• 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.

Are two basses REALLY needed to bring to gigs?

#141
Sartori said:
You rely on there being other bands whose basses you can borrow?

That's a bit presumptuous. What if there's no other band, or their bassist is a jerk, like me, who isn't keen on letting complete strangers handle their bass?
Click to expand...

A little off topic, but several years ago we had a fairly big gig for the band I was in at The Whisky and my drummer (high at the time, clean and sober now) didn't bring his drums! I thought he had to be joking, but he wasn't. He had a wad of cash and was banking our entire gig on the hope that the drummer from the previous band would let him use his set. About 15 minutes before we were to go on, he agreed to let my drummer use his set for $450. Needless to say, our drummer was out of the band after that stunt.
 
#142
I would say no, but I guess I was just a lucky one. I used to play a Warwick Corvette Std. 5'er, and played pretty aggressively(especially when slapping). The only thing I was subject to was breaking a low Bstring(tapewound came undone at the bridge). But if you have the option to do so, why not be prepared, and "play it safe". Heck, I look at things now, and would have a backup for everything(even cords). If not, then you should have a decent/reliable bass, and know how to change a string, unplug from rig to DI to the PA in a few seconds with an extensive tool bag.
 
#143
Kenny Allyn said:
Oh and there isn’t anyone out there I can “borrow” a bass from … we don’t do the multi-band gig thing, in a working band doing 4 hour gigs it’s all you.
Click to expand...

This is so very true. Many of the gigs we play, we're the only band around for the entirety of our set. No one's going to lend us a bass, and if they were, to ask for it is rather unprofessional.

Also, there are many gigs where the time it takes to replace a string is an unacceptable amount of time to not play. I'd much rather have the peace of mind and professionalism that comes knowing that no one is going to be inconvenienced because of me or my gear.
 
#145
The only reason I would ever bring two basses on a live gig is if one were fretted and the other fretless. And I don't have a fretless, so that solves that.

My main band runs its own sound from the stage so for me to be switching basses, dealing with different levels, EQs etc. would be way more trouble than it's worth, not to mention breaking up the flow of the show. And I've never bought into the "I need a spare on stage" thing either. I've played almost 30 years and have never broken a string and if I do, I have spares.

IMHO, bringing a 2nd bass (or more), only to sit in a stand on stage the whole night is unnecessary at best and pretentious at worst. At least at the level I play at.
 
#146
jaywa said:
The only reason I would ever bring two basses on a live gig is if one were fretted and the other fretless. .....IMHO, bringing a 2nd bass (or more), only to sit in a stand on stage the whole night is unnecessary at best and pretentious at worst. At least at the level I play at.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of a band I played in for a while. As we were setting up I noticed that the band leader was visibly irritated that I brought two basses to an outdoor gig. One was fretted, the other fretless. I used the fretless on the first two numbers, then switched to the fretted.

At the same gig, the guitarist brought two guitars. He only played one. The other hung in MY multi-instrument stand.

He broke a string, but didn't switch to the other guitar :confused: :confused:. The keyboard player extended a Jerry Lee Lewis song while the guitarist changed strings. The band leader never said a word to him about that :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
#148
Just left a band that toured pretty hard for the last 3 years or so. Did my first year in the band with the one bass I had when I joined (Toby Pro 5)...thank GOD it was a 5 because I broke a TON of strings on that thing...my fave was when I blew my B opening for Nonpoint...I just kept praying that I wouldn't lose another one!

Over the last couple years, I've blown a LOT of green idiot-proofing my rig. I always carried a MINIMUM of 2 basses...and if I knew it was going to be a long tour, I'd bring my American Jazz as a backup to my Stingray 5 and my Warwick...just because I wasn't sure what might happen.

Anecdote: We were playing at SXSW a few years back...finish our set and our singer grabs the van while we load out of the club. Since the club had backline, we left most of our gear in the trailer as we had a bunch of shows out to and back from SXSW. As our singer is coming up 5th street, a dude pulls out of a parking space without noticing the GIANT WHITE TRAILER behind our SILVER 15 PASSENGER VAN WITH AN EXHAUST LEAK MAKING IT THE LOUDEST THING ON EARTH...and sideswipes the trailer...breaking the axle. Thankfully, it didn't damage any of the gear inside the trailer...but you can be damn sure I was happy when the road cases for my cabinets showed up a week or two later. The moral of this story? WEIRD **** HAPPENS. STUFF YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

With regard to the OP...I'd say ditch ONE bass...get what you can afford from that deal...and start saving up for the rest. Also...you gotta gauge what you're gonna be doing with said gear...if you're playing around town...you probably don't need to go crazy with stuff like shockmounted cases for your rack and heavy duty cabinet cases...but if you're gonna be on tour consistently and far away from home...what's gonna hurt more...spending $1000 on cases when you CAN afford it...or spending $1000 on a new bass rig (or repairs) when you're on the road and probably CAN'T afford it?

In this case, I think the kind of insurance provided by having backup equipment is the best kind there is.
 
#152
I used to bring a backup bass regularly, but just don't seem to feel the need anymore. My gig rig is about as sparce as it gets these days. I usually keep a bag full of backup cables, straps, strings, etc., in the car, but haven't needed them once, yet...(knocks on wood).
 
#155
TReetarDed,

I just reread your post. I haven't read the whole thread (that's SO not like me), so maybe this was all mentioned.

It seems that all the gear you mentioned is important, and you can't afford it all at once. I guess you have to decide what you need most. Then sell off some current gear or save money from your gigs to buy it.

I say if you DO sell two basses to fund a cabinet, plan to buy another bass later. But wait, you already have three basses now.

Your DI point is taken, but you don't need a Sansamp for that. You can buy a passive direct box for $30 or less. Or if you work with house sound, they probably have their own. Furthermore, your amp probably has a built in line out.

A case is pretty important. Can't argue with that. You can look for a used one. Or just be REALLY careful for now.

I guess your situation is about priorities.
 
#156
Count Bassie said:
Well that's right. I've been distracted with a level of hurricane-like busy-ness at home, and got confused. Not transposing!

:hiding: Duh. I do know the difference...
Click to expand...

I'm sure you do. But like I've said a couple of times, for the people who don't, no point in giving them a reason to think they do too.

Audtioner: "Can you transpose?"
TB-informed bassplayer: "Sure... I can play Brick House in A all over my bass!"
:hyper:
Audtioner: :eyebrow:..............:rollno:

:D
 
#157
Wasted Bassist said:
I was playing something closely resembling Chameleon to be completely accurate. The bass part I played was what I believe to be the original bari sax part. None of us had written parts, but all of them knew the head and we jammed on it. Without the awesome funky bass part, it really lost something.
Click to expand...

I was half joking. Chameleon's opening section bass line is synth. Paul Jackson is basically playing rhythm guitar like fills on bass for that entire section. Most people don't play the rest of the song. Bennie Maupin might've played bass clarinet, don't think he did any bari sax work on it.
:cool:

Then again maybe you're talking about the Maynard Ferguson arrangement.,
 
#160
From the other thread:

groooooove said:
ive broken a string on stage a number of times. sometimes the jamming goes on for another 20+ minutes after that.. i think its pretty easy to get to the end of a song with a missing string, to get a chance to fix it...
Click to expand...

That really depends on the song. At least one of my band's songs would be pretty much unplayable with the loss of either of a couple strings.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back