Bass bibs

I’m no expert, but my nice newer bass wears a bib to protect the upper bout where it contacts my body.

 

I think the main reason is protecting the wood from scratches from the belt buckle.
It depends a bit on construction if additional aspects are covered.
Material also varies (textile, leather).

I made my one myself when I was a student and the lower part grabs around the bout corner and is strapped over top and back to hold it in place in the lower part too.
The upper part is often strapped around the neck heel, but I thought that it might disturb me and strapped that part also trough the bout on top and back together with the lower straps (they meet at the bout). But this is my construction and I have never seen any other bib constructed that way. It is also a bit fiddly to mount, so I only take it off when the bass goes to the luthier.

If you use the bass as a percussive instrument too, the bib changes the sound when knocking on the rib. Can be good or bad, depending on what you want to get.

 

I don't know either. The pockets come in handy though.
Rosin, rag, mute, pencil, condom...

 

why do you carry the singer's stuff?

 

Singers can be unreliable.

 

Esp. during Beethoven's Erotic Symphony #3.

 

Besides. Isn't it the bass player's responsibility to always have a mute on hand? Even when the gig didn't call for it?

 

I haven't played a gig that didn't call for a mute in years:

 

I personally find them to be only used during symphony rehearsals and removed on performance day. I guess during regular jazz gigs they're fine but I don't think they are a very significant benefit.

 

How many singers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Singers don't screw in lightbulbs - they screw in the back of vans.

 

Alternate punch line:

Only one - and the rest of the world to revolve around them!