Do you bring a backup bass to gigs?

[kittywithabanjo]

Plus you have to show your significant other that yes you really did need that 9th bass

 

[Interceptor]

Never worried about a bass failing on me. Haven't had a problem since I started in 1972.

 

[Dirtyfrenchman]

I generally take 2 basses to every gig, either important or not, not only for safety but also because I love my different basses and appreciate to play them all.

 

[Liam Wald]

Okay...
How many people think that you should always carry a back-up bass in case you break a string?
How many people think that a broken string ruins a gig? Or ends it altogether?
How often do you break a string? Either at home or at a gig?
How many people think that it takes more than maybe two minutes to change a string?
How many people do not know how to change a string?
Really...? Broken string? Show stopping tragic?
Really?

 

[CosmicRay]

Not really a spare, but a Martin BC15E A/E for our acoustic set, then either the Jazz or the Modulus or the Warwick....whichever I feel is right for that gig.

 

[Liam Wald]

PS; I always have an extra set of strings in every case. Never have needed one. They just sit there until I I do an overall string change.
But I am quite sure that if I needed to I could change, stretch, and tune a string in much less time than a set break. Maybe even before the front man stops yapping.

 

[Lex P.]

I'm down to only one. So...

 

[Joeykun]

Always bring 2. My Sadowsky Standard 4 JJ is tuned to Eb.
And, my Standard PJ is in A 440.

 

[35hundy]

Okay...
How many people think that you should always carry a back-up bass in case you break a string?
How many people think that a broken string ruins a gig? Or ends it altogether?
How often do you break a string? Either at home or at a gig?
How many people think that it take more than maybe two minutes to change a string?
How many people do not know how to change a string?
Really...? Broken string? Show stopping tragic?
Really?

If you break a string mid song it ruins the song. If your bass playing coming to a sudden halt isn't noticeable, something is wrong. It's amateur to string up your bass mid song and re-tune while the band goes on. Someone prepared would have a back up bass sitting there ready. It's happened to me twice (I had my backup and was prepared) on stage and twice in practice in 15 years and I have seen others break strings on stage and have to humiliatingly restring immediately.

 

[oysteivi]

I usually bring my Squier P as a backup. It stays in its case backstage. Never needed it.

 

[swrbass5]

I always take my 2 SR5's - Playing around salt water most of the time, - weird things happen. I normally switch between sets.

 

[Robroy]

Absolutely. I've made a living out of being able to craft a big sound from one guitar (a bonus to bands trying to split the band fee more efficiently), but playing with a cracking keyboardist, horn section, vocalists, percussionist and rhythm section is REALLY good fun.

The band I joined a few months ago has two killer guitar players and a sax player that also plays keys. I'm gonna try to get one of them to play bass for a few songs and I'm dusting off my trombone I played in college stage band. We're gonna give it a try with Land of 1000 dances. I may give it a try with the vocal harmonizer while the sax scats, but I have no idea if it will work.

 

[Last Rebel]

Always have one tuned standard and one tuned Eb.

Yup..i do the same

 

[mc900ftj]

Two basses when playing both standard tuning and 1/2 step down. One bass otherwise with the exception of the rare high profile gig, better safe than sorry.

This.

 

[Davbassdude]

When I used to play clubs, I mostly played the Ric 4003, but on certain songs played the Precision (especially Pretenders, Joe Jackson, Police and Queen). It was also nice to have a spare to snatch up if I broke a string (happened once).

 

[InhumanResource]

It's a good idea, but I've never had a bass outright fail on me. I've had wires pop off of the input jack and needed to do quick repairs but that's about it.

 

[Marko 1]

In 37 years I've never used my homeowner's insurance, but that doesn't mean I don't need it or was foolish to have had it.

A back-up bass is my insurance that the gig will go uninterrupted, because even briefly-interrupted is unacceptable.

The peace of mind alone is worth it.

 

[Humbled]

Only if the gig required both an upright and an electric.

 

[Curtis Rielley]

Absolutely. I have had problems on stage before with strings breaking, breaking wires in an input jack, anything electrical like a bad battery go flat etc. So its always good to have a backup even though 98% of the time nothing goes wrong

 

[hsech]

In 50 years of playing, the only thing that has failed me was a tube in an old Fender Bassman. Fortunately I learned to carry one spare power tube and one spare pre amp tube and some extra fuses. Now days the only time I take anything extra other than strings, strap, cables etc. is if I'm playing either a very high paying gig or playing out of state.