Do you really have the whole band stop and do nothing if one person is unable to play temporarily for whatever reason?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Always bring a backup bass!
- Thread starter Stinsok
- Start date
Do you really have the whole band stop and do nothing if one person is unable to play temporarily for whatever reason?
No, but thanks for the advice.
The tiny risk of something going wrong with Bass 1 does not compare to the larger risk of Bass 2 getting stolen while I'm onstage.
Funny thing, I never bring a backup, and I average 80 plus gigs a year, and I have never had a bass to die on me, that wasn't easily addressed like replacing the battery. On the other hand, I have had amps die in the middle of the 1st set of a 4 set gig. Once, I had my wife to drive over an hour to bring me my backup head....she was not happy. I really inspect my instruments before every gig. I have never popped a string....nothing has ever happened to my basses. I do keep a REDDI DI in my car just in case my amp dies. I have had an SWR, Gallien Krueger and a Mesa head to just stop working. I bought an Epifani head, 7 years ago, and it has never failed.
He's our vocalist and band leader, too. If he's going to be a tard, we don't have much of a choice. Being in a dance club, having songs without bass doesn't fly. People need that rumble & it really helps to lock in the rhythm.
Here's something that might come as a revelation to you. Have BOTH on stage with you. It makes the switch faster, when needed.
Count yourself among the lucky.
it depends on the performance as to wether i bring more than one bass. if its a bar and we have 45 min - 1 hr set with other bands on the bill... 1 bass for sure. if I were playing a multi set or muti hour gig or outdoors 3-4 basses.
never broke a string, killed a battery or pot, but have had a nicely set up bass lay the strings on the neck one night when i got to the venue. oh well.
never broke a string, killed a battery or pot, but have had a nicely set up bass lay the strings on the neck one night when i got to the venue. oh well.
I never bring a back up either and broke a string a few weeks back at a gig...made me think hard but still it took me less than a minute to change a string.
I always bring two guitars and two guitar amps to gigs but never dual bass gear.
I have had guitar amps die on me a few times but my Bass amp has always worked fine. Haven't blown a speaker either which is supposed to be not unheard of with the Hartke silver faced speakers.
I have broken a bass string one time but it was not at a gig thankfully. I change them before they get too rough.
One time I busted the volume knob off a bass amp getting it out of the car. Luckily I was able to use a knife to set crank it and used the instrument volume to set the over all volume.
I have had guitar amps die on me a few times but my Bass amp has always worked fine. Haven't blown a speaker either which is supposed to be not unheard of with the Hartke silver faced speakers.
I have broken a bass string one time but it was not at a gig thankfully. I change them before they get too rough.
One time I busted the volume knob off a bass amp getting it out of the car. Luckily I was able to use a knife to set crank it and used the instrument volume to set the over all volume.
I've had nothing but luck with my bass rigs at gigs, but that's not to say things won't happen. My Ampeg PF-500 head bit the dust a couple weeks ago at a jam 2 days before a gig. Think of what would have happened had that head died DURING the gig. :S This was a venue with a limited PA & no no good sound system. I wasn't using DI into the board, because the system couldn't handle it.
Well there you go! With that Epifani head you not only can forget a backup bass and backup strings, but you can take that DI out of the car as well. However, I'd keep the rabbit's foot on your keychain.
Never played anywhere good enough or important enough that the bass couldn't drop out for half a song to change a string. Guess I am faster than you guys because I can change one in 3 minute flat.
Played dozens of gigs with one trusty- P-Bass. Thing is built to last without all types of "artificial" preamps and nonsense. Sue me.
Only own one bass currently, may buy a second when I have the $$, but still will only take 1 to my level of gigs. (Typical Bar crap) Sorry to be the voice of reason, nobody cares if your bass drops out for half a song, originals/or covers, unless it is a more bass oriented song, like Brick House, etc...
Played dozens of gigs with one trusty- P-Bass. Thing is built to last without all types of "artificial" preamps and nonsense. Sue me.
Only own one bass currently, may buy a second when I have the $$, but still will only take 1 to my level of gigs. (Typical Bar crap) Sorry to be the voice of reason, nobody cares if your bass drops out for half a song, originals/or covers, unless it is a more bass oriented song, like Brick House, etc...
How exactly is taking a backup being a pro. Are you saying that working musicians who choose not take a backup aren't a pro or are that they are a pretender? That statement is pretty narrow minded. I could just as easily reverse that by saying if you are a pro, you don't need the extra hassle of taking duplicates of everything.
I think you can be a pro and only take one bass to a gig.
An edgy risky pro. Get away with it long enough, you're a most fortunate pro.
Get burned by the fickle finger of fate, you're a pro with a dumb look on your face getting the stink eye from those around you (in my world at least).
But yeah, you're still a pro, if it makes you feel better.
I don't know what kind of stadiums y'all play, but I usually have no room for extra gear onstage.
I think you can be a pro and only take one bass to a gig.
An edgy risky pro. Get away with it long enough, you're a most fortunate pro.
Get burned by the fickle finger of fate, you're a pro with a dumb look on your face getting the stink eye from those around you (in my world at least).
But yeah, you're still a pro, if it makes you feel better.
Perhaps I'm just not paranoid about such things. I've been playing for over 45 years so I think I fall into the "Pro" category. I don't think it's risky or unfortunate. You have your opinion as do I so that should be enough.
And I hope whatever band i ma playing with is "Pro" enough, that they won't stop a song, just because I cut out, I have had more amp problems than anything else playing live. With heads cutting out, etc.. than bass ones.
I've played some very tight quarters gigs and had two basses on stage. I switch between fretted and fretless and so having two with me is kind of essential. And a good idea.
Ever had to hustle through Hartsfield or O'Hare with two basses strapped to your back trying vainly to make a connection? If you haven't, come back and tell me it's no extra effort after you do.
Travel can be a problem, agreed, but I don't bring gig bags onto planes.
I have had the backline provider add a Fender Jazz or P to the equipment list. Usually a fairly recent MIM or MIA. If you pay a fretless 8 string, you would be S.O.L.
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
Not a necessity, but I always bring a backup. I've had more than my share of string breaks and electronics issues that it's just easier to keep a second bass tucked away on a stand for the convenient 10-second swap out.
