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Always bring a backup bass!

#21
I've been playing 100 gigs a year for the last 10 years and have never taken a backup bass with me. Lucky, I guess.

Although I can see that even though I constantly maintain my basses and most of my basses have quality components, something unexpected could happen. My only fear is broken solders. . . those you never see coming unless you open up the bass periodically and check them. . .
 
#24
I always take all 3 of my basses to gigs (they all get used at some point in the set). I also have at least one set of spare strings in each basses case, since they're strung with different gauges. Then I have my C.Y.A. box, it's the tote I use to store my patches and power cords (as well as spare speaker cables, xlr mic cables, and spare guitard strings) in, but the top is a flip up/tool box divider dealie that houses: leatherman tool, pocket tuner, allen wrench sets in metric and sae, small flashlight, de-oxit, a small spool of solder and a coldheat battery powered soldering iron, micro-screwdrivers, a passle of 9 volts, gorilla tape, a lighter, a tube of super glue,a pack of razor blades and 2 extra 12ax7 tubes. Overkill? Maybe....but my guitar player also carries a similar C.Y.A. kit, and we've Covered other band's @$$es on more than one occasion when they weren't as prepared as we are.
 
#26
I did my first paid gig when I was 13 now I'm 50. Many of those years where spent as a full time player. I'm all for the belt and suspenders approach if that's what it takes to make you feel comfortable and professional but, I have never had a bass let me down. Not once. NEVER.

Buy quality, take care of it, pay attention to it and it will be the most reliable thing in your life.

You know what doesn't do much for your reputation? Having gear so crappy and poorly maintained that you need to have two with you at all times.

IMHO
 
#29
I used to put EMG's in all of my basses for about a ten year span. And I was so afraid of batteries going dead, after it happened to me one night onstage, that I would bring a spare bass with passive pick-ups just in case. I switched back to totally passive pick-ups about 10 years ago and once in a great while I'll bring two basses, but only if I think I'll want to play both that night, not because I'm worried about any breakdowns. And I never break strings so that's never a problem. All that being said, I've always felt that your best friend on the road is 2 of everything with an extra $100 dollar bill in your wallet and a good credit card in case you get in REAL trouble....:D )-(
 
#30
Steve said:
I did my first paid gig when I was 13 now I'm 50. Many of those years where spent as a full time player. I'm all for the belt and suspenders approach if that's what it takes to make you feel comfortable and professional but, I have never had a bass let me down. Not once. NEVER.

Buy quality, take care of it, pay attention to it and it will be the most reliable thing in your life.

You know what doesn't do much for your reputation? Having gear so crappy and poorly maintained that you need to have two with you at all times.

IMHO
Click to expand...


Agreed. That's why I buy good gear and take care of it. But no gear is perfect. I've had to go to the back-up (due to failure of the main bass) twice since I began playing 36 years ago, and that's a crap-load of gigs. Once a G string broke and once a jack wire came loose. I also bring the second bass because I may have one tuned down a half step or I can't decide which to play, etc., and not just in case the first one has an issue; so it serves a couple purposes.
 
#34
dls59 said:
But no gear is perfect. I've had to go to the back-up (due to failure of the main bass) twice since I began playing 36 years ago, and that's a crap-load of gigs. Once a G string broke and once a jack wire came loose. I also bring the second bass because I may have one tuned down a half step or I can't decide which to play, etc., and not just in case the first one has an issue; so it serves a couple purposes.
Click to expand...

I always bring a backup for the same reason. I've needed it rarely but it is a life-saver when you need it. I also broke my G string once, and also had the battery die in my active Warwick bass in the middle of a set. There would be nothing more embarrassing than putting the whole show on hold while you replace a string or a battery.
 
#35
I bring at least two because I play both fretted and fretless during our set. The double gig bag is god send for this. I had my Stingray crap out and had to play only fretless Corvette for a month solid while it was in the shop over the holidays . That was a fun challenge. Made me play even tighter when I got my Stingray back. Now I have fretted 5 ass my third string back up.
 
#36
Regardless of how reliable someone thinks their equipment is, it's just plain not professional to not have a backup. Stuff happens.
This should be a no brainer.

If I hired someone for a paid gig, and the person showed with only one bass, it would be the last time we worked together.
 
#37
I used to break A strings constantly, once a month on average, playing with a pretty heavy right hand, didn't matter what brand of strings I used or how often I filed that saddle smooth.
It's a real pain to transpose on the fly and try to hold the flopping string out of the way with one finger or your thumb. Did it many times until I could stop and grab my second bass.

I play lighter now, but always bring a backup to gigs.
For benefits, jams, or shorter shows I only bring one. It wastes time tuning a second one in between bands (though the guitar players always take way more time setting up than I do anyway).
 

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