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Gigging the good stuff?

#41
I sort of only own good stuff, so it's relative... I take an SX for backup, but it developed a little fret sprout after being knocked over, so it's not fun to play for long.

I agree with not leaving basses in cars. Easiest to steal. Even at the "light for a 2x12" weight of 50 pounds, there's not a person alive who could outrun me carrying my cab. My pedalboard weighs a good 30 pounds, so that's unlikely. And my head goes in the front pocket of my gig bag.
 
#42
Baird6869 said:
My expensive boutique does all of my gigs except outdoor ones with a chance of rain and the odd rough biker bar.
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Same here. If I know the bar is a place where it's likely drunken people will stumble onto the stage I might take one of my less valued basses (not necessarily less valuable, mind you). But I use my basses primarily for gigging so I like to take them out. Having said that, some people buy expensive basses because they like to play them strictly at home or simply because they are lovely objects. There's nothing wrong with that and for those folks it might not be worth the stress of taking such a bass out to a bar. But it sounds as if you want to gig that P. ;)
 
#43
I regularly gig my USA Spectors (the blue & amber ones), and if the venue happens to be particularly seedy, I'll bring my white Spector Euro only.
As others have stated, keep an eye on the gear & you'll be fine. During load-in & load-out, we keep one man at the vehicles, and one man in the club with the sole purpose of watching the gear.

spectorsampbenz002_zps41937872.gif
 
#45
milkman-27 said:
How many of you use your more expensive basses to gig with? I have a gig coming up (first one in a very long time).I am kind of worried about taking my new Fender Am. Precision. I have two basses that are gig worthy but don't play as good as the Fender. I have heard horror stories about people getting their equipment stolen right out from under them around here. Not to mention my guitar player got the head snapped off one of his guitars before. I want to sound professional and look it too, I definitely want to impress because I feel like I have something to prove being out of the game for so long.
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Right now my Foderas see more gig time than my other basses. My instruments go either into their gig bag or in a tough-to-access corner on a good stand at break time, and I don't let them out of my sight. When I'm gigging, I'm working, so I don't go outside or otherwise goof around on breaks. The only thing I've ever had stolen at a gig in over 35 years is a pitch-pipe (long before the age of electronic tuners). Some frat boy from Sigma Chi took it. We were playing their Sweetheart Ball in Palm Springs.

I also gig my Sadowskys, LeCompte, F Bass and Lakland. They're meant to be played, so that's what I do with them.

My Fender basses are the ones I worry about least. They get played too.
 
#46
Hey, it's a Fender, not a Fodera. Bring the damn thing.
Play your axes. I use my old Pedulla for jams & such and pull out my Tobias's as I feel.
Keep it in a case during breaks & when the drummer is setting up.
I slip it into a gig bag instead of a stand. The Markbass strap looks like a good idea, the one that holds your bass strapped to the side of your bass amp.
 
#47
bassgod0dmw said:
I view my basses as tools that are meant to be played, so they all get gigged.
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I do, too - but use a modified approach: I have "A", "B", and "C" level basses, in terms of expense - A being my most expensive/best basses, B is my "workhorse" basses, C is my "beaters"...

Some of the places my band plays have really tight stages, and/or aren't that great - so, I'll go with either B or C, although most of the places I'm playing these days are pretty decent, so I gig A or B atleast 90% of the time... The other variable is outdoor gigs with potential weather issues - those are definitely C gigs...

For a frame of reference:

"A" would be my Sterling 5 HS, '76 P Bass, '06 Gibson T-bird, '06 MIA Hot Rod Jazz - they're all in really nice condition, and I like to keep 'em that way... I probably play them at atleast 30 % of our gigs, if not more...

"B" is mostly my '08 Am St Jazz, '09 Highway One P Bass, and Music Man SUB 5 and SUB Sterling - these are my workhorses - excellent quality basses that I gig the most, but also ones I don't feel the need to baby any...

"C" is my MIM active P Bass Special Deluxe, sr905, and recently aquired Peavey Foundation 5 - they're all solid instruments, but I don't have too much money into any of them... I typically use these for alot of my home practice, rehearsals, and gigs that I have ANY doubts about...

I wouldn't own a bass that isn't gig-worthy, but pick different ones depending on the situation...


- georgestrings
 
#49
Jhansbass said:
In my opinion if you don't gig with the good stuff then there is no point in even buying it, if you want to make your chances better I would suggest getting insurance on it, that's what I did
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Depends - I'm on pace to do over 100 gigs this year, and not all of them are the same by a LONG shot... For example, last weekend I played a smallish bar on friday, a really nice venue on saturday with a nice stage, full security staff, that probably held over 800 people, then an outdoor fest on sunday with questionable weather - all different situations...

I have been thinking about getting insurance though, and probably will very soon...


- georgestrings
 
#50
bass12 said:
Same here. If I know the bar is a place where it's likely drunken people will stumble onto the stage I might take one of my less valued basses (not necessarily less valuable, mind you). But I use my basses primarily for gigging so I like to take them out. Having said that, some people buy expensive basses because they like to play them strictly at home or simply because they are lovely objects. There's nothing wrong with that and for those folks it might not be worth the stress of taking such a bass out to a bar. But it sounds as if you want to gig that P. ;)
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+1...


- georgestrings
 
#51
milkman-27 said:
How many of you use your more expensive basses to gig with?
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I gig my Warwick Streamer LX Broadneck 6 string and Custom Shop Warwick Corvette $$ 6 fretless regularly, and the price tags on both would make people blush.

Thankfully many of my gigs are fairly controlled in terms of where my stuff sits between sets and who has any access to it. Even if it wasn't, I bought the basses that I did to specifically play them out, so they're going to get some bumps and bruises, no matter how I try to baby them.
 
#52
I'm currently taking $7000 worth of gear to my gigs. I always take good care of it though.

Gigging is where the buzz is. I only buy gear I'm going to play on a stage in front of an audience.

On the other hand, if I have to dodge flying drunks I'd probably pass on that gig.
 
#53
OP. If it is your most comfortable and best sounding bass (which bit sounds like it is)....use it!

That bring said I do have a couple of basses which are "home or church use only"....they are semi custom....

I do have others which cost as much that I do gig with .....although in do not get to do "non church" gigs as much as I would like....

Just keep the bass close at all times.

Good luck and have fun"
 
#54
Lots of good advice here. That is why I love this forum. Yeah, I believe that I will take it. I know this will sound weird but I am wanting this to be a bass that possibly 30 years from now I can post a picture here and have people say "If that bass could talk, I'd bet it could tell some stories."
 
#55
I bring my best basses to every gig. I am more concerned with playing what I like and sounding good than I am with gear being stolen. I have been gigging since 1978 and have played everywhere from small dive bars to large outdoor venues. The only time I've had anything stolen was when I left a bass and amp at my drummer's house in 1984 and he decided to trade them for something else. Other than that, I have never had a problem.
 
#56
milkman-27 said:
Lots of good advice here. That is why I love this forum. Yeah, I believe that I will take it. I know this will sound weird but I am wanting this to be a bass that possibly 30 years from now I can post a picture here and have people say "If that bass could talk, I'd bet it could tell some stories."
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Then give it some to tell!
 
#57
Slough Feg Bass said:
take your nice bass, and put it in a gig bag, and hold it over your shoulder the entire evening.
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+1

If you're unfamiliar with the place or feel uncomfortable leaving your gear unattended...

DONT DO IT!

I take my bass(s) with me after my bands done playing our set because I'd rather have the hassle of carrying a case around for a night then losing my bass for good!
 

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