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Do you take your "nice" bass to gigs?

Do you bring your "nice" bass to the gig?

  • Yes, always.

    Votes: 151 65.7%

  • No, never.

    Votes: 6 2.6%

  • Depends on the gig

    Votes: 56 24.3%

  • Carrots

    Votes: 17 7.4%
  • Total voters
    230
#42
I gig with my good stuff:
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MusicManSterlingBlackRW.jpg

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Punisher.jpg

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#43
i used to haul only one bass my 62 jazz
but about two years ago i decided she deserves a rest
so now the gigs are split between three
i would not be pleased if they were damaged or stolen
but if the 62 was
i would just curl up in a ball and die
 
#44
depends on the gig...
i typically bring both because i am paranoid that -- despite not having broken a string on-stage in over 12 years -- that i absolutely must have a backup bass on hand... but rarely will i change out basses during the course of a given set or evening.

last night was a higher profile gig and i played my primary axe; tonight i will just bring the backup because the house band i play with has a MIM IV (and a nicely setup one at that) available with the backline.
 
#45
Like a number have said. If I'm worried about the environment I won't bring an expensive bass. Back in the 80's I used to gig regularly with my 64-P. Now it's somewhat moot point as neither of my basses are expensive (but both are nice) and I don't seem to play really questionable gigs.
 
#50
Yeah, I bring the best I got to every gig, otherwise, what is the use in having them. I'll never forget the night when a drunken woman knocked my mic stand over and it hit squarely on my Lakland Classic 55...put a bit old chip right in it. I was pissed initially, but I got over it and the bass has made me a bunch of scratch, so it has earned its battle scars. If I ever figure out how to post pics I'll put it up for everybody to check out. Peace.
 
#53
I have basses that I have paid from $59 to $2500 for. Two of them, if I were to replace with a new bass, would cost $4000+ now.

I have gigged with every one of them.

Back in my cover band days, if a place was a real dive, I didn't let my basses out of my site. If we had to leave to eat on a break or something, I put my basses in my DUB bag and took them with me.

Now that I am just playing in church these days, it's not as much worry.
 
#55
I usually take my most expensive bass (NYC Sadowsky PJ) to gigs mainly because it's the best playing bass I own and has a versatile tone. It's my #1. I don't feel nervous about gigging with it. I do worry more about bringing my Reverend Brad Houser. It's not really replaceable; nothing else sounds like it, and very few were made. I have brought it to gigs but it mostly stays at home. I have other nice basses that are replaceable that can go in its place. Even my "I will never sell" near-mint Steinberger XL-2 is more replaceable than the BH5 is. It may be worth only half of what either of my Sadowskys would sell for, but its rarity makes it more precious to me.

I do however own a modded Squire VM w/ Fralins that would be perfect for if we ever play in a sketchy location.
 
#56
I would imagine a very small percentage of people (in general) would know a Fender from a Sadowsky from a Squier. It's mainly bass players who know the difference. All the people in the audience know is if you sound good to them. If you go to see an orchestra, would you sit and wonder if the string bass or cello player were playing a top of the line instrument? I know I would be going to hear the music, not look at the instruments.
 

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