Do You Bring A Backup Bass To Gigs?

[The Thinker]

I wasn't a fan of the B string below 2 semitones in standard tuning. It just sounded off.

Thanks. I rarely tune down more than a half step.

 

[Rob Rogers]

Yes, I always bring a backup. Because you never know.
Also its like going to break it will. If you have a backup it won't.
Good luck to all.

 

[JRA]

yes!

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I have to admit, part of the "allure" of not bringing a backup bass is theft. In the rare case something crappy like that were to happen (either from the car or the venue), you end up losing one instrument instead of two (or more).

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

My last two gigs, the guitarist broke strings twice (on two separate guitars), one of those in one set! He brings three guitars and barely skipped a beat switching. Unfortunately, restringing is more involved as he has Floyd Rose tremolos and they lock at the nut with an Allen key.

 

[aborgman]

I've been gigging for 28 years, and I've NEVER had a bass or string break.

...but I always bring a backup. Easy enough to throw another one on the tripod stand on stage, and two doesn't take up anymore room than one.

The only time I've ever had a bass break at the gig, it WAS the backup. Decided I'd play the 4th set with the backup just to give it some attention. Started to tune it and the post the string wraps around on the B string tuner sheared off.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Never UNTIL after I had a tuning peg on the E just shear off while tuning up before a gig. Now, ALWAYS.

Always two ,we were playing this big club packed .first song of the night my a string pops. Took me 10 minutes to change the string,plus i break strings a lot even though they get changed once a month. My guitar player knocked my bass over and g tuner broke right off.that was back in early 80s. Since then always 2. One stays tuned ready to go in gig bag

The only time I've ever had a bass break at the gig, it WAS the backup. Decided I'd play the 4th set with the backup just to give it some attention. Started to tune it and the post the string wraps around on the B string tuner sheared off.

I think I've read in at least three previous posts that people have had a tuner shear right off. Were those with lower end instruments? That's seems like an extreme failure.

 

[aborgman]

Never UNTIL after I had a tuning peg on the E just shear off while tuning up before a gig. Now, ALWAYS.

Glad I'm not the only person that has happened to.

Gotoh GB7 - post the string winds around sheared off while tuning. B string.

 

[aborgman]

In general, I try and bring backups for just about everything with the exception of a cab. But, as you double bass players have noted, it is not always practical to have a backup of everything.

When I'm playing upright - I bring an electric bass as a backup.

I play a pre-power amp rig... I bring a pedal pre-amp (Zoom B2) in case the pre fails, I can use a channel of our monitor amp if the power amp fails, and if my cab fails - I'll run direct to the PA.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I've been gigging for 28 years, and I've NEVER had a bass or string break.

...but I always bring a backup. Easy enough to throw another one on the tripod stand on stage, and two doesn't take up anymore room than one.

The only time I've ever had a bass break at the gig, it WAS the backup. Decided I'd play the 4th set with the backup just to give it some attention. Started to tune it and the post the string wraps around on the B string tuner sheared off.

Glad I'm not the only person that has happened to.

Gotoh GB7 - post the string winds around sheared off while tuning. B string.

Those are standard widely used tuners. I'm surprised to hear that.

 

[aborgman]

Those are standard widely used tuners. I'm surprised to hear that.

They're all I use - on all my basses. I replaced the failed one with another GB7. Never had one fail before, or since.

...but that one snapped off just below the face of the headstock. Probably 15 years old at the time, so not new equipment/infant failure. That was about 5 years ago - the other four from the set are still running along just fine.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

I think I've read in at least three previous posts that people have had a tuner shear right off. Were those with lower end instruments? That's seems like an extreme failure.

Not a low-end instrument (no pun intended). My tech said that bass tuner posts will shear off in time, especially the E and A, given the amount of string tension on basses compared to guitars.

 

[electracoyote]

I have to admit, part of the "allure" of not bringing a backup bass is theft. In the rare case something crappy like that were to happen (either from the car or the venue), you end up losing one instrument instead of two (or more).

The way I get around theft is nothing is ever left sitting without witnesses around watching it like a hawk. I park in well-lit high-traffic areas close to the door, and I don't let the stuff sit out any longer than necessary. As soon as I pull up, I'm loading in. As soon as we're done playing, I'm packing up and loading out for the night. We always take turns and have our familiars eyeballing our gear through the entire process.

In the club, we always have at least one lookout watching the stage, especially on breaks when some tend to let their guard down.

I'd say it's luck, but I think it's more an ounce of prevention that in 38 years of hauling gear all over and playing in every sort of venue imaginable, I've never had a single piece of gear stolen at a gig.

But back on topic, I certainly wouldn't let the fear of theft keep me from bringing a spare. Maybe the thief only has a chance to grab one bass; then you'll be glad you brought a second.

 

[electracoyote]

Not a low-end instrument (no pun intended). My tech said that bass tuner posts will shear off in time, especially the E and A, given the amount of string tension on basses compared to guitars.

Unless you run your gear through a metal scanner, metal fatigue and failure is all but impossible to predict.

 

[DWBass]

I usually bring a 4 and a 5. Last gig I brought 2 4's but only played one.

 

[McG]

I never brought a backup bass until two years ago. Heading out to a gig the wife suggested I bring a backup. Sure enough in the middle of the show a string broke. First and only time in 45 years of playing that (or any bass problem) happened. Man, was I glad I listened to her. So now I always bring an extra ax.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The way I get around theft is nothing is ever left sitting without witnesses around watching it like a hawk. I park in well-lit high-traffic areas close to the door, and I don't let the stuff sit out any longer than necessary. As soon as I pull up, I'm loading in. As soon as we're done playing, I'm packing up and loading out for the night. We always take turns and have our familiars eyeballing our gear through the entire process.

In the club, we always have at least one lookout watching the stage, especially on breaks when some tend to let their guard down.

I'd say it's luck, but I think it's more an ounce of prevention that in 38 years of hauling gear all over and playing in every sort of venue imaginable, I've never had a single piece of gear stolen at a gig.

But back on topic, I certainly wouldn't let the fear of theft keep me from bringing a spare. Maybe the thief only has a chance to nab one bass; then you'll be glad you brought a second.

I do the same, as much as possible.

 

[barginkov]

I think I've read in at least three previous posts that people have had a tuner shear right off. Were those with lower end instruments? That's seems like an extreme failure.

Dedinetly not a lower grade ...it was a musicman sr 5 from 95.. this happened in 96. It got knock over the g string hit the floor at a angle ..it snapped right off in fact I still have the tuner , the bass unfortunately was sold Long ago. Ernie ball sent me a replacement

 

[JimmyM]

That's it -- if Jimmy can crack corn without two basses, so can I!

Listen, I'm not recommending it! I'm just saying I usually do it and nothing bad has ever happened in years. OK, so once the airline lost my bass for a few hours but the promoter had a son with a real nice Precision. Other than that, not a problem. Haven't even broken a string since 2001. But breaking a string is no big deal...I've done dance sets with 3 strings before and I can do it again!

 

[tfer]

Kudos for being so superior to all of us.

It's not a matter of being superior.

But once you get burned, you tend to stop playing with fire.

My backup amp, is sitting on top of my regular amp, because I got burned by having it stop mid set, with no replacement. I ended up running my bass into the board, and playing without a monitor mix. Now, it's a matter of plugging into my backup, unplugging my cabs from the main and plugging them in, and I'm up and running. Probably about 20 seconds from initial panic to situation normal.

It'd be a LONG 20 seconds for me, but it's nothing compared to the chaos of not having that amp there.