Backup bass, what's your idea?

[two fingers]

These days I accidentally have several P basses. My main player is a 5 string P bass. I grab one of the others as a backup.

 

[QweziRider]

-What is your no.1 bass?

Whichever of the ones I feel like using a given night.

-Do you have a backup?

Yes.

-If so, what is it?

One of the others I might feel like taking on a given night.

-How often and when do you use it?

Whenever I feel like it being a #1 for the night.

I know, I sound like a pain in the butt. I don't have any given of my basses designated #1 or backup. They all get to be #1 and they all end up backups. Just depends on the mood and music for the night.

 

[el murdoque]

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I bought this one on a whim. Feels and plays okay, such a tiny little thing, but with full 34".
This is my backup bass.
I usually play only one bass for the entire set, i don't like changing them during a gig.
So the only reason for a backup was if something happens to the bass that can't be fixed in a minute.
That has happened to me only once in more than 20 years. So i do not feel like it's very important to have an equal backup, just the smallest and lightest thing you can finish the gig with. It came with a tiny little bag and it's such an easy carry.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I, like others here, may rotate places from time to time. But, most often my main is my G&L SB-2T

And the backup is usually my P Select

 

[tubatodd]

I have about 9 basses and I bring 2 to every gig. They aren't #1 and #2. They are just 2 basses I feel like using for that gig. Usually I'll play 1 bass for a set then switch for the second set. The third set is which one I liked best.

 

[Runnerman]

Main: Bongo 4HH (Slinkys)
#1 Backup: Peavey USA Millennium 4 (Cobalts)
#2 Backup: Peavey USA Super Ferrite Fury (Chromes)

I'll use the Bongo on most of the regular tuning and a couple songs with the hipshot. The Millennium is usually tuned down a full step in one set for Long Train Running and then I'll re-tune it up for a couple of half step down songs in the last set. Occasionally I'll use the Milly for a full set at standard tuning if I don't need the hipshot drop tuner. The Fury is usually pure backup at standard tuning and not used much.

Bongo and Milly are both active and pre's are set to approx. same gain so they make a pretty seamless change over.

 

[andawun]

Main bass MIM Jazz. Gig backup is Bronco with jazz pickup mod. Backup would only be used if I broke a string and the Bronco could get me through til break time. Never had to use it though.

 

[neal davis]

The electric basses I use the most are a 70's Fernandes lawsuit p and a fender aerodyne precision. I have other bass like laklands and sadowsky but these just do their job so well. I do a lot of doubling gigs with upright so most of the time I'm only bringing 1 electric that will work well for the music. I guess my main back up is my upright for the majority of my gigs

 

[Tom Baker]

Sometimes I bring 2, sometimes just 1 but have a set of strings, string winder and wire cutters in the case. Gigs less than 90 minutes I usually opt for just one.

 

[NoiseNinja]

This is my main:
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An Ibanez Mikro with visual mods, EMG Geezer Butler pickups, and a new black bridge (the knobs and switch are only there for sight at the moment as I tried to make a switchable parallel/series connection of the pickups, but failed, gave up, and mounted the wires directly to the output, only to discover my failure was due to the fact that I had been connecting the wires to the wrong pins on the output plug all along.)

It's the only bass I got since I converted my old main bass, and Aria Pro II Laser Electric to a slide baritone.

I do in fact plan to get a backup at some point, another Ibanez Mikro, since to me a backup bass should function as a stand in for your main, which means it should ideally feel and sound similar.

I would have to get a mahogany (mine is the old aghatis wood version) walnut flat finish though, as those are the only Mikro's available now in Europe, for some reason.

Not that I mind terribly, I actually like the look, even if I would have prefered the weathered black look.

And in the first instance I would have to do with the stock pickups of the new Mikro as well.

 

[xring]

Main : Rickenbacker 4003
Backup 1 : MIA Fender P Bass
Backup 2 : Geddy Lee MIM Jazz Bass

Main bass is American J5 passive. Backup is Squier J5 with "Fender" headstock.. Also have a Warwick Corvette 5 fretless, but that's not really for back up

 

[twinjet]

Please share your thoughts on a backup bass;

-What is your no.1 bass?
-Do you have a backup?
-If so, what is it?
-How often and when do you use it?

Pics are welcome too!

In my case: My main bass is my 61P. My other bass is a CS 55P. I never break a string so I only need one bass but it is nice to change during a show. Plus, the CS has some sentimental value.

Here's a pic:

View attachment 1069103

I only own one bass, an '89 G&L L-2000. I don't gig enough to need a backup (less than one per month, average), and the bass is a tank anyway.

 

[eldorado2001]

My thought: Yes, bring one.

Which one: whichever I'm in the mood to bring.

Yep, though I'm usually in the mood for my Hwy One Pbass.
My usual backup is my Hwy 1 Jbass or SG bass. Or one of the others.

 

[rtslinger]

13 basses 1 is acoustic/electric that only see acoustic or unplugged shows no main player the other 12 all see gigging time throughout the year. Always bring a backup.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have a wide range of options, from a '63 P to a 64 EB-0 that has both a mudbucker and a Dimarzio Model 1, to Univox and Gretsch hollowbodies, to a Gretsch Thunderjet, a Bronco with a Gretsch 2202 pickup in it, a Dean Psycho Cabbie, and a P/J fretless.

So while I may not bring a backup that's identical to my starter, I can at least add variety. It just depends on what kind of variety I want to add.

 

[garp]

-What is your no.1 bass?

Whatever happens to grab my interest the day of the gig and is appropriate for the material.

-Do you have a backup?

Yes.

-If so, what is it?

It varies. My only cardinal rule is that if the no.1 bass is active, my backup is passive. Probably a bit superstitious of me, but I don't care.

-How often and when do you use it?

In two decades of gigging, I've never actually needed the backup, but I feel it's more professional to have one at the ready. Occasionally I'll use the backup for the last set, just to give it some stage time.

 

[TonyP-]

I have a backup %100 of the time and it's another Lull of some kind.

 

[Bassquest]

Nope, never had a backup. My trusty Korean Squier ll does the job. I checked the wiring and soldered everything myself so what could possibly go wrong? Town is small enough that I could go home and grab another all within 1/2 hour.

 

[beaglesandbass]

My main bass is Stingray 5

Backup is an Ibanez SRFF805

I play the Ibanez at home and split time between the two at band rehearsals.

 

[Bullitt5135]

I, like others here, may rotate places from time to time. But, most often my main is my G&L SB-2T
View attachment 1069440

I love your G&L -- I was too slow on the trigger when it came up for sale last time.

As for me,
Main: G&L SB-2 Tribute. Sounds great, looks great, feels great. It just sounds "right" in the mix. Even my bandmates have remarked how much they like the tone. I have found that when I bring a different bass to rehearsal, my bandmates get agitated and ask "what happened to the bass?"
Backup: Fender Geddy Lee Jazz, Fender Jazz Bass Special, or Squier Chris Aiken Precision. I always take a spare to gigs in case there's a worst-case scenario. I've tried swapping basses for certain songs and alternate tunings, but it takes me to long to get dialed in again between songs.