Aside from breaking a string a couple of times (which hasn't happened in years), I haven't had any bass failures in 10 years of active live gigging. I never bring a spare bass either (nor does my guitarist bring a spare guitar). I do bring spare strings, of course.
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Bass Failure On a Gig (Poll)
- Thread starter Smallmouth_Bass
- Start date
I always bring two basses. Part of that is that another bandmate and I trade off bass playing, and we're both picky about which one we play. 
But I would bring another one anyway because if something goes awry, having no bass sucks. We have so much gear anyway that what's one more thing? lol
But I would bring another one anyway because if something goes awry, having no bass sucks. We have so much gear anyway that what's one more thing? lol
I only had one bass at a time for 45 years. Now that I am retired I have been blessed with a few more. The only extras I carried, I have wanted to play.
If someone told me I had to provide an extra my salary would go up. Of course thats just me, Im old and I dont care. Theres plenty of places to play.
Just sayn’
If someone told me I had to provide an extra my salary would go up. Of course thats just me, Im old and I dont care. Theres plenty of places to play.
Just sayn’
I'm now retired, a widower, and the kids left home years ago. I have about a dozen basses, 2 EUBs, a double bass and about 10 assorted guitars dotted about all over the house.
When my 3 kids were still at home it was very different. I had one bass and one electric guitar (bought before I was married) and one budget acoustic guitar. All the income from my day job and gigs was swallowed up supporting my family.
I've been rationalising recently and have sold off a few instruments and other assorted musical gear that I no longer use (I still have a long way to go though).
Not to mention that 17% of those who did have a failure cite batteries, which is completely preventable. Another 8% cite straplocks, which means you have to sit down until you're done. I wouldn't count that in the "dying" category because you can still finish your show, unless you somehow failed to catch your bass and it fell and really did break.
I have a “music room” in my house. They’re hanging all over the walls like decor.
Yeah, I must admit I worry more about a head dying than a bass, but I'm still not ready to carry a spare amp around. I always carry a DI instead. In spite of my worries I think I've had to go to the DI only like twice. I really don't much like playing through a DI in that situation but finished the gig just fine. I've had many more failures with basses in spite of my amp worries. Sometimes not even the bass's fault Like the time a cymbal fell and chomped my cable. This is why each bass bag has it's own battery, strap, and cable. Theoretically one could rely on borrowing a cable or strap from a guitarist, but in my experience relying on guitarists is not a good plan.
As I said above I always have a backup either on stage such as a fretted-fretless pair or at minimum some bar bass left in the Van with the DI.
Words of wisdom.
I'm not sure we need a whole thread or even a poll option to demonstrate that bass failures are extremely rare occurrences in a relative sense; even people who have experienced a failure would readily admit that. It's not even debatable. It's factually extremely rare for a well-maintained bass to fail.
The point is in your bolded section above. Some people can shrug off a bass failure, which I define as anything that makes you adjust, lose time, or play and perform in a different way than usual. So I see a string breaking and a strap button popping off as a "failure," which includes even small things that would impede my ability to perform at 100% uninterrupted from start to finish. But everyone's situation is different, and I know a lot of musicians who wouldn't be bothered by these "failures" at all. More importantly, I know a lot of musicians who do a lot of performances where no one, audience, band mates, talent buyer, venue owner, et. al., would give a rat's ass if their bass had even a minor "failure" mid-performance. Hell, at some of these gigs the bass could drop out entirely for the whole set and no one would blink an eye over it.
Probably the reason you still concede that it's not a bad idea to have a backup bass is for the rest of us who, either from a sense of pride, or due to the strict and high expectations of our performance situations, don't really have that option (without negative consequences) to change out a string mid-performance or sit down when our strap button pops off (I'd have to take the extra step of adjusting my microphone stand) or fudge through until break with one less string.
Odds of a bass "failure" = slim, no doubt about it. Negative consequences if a "failure" does happen, for some of us = serious enough to pay the relatively small price and schlep a back up bass, and have it tuned up and at the ready in that extremely rare event of a "failure."
Let the reader decide what category they fall under.
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Truer words have never been spoken!
Even if I only have one bass, I always have an extra instrument and speaker cable (as well as strings, batteries and muti-tool). But, now that you mention it, they've probably been used more as loaners than by myself... but the show must go on.
I used to carry a DI but more recently have brought a GK MB200. Might pick up a Trace Elliot Elf if I see one at a good price. They both have DI outs as well.
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I don't think readers or players fall into these categories. I think gigs do. If I'm not getting paid much, I'm not going the extra nine-yards to plan for every possible contingency and I'll make do like a trooper if something does happen. That's old-school pro.
But if I'm getting paid good money and the gig is highly structured with expectations of a flawless set, it makes much more sense to plan for the worst possible scenario.
I get your drift, but I'm the kind of player who would take a backup bass into the crappiest crap hole on earth for a free PBR on a Sunday afternoon.
It's just an extension of my personality and sense of showmanship, not a universal truth that all should adopt. All audiences, venues, and paydays matter equally to me, and it wouldn't be the first time I've had musicians tell me I'm crazy for thinking that way. The whole "category" comment was meant to say, let the reader decide the importance of going with or without a backup based on your personality, demands of the project, venue, and anything else you care to add.
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I get your drift, but I'm the kind of player who would take a backup bass into the crappiest crap hole on earth for a free PBR on a Sunday afternoon.
The whole "category" comment was meant to say, let the reader decide the importance of going with or without a backup based on your personality, demands of the project, venue, and anything else you care to add.
Nothing wrong with being you. I used to be a bit of a perfectionist, but it made me unhappy to live that way. I'm not saying you're a perfectionist, it just sounds like you need to do certain things a certain way too, in order to be happy. That's all good
I'm glad you recognized that, because I'm not. Indeed, I consider "perfection" a rare commodity on this earth, and it's certainly even more rare or non-existent in the entertainment industry.
However, I am an idealist, and I'm very consistent with my ideals. I like to think that approach has lead to a good amount of success and goals accomplished in this and other endeavors.
Hauling two basses virtually every time I play is one of the simplest, most painless ideals I've ever held to.
Sounds reasonable, and I'm happy that you've found your formula for success. Hope that continues for a long time to come!
A reliable bass can break too. Particularly if you don't pay attention to it. Regular maintenance doesn't hurt.
I bring two basses because I like variety and it doesn't hurt because stuff happens
That was my feeling too. I've since ordered a second bass, and it just got here Friday! Also this past year has been very focused on repair, maintenance and setup skills.
