There's a good troll. I'd feed you some fresh truffles and pat your little troll head if I could.
You mean instead of sarcastic and insulting? Well, that wouldn't be much fun for some people.
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Always bring a backup bass!
- Thread starter Stinsok
- Start date
There's a good troll. I'd feed you some fresh truffles and pat your little troll head if I could.
You mean instead of sarcastic and insulting? Well, that wouldn't be much fun for some people.
A backup is like a seat-belt or a .45, better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. When seconds count the Police are only minutes away... Do you "backup guys" leave the backup in the case or on a stand on the stage in-reach and ready to go?
I'd take that if I felt like I deserve it, but I'm no troll here - the stated purpose of this thread is to debate the merits of bringing a backup bass to a gig, versus not. I'm simply representing one side of that argument.
I prefer mine ready to go on a stand at a safe distance.
I'll even play my back up occasionally. I guess I actually bring two Number Ones more than a "back up."
I disagree. I see you comparing the chances of a bass failure to the chances of an asteroid crashing onto the stage, and belittling someone who had a bass failure and the sense to buy a backup bass, and some of your other pissy comments, as not-so-veiled attempts to insult people's intelligence and get them "worked up," as you yourself put it.
I'm not really worked up about it, more bemused than anything, but I'll call it what it is nonetheless.
Are you kidding? It's on a stand where I can reach it at a moment's notice.
PS: I didn't feel criticized, and I certainly don't feel like I'm being hard on myself. I do feel obliged to point out that my wife has nothing in particular to say about whether I spend money on equipment...she's good with me being out 3-4 nights a week if it means she never has to visit the ATM for cash. Besides, as she often points out, I'm much easier to live with when I'm playing a lot than when I'm not.
M. Owen Santy
Inactive
- Aug 10, 2011
- 274
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- Michael Tobias Designs Kingston Series & Traynor Amps Artist
I always have a second as I switch at times during a set. Both are run wireless (one into active jack the other passive) and I adjust the volume to equal levels on the back of the receivers.
Even if not running like this - if you keep your wireless transmitter strapped to your shoulder strap and use strap locks on both basses - you can change out damn quickly
Then again never bring more than two (unless a special IE fretless, etc...). This just pisses off guitar players and within a week they will have 8 on stage just to satisfy their egos....
I keep an Overton Flyweight head on hand as well. Theses micro heads are great to have on hand, especially for tube-amp users. @ 2.3 lbs, I never leave home without it
Even if not running like this - if you keep your wireless transmitter strapped to your shoulder strap and use strap locks on both basses - you can change out damn quickly
Then again never bring more than two (unless a special IE fretless, etc...). This just pisses off guitar players and within a week they will have 8 on stage just to satisfy their egos....
I keep an Overton Flyweight head on hand as well. Theses micro heads are great to have on hand, especially for tube-amp users. @ 2.3 lbs, I never leave home without it
As someone who has had to miss an orchestral performance because of bass issues, and had to cover for another player because of bass issues... most don't carry backup because of cost.
I don't think the orchestra analogy holds much water. Orchestras feature more than one of just about everything (in sections). You lose one, it doesn't have the same impact as when the sole electric bass crashes. I know some orchestra types, and they tell me there are often spare instruments backstage. That being the case, I also don't think you could reasonably fault someone for not bringing two double basses.
But the last saxophonist I played with always brought two saxes to the gig. Every time.
Even though you bought it as a backup, you've really fallen into another truth: A Fender Jazz (0r P) really can't do it all. No it's not an Ibby, it's not down-tuned for a couple songs, it's not fretless, it's not 6 strings and on and on. If you are going to have two basses on stage, it's dumb to just play one and say, "well,that other one is just in case things go wrong. People do that with two identical basses. To me my one bass would have to be REALLY "signature" for me to do that.
One of the local pros always has his Fender and his Ibanez. He always uses both and always rocks the house. For me it's often fretted and fretless or solid body and hollow body. If I don't need two basses ready to go, then the backup is in the truck or backstage (depending on my judgement as to how much of a sudden delay can be tolerated by the venue).
To me "backup" isn't about some second bass where you then say "if the worst happens I'll grab this". It's about thinking about the question: "What will I do if the worst happens and will THAT work at this gig? It's about a plan, not just some one size fit's all "insurance". Take my word for it, if your plan is too big of a pain, pretty soon you won't be doing it!
