Maybe the denaturing alcohol has something to do with ? I know that if boil your string to get some zing back, they become brittle and will fail. Also, if you remove the strings a lot, there's bound to be some damage (crimping, twisting, etc.) at the peghead when you restring, so it might account for the string breaks.
yes. And an amp, tuner, cables - doubles of everything in your set up.
Honestly, who besides guitarists and bass guitarists carry a back up? not horn players, other players in the violin family, etc.
Keep spare strings cut to length (or an old set) and eat the $5 and change your battery every month.
Of course, I do carry a back up, usually, but I don't believe it's necessary. And I sold a P bass lyte dluxe to pay rent a bout 8 years ago - never missed it.
Honestly, who besides guitarists and bass guitarists carry a back up? not horn players, other players in the violin family, etc.
Keep spare strings cut to length (or an old set) and eat the $5 and change your battery every month.
Of course, I do carry a back up, usually, but I don't believe it's necessary. And I sold a P bass lyte dluxe to pay rent a bout 8 years ago - never missed it.
In my experience, I think it's much more likely (and common) for there to be an amp malfunction than a bass malfunction.
I've also had cords go bad.
I do believe it's a good idea to have a backup *just in case* but really, unless your nut breaks or the bridge falls off or the tuners somehow go south or the wiring harness craps out somewhere, the most common problem with a (passive) bass (I dislike actives so batteries and extraneous wiring isn't an issue for me) is string breakage. I can swap out a string in about 45 seconds.
I'd still, ideally, like to always have a backup, but after a point, what are you going to do? Have a backup bass, backup cords, backup effects (if you use 'em), a backup head and a backup cab?
Maybe in a perfect world you should, but that's a lot of expense and a lot to haul around from show to show.
I also disagree about having several basses for different tones. That's not necessary at all. I could see maybe needing a 6 or 8 string or something (not me, but some people) or a fretless for some tunes or something, but IMO if you need a half-dozen fancy basses to get different tones, then you just have a lame amp or one you don't know how to use.
A good head and EQ can get you just about any "tone" you are seeking if you know what you are doing and take time to experiment and keep track of your settings.
I've also had cords go bad.
I do believe it's a good idea to have a backup *just in case* but really, unless your nut breaks or the bridge falls off or the tuners somehow go south or the wiring harness craps out somewhere, the most common problem with a (passive) bass (I dislike actives so batteries and extraneous wiring isn't an issue for me) is string breakage. I can swap out a string in about 45 seconds.
I'd still, ideally, like to always have a backup, but after a point, what are you going to do? Have a backup bass, backup cords, backup effects (if you use 'em), a backup head and a backup cab?
Maybe in a perfect world you should, but that's a lot of expense and a lot to haul around from show to show.
I also disagree about having several basses for different tones. That's not necessary at all. I could see maybe needing a 6 or 8 string or something (not me, but some people) or a fretless for some tunes or something, but IMO if you need a half-dozen fancy basses to get different tones, then you just have a lame amp or one you don't know how to use.
A good head and EQ can get you just about any "tone" you are seeking if you know what you are doing and take time to experiment and keep track of your settings.
I bring two basses to every gig. I do use both during the show (and no, I can't get the 5-string active to tonally match the 4-string Jazz with light strings, no matter how much I change my amp settings...), but I use two different tunings for convenience.
If something happens to one bass, I can quickly grab the other, retune, and go.
-Mark
If something happens to one bass, I can quickly grab the other, retune, and go.
-Mark
I've always brought a backup, and it has saved me . But if you can't pay the rent you know the priority. I will say that if you're going to gig with only one bass don't use Blue Steels. They will sound great then go rubbery and break without any warning. I have not had any problems with strings since switching. And I have heard the same story from several other bassists.
It all depends. For live I agree, you can approximate most sounds with EQ and hand techniques, but not for recording. For example, for the work I do, I HAVE to have some basses with flats, some with rounds, at least one short-scale hollow or semi-hollow, etc. No amount of EQ tweakage can create the subtlety of tones that you get from those factors.
Aside from needing more than one bass for tonal or song specific reasons I've never carried more than one. I think the key is maintenance; the only time I ever broke a string was in '75 when I was young and dumb and didn't yet understand how important that is. Since then I just make sure things are in order on a regular basis (and always have a pack of fresh strings in my bag as well as a spare battery and basic hand tools) and have never had another problem in subsequent years of regular playing, recording and gigs.
As was mentioned by others here, there are lots of other things that can go wrong besides problems with your bass. Case in point; a few years ago on a gig a side fill monitor stand collapsed and the speaker cab fell chopping the cable from my bass to the amp in half. Fortunately the key board player had a spare I could use and now I carry an extra just in case.
I guess the bottom line is you do what feels best to you and good luck on your money situation. I really hope you don't have to sell one.
As was mentioned by others here, there are lots of other things that can go wrong besides problems with your bass. Case in point; a few years ago on a gig a side fill monitor stand collapsed and the speaker cab fell chopping the cable from my bass to the amp in half. Fortunately the key board player had a spare I could use and now I carry an extra just in case.
I guess the bottom line is you do what feels best to you and good luck on your money situation. I really hope you don't have to sell one.
I totally agree, recording is a completely different ball game than live gigs and I have lots of choices on hand for that purpose.
I usually have two basses, one fretted and one fretless. I can pretty much cover any song on either bass, but they're of course each geared towards doing different things. I'd like to have a backup to the fretted, maybe a cheap squier p-bass or something...
Anyway, the backup is not as necessary as paying your rent.
Anyway, the backup is not as necessary as paying your rent.
I agree as to the live vs. studio. I should have specified.
I also agree that it is next-to-impossible to replicate a hollowbody or flatwounds sound, even with a good amp.
The problem with this is setting the mix with the sound guy.
If you get the sound right and then start switching basses, it can be a hassle and you can get less than optimal sound.
Besides, unless you whip out an 8 or 12-stringer or switch to fretless, 98% of the audience is never going to know or care that you switched basses unless switching causes the sound to be poor or the volume softer.
Or unless you are playing classical stuff in a conservatory setting.
Thanks for all the advice, you guys really know your ****. I was never really concerned about variety of tones, more that a string would break midset. Looks like the P will go and be replaced by an SX or something similar.
Let us know. I know just thinking I was lucky not to get a flat on a team ride was enough for me to get one less than 1/4 mile after we hit the highway.
