Do you switch basses mid-set?

[urkel3000]

I've never once switched basses during a set. I'm a BEAD guy, no fives, no EADG basses... I'll bring two basses with me, and play the one that feels right and the other one stays in the bag.

Do you bust out your 5 for a song or two? Or do you keep the same bass on all night?

 

[sleddogn]

35 + years of gigging, never once switched during a gig. Always have a backup incase of failure, never needed one yet.

 

[WayneP]

I’ll occasionally switch to a fretless if I feel the song calls for one. But usually, only one. Typically fivers, but I do have a cherished 4-string I'll play if nothing on the set list requires the 5th string.

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[gln1955]

Just one for me, thanks. I once played in a band where the guitarist used five guitars at every gig. Drove everyone nuts with his constant changing.

 

[ravelax]

I've considered it lately, but it means too much stuff to carry and it would just add a lot of complication for very little gain.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I switched only one time, when the jack failed on my main bass and I had to pull out my backup (both were 1970s Precision Basses). That was about seven years ago.

 

[rickdog]

Unless I'm dropping in at an open mic or something, I pretty much always have my fretless and one of my fretted basses, and switch between them for the right feel for a song. I have an A/B footswitch, it takes me about 15-20 seconds to change. Just long enough for the singer to introduce the next song.

 

[Wasnex]

I've never once switched basses during a set. I'm a BEAD guy, no fives, no EADG basses... I'll bring two basses with me, and play the one that feels right and the other one stays in the bag.

Do you bust out your 5 for a song or two? Or do you keep the same bass on all night?

I don't typically switch bass guitars. But I used to switch between fretted bass guitar (BG), electric upright (EUB), and acoustic upright (UB) with a pickup.

The electric upright sounded more like a fretless BG than UB. I could never get comfortable on fretless BG.

The front end of my last touring rig was an Ashly MX508 rack mixer. This mixer does not have instrument level inputs, so I used Shure A95U line matching transformers and plugged in the mic inputs.

The mixer provide gain; bass, treble and sweepable mids; and a mute switch for each instrument.

I think it could make sense to switch between BGs with flats and live rounds. I typically use dead rounds on my BG, so this is not relevant for me.

I don't personally see the logic of switching between 4-string and 5- or 6-string. My 6-string is my #1 and I miss the B and C string when I play a 4- or 5-string (even if I don't need the B or C).

Make your own decision for your own reasons.

 

[lordradish]

Only if I am playing fretless and fretted which is almost never.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You do a soundcheck and get everything right. Why #%^$$ it up?

 

[SteveCS]

Yes - up to 3. A 3-way input switch means they're all wired in so there's no faffing with cables and amp mutes. Default on 'A' is fretless SR4, 'C' is fretted SR4, and B is usually a Hofner Club, but might be something else. So 3 very different instruments.

 

[JakobT]

This is interesting. In view of the number of people who swear they bring two basses to gigs «just in case», one would think that more people would seize the opportunity to bring a slightly different bass for some parts of the set.

 

[silky smoove]

Does the bass switch cause a delay in transitioning from one song to another? Is there an increase in dead air as a result? If so, your desire to switch basses is outpaced by the band’s need for the show to be better with minimal dead air. If, on the other hand, you can do it during a section where you’re not playing and it causes no delay, then it’s fine provided you’ve worked it out with the soundguy beforehand and they know what to expect.

 

[Geri O]

This is interesting. In view of the number of people who swear they bring two basses to gigs «just in case», one would think that more people would seize the opportunity to bring a slightly different bass for some parts of the set.

I do bring two basses, a Jazz-style and a Precision. but soon to be a Stingray.

I've been set up to swap basses during a set (or a 90-minute show), but when I did swap, no one seems to notice or care. So I quit swapping during a set/show. I was set up to swap very quickly. A single wireless belt pack for both basses, a TC Mini-Spark to adjust for any gain differences.

But more and more, there's no real point for me. If I needed a fretless on my gigs, I could be set up to swap. But no such need in several years.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I've never once switched basses during a set. I'm a BEAD guy, no fives, no EADG basses... I'll bring two basses with me, and play the one that feels right and the other one stays in the bag.

Do you bust out your 5 for a song or two? Or do you keep the same bass on all night?

I don’t. I have four string that has been my steady player for over twenty years. Due to our band learning more material actually written in century, I had to get a 5 string. I’ve tried for the last year and a half of just using the 5 string. The fact is after numerous gigs rehearsals and practice sessions, all recoded and reviewed, I am not as good of a bassist playing a 5 string.

So, I will be swapping out basses from here on out.

 

[Wasnex]

but when I did swap, no one seems to notice or care.

Yep. This was my perception switching between fretted BG, EUB, and acoustic UB with a pickup as well. But it mattered to me and I still think it made a difference even if people did not consciously notice.

 

[Ggaa]

When I used a fretless too but not since then.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I dislike switching in the same set - mostly due to feel, tone & volume differences etc.

I’ve resolved this issue by playing my fender 4 with flats during the cocktail jazz set or chill background pop set, then switching and staying with my fender 5 with rounds for the rest of the show.

Naturally as per TB pro guidelines, I check the ‘spare bass’ box ahead of any issues.

Only drawback is the double gig bag gets a little heavy but it’s still more convenient than bringing two cases or bags.

 

[dave64o]

I always bring two basses so that I have a backup. And, since I bring two, I usually play both. Why not, it's fun to play different basses. But,, unless I have an emergency and need to swap basses right away, I never swap mid set. I'll use a bass for an entire set.

 

[Goatrope]

Typically no. I usually will bring two that are similar (Thunderbirds), so as not to require much amp fiddling. One with a thick neck, one with a thin neck.

On a rare occasion, I'll bring the 12 string, and mention it to the boys. At some point, a song or two will come up where it works well. We'll hit those couple together then I'll switch back. Preferably at either the start or end of the set, to minimize disruption.

There was a time when I was maybe midway into gigging, where I had 3 basses rotating for different songs. It just added complexity for me without adding much value to the show, so I stopped doing that.