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Are two basses REALLY needed to bring to gigs?

#361
Fuzzbass said:
A bass doesn't "require" four strings, although having four or more does make the design work better. :ninja:

More seriously: IME Schallers are extremely unreliable... and that's not just my experience: bandmates of mine have experienced failures with them, too. So, as far as I'm concerned, they DO require Loctite.

Given that I've had zero problems with Dunlops in the 10 years I've been using them, I won't ever bother with the Schaller/Loctite solution.
Click to expand...

Nah. not "extremely" unreliable. Just unreliable! :spit:

Fact is I have basses with BOTH types. Although Dunlops are my "standard" lock (blame Carvin as it's what they sold when I got my first set of locks and that put me on that road).

However, I do have a couple of basses with Schallers. And my experience is that the darn Schallers DO come apart and unscrew. Locktite IS the fix.

However, Dunlop doesn't get off scott free either. They have a bad habit of appearing locked when they are only partially locked and the bass suddenly comes loose. The bottom line there is to apply a thin coat of lithium grease to the ball-bearing locking parts.

So my bottom line is that if you "require" (heh!) loctite for schallers and lithium grease for Dunlops they both are EXCELLENT gadgets that I wouldn't want to live without. Going back to standard straps (without beer washers) is something that really is "extremely unreliable"!
 
#362
bassbenj said:
However, Dunlop doesn't get off scott free either. They have a bad habit of appearing locked when they are only partially locked and the bass suddenly comes loose. The bottom line there is to apply a thin coat of lithium grease to the ball-bearing locking parts.
Click to expand...

I see your point, but I realized this early on and I don't think it's difficult at all to ensure the lock is seated fully into the button... I just give it an extra push.
 
#367
I travel a pretty good distance with my band to shows, so we have to be pretty self sufficient. I bring a back up bass so the show can keep going if there is a fail.

In all the years only happened once A string failed by the wrap came off. Switched to backup and show didn't have to stop to change a string. Yeah, it's a pain sometimes carrying two but I like the piece of mind.

As to hardshell cases. I do use them for most of my basses as they end up getting stacked in the back of the van with guitars, keys, etc. I do own one high end gig bag that does provide alot of protection for a bag. I suppose if I'm doing the packing okay...someone else...not so much.

My $0.02 for the day
 
#368
I havent read the whole thread so Im sure it has been said before, but its better to be prepared for the one time you will need it. I always bring 2 basses to a gig, but thats mostly because one is a 4 string and the other a 5er. The 5 string, a G&L, is HEAVY. Playing that for 4 hours kills my back, so I use the 4 banger for the songs I dont need a low B and switch when I do. But, when I was 16 and I started playing, I only could afford 1 bass and I gigged that and only that for 20 years with no backup, so it can be done.
 
#369
I used to say no, now I am starting to change my mind. I have had NO trouble for 20+ years. Then, in the last 12 months or so I have had issues 3-4 different times. Karma I guess. I played my bass on a Thursday night with no problems. Packed it up, went home. Had a Friday/Saturday gig. Unpacked, did a sound check...sounded like crap. some quick trouble checking and I discovered that my neck pup (jazz type bass) was dead. Some EQ'ing to fill out the bottom and I was ready to go. I went Saturday and grabbed a back-up from the local store - just in case I had more issues.

Got my bass repaired Monday. Debating getting a $300 something to have just in case from now on.
 
#370
I tend to keep all my gigs less than 30 miles away - it works for me, since I don't require money for them - free but I play for food and grog though.

That way I just bring 3-4 basses, since I tend to play different venues sometimes the same day and the needs are different.

Jazz - R&R - Motown - C/W all seem to take different guitar voices I feel, and I just like the variety.

All basses travel in their own hard cases and I never use PA/DI support, so I carry stand-alone amps/cabs or combos with lots of Wattage potential.

I play quite a few wine tours too.

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#371
I definitely would say a hardshell case is a must. Especially if you're on the road. I wouldn't trust any of my basses in the back of a van or trailer in a padded gig bag. Also, I firmly believe a Sansamp DI is a must for any bassist. I love mine, the DI on my Ampeg SVT has been fixed twice and it doesn't even sound good when it does actually work. The Sansamp sounds amazing and has never given me a problem.

Oh and I always gig with a backup. It keeps me calm in case something goes wrong during a show. And things can go wrong, I've had other band members bump the cable on my guitar and break the input and have had to switch basses mid show because the cable broke off in the input of my bass. That has nothing to do with how well I take care of my basses. Gigging with a backup is just a good idea for simple piece of mind and reliability in emergencies.
 
#372
I would disagree with the guy who said get an amp that is your stage monitor and just plug into the board for your sound. I have played dozens venues with an inadequate PA, and dozens more with inept soundmen! You can't count on the house unless you're playing better much venues than I am, and I have been playing for 25 years!!!!!!!!!!!!

However, that being said rather than carry a backup amp, I keep a great DI with me at all times just in case. (I know that sounds a little contradictory since I just said that you can't trust the house pa, but I am talking about emergency backup here)!

I only trust hardshell cases, I would never put my babies in a gig bag!

A backup bass is a good plan. You may never need it, and I never have, but us guys that have been playing a long time know that eventually the input jack on your bass wears out, and you rarely see it coming! I've had some last years and years, and some go quite quickly! Just imagine how disasterous would it be for you, your band, your friends and family that came to see you, and for the bands reputation if your bass took a crap on you and you couldn't finish the gig!
 
#373
I usually take a back up bass to most gigs (my cheapo Stagg SR4 copy). Only ever had to use it once. I carry it a cheapo gig bag, too. My main bass is usually in my best padded bag, although I occasionaly still use one of my hard cases.

Any bass could potentially let you down on a gig, no matter how well maintained - hence the backup. I don't take a backup amp though, would be able to DI if all else failed.

Back up issues aside, I never use two basses on a gig, it's too much hassle changing a bass between tunes. When you've got a dancing crowd it's good to go straight from one tune to the next as slick as you can. I decide which bass I'm going to use for the night and stick with it.
 
#374
I had one gig where in the middle of the set I had to ask over the microphone if another band had a bass that I could borrow because I didn't have a backup and the screws on the strap pins stripped the body out and I couldn't play my brand new american p bass for the rest of the gig. They weren't even loose when we got on stage. After that I've never gigged without a backup.
 

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