And sure strings do break and if you planned ahead enough to have spares that can be a backup. (playing on three strings is not much of a backup plan) I've had PASSIVE basses short out and quit. I've had active basses just cack it right on stage and it WASN'T the battery. (active basses with a passive mode are a big savior...too bad all my actives aren't that way) I've had the strap button screw just snap off at the bass surface. I'm sure there are more if I thought for a while.
The question is not "do you have a backup bass?" The real question is "what is your backup plan?" Decent plans may or may not include a backup bass on stage.
Just started a new band - I'm in my early 40's, as are the other guys. We just started gigging. One of the guitarists brings three guitars with him (a 12-string, and two for other sounds). I came to our second performance, and he asked me, "Did you bring a backup bass?" I said "Nope." He asked "Did you bring backup strings?" I said "Nope - took the hard case, and forgot to take my spares out of my gig bag." OK - I tune up - have a relatively new 5-string that's a good quality instrument - well cared for, etc. After doing our sound check, the second guitarist (who brought two guitars with him) comes over in my direction to talk, and knocks my bass off the stand and onto the floor. Thankfully, it went down slowly, and nothing happened. However, if something had happened - we would've been screwed. How do you think the other guys would have felt, after lugging all of their gear to the show and setting up? Major effort. There was no other band at this benefit venue to borrow a bass. If something had happened to my bass - show would've been over, and bandmates likely not too thrilled with me. Morale of the story - forget about broken strings, bad pots, or other remote equipment possibilities. How about the stupid luck of someone bumping over your guitar? I just bought a second 5-string, and plan to buy a double bass bag to bring to gigs. I will likely never have to use it - but I likely will never have to use my homeowner's insurance either -- both give you peace of mind. It also gave me a good excuse to GAS it up and get a second 5-string axe of equal quality - however, if I was just trying for redundancy - a cheapie would have been just fine as an insurance policy. My recent experience and this thread's share of nightmares has sold me that it's just prudent if you can afford the $$ and can deal with lugging around an extra 10 pounds.
Any ideas what you'd do had the headstock split off the bass? You may say "pack up", but dude, the show must go on! How about playing bass lines on the four low strings of one of the backup guitars the bandmates brought. Believe it or not, I actually HAVE done this!
A backup bass is a much better plan!
The only time I ever went to a gig with only one bass was when I was young and too poor to own a second one. I always take 2 basses and it has saved me on several occasions. Broken strings, dead preamp battery, and other mishaps that would have stopped the set are no problem when you can grab a backup and keep going.
I bring two basses to all the shows I play because there I never know whats going to happen. I keep my gear in good working order and I do a run down of all my gear before I leave for the show. I don't keep my back up on stage but it is nice to know that if it hits the fan I still have a bass to play. I also bring spare cables and a spare guitar in case one of the guitar players have an issue. I have never needed them so far. To be honest the most important thing I bring is my Eden WTDI. In case my amp or cab craps out on me I still have a signal going to FOH.
Although I’ve yet to need it, I’ve always brought a backup bass. I’m not interested in changing a string or soldering during the gig, so both basses are regular gig basses. Most are bar/restaurant/small-club gigs, but I wouldn’t feel any less horrible if I held up the show.
Played a couple years with a guitarist who would not bring a backup, so I’d bring one. It would just sit off to the side in a case, just in case something serious happened. I’d even bring (for him) a power supply from my music-room pedal board (but not consistently, as it got used there weekly), but once while setting up, his power supply wasn’t working, and I hadn’t brought it. Fortunately it was an earlier-evening start and a GC not too far away.
Never needed the backup guitar, as he’d play through a song with a broken string and change it between songs. He was quick, but it was a drag.
Played a couple years with a guitarist who would not bring a backup, so I’d bring one. It would just sit off to the side in a case, just in case something serious happened. I’d even bring (for him) a power supply from my music-room pedal board (but not consistently, as it got used there weekly), but once while setting up, his power supply wasn’t working, and I hadn’t brought it. Fortunately it was an earlier-evening start and a GC not too far away.
Never needed the backup guitar, as he’d play through a song with a broken string and change it between songs. He was quick, but it was a drag.
