Do you bring a backup bass to gigs?

[Ken R]

I always do because excrement happens. Backup bass,amp,cables,batteries, you name it.

 

[MNAirHead]

Technically yes --- I commonly will be playing both electric and upright.

IF it's a gig that I don't have the call for both -- I just bring my electric.

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I don't keep basses that are hard on batteries, can't keep a tune and/or break strings.

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I do keep a disaster kit in my car --- everything labeled in a brief case... tools, batteries, mic cord, guitar cord,

 

[MNAirHead]

I don't bring a backup amp either -- I don't keep gear that fails under heat etc...

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

Worst thing that's ever happened to me is having dead batteries for an active bass, so I always bring spare batteries.

I've never, in my entire life/career, broken a bass string so I don't foresee that being an issue.

For gigs, I only take 1 bass. For tours, I sometimes take 2. But definitely I always bring a little toolbox that just stays in my car. It takes up way less space than a spare bass.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

I had a set up done on my bass when I changed to new a gauge strings. Right towards the end of the last set, a set screw on the saddle of my G fell out. It had vibrated loose and just fell out. Saddle dropped, string was useless.

2 string failures over hundreds of performances.

Not often but if you are a gigging musician, best to be prepared. So yeah, unexpected crap happens.

Lesson from this (to me, at least): If you're a gigging musician, do your own setups.

 

[GretschWretch]

For upright gigs, one bass only (duh!). For electric, two basses, but more as complementary: one fretted, one fretless.

 

[hsech]

Extra strings, extra strap, extra tuner, extra cable: yes. Extra bass: no.

 

[rtslinger]

Classic Rock I bring two basses one with flats the other with rounds

 

[Ductapeman]

I always bring both my 5s-- it's way faster to swap a guitar than a string-- and if it's a fairly local show, or a place we like with an ample stage, I've drug out as many as six basses to a show. Just to be a showoff.

 

[City]

Besides strings, that may occasionally break, haven't your electronics failed in the "worst of the moments"?

I have not gigged much myself, but I'm scared of that possible situation. And I'm not the type of guy that has a whole toolbox in the back of the car (with screwdrivers, allen wrenches, soldering iron, extra wire, etc).

What he said.....backup cords, batteries, strings.....AND BASS....now this is particularly important since I just put in new PUPS and onboard Preamp. My soldering....well, I might trust it...but nah.....better safe than sorry.

 

[bassliner50]

I usually bring only one bass. I choose an appropriate bass for the gig before I leave home. However I always have a few essential hand tools, soldering supplies, extra strings, cables etc, in my gig bag in case I need to do an on site repair or adjustment. Of course if my bass were to get "hit by a bus", I'm toast. In 50 years of gigging this has not happened. (yet).

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I normally play two basses anyway.
A J5 with rounds and a P4 with flats.
I do it to swap between them to better
fit different songs, but that also means
they can act as backups for each other.

 

[wmhill]

always.....never needed it in 30 years of gigging, but still bring a spare to every gig. I have two of my two favorite basses, so I'm covered.

 

[40Hz]

I always bring two. One is strictly a spare and stays in the case. Never needed it. But if I ever do - it's there.

 

[dls119]

Usually not, but then again it depends on application.

I currently bring my Fender P as my main, and my Squier Deluxe Active Jazz V (good grief that's a mouthful) for downtuned songs and backup duty.

Both stay in standard tuning. The 5 strings gets it done for Eb and drop D songs.

 

[Jamvan]

I have a set of complementary pairs, either P or J, that I bring because having to stop a set to change a string, playing for 4-5 people, in an out-of-the-way biker bar, would be unprofessional.

 

[wneff]

For the Annie Brobst Band I usually bring my G&L 2500 and the NS Design Cr4M....I can wing/ finish a gig on the NS if necessary (but it might be painful for me and the audience

 

[theduke1]

My thoughts exactly.

What they said

 

[jeffbassguy]

I bring two to all my gigs just to make the guitar player more concerned that I am plotting to upstage his setup. haha

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I live in a small town, so if I'm playing locally, I can run home and get a spare. Out of town, I'll take a spare bass.
But 99% of the time, it's CORDS that fail. The other 1%, it's the amp.