Do You Bring A Backup Bass To Gigs?

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Do you bring a backup bass to your gigs?

For the purpose of the poll, let's assume that gig is a small-medium bar and that any additional basses are only serve the purpose as a backup (i.e. not a fretless for one tune, different bass for different sounds on different songs or a drop tuned bass).

 

[hrodbert696]

Yes. I've never needed it, but there's a first time for everything. Always back up everything you can.

 

[Selta]

Generally, yeah. My main band is geared to play as openers for national/internation acts that come though. So, our sets are only ~45 minutes long. I'll keep a bass off stage ready to go to swap if needed.
The other performing band is a theatrical opera band. I switch basses there between fretted and fretless, so I inherently have a "backup", though not a true backup. I don't bring two fretted and two fretless basses.

 

[bass12]

For bars, never. It's generally difficult enough keeping an eye on one bass, let alone two, and space is often an issue.

 

[TrustRod]

I used to bring extra strings and tools to repair stuff. Now I just bring a second bass.

 

[2saddleslab]

I typically bring 2 basses as my geetar player likes to sing most of the songs 1/2 step down. On rare standard tuning gigs I usually just bring one.

 

[lz4005]

In town, playing one hour or less...usually not.
Out of town, always.
Multiple sets, always.

 

[TBird1958]

Always at least two.
NOBODY wants to watch a broken bass string being changed out in the middle of a set, and yes I've broken plenty of them onstage.

Someone here, once said " Two = One, One = none.

 

[GreyBeard]

I bring a 2nd bass but keep it locked up in the car out of sight.

 

[eldorado2001]

It saved a gig for me once. That was enough reason for me to always bring an extra.

 

[EMoneySC2]

I don't. My current band plays in two tunings, and there is no way I'd bring 3-4 basses to a show. I bring my instruments in flight cases, and I bring tools and spare strings.

I don't like the thought of owning 2 times as many basses. The basses I currently play aren't cheap, and I'd rather not drop the cash on backups. I guess I could have backup basses be really cheap instruments, but that doesn't sound like an appealing option to me.

Someday it could burn me. That's just how it goes.

 

[Smogcity]

I just have a set of used strings in my gig bag pocket as insurance. I have never broken a string on stage and only had a few break in my life time (all from abuse, not normal use).

If i had to change a string, I could do it in a minute because the used strings are already cut to for the bass and have a memory of the wraps around the tuning pegs...

 

[NicJimBass]

I wouldn't necessarily call it a backup bass, but I always bring 2... a P5 and an active J5. I find one usually sounds better than the other depending on the venue. Barring that I like to switch in between sets sometimes. That, and I always have a backup, if nothing else.

 

[Engle]

Yes. Even if I'm keeping it simple, I will put my daughter's Jaguar SS in the lockbox in my truck - just in case.

 

[AztecViking]

I've never done it and never needed one. But if I ever get a Mono dual bass gig bag I'll bring both a fretted and a fretless to some gigs. I won't consider that bringing a backup.

 

[mp40smg]

Yes.
Pretty much always. I used to only bring one. Until one time, something (wiring) went screwy when I got to a gig.. it was a long ride home to get a replacement. Turned out it was the wire to the jack . But chasing that down, setting soldering station etc 45 minutes before you start is not optimal.


I bring a fretted and fretless. At least I will always have one up and running.

 

[makaspar]

Always. I've only needed it once, when a battery died in the middle of a set (I didn't know that was the case, I just knew my bass sounded fuzzy), but I'm glad I had it.

 

[JimmyM]

I bring enough stuff. I'm not proud of it, but rarely do I bring more than one. I just don't need it and I hate changing basses in the middle of a set.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Do you bring a backup bass to your gigs?

For the purpose of the poll, let's assume that gig is a small-medium bar and that any additional basses are only serve the purpose as a backup (i.e. not a fretless for one tune, different bass for different sounds on different songs or a drop tuned bass).

No.

 

[jchrisk1]

Never have, and never needed to. My stuff works and I keep it that way. In nearly 30 years I've had one amp burn up live. That's the only malfunction so far. Luckily my combo was upstairs and I used that to finish the night.
I never tow an extra car either. You know, just in case.