• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Do you take your valuable basses to gigs?

shadven

shadven

Twang-tastic Bass Player and Song Writer
Supporting Member
Dec 30, 2009
3,102
10,701
Tampa, FL
Disclosures
I rock, therefore I am.
#1
I am about to acquire a very valuable bass (15 grand-ish). I want to gig with it but I'd be devastated if it was stolen. I do have other nice basses I can gig with. I'll probably save it for very special gigs. What do other people do? I have several valuable vintage basses and amps and I bought them to play, not as museum pieces.
 
#2
15,000 !! be sure you have insurance for that bass buddy. To answer your question, I have taken all my basses to my church gig, the most expensives being on the $3500-$4000 , there is nothing like play your basses in a live situation.
 
#3
I'm in the same boat right now, with a similarly priced bass. I ordered this bass to play it, though. I wanted my dream bass, and it's getting here, and I plan on playing the absolute crap out of it. In terms of dings, I've had a Music Man Bongo bass, which is made out of soft wood, and I have only put one tiny scuff on it in two years, and it has literally traveled across Canada, twice, and down the East of the USA.

So really, I wouldn't be too worried. Depends on the neighborhood, too. Hope my story helps your decision!
 
#4
Simple... keep an eye on your gear. Don't allow an opportunity for your instruments to be stolen. The only way someone can steal mine at a gig is to rob me directly, and they had better be armed.

One good analogy... would you drive your $15,000 car, or leave it in the garage and never take it out? It could be stolen, crashed, scratched, etc...
 
#6
I say yes, though my idea of extraordinarily valuable is $5,000. $15,000 is a different territory for a bass (more power to you, glad you're getting your dream axe!). But yikes, that would rough!

I always look at it like, if I'm comfortable enough with the surroundings to bring myself, so to I should be with my bass (as long as you keep an eye on it and are diligent about moving it to a safe location right when you take your strap off).
 
#7
I would gig a bass like that if I owned it.

On the other hand, I'd be very careful with it. I'd keep it in the case behind the drum kit when I wasn't playing it.

If you buy basses as investments maybe you should leave them at home.
 
#8
Good question. I just received a used Fender Am. Special Jazz 4 string for that reason. I wanted a decent bass for some of the more "low brow" gigs, and I play my Modulus and Roscoe basses at the festivals, nicer rooms, etc...
Also, cover your foot pedals at gigs during breaks. I have seen beer spilled EVERYWHERE!
 
#9
"Gig" can mean a lot of things, everything from a well-lit, carpeted stage in front of a church... to a dark dive bar with barbed wire across the front of the bandstand and broken beer bottles on the floor.

You must choose the appropriate-ness of taking which bass to which situation.
 
#11
Never spent $15,000 for a bass, but I do have some in the $3,000 range. I would never buy a bass that I wouldn't take to a gig. I have very good stands and always place then strategically out of the way. On the other hand I played with a guitar player who would take his 1957 ES175 to gigs and put it on a cheap guitar stand. I kept warning him. One day it was on it's way to being knocked over, but luckily he caught it in time. That was the last time I saw it on a gig. If I could afford real vintage instruments as strictly an investment I'd probably leave them in a case at home.
 
#13
I usually take a combination of my Ric, Steinberger, or US Jazz to gigs and never had a problem. Those arent $15K but both the Ric and Steiny are over $1800 each and the Jazz is over $1000. Even though I do take care of my stuff, I dont want museum pieces. Put it in its case when you are not using it between sets if you are worried.
 
#16
I take a pair of basses to every gig, usually from this trio. I bought them to play them out - I do have musical instrument insurance, but I just load my own stuff and my basses stay with me, not with anyone else.

f-group.jpg
 
#17
It would depend on the gig. If it were at a decent place in a decent neighborhood then I probably would. If it were a place that allowed smoking then I wouldn't because I wouldn't want my $15K bass to smell like smoke! Either way I would have a good insurance rider on it and put it back in the case between sets.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back