Do you bring a back up bass to gigs?

[FBS1996]

Hey guys

I'm having my first gig next saturday hyper and both guitarists will be bringing a back up guitar. It's gonna be a very small gig (we're the opening act so we're only going to play a 30 minute set, in front of 150 - 200ish people). Is it necessary to bring a back up bass, or should I just bring my main? I have no problem with my back up bass, I just don't really fancy bringing 2 basses if I don't need both of them.

 

[Nino Valenti]

Always.

 

[M.Wrenn]

Always.

Better safe than sorry.

 

[snyderz]

Never.

 

[loend68]

Absolutely......saved my butt a couple of times in the last year alone...

 

[lowfreq33]

I'm 600 miles from home right now and have one bass with me. I have extra strings...

 

[grifff]

I never have but I have yet to have any issues

 

[Marko 1]

It’s not that much trouble to bring a second bass.

 

[Eight_Stringer]

Ask yourself what if my bass stopped during the gig, what are you going to do next, clap hands all night? There are players whom have backup and there are hopefuls, take the prepaired guy any day. Your call. Regrads

 

[WoodyG3]

Sometimes I do, sometimes not. I think I can see why someone flying across country wouldn't want the extra baggage, but putting an extra bass in the back seat when driving to a local gig is no big deal.

 

[chuck3]

I bring two basses and two amp heads anyway because in my regular band I double on bass guitar and upright. If something happened to the upright I could play all the parts on bass guitar - it wouldn't sound the same, but it wouldn't be a disaster. If something happened to the bass guitar I'd be OK using the upright on some of the BG stuff, but some we wouldn't be able to do. I'm covered on amp heads either way.

 

[5StringBlues]

Always. Especially on a short set.

 

[Marko 1]

I can imagine after years of gigging and never having needed a backup, it’s easy to stop. I’ve actually stopped bringing a backup a few months ago, just a set strings.

I don’t think this is wise, though…

NE Ohio, it’s cold outside, and I’d have to bring it inside… another thing to store somewhere while I’m on a cramped stage.

Tonight’s gig there’s more room off to the side of the stage, and I’m back to my active bass, so I think I’m gonna bring a backup…

if I remember.

 

[IngerAlb]

Yup, always.

 

[Marty Forrer]

Never have in 35 years of gigging. Never had a problem.

 

[electracoyote]

Is it necessary to bring a back up bass

In my world, absolutely.

I've had a bass die on me during a performance. Glad I had a spare in the case.

Murphy's Law.

 

[taliesin]

Never.

 

[electracoyote]

I have extra strings...

That's awesome.

What about the other things that sometimes break or fail?

Do you have an extra output jack assembly? An extra string nut and the tools to replace it? How about a spare potentiometer? Did you bring your soldering iron and some solder and flux to put a bass back together if something comes loose?

And even if you did bring all that, is the band and your audience really going to just sit there patiently while you do your tech work on the only bass you brought with you?

Oh wait, those things never happen. I mean, you never read a thread here on TB where someone's bass fell apart and they're asking for advice on how to put it back together.

 

[Lee H]

my own opinion on a musician who does not bring backup equipment is that they are not dedicated enough to own suitable backup. I have been around enough to know that you should always hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. No matter how good your equipment, there is a chance of failure. It may be something as small as a volume or blend pot gathering moisture, but it does happen

 

[James Judson]

Alway bring a back up. Thats why I've never had a failure.

My philosophy is "if you have a back up plan you will not need to use it".

No backup plan will be disasterous if it's needed.

YMMV