Do you bring a backup bass to gigs?

[Rip Van Dan]

I take both my Fender Jazz passive 4-string and my Rogue active 5-string to gigs because I use both at gigs. So, I always have a spare. I also take an extra set of strings, a string winder, spare batteries for my 5-string and my wireless, and a 20-ft cable in case my wireless breaks. Over the years I've had a lot of things go down unexpectedly so yeah, I bring a spare bass too.

 

[therealting]

Yes - I have more than one bass but they're neither "matching" nor "complementary" (the poll doesn't cover this case.)

also, it's "complementary."

A kind moderator, smperry, has been good enough to correct my error.

Out of curiosity, what are your two then? Just different?

 

[kittywithabanjo]

I think my bringing 2 basses is probably more about soothing my own anxiety than anything. On the basses I own currently I have never broken a string and the actives all have passive mode but I still like to bring 2.

 

[BassikLee]

Yes, although my backup has recently decided to stay in the car. She's there incase the main bass has an issue, but I don't have to haul her in unless I need her. Just a Peavey Millenium BXP that I put together from parts.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

Yes.

"I prepare for the worst but hope for the best." - Benjamin Disraeli

 

[kenneffdupriest]

a backup bass is like a handgun. Good to have around and not need but bad to need and not have around

 

[lfmn16]

All that I am trying to say is that it isn't really that big of a deal if there is a little SNAFU at your bar gig. Who cares?

Professionals care.

Also, it depends on what you mean by a little SNAFU. Not being able to continue a gig because you don't have a back-up bass (or head, or cable, or whatever) is not little SNAFU. Half-@$$ing your way through a set because you only have three strings? Eh, the audience probably won't notice, but your band mates will. Kind of disrespectful of your band mates.

If the bar owner, who's livelihood depends on bands doesn't care; and the audience who has been looking forward to going out all week doesn't care, and your bandmates don't care then I agree, it's no big deal.

 

[deste]

I bring two.But not for a backup in case one fails.
One is fretless.For fretless tunes.
Fretted for fretted tunes.

+1

 

[Ian Perge]

I can't remember a gig where I didn't bring at least one other Bass. Typically it was at least a "Complimentary Pair" most often a Fretted/Fretless duo. I like to switch things up and play a typically "Fretted Song" on Fretless to make sure my Intonation & "Not Sliding Up To Every Note" is "up to snuff", or a 4 and 5-string where either it's something the four is specifically needed for: I've gotten to the point to where I can use my sets of TLev's "Funk Fingers" on stage, or a song that is Slap-or-Pickstyle focused, both of which I'm better at on a 4 (...but have 5-string Slapping & Picking in my Practice Routine and improving! ). Even back in my first early-to-mid '90s Original Band days before I had a 5 or 6-string, I brought my main Ibanez SR-800 (Oh, what I wouldn't give to have that 1992 Japanese-made beauty still in My Collection ) and a "Beginner's-level" Washburn MB-2 strung BEAD for our heavier songs.

...actually, I can recall the one-and-only gig in which I didn't bring a backup or "secondary" Bass. Somewhat ironically, it was at the University where at the time "Nearly Dr Better-Half's" was starting her Doctoral Program which had a day-and-evening-long event to raise $$ for "Hurricane Katrina" relief, and I played a 45-minute "Solo Bass" set over a "Shopper's Bazaar"... way before I owned a Looper, so I played some of my original pieces of music by playing a few bars of the chordal background, sneaking in a few measures of melodic leads, and going back & forth until a structure change (to a Chorus, Bridge, etc...) I also made up a list of famous Basslines, worked out which would flow into others by key, rhythm or other piece of musical "feel" and arranged "Famous Basslines Medley" that got the most applause... naturally since it was what people recognized the most. The only reason I didn't change Basses during that gig was because I didn't want to have any "dead air" with no one to cover me.

 

[DigitalMan]

To which "experience of others" are you referring to. The experiences of those who have played gigs for decades without a failure or the experiences of those who have failures?

I am referring to learning from the failure experiences of others. People drive for decades without ever getting into a car accident. It's still a good idea to wear a seatbelt.

 

[electracoyote]

I am referring to learning from the failure experiences of others. People drive for decades without ever getting into a car accident. It's still a good idea to wear a seatbelt.

The best lessons are those you learn through the mistakes and misfortunes of others.

Even if you haven't experienced an instrument failure, just hearing that they happen, and the consequences depending on the type of performance you're in, would make most people at least recognize the wisdom of bringing a spare whenever practical and possible.

