Well I’ll admit if I was walking I’d have to go as light as I could.
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Do you need a backup bass.
- Thread starter pica
- Start date
It’s just a personal risk assessment : are you ok with the consequences when (and not “if”) it happens…
Yes. I had a passive bass go dead at an outdoor gig several years back and would have been toast without a backup.
THIS.
For years, I carried a backup religiously to every gig. I never actually needed one, but it gave me an excuse to swap basses for a different tone. I am not currently gigging regularly, but if I were, I'd bring a backup if it were at all feasible.
I also used to carry a backup amp head, but stopped after several years. My backup to my amp is a DI box and faith in the PA.
Yes a backup/alternate bass is a necessity. It doesn't have to be the same, but it should be capable of producing a similar sound as the main bass. Ive had to change during a show, it's no biggie, you should test all your gear you plan to use before sound check. It helps minimize downtime if you have to swap.
I had the nut crack on a Stratocaster during a backup-less show many years ago, and have never been without a backup instrument since. I've only needed a backup bass once in almost 30 years, but I would have been screwed if I didn't have one. About three years ago, the jack went haywire on my main bass and I had to switch basses quickly.
I haven't done a gig without a spare bass for over 40 years. If I was a band leader I would expect it.
I always bring a backup bass, for two reasons:
1. I’ve never broken a bass string during a gig, but if the electronics fail (pickups, output jack) I have a second bass right there, already plugged into a Morley ABY box that I can switch to in any unforeseen eventuality.
2. My second bass is ALWAYS a medium or short scale instrument; if by the 2nd or 3rd set (ugh!) these 57 year old fingers get cramped or otherwise wonky, I can switch to a shorter scale which is somewhat less work than the typical 34” bass I’ve been playing. I have few 30.5” - 32” backups I bring for my just in case/back-up bass. It can’t hurt.
I’m never the one to lug superfluous equipment that I have to lug back out at the end of a gig, but a second bass is a lot easier than needing one and not having it!
1. I’ve never broken a bass string during a gig, but if the electronics fail (pickups, output jack) I have a second bass right there, already plugged into a Morley ABY box that I can switch to in any unforeseen eventuality.
2. My second bass is ALWAYS a medium or short scale instrument; if by the 2nd or 3rd set (ugh!) these 57 year old fingers get cramped or otherwise wonky, I can switch to a shorter scale which is somewhat less work than the typical 34” bass I’ve been playing. I have few 30.5” - 32” backups I bring for my just in case/back-up bass. It can’t hurt.
I’m never the one to lug superfluous equipment that I have to lug back out at the end of a gig, but a second bass is a lot easier than needing one and not having it!
I've used my backup amps more than my backup basses, but if you have two or three on stage--One Flat Wound-one Round Wound, and Possibly One Fretless, you don't have to stop the show for a battery, or string replacement. I had a bad jack problem once as well. Better to have it and not need it, than to need it, and not have it.
Yes, I bring a backup to every gig. I think I’ve only broken one string in all the years I’ve been playing (a lot of years), but it can happen and then you’re dead in the water.
Better safe than sorry!
Batteries? I see no point when passive Fender P Basses always produce the best overall bass sound, both in studio, and through a PA. As for breaking strings, I dont know how you break a bass string while playing. The only time I ever broke a bass string over 35 years of gigging, was once when I carelessly was turning the wrong tuning peg, and overtightened a string to the point of breaking it! But I dont see how one can break a bass string simply by playing.
I always have backups. I rarely need them.
Nothing like standing around at a gig explaining to everyone why you can't play.
In your case I'd probably want to have a backup bass player (juuuuuuuust kidding).
We *have* had a bass player go down during a show, come to think of it -- he got seriously sick and we made do with keyboard bass for the rest of the night.
It happened to me once circa 1969 with a month old set of Rotosound 66s. The D-string just popped while playing fingerstyle. I chalked it off to a manufacturing defect and just changed it. It hasn't happened again since.
What most have said. I've only had one string break during a gig, ever. But I had a backup bass, so I only had to deal with half a song being out of whack, and we didn't miss any song time. Do you need one? Probably not 95%+ of the time. But if you have a few basses, and you're not taking public transportation, why not bring a 2nd?
I always bring two to gigs, as I'll play a 5er for one set and a 4 for the other sets, or I want to mix in a bass I haven't been playing as much, etc. I figured if you play both, it's not a backup, its 1A and 1B. For jam sessions, I only bring one and don't worry about it.
I always bring two to gigs, as I'll play a 5er for one set and a 4 for the other sets, or I want to mix in a bass I haven't been playing as much, etc. I figured if you play both, it's not a backup, its 1A and 1B. For jam sessions, I only bring one and don't worry about it.
