You also need a back up bass for the times when you aint doing anything else worth while. I think learning a little theory or constructing a good walking line from fake books is a good way to make use of your time.
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Carry a backup bass, or not??
- Thread starter tonynoriega
- Start date
Back up for every thing I can think of. Still strange stuff pops up to mess things up. A couple extra basses don't take up that much room and I've switched for one reason or another too often.
I don't. Used to be because I only had one stage-worthy bass. Now it's because I never needed a backup when I didn't have one.
I usually carry a backup... well maybe half the time. A double-bag (the previously mentioned Incase Dub Bag is outstanding) is helpful here. It's saved the day once or twice, even just a few months ago for some reason I wasn't getting a sound out of my main bass and resorted to the backup, Never did figure that one out, as the bass has worked fine since then...
I can't say that I always bring a backup, but I often bring a backup. I rarely change basses during a show, so a second bass isn't tops on my list. But I picked up a good double bag over the winter and have been bringing 2 basses to a lot of gigs. I *always* pack a spare set of strings, winder, spare tuner, and a battery/tools if the bass is active.
angelopb said:
Now that must be a bit of a mind-bender to jump from a 34" scale down to a xx" scale of the Ashbory (not sure of the scale change).
Oh, and back on topic of the thread, regarding backups: If my amp dies, I always keep my Sansamp BDDI in my bag so I can still get a signal out to the PA.
Actually, the main bass is 36" scale and the Ashbory is 18", exactly twice as small as my normal scale. But most are 34s.
I always have backups. I guess I'm rather anal as well!
I'll have my backup bass on a stand, tuned, and ready to go just incase! I also carry extra instrument and speaker cables, and my backup head. Hey, its only 3 rack sp!
I have broken a string on stage once
and didn't have a backup. The drummer luckily put together a little solo with the lead guitarist (that went over pretty well I might add) while I changed the string. I don't like it when someone has to cover for me, especially a guitarist! 
I'll have my backup bass on a stand, tuned, and ready to go just incase! I also carry extra instrument and speaker cables, and my backup head. Hey, its only 3 rack sp!
I have broken a string on stage once
and didn't have a backup. The drummer luckily put together a little solo with the lead guitarist (that went over pretty well I might add) while I changed the string. I don't like it when someone has to cover for me, especially a guitarist! 
xyllion
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- Jan 14, 2003
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Kelly Lee said:I have broken a string on stage once
Yep, that is the problem with carrying tools and strings. It can be very time consuming to fix the problem. In the meantime, everyone else is getting pissed off at you. I'd rather just have a second bass with me. It doesn't have to be a great bass. It just has to be ready to go.
I used to carry a spare set of strings, I had a habit of breaking G's and even a D once on my G&L 2000. No bass before or since has broken a string though.
Has anybody had a bass go out on them? I haven't lost one in practice, on a gig in 30 some years of playing, except for broken strings on the G&L. The first time was tough, I didn't know to carry spares, it was on a gig. Luckily an old girlfriend lived nearby and I still remembered her number, she saved my bacon that night. After that I made sure I had spare strings.
Now I carry 2 basses cause damn it, I paid for them, I want to play them. Main + 6, or main + fretless depending on the gig, or sometimes Main + 6 + fretless.
Randy
Has anybody had a bass go out on them? I haven't lost one in practice, on a gig in 30 some years of playing, except for broken strings on the G&L. The first time was tough, I didn't know to carry spares, it was on a gig. Luckily an old girlfriend lived nearby and I still remembered her number, she saved my bacon that night. After that I made sure I had spare strings.
Now I carry 2 basses cause damn it, I paid for them, I want to play them. Main + 6, or main + fretless depending on the gig, or sometimes Main + 6 + fretless.
Randy
If I don't have a backup, it's because I'm playing at my school which has a MIM P-bass available. I usually bring a fretted and a fretless, and maybe a second fretted if I own one at the time. Better to have extra basses and look cool than have one with three strings and look like a dum-dum.
I guess I'm really in the minority here. In the 40+ years I've been playing, I rarely ever carry a back-up bass to a gig. I've simply never found the need, or desire, very often. I've never had a bass breakdown on me, never. I don't think it's totally luck either. I take very careful care of my instruments. Clean the pots every few months, keep everything in adjustment, always use good strings and remove them at the first sign of trouble (odd harmonics, tuning issues, intonation issues, not age, however). I've never broken a string on one of my basses; did once on someone elses when I was sitting in.
The vast majority of the basses I've ever owned were passive, so I mostly haven't had any electronics to worry about. I've never had a pickup fail. I've never had a pot or a jack simply fail outright. Go bad yeah, but with plently of notice to enable repair before fatal failure. When I do use an active, yeah, I do carry a backup. It sits in its case behind my cabinet, out of sight, but close at hand.
But, if one feels that a backup is necessary, that's cool. Maybe some day I'll regret it, but, I think I'll continue to live "dangerously". Shoot, at 60, I've got to have some excitement in life.
absoltly not,i believe in my bass(when i haveone) the only thing that i ever carry for common problems is a another set of Blue Stell when i atack my bass my strings recive a brutal atack,remember,always travel with another or 2 more set of Blue Steel..or D,addario.
I always carry a backup, when playing in a band.
At open mics, and when playing at church, I do not.
At open mics, and when playing at church, I do not.
I've had or seen just about every weird thing possible happen to equipment. Basses knocked over... headstocks gone. Wires come loose. Had a guitarist hit a brand new MIA Jazz snapped the pup in half.
So I'm really paranoid. I also use both a fretless and regular 4. Plus I some times have a BEAD bass with me as well. I really need to get a cheaper 5.
Personally I'd rather have a spare on the dolly or stage then try to fix them.
So I'm really paranoid. I also use both a fretless and regular 4. Plus I some times have a BEAD bass with me as well. I really need to get a cheaper 5.
Personally I'd rather have a spare on the dolly or stage then try to fix them.
