Do you bring a back up bass to gigs?

[georgestrings]

Exactly why would the bass mess up? As for most peoples experience, mine have never. Batteries, yes and I'll go to passive or switch at break. String break? Two in 2011 at a practice and I sold that bass as something was wrong. Other than that, never had issues with a bass I trusted?

I do have faith in my technique in terms of preserving strings and the bass itself. that is a big difference between me and many on this board so far. things I keep with me are strings, batteries, and a tool kit.

Now on the road, a backup head comes with me. That I will say.

I've been playing for over 30 years, and have never broken a bass string ever... However, I have needed a backup bass twice over the years, and there was absolutely no prior indication of a problem in either case... On the 1st, I had an output jack on a Spector start shorting in and out - and it seemed like I was headed towards damaging my amp if I continued to use it... On the 2nd, I had a sealed tuner - a Schaller - strip out, and completely lose tension...

I definitely take good care of my gear, and don't ignore potential trouble - but neither of these instances could've been predicted, nor prevented...

Always take a backup to a paying gig, I say...


- georgestrings

 

[TheCush]

Good point! You don't see many upright players bringing a backup upright! That would be fun to watch on the subway going to a gig!

I'm new to this thread, but I guess I jump in here. I play electric in a blues group, and always bring a backup bass. The main reason is that I've broken strings and it's worth the extra cartage to eliminate any issues there.

I also play upright in a rockabilly group, and while I've never broken a string, I tend to always bring a P-bass along just in case.

FWIW - I also bring along a backup small amp. I've had power tubes go out on me in the past.

I guess I'm just a "belts and suspenders" kind of guy. I guess it's better to have it an not need it, than to need it and not have it.

 

[butchblack]

My guitarist had one of his guitars go south (wouldn't stay in tune) recently. I almost always bring a back up bass, often bring a back up cab and head. I'm thinking of getting a good DI box and eliminating the back up amp. A good rule of thumb is the more important the gig, the more back up you should have.

 

[heckraiser]

Been playing for 30 years now and for the first 5 or ten I never carried spare anything. Had a paying gig in about year 10 in which I broke an e-string, had to stop and replace that. Then had the head burn out on the last set. The owner never hired us back. After that fiasco, I started bringing a kit containing 2 sets of strings, a power winder, a pair of screw drivers, crosscutters, an extra power strip, and 2 guitar cords extra. I also have a spare mic and cable, an extra head and an extra bass. So yes the minimum is a extra bass for a paying gig and to be safe an extra head. Beats playing through the PA and having to mud up the vocal mix.