Do you switch basses mid-set?

[Wasnex]

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.

Alternately, perhaps you should play the 5 more. It really depends on your long-term goals.

I transitioned from 4- to 5-string. About three years later I transitioned from 5- to 6-string. My perception is the transitions degraded my playing and it took about 2 years to get back to where my playing was before each transition. For context I was a full-time pro during these transitions.

I also think it took me about a decade to really feel like a naturalized 6-string bassist. Prior to that, I approached the 6-string like a 4-string with a few extra strings. What do I mean? The number of strings on the bass has some impact on fretboard logic and which patterns of fingering and shifts are optimal. With a 4-string you have to shift up and down the neck more. With a 6-string, it often makes more sense to play across the strings and shift less.

For the following reason, I prefer to play 6-string pretty much exclusively. If I play a 4- or 5-string for even an hour or so, I starts modifying some of the automated processes I use to play. The result is it starts to degrade my fluency on the 6-string. At this point I am far more confident on the 6-string than on a 4- or 5-string.

That is not to say I can't switch between 4-, 5-, and 6-string, only that doing so incurs a cost. I prefer to avoid the cost, so I don't spend very much time on my 4s and 5s.

I concede that there are probably some things I can still do better with less string. However with exception of the first few weeks of transitioning to 6-string, I don't believe I ever reverted to 4-string because I couldn't get the job done perfectly well on the 6-string. At this point, overall I am strongest on the 6-string...it's not even close.

 

[pbass2]

For just regular gigging, I bring one bass. I work with one artist who abhors five strings so of course I use a four banger with them. Otherwise I use a five string with well worn in rounds and play it the whole gig (I mean, there's a four string in it...). I would never switch just because of different strings or anything like that, I can cop enough different vibes with muting, pick vs fingers, etc. Now if it's some kinda bigger production then sure, I'm down with whatever needs to be done for the show.

 

[JRA]

two basses at the gig, but i'd only switch if my first choice faltered or if i felt i wasn't getting along with it as hoped --- that's my routine. however, i have switched for "appearances" on some holiday gigs when i thought the CAR ax might look festive/fun...but i don't switch because of the tunes we're playing: all of our tunes get the fretless treatment.

 

[Freight Train]

I went beyond that in the last rock cover trio I was in. I had just discovered the glory of flatwouds so on gigs I took a G&L L-1000 strung with flats and a Jack Casady Epiphone strung with rounds and arranged set lists in groups of at least 3 up to 5 songs appropriate for the same bass, so I would change bass from 1 to 3 times a set. I thought it was great and we had good compliments on the color change in the bottom end especially helping the trio sound. But our guitarist/vocalist would continually call songs out of sequence, and I would either scramble to change or just go with it and play the "wrong" bass. I even wrote the lists with red ink for the flatwound songs, green for roundwund songs, begging him to at least go with something in the same group. Nope, apparently asking too much. Anyway I now play blues and strictly play flats so life is much easier.

 

[ra0ulduke]

Only if the bass I'm playing stops working for some reason.

 

[sleddogn]

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've always brought 2, one is only a backup. I've only played original rock my whole life, no covers, no need for that "different" sound during set. Our set is our set, my bass is my bass, it all works nicely. I do own 12ish basses and love them all, but only 1 per gig gets played if all goes well...

 

[Norwegian_Wood]

I always bring 2 and previously would switch for tunings in our set (standard tuning was 80% of the set with a half step tuning set somewhere in the middle). Recently I’ve kept them both in standard tuning and started using a pitch shifter to drop for the half step tuning section. So that second bass just becomes a backup.

(Wedding/Party Band)

 

[Jugghaid]

Only if I am switching from fretted to fretless.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Back in 2016 I played in a "Cellar concert"for a small gathering of friends.
I did switch from fretted to fretless and back several times.

 

[ics1974]

For those of you that bring a backup bass in case of emergency. Do you bring a backup amp as well?

 

[dave_p]

Lately yes from fretless to fretted. End game is completely fretless but for now I just keep working it in for longer. I change out on songs where I don’t come in for a verse/long intros.

 

[ThePez]

sometimes, but only when our guitarists do. it’s fun to switch em up. sometimes I don’t even when they do. I always have a minimum of two on stage either way.

 

[Element Zero]

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.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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I’m the opposite. I’ll switch to fretted if the song has lots of double stops high up on the neck.

 

[CPplaysBASS]

I have one in standard and one tuned a 1/2 step down (shaves a second or two from re-tuning and the guitarist is switching at the same time). Either way, whether switching or re-tuning, all the Eb tunes are grouped together so, at most, it's one change only.

 

[SpiderBass1965]

Yes. Sometimes I want too, sometimes I have too. Issues do happen. Best to be prepared and get some practice at it for a smooth transition in a set for a professional look and feel for your audience.

 

[rojo412]

Gonna be swapping mine out for a 3 set gig tonight. Middle will have the 5'er so I don't need to detune for the last 3 songs of the set.
Could probably just do the 5 all night, but I've grown accustomed to being on the 4 in the majority of this project.

 

[SpiderBass1965]

Yes. Sometimes I want too, sometimes I have too. Issues do happen. Best to be prepared and get some practice at it for a smooth transition in a set for a professional look and feel for your audience.

 

[jerry]

I wear flip flops!

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Not in mid-set. I always have another bass though, and if the mood hits me right, I will often switch off for the second, or last set. Last night, I chose not to... stayed on an Alembic Series bass both sets. Tonight, Set 1 I'm playing a Michael Tobias Basic 4 on the first set, probably the second, and I plan to switch to a Rick Turner Electroline fretless for the wrap-up.

But no, no time for a quick change.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

For those of you that bring a backup bass in case of emergency. Do you bring a backup amp as well?

Absolutely. Or at least a DI.