I always take 2 basses at least to every gig and play them both (1 per set). I don't have #1 & #2. Since I have 9 operational basses, all passive, I have them turning. I'd pick-up the ones I feel appropriate for the gig, or the ones I want to play that day.
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Backup bass, what's your idea?
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My main player is my Squier VM Jazz bass, series wiring, pickup covers, old flatwound strings, gunk keeping the funk etc. My backup is an MIM P with tapewounds and foam. I sometimes use the P bass just because I can or because I'm worried about something happening to the jazz bass.
I'll usually take my franken P as main bass and then I used to take this below as a backup to save room in the van. Now with me using the fretless on half a dozen or so songs it'll be the backup for the fretted, which is the backup for the fretless. Either way, I'll get through just about any gig.
I always brought 2 basses when I was gigging more actively but I didn't necessarily think of the second just as a backup so much as an alternate. Even if the audience couldn't always tell, I like to mix it up and enjoy my different basses live and it was rare that I'd bring two basses and only play one in a given evening. I might bring a fretted and frettless, singles and humbuckers, 5 and 4, solid and semihollow, P or J or some other combo.
Even now for the occasional gig, recording or jam, I'll nearly always bring 2. Never know when the mood will strike and I'll be wanting something a little different.
Even now for the occasional gig, recording or jam, I'll nearly always bring 2. Never know when the mood will strike and I'll be wanting something a little different.
Yes. My main bass varies with what we are playing. But backup is always simple passive peavey foundation 5. Can cover just about anything. Not real pricey so it can live in a hot van. If stolen it's not a huge financial hit. Yet it tolerates abuse in temperature swings and weather. If it looks like rain and I'm outside. It's my go to bass. Kind of enjoy playing it in those situations. Also never feel afraid to loan it to a friend.
My primary bass at any gig is one of my Precisions, my backup is usually one of my Rickenbackers. I've yet to have to switch to a backup bass myself, but in forty plus years gigging as a drummer I've seen my bass player stuck a couple of times. Switching from a P-bass to a Ric is fun every once in a while, so I have strapped the Rickenbacker on a few times, but never because of a failure with my primary.
I flip basses around based on what gig I'm working. Generally, if I'm bringing an active five string I will bring the same for a back up, same goes with a passive four string. I try to match them in case I decide to switch and it's easier to dial it in that way.
I bought a barely used Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass to back up my 74 Precision of which I am the original owner.
#1) 74 Jazz with original strings, #2) 2000 Sting Ray w/flats, the ultimate steroid P-bass, #3) a 06- Highway One J-bass with TI-flats and Aguilar Pickups. ... But two basses on one gig makes one an upright and the other an electric.
Never seen the point. I stopped breaking strings YEARS ago - and I always have spare strings anyway.
I haven't brought a backup much because I'm a big dummy, but honestly, for the stuff I mainly do (band originals), it's open season. The 5er helps spice up some song arrangements, but everything's playable on a 4, and none of it needs super bright top end.
If I ever get serious about learning to slap, I suppose I'll need more active basses (or generally trebly ones) in my life, but yeah.
If I ever get serious about learning to slap, I suppose I'll need more active basses (or generally trebly ones) in my life, but yeah.
I don't really have a #1 and a backup per say.... rather I alternate between:
Sire V7 Vintage
MusicMan Stingray Classic
Peavey T-40
Hurricane by Morris P bass
Sire V7 Vintage
MusicMan Stingray Classic
Peavey T-40
Hurricane by Morris P bass
I have two mains and a backup
Mtd super 5 and modulus genesis split the workload
G&l l2500 tribute with a Barto preamp is a back up. Pretty crazy bang for the buck but sadly it spends most of its time at home. I treat it more like a fire extinguisher now. Was a main for a little while though.
Mtd super 5 and modulus genesis split the workload
G&l l2500 tribute with a Barto preamp is a back up. Pretty crazy bang for the buck but sadly it spends most of its time at home. I treat it more like a fire extinguisher now. Was a main for a little while though.
