Glad I had my P-bass!

[Dr. Cheese]

I took my Cirrus to church for the first time in a while. The battery died after first song, so I quickly changed batteries before the next song. It turns out I only had one totally new battery, so I used one new one and one not so new. It sounded good for a few notes then it sounded like a really long fart and died. It was embarrassing because I was sitting on the church's TC Electronic combo! I was afraid folks thought it was me! Thank goodness, I had my P5 with me.

 

[acebase62]

It's always good to have a reliable passive bass, even if your main player is active.

Glad it worked out.

 

[Baird6869]

Good thing you were prepared.

Goes to show how important a backup bass is.

Even though a church service may not be a paid gig, it is unprofessional (and embarrassing) if your only bass craps out IMO.

I would never show up to any kind of gig with a single bass. For those that do and have never had a problem in 40 years of gigging or whatever, good for them.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I used to always take a spare bass. But, in reality, I've had amp heads, speakers, and (mostly) cables die much more often than anything being wrong with my basses.

I DO carry spare cables, a DI and am always looking for the "backup plan" of going direct if need arises.

If I used an active bass, TWO fresh nine-volts in the gig bag. Next to the Snark.

 

[JIO]

I own, play and love both active & passive basses, but I only take one bass to gigs and it's passive. Like a bicycle it gets checked/once-over regularly so that when it's used live it performs as it should. And never ever broke a string (I dig-in at times but don't play aggressively enough to do that). Some may say I'm lucky, but I think it's just simple maintenance that can prevent most "unforeseen" problems. Multiple instruments at a gig is such a guitarist thing anyway.

 

[VWbug]

I've seen these types of threads for years about always taking a second bass but as I think of it, in my circle of experience I've never seen another bass player do that.

Do whatever makes you feel more confident I figure, it's your business. It's all good and a great way to rationalize another nice bass.

By the way... I do bring extra cables and strings but in that "vein" of "what if" scenarios of folks that do bring second basses ( your business, not mocking just curious) at what point do you disengage that thinking and why?

Ex: extra strings, extra cables, fuses etc.all make sense to anyone and if you're on the road a second bass is of course a good thing but.
A backup amp?
A backup speaker?
A backup phone?
A backup car? ( motorcycle in truck bed)
A backup singer - they get sick
A backup drummer- they die
A backup GPS...
Where do you draw the line and why is that different than a backup bass?

If I let my imagination go wild with "what ifs" it gets weird.

 

[VWbug]

OP- that has been one of the reasons I went back to passive basses. It's not a big deal to keep a few extra batteries for sure. but I like keeping things simple and for my ears, a plain old Jazz bass kind of always sounds nice/useable with most settings. My Zon and Warwick thumbs had real specific settings that sounded just right to my ears but I guess I was just liking a plain old Fender J or P sound? Hopefully any unpleasantness was attributed toward the guitar player. Lol

 

[Linnin]

Went over like a fart in church did it?

 

[Jeff Elkins]

...at what point do you disengage that thinking and why?

Ex: extra strings, extra cables, fuses etc.all make sense to anyone and if you're on the road a second bass is of course a good thing but.

Where do you draw the line and why is that different than a backup bass?

I do a cost/benefit (risk) analysis, although it's no where as professional as it could be. The thinking goes like this:
A. Can I do my job if [insert piece of gear, piece of clothing, name of banjo player, etc.] terminally malfunctions mid-show?
B. What are the odds it will terminally malfunction mid-show? (Nod to @JIO for the critically important maintenance point)
C. What is the cost of mitigating the risk?

Let's say my bass gives out mid-show. At a given venue, the real risk might be a delay of two hours while I go get another. In said venue, the delay might cost us the gig AND future bookings. Not to mention fan goodwill...

Cost of carrying a second electric bass? First, there IS the cost to obtain and maintain the bass. (But I already own enough of them)
If I have the space, there's 10 extra pounds my car has to carry (small, technically measurable gas cost). Space in said vehicle. Will that cause another band member to have to drive? Cost of that gas?

(You can carry that line of thinking as far as you'd like. Risk of car catching fire going down the interestate, loss of both basses? Infinitesimal, but sure, there's a risk associated with carrying two.)

I can't afford two sets of PA speakers or an understudy for the singer--not to mention the cost to haul/manage those items--so I have to accept the risk that there might be a malfunction there and mitigate some other way.

- There are two speakers. The band can perform with one OR unplugged, if necessary (we're mic'd acoustic).
- Everyone in the band sings enough leads that each of us can carry a full set if lead singer chokes.

I'll stop blathering now. But if I am good at maintaining my gear, the risks are lower and more clearly known. If I'm not sure, I decide what the cost of the backup is. When we toured four states away, I carried a backup power amp, microphone, and two-of-everything cables and cords.

Disclaimer: I don't actually carry two uprights to my bluegrass/acoustic gigs--don't own two, wouldn't anyway. Cost to transport more than the cost of the risk of failure. Most gigs we do could still be knocked down fine if a single member, voice, or instrument craps out.
Caveat: For weddings I always take extra precautions, because I care about not blowing those more than most other gigs.

 

[bluesdogblues]

As much as I try, I never get along well with 'active' basses.

 

[VWbug]

*Jeff Elkins - wow. Well thought out and that is interesting about Doublebass. How or who could bring along 2 "just in case".
As you said, responsibly keeping your gear in order goes a long way for when it's needed.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

*Jeff Elkins - wow. Well thought out and that is interesting about Doublebass. How or who could bring along 2 "just in case".
As you said, responsibly keeping your gear in order goes a long way for when it's needed.

Yeah, it was a good question! I'm not that smart, I just worry about things. They call me Den Mother on occasion.

I'm glad the good Dr. had a backup and that he posted this! It has given me a chance to really think about where I'm putting my efforts and my costs.

 

[Geri O]

I have four active basses.

In all of them, I have installed one of these....

http://www.bestbassgear.com/john-east-bli-01-led.htm

And since the Stingray had one of these, I found them and had them installed in all the others for quick battery changing...

http://www.bestbassgear.com/battery-boxes.htm

Only once did the LED start flashing. I was able to finish a 30-minute set, then change the battery on the break.

 

[lomo]

I hate batteries. