Do you need a backup bass.

[Doug P]

Yes always. Once after worming up for 15 min or so, standing there with my hands on my side, the strap lock “stopped working”. Bass hit the floor and being a Fender ( yea, ok ) only the E and A string broke so ……
I have had strings break, jack issue I didn’t notice.
Have had to switch once as the wireless body pack shorted out or ??? and doing a 1 hr to 1.5 set no one wants to wait around while I fumble to “fix” issue, just easier and faster to pick up the #2.
Also, see above somewhere, two is one and one is none.

 

[Doug P]

SOoooooo........back when I was gigging fulltime, not only did I bring 2 or more basses but I (sometimes) carried a spare amp...AND there was a period when I also carried extra drumsticks, guitar strings, pegwinder, extra tuning pedal, picks (didnt use those), and all kinds of extra cords, misc, and a toolkit...Why? Because I learned early on that many musicians are just plain ol irresponsible and, with my paycheck relying on it, I had to ensure the show went on

I havent had a flat tire in over two decades either but I always carry a spare tire in my car just in case my tire luck runs out

I carry more than one pick ( yea, I know ) even tho I’ve never dropped one on stage ( until this Sat night now )

 

[Doug P]

Like others here have commented on regarding backups I too bring more than a backup bass on the road/to gigs.

Primary and backup amp
Duplicate backup speaker cables
Spare string sets
Spare straps
Old strings (I have given these out to other bassists at shows when they needed them)
Tool kit
Guitar cables even though I am wireless (loaned one to our guitarist at a show in Green Bay when his guitar cable failed during soundcheck)
Power cords
Extension cords
Furman power strips (two)
Spare 9 volt rechargeable batteries with fresh batteries in each bass prior to sound check
Nail clippers (I'm a fingerstyle player)
A bag of ear plugs​

I'm sure I have left something out of the list above but I can promise that I have whatever I left out at a gig as everything gets packed and has its place in this pack. I even fit one of my amps in this:

D'Addario Backline Gear Transport Pack Musician's Accessories Backpack

I have broken strings onstage (B, E and G) and being able to switch to the back up bass has been a life-saver. I have had electronics fail (oh how I hate the onboard preamps), I have had output jacks fail, and I have had wiring break.

Like others here have commented on regarding backups I too bring more than a backup bass on the road/to gigs.

Primary and backup amp
Duplicate backup speaker cables
Spare string sets
Spare straps
Old strings (I have given these out to other bassists at shows when they needed them)
Tool kit
Guitar cables even though I am wireless (loaned one to our guitarist at a show in Green Bay when his guitar cable failed during soundcheck)
Power cords
Extension cords
Furman power strips (two)
Spare 9 volt rechargeable batteries with fresh batteries in each bass prior to sound check
Nail clippers (I'm a fingerstyle player)
A bag of ear plugs​

I'm sure I have left something out of the list above but I can promise that I have whatever I left out at a gig as everything gets packed and has its place in this pack. I even fit one of my amps in this:

Invalid Link Removed

I have broken strings onstage (B, E and G) and being able to switch to the back up bass has been a life-saver. I have had electronics fail (oh how I hate the onboard preamps), I have had output jacks fail, and I have had wiring break.

I’m with ya… same stuff and more too. How many times has a band mate asked…” so do you have a…”. The Box is always there

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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.

That's nice. Other people do have different preferences and experiences. I personally haven't broken a bass string, but plenty of people have. And "best sound" is as subjective as it gets. I'm glad you are happy with your one P bass and have never broken a string. I've never been killed by a shark.

 

[Doug P]

I don;t worry about that stuff so much anymore. I've done so many gigs with one bass out of necessity that it's become a way of life these days.

We don’t know each other but seeing your name many times and the quality of advise / posts I’d thought you would be a “back up” player. But hey…… rock on !

 

[DB10]

I’m going to a casual audition next week, just playing 4 songs. And I will have a second bass in trunk of car. So yes.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

I have dealt with broken strings, dead batteries, failed preamps, so yes, at least 2. Also last weekend I had a speaker failure! I always carry 2 amps as well. Didn't use it this time as we had only 15 minutes left in the show so I just ran direct to finish, so, yeah, pretty much carry twice as many of whatever I use. Mics, stands, cables, whatever. That being said, will be doing tonight's gig without a backup speaker as the replacement has not arrived. Fingers crossed!

 

[Old Fart]

Yes, in fact I "need" eight back-up basses, stored safely at home, just in case. In fifty years of playing bass, I have never had a bass fail. But you never know....

 

[ryco]

Never have had to go my back up bass, but it's there should I need it.

I even bring a back up head. Have had to switch those a few times.

 

[Basslure]

So my question is do you need a backup bass. I realize during a show a string may break or a battery may go dead but have you ever actually had to change basses during a show and for what reason.

Oh. My. God. Yes! I was playing a fretless in a punk band just to be obnoxious and damn thing literally fell apart on me! Thank goodness I had my trusty J-Bass with me! My fretless was heavily damaged, but how perfect for a punk band? And not just live...Years ago, I went into the studio with my trusty Yamaha and it fizzled out amid recording! The engineer graciously soldered the broken connection, but it was on the clock and my bandmates were understandably unhappy with me! Always, always, always have a back up!

 

[GIBrat51]

No, I never needed one. Good thing, too. Nobody in the band could have afforded a back up anything, really. It was the early '70s; we were all E-3/E-4s in the Air Force; and we were not exactly rolling in $$'s. Well, maybe the drummer could have; sticks were fairly cheap...

 

[SixtyCycleHum]

Oh. My. God. Yes! I was playing a fretless in a punk band just to be obnoxious and damn thing literally fell apart on me! Thank goodness I had my trusty J-Bass with me! My fretless was heavily damaged, but how perfect for a punk band? And not just live...Years ago, I went into the studio with my trusty Yamaha and it fizzled out amid recording! The engineer graciously soldered the broken connection, but it was on the clock and my bandmates were understandably unhappy with me! Always, always, always have a back up!

Fretless (well, defretted but whatever!) in a punk band to be obnoxious/hilarious? Also guilty

 

[Bass]

I don't like carrying extra stuff, and trust that one of the other bands would kindly lend me their bass if mine broke.

 

[1bassleft]

Everybody's said yes or no, so here's a couple of mildly amusing true experiences. My first 'big' gig, in the Student's Union main concert hall (many bands appearing), I only owned a P copy apart from a Kay 4001 copy that I had since I was 14 and no way would I use that on stage. Unknown to me, a heavy bottomed mic stand had been placed on my cable in the band change. I jumped up, kicked my leg in the air and landed to play... absolutely nothing. The now-shortened cable had yoinked the socket, pots and wires out of my bass. I ran to the next band's dressing room and grabbed their bass (ultra-rapid permission gained, of course). Meanwhile, the mixer bloke (who probably moved the stand onto my lead) wandered on stage to investigate the lack of bass sound, kicking out the extension lead for the guitar amps. "Drum solo!" shouted the singer. I got back with a right-handed bass and joined in, realizing it had been drop-tuned to D. Couldn't wait for the song to end and, frankly, the rest of the set (back to EADG but upside down).

It can happen to righties. A few years later, I was in one of 3 bands playing and one of the bass players was using his new 4001 (genuine) for its first gig. His A-string snapped in mid song but the other two basses were nearby in their cases. I already knew so I enjoyed him opening first my lefty then the other guy's fretless. He didn't even have spare strings; I put my spare A on it in the toilets while he stood gormlessly as his band carried on.

As a salaried adult, for gigs, and even important rehearsals, I always had a basic Cort Action V within reach. Never used it in an emergency, but I still have bad memories of that first gig with just the one bass.

 

[dasherf17]

So my question is do you need a backup bass. I realize during a show a string may break or a battery may go dead but have you ever actually had to change basses during a show and for what reason.

Even if you only want one, it's all a personal choice...backups need backups, too...

 

[bigdaddybass12]

No, you have a better chance of amp failing.

 

[Toneguy66]

Would you hire a sound man who showed up without a backup microphone?

 

[Eric Kjelstrom]

I always carried a back-up bass and Amp to all gigs. They came in real handy on several gigs. My back-up rigs even bailed out my guitar players on several occasions.

 

[PeteCarlton]

So my question is do you need a backup bass.

Why on earth not?

 

[mouthmw]

Never used a backup bass in over 10 years of live gigging. Broke a string sure, but always had an old spare, which took less than half a minute to put on. Haven't broken a string in years now, ever since finding the right set of strings for me.