Of course, if you generally play those "paid rehearsal" cake low-profile jam type gigs where losing the bass for half a song or more is no big deal, and your lead singer can juggle and tell jokes while you attempt to fix your bass between songs, or if you are a musical genius who can play Jaco on three strings, or maybe you're in a band where the bass really doesn't matter to band members or the audience and you're more like a prop, then never mind, and carry on...

 

[fasto]

i learned it the hard way (or Murphys law): always brought a backup bass to my gigs, but only one time NOT and of course it happened ... 5 seconds into our intro my E string (dropped to C) broke ... i was lucky to have some extra string in my gig-bag. We had to stop the intro while i fixed my bass, my worst gig ever.

 

[mongo2]

I am referring to learning from the failure experiences of others. People drive for decades without ever getting into a car accident. It's still a good idea to wear a seatbelt.

Here the law requires a seatbelt be worn. There's no such law requiring a backup bass. My 40+ years of experience tells me it's not necessary for me to carry a backup bass.

 

[bassbenj]

The best lessons are those you learn through the mistakes and misfortunes of others.

Even if you haven't experienced an instrument failure, just hearing that they happen, and the consequences depending on the type of performance you're in, would make most people at least recognize the wisdom of bringing a spare whenever practical and possible.

Learning lessons:

Best: Learning from the mistakes and misfortunes of others.

Next best: Learning from your own mistakes and misfortunes.

Worst: Keep doing the same thing over and over hoping next time it will turn out differently.

 

[DigitalMan]

Here it's the law to wear a seat belt. There's no such law requiring a backup bass. My 40+ years of experience tells me it's not necessary for me to carry a backup bass.

Good luck with that. Your 40+ years has not informed you about statistics or probabilities either because you don't have enough data points to make an informed decision.

No one is saying one should wear bubble wrap, wear a belt with suspenders, bring a spare PA, car, dog, girlfriend, etc to a show. The fact is that it is such a trivial thing to bring a second bass that it begs the question why wouldn't any professional do so?

You will probably never have a problem with a bass at a gig. But for every 100 bass players who think like you a small percentage probably will.

And for the record, the seatbelt laws have come about because hospitals and morgues were filling up with people who lacked the common sense to take reasonable precautions while driving, and the rest of society became burdened with the expense. People who think exactly the same way you do. It'll never happen to me.

 

[Justice]

i always bring multiple basses to gigs. Not really for backup but just for variety. Normally 2 but last gig I took 3 since I was testing a repair of my jazz's electronics and did not want to be without at least 2 basses.

Link Removed

 

[ERIC31]

Yes. Always. Because shiznitz happens.

I set both basses on stands, tuned up and ready to go. If one fails for whatever reason, #2 is ready to rock!

 

[electracoyote]

I find it especially amusing on these threads when people start the chest-beating about all the spare parts and back-up equipment they DO bring to the gig:

"I bring extra cables, strings, picks, straps, strap buttons, a spare amp head, DI box, a soldering iron and solder, tool box, hex wrench set, batteries, duct tape, Vaseline, tooth picks, nut blocks, shaping tools, tuning machines, fret wire, grub screws, potentiometers, output jacks, extension cords...I come PREPARED, boy!"

But the mere suggestion of bringing another bass along?

"Screw that!!! How stupid?!?!?! What could go wrong???"

smh, lol, hilarious...

 

[mongo2]

Good luck with that. Your 40+ years has not informed you about statistics or probabilities either because you don't have enough data points to make an informed decision.

No luck required. Simple measures to take care of the instrument is what is required. Each gig is a datapoint so I have thousands.

No one is saying one should wear bubble wrap, wear a belt with suspenders, bring a spare PA, car, dog, girlfriend, etc to a show. The fact is that it is such a trivial thing to bring a second bass that it begs the question why wouldn't any professional do so?

Because it's not necessary.

You will probably never have a problem with a bass at a gig.

I won't, which is why I don't bother carrying a spare.

But for every 100 bass players who think like you a small percentage probably will.

Not seeing why I should I care about any failures others may have.

And for the record, the seatbelt laws have come about because hospitals and morgues were filling up with people who lacked the common sense to take reasonable precautions while driving, and the rest of society became burdened with the expense. People who think exactly the same way you do.

LOL...that's quite a stretch and a bit ad hominem.

It'll never happen to me.

It will never happen to me either.

 

[DigitalMan]

I'll get off your lawn now.