I usually play an unlined 5 fretless. That keeps most guys from wanting to borrow it
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Are two basses REALLY needed to bring to gigs?
- Thread starter Alex Huddleston
- Start date
I usually play an unlined 5 fretless. That keeps most guys from wanting to borrow it
In over 15 years of gigging, I've broken a string only 2 times. I haven't broken a string in almost 4 years - but 2 basses come with me every gig regardless. I hate the thought of having to stop and do repair in the middle of a set. I keep a cord next to my amp in case my wireless fails. Being safe is better than being sorry!
If I had to hand my basses off to someone else on the road, then I'd use hardshell cases. I'd probably take a couple of basses I don't normally use as main ones either.
Otherwise it's gigbags for me.
My band was opening for Adrian Belew...the ONE time I didn't bring a backup I broke my E string on my Jazz bass mid song, mid set, in front of about 2500 people. I had to do a lot of transposing...
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Had a nut break right before a gig started.....used my 2nd bass.
Plugged into a backline and the cable jammed in the input jack and broke off......used my 2nd bass, and a spare cable. Always bring 2 basses to all gigs.
Plugged into a backline and the cable jammed in the input jack and broke off......used my 2nd bass, and a spare cable. Always bring 2 basses to all gigs.
I broke about 3 strings over the winter at practice on 2 different basses. Since then, I've been bringing a backup to gigs. I usually just grab my crappy MB-4, throw it in a gig bag, and hope for the best.
Buy a case, it's a good idea. We just played a gig in NYC and had to pack up in a rush. My two heavy-ass basses (Epi T-bird Pro and Galveston Lucite) that were in heavy duty cases had a wrestling match with a few guitars in gig bags. Guess who won?
I play in C# so asking to borrow a bass is pretty much out of the question since nobody plays in that tuning.
If you make enough bucks selling your gear, buy a cheap backup. It's always good to have a bass you don't care about. I have an entire backup rig consisting of low-end crap just in case. We're playing an outdoor gig in 2 weeks and I'm planning on using that rig in case it gets rainy.
Buy a case, it's a good idea. We just played a gig in NYC and had to pack up in a rush. My two heavy-ass basses (Epi T-bird Pro and Galveston Lucite) that were in heavy duty cases had a wrestling match with a few guitars in gig bags. Guess who won?
I play in C# so asking to borrow a bass is pretty much out of the question since nobody plays in that tuning.
If you make enough bucks selling your gear, buy a cheap backup. It's always good to have a bass you don't care about. I have an entire backup rig consisting of low-end crap just in case. We're playing an outdoor gig in 2 weeks and I'm planning on using that rig in case it gets rainy.
The other place where the DI box works great as a backup is in the case of "stupid bassist tricks". Things like bringing your head but not bringing a speaker cable to connect it to the cab. Not that I know anyone who's ever done that
.A microphone cable and a DI box can fix that up real quick. Not that I know anyone who's ever done that
Are two basses REALLY needed to bring to gigs?
YES YES AND VEHEMENTLY YES!
Whenever i take just one bass to a gig, it'll usually be a local gig and everytime i take just the one something goes wrong.
First time: String broke/elasticated on me. Second time: Battery ran out on my active bass (2 days before payday too) and i bought the wrong gigbag so the one with the backup battery was at home!
Being a lefty (I know, I know 
) i had to play the support bands right handed one upside down....made of an interesting gig....in fact, heres a photo.
Imagine if you played a gig and had to use a lefty!!!
YES YES AND VEHEMENTLY YES!
Whenever i take just one bass to a gig, it'll usually be a local gig and everytime i take just the one something goes wrong.
First time: String broke/elasticated on me. Second time: Battery ran out on my active bass (2 days before payday too) and i bought the wrong gigbag so the one with the backup battery was at home!
Being a lefty (I know, I know
) i had to play the support bands right handed one upside down....made of an interesting gig....in fact, heres a photo.Imagine if you played a gig and had to use a lefty!!!
My band was opening for Adrian Belew...the ONE time I didn't bring a backup I broke my E string on my Jazz bass mid song, mid set, in front of about 2500 people. I had to do a lot of transposing...
T
That's not really transposing. Just saying.
I only bring one bass to the Gig. if something goes wrong, I'll just go pester the crowd. Actually happened one time so far. I just set the bass down (let it feedback into the amp) and Jumped into the pit for the rest of the set. It's not the end of the world if something goes wrong, especially when you play Sludgy doom metal like me. No one hears the bassist anyway right? 
