Do you take your "nice" bass to gigs?

[Jimmyplaysabass]

I don't own anything in the 1500+ area, so stolen items aren't a big deal, but i base my decisions on the area, the gig, and the people.

If i had a real nice 70s p bass i wouldn't take it out of the house.

1. resale
2. You don't need studio tone live

 

[Greyvagabond]

I've got an FBB custom which is my "good" bass, but I never play out with it; mostly beacuse I'd look like a good with a little bass like that in an indie band! Also, its wood, gets dents, don't want to lose it...but in the studio....MMMMmmmm!!!

 

[seanm]

I consider this a nice bass, not sure if most TBers would though. Fender MIJ '62 reissue.

 

[SunneyBoy]

i always use my 55-94 unless i am flying then i take my stinray 5 just incase of airport employee luggage mis-management

 

[savit260]

My old Precision still makes it out to the stage once in a while.. This was my main "workhorse" bass for years, and went to every show with me. It's semi-retired now, but I'll bring it out if the spirit moves me.

Funny thing is that I became very fond of the "beater" that I was using for a backup to this one. The "beater" is now my "workhorse".

 

[Rick Auricchio]

All my basses are nice. The cheapest is the Peavey Foundation, but all the others are fairly expensive. They look nice, sound nice, and are meant to be played.

 

[The BurgerMeister]

depends on the situation, really. my '68 jazz will always come out when i'm gigging with SPECTRE. it may come out for other "hired gun" gigs, but it depends.

 

[von buck]

I leave my "best bass" home for almost all my gigs. It's a vintage j bass, and I get too nervous. My other bases are good bases, but are replaceable

Andy

 

[disturbedbass13]

If I do bring my nice bass, I make sure it is practically handcuffed to my wrist.

Now when do I bring it? If I've played a place that is a major bass-trap and too much low end over-run the room, I'll bring a higher-tone p/j instead of one of my 'buckers.

But other than that, I like to cycle through my mid-range basses to get some cool pics of myself with each one.

 

[Fretlessboy]

My beater bass is a Lakland 55-02... so yes

 

[ksandvik]

Bass guitars are to be used, not hanged on the wall.

Anyway, another reason I stay away from expensive bass guitars -- if something bad happens, easy to replace it the next day. --Kent

 

[RickenBoogie]

I consider all my basses to be nice. Anyway, that's why I got 'em, to play.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Personally, I tend to take the bass I like best when I am playing. I can see taking a less expensive bass some places where it might get bumped or even stolen. I know a local gospel bassist whose car was robbed while he was waiting to play. That may not be the best example because given that neighborhood, I would have never left my gear unattended.

 

[spade2you]

Why would you take a nice bass to a gig. Everyone knows you're not suppose to play them in the first place.

 

[Fuzzbass]

My most expensive bass is my beater bass.



What I'm saying is that I play the bass I feel like playing, and that's usually my Sadowsky, regardless of the gig. When I play my Fender it's because I feel like it, and not because I'm afraid of bringing my Sadowsky.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I leave my "best bass" home for almost all my gigs. It's a vintage j bass, and I get too nervous. My other bases are good bases, but are replaceable

Andy

This I can understand. I sold my '64 P-bass to my brother (for a ridiculously good deal, and he'd better be grateful) because I didn't want to gig it.

None of my current basses, expensive or not, are irreplaceable.

 

[StringThing]

Cause it's a beater doesn't mean it sounds bad. Most beaters sound good, if not great, or we would not have used them enough or kept them that long to get to that point. Since fretless is only 0 to 50% of our show dependeing on mood, or venue, I bring a VM Squire fretless. Honestly sounds as good as my old Fortess MM Warwick fretless. That's really why I bring it.

It's funny how many neck through-endangered-moneywood-300v-flamed-toped-blending-string through-custom ordered whatevers DON'T SOUND BETTER than a hunk of ash, maple, wire and a magnet. Really how much SHOULD they cost. My new main gig bass is a Lakland 55-01. The perfect balance of cost, function and sound.

If you suck, don't bring the 3K good one, or you'll look worse

 

[oli@bass]

I bring a nice beater to the show.

 

[Horny Toad]

My most expensive bass, a Status KingBass (over $5K) goes to bar gigs all the time. I've never met a single person who even knows what it is. I didn't buy it to leave it hanging on the wall.

 

[jjk2007]

I usually bring one of my nice basses, but have a beater with me just in case. I've played a few outdoor festivals/carnivals that have had less than ideal conditions (dust, humidity/rain) and those are the times the expensive wood stays tucked away and one of the basses I really don't care that much about comes out. Most of the time I use my favorite bass, a Warwick Dolphin Pro I five.