Backup basses...because only one bass is inconceivable!

[lermgalieu]

I bought the top one (1996 MIM P) to be a backup to the bottom one (2015 MIA P). Guess what? I love the MIM and play it at ever rehearsal, show and just recorded an EP with it. The MIA is a great bass, but the MIM has some magic in it.

 

[JimmyM]

I bought the top one (1996 MIM P) to be a backup to the bottom one (2015 MIA P). Guess what? I love the MIM and play it at ever rehearsal, show and just recorded an EP with it. The MIA is a great bass, but the MIM has some magic in it.
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Throw a better pickup in that AmStd and I think you'll change your mind.

 

[lermgalieu]

Throw a better pickup in that AmStd and I think you'll change your mind.

Ya think? That's a custom shop pup in it. I have a Bill Lawrence pup I bought for it and never got around to putting in.

Edit: I do love the growl I get out that MIM. Noisy pickup, but it's worth it.

 

[lz4005]

What's your backup?

Depends entirely on the genre and length of the gig.

-If I'm playing both fretted and fretless I bring one of each and they back each other up.
-If I don't need a fretless and we're playing 2 hours or less I'll bring any random bass. It doesn't get used.
-Fretted only and more than 2 hours I'll bring the lightest bass I own (currently a stripped down Ibanez SRKP4) and use it for the last set, because by then my shoulder is killing me.
-On jazz gigs where I play electric upright I usually bring my Kala Ubass as a backup because it can sound more sorta-kinda-upright-ish than my other basses.

 

[nilorius]

I back up with a pretty different bass, that is not only for replacement, that is also to to take it sometimes for playing also.

 

[Jrussblues]

I have 3 very different basses, I always bring two just because I don’t want to be that guy telling his band mates to take a quick break while I change a string. I have broken strings before but it is extremely rare.

 

[Guinness20]

Tonight’s hit. Fretless is backup, jack on the YYD is a little worn, needs some attention.

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Sorry to go off-topic, but what are those stands?

 

[JimmyM]

Ya think? That's a custom shop pup in it. I have a Bill Lawrence pup I bought for it and never got around to putting in.

Edit: I do love the growl I get out that MIM. Noisy pickup, but it's worth it.

If it's the stock pickup and it's an AmStd, then I'd definitely at least try the Lawrence in it. I thought it was an improvement over the horrid pickup that they were using from 2008-12, but I still thought it didn't sound right.

 

[Gaolee]

Upright gig? No backup.
Bass guitar gig? Thunderbird and a Thunderbird for backup. Or for the second set just because.

 

[lermgalieu]

If it's the stock pickup and it's an AmStd, then I'd definitely at least try the Lawrence in it. I thought it was an improvement over the horrid pickup that they were using from 2008-12, but I still thought it didn't sound right.

It's the Custom Shop '62 pickup. The bass sounds really good, IMO, which is why I never put the BL in there....

 

[LYNCHMAN]

i usually roll the dice to see which is gonna be primary and which is gonna be backup out of about a dozen basses....easy rotation!

 

[leonard]

After 20 years of gigging I never needed the backup so I decided to leave it at home. The P-bass never broke. Nor the Stingray. Not to mention the Jazz. Leo made some durable gear.

 

[JimmyM]

It's the Custom Shop '62 pickup. The bass sounds really good, IMO, which is why I never put the BL in there....

Oh, well never mind, then! I haven't heard the new CS 62 but I have one from like 2001 or 2 and it's pretty great.

 

[lermgalieu]

Oh, well never mind, then! I haven't heard the new CS 62 but I have one from like 2001 or 2 and it's pretty great.

Yeah - just to clarify, I love this MIA. It sounds great. The MIM just has some mojo to it that takes the cake, at least for my rock band.

 

[Rib 13]

Live: Basically, two of a similar kind of bass......90% of the time, its these two......(1) Sire V7-5 and (2 backup) Fender American Deluxe Jazz V

 

[Zant]

Active basses can overdrive your preamp and cause it to sound like distorted crap in a way that no self-respecting passive bass ever could. Therefore, they are far more capable of destroying speakers, if one is so inclined.

If you know your gear and you aren't just a beginner you should know all this.

 

[xnewyorka]

If you know your gear and you aren't just a beginner you should know all this.

That is definitely true. Since someone asked what is the difference, they might have not known this important fact. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Herrick]

Hard to pick my number one.
Not exactly rosewood...
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I scrolled quickly past this picture and I thought there was a hole through the bass under the bridge.

 

[mustBmtd]

Every bass even if for some reason you only have one for the moment. Should be spec at a few standards. Feel, weight, playability, and delivering the tones you desire. But at some points you'll start to have the feelings I shared. Which was having one bass that was taking all the fingering, slapping, thumping, you name. So with loving the bass that has given me so much enjoyable fun in playing. I chose to start allowing that one to take vacations lol.

 

[staurosjohn]

This is my main player (Roto 66 SS strings)

This is my ‘back-up’ (Roto 66 NPS strings)

This is my back-up to my back-up (GHS Pressurewounds)