I only bring one bass to the Gig. if something goes wrong, I'll just go pester the crowd. Actually happened one time so far. I just set the bass down (let it feedback into the amp) and Jumped into the pit for the rest of the set. It's not the end of the world if something goes wrong, especially when you play Sludgy doom metal like me. No one hears the bassist anyway right?
If you can make it work for you, go for it!!
As a paid gigging musician you should bring a back up. As others have said there is more that can go wrong than just a broken string. Sell one of the two basses and keep the other for a backup. There are less expensive DI boxes than the Sansamp that will work just as well. A hard case is a luxury, not a necessity.
That's not really transposing. Just saying.
Well it's similar. He had to visually 'move' the notes on the bass in a way similar to a horn player blowing from a straight lead-sheet. Same 'muscles', I'd say.
Different muscles however than the ones that would be employed in, say, carrying a spare bass...
Well it's similar. He had to visually 'move' the notes on the bass in a way similar to a horn player blowing from a straight lead-sheet. Same 'muscles', I'd say.
Different muscles however than the ones that would be employed in, say, carrying a spare bass...
Playing the same notes elsewhere is not transposing. I mentioned it in case anyone actually thought it was. That's all.
Not sure how you came up with same muscles but... oh well. One of the things I do if I'm playing a repetitious line is change fingerings, playing the same notes in a different pattern. Gives my hands a rest. That too is not transposing. Still playing the same notes.
I mention this also because I know a lot of bassists who can play patterns differently but can't transpose to save their butt. It uses a different set of muscles... in your brain.
I find it totally depends on the gig. I do a lot of small jazz/motown/oldies rock gigs where I take the Rob Allen, head, cab and then cables. I have backup speaker cable and instrument cable along with a Leatherman and battery. If I were to break a string I'd just play the rest of the gig with whatever is left. Not the end of the world.
For other more funk/rock/etc gigs I usually take two basses, but one is fretted, the other fretless. It isn't so much for "backup" as for different tunes/approaches. That said I did used to carry a second bass when I gigged a lot with my Zon Lightwave, mostly because I didn't trust the "higher tech" pickups. It never did die over 10 years of gigging on and off.
For straight jazz gigs, I just bring the RA. Consider that upright players pretty much never bring a "backup" instrument. And somehow they have muddled through...
It also depends on the venue and the gig. If it is a one-set showcase type thing on a tight stage, I'll often just bring one bass. If it is all night, I'll usually bring two because I'm going to want to change things up.
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer - just depends on your circumstance. I don't quite agree with the "to be pro you have to bring two" sentiment. I understand wanting to be a boy scout (and I pack spares of cables), but plenty of guys have made their living showing up with only one instrument...
For other more funk/rock/etc gigs I usually take two basses, but one is fretted, the other fretless. It isn't so much for "backup" as for different tunes/approaches. That said I did used to carry a second bass when I gigged a lot with my Zon Lightwave, mostly because I didn't trust the "higher tech" pickups. It never did die over 10 years of gigging on and off.
For straight jazz gigs, I just bring the RA. Consider that upright players pretty much never bring a "backup" instrument. And somehow they have muddled through...
It also depends on the venue and the gig. If it is a one-set showcase type thing on a tight stage, I'll often just bring one bass. If it is all night, I'll usually bring two because I'm going to want to change things up.
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer - just depends on your circumstance. I don't quite agree with the "to be pro you have to bring two" sentiment. I understand wanting to be a boy scout (and I pack spares of cables), but plenty of guys have made their living showing up with only one instrument...
Im 16 too and Always bring an extra, well everything. It never hurt anybody to be prepared. plus, you will look that much cooler walkin around before/after with two Bases..
I used to be in the never brought a backup camp. After my current string of bad luck - which will probably never happen again - I am inclined to bring 2 basses. It sucked when my bass wasn't working properly. I didn't play as well because I was worrying about what would go wrong next.
I still hate to bring 2 - I try to keep my gear/load in/etc. down as much as possible. We'll see. We don't have many out-of-town gigs the rest of the summer so my "back up" is close by.
I still hate to bring 2 - I try to keep my gear/load in/etc. down as much as possible. We'll see. We don't have many out-of-town gigs the rest of the summer so my "back up" is close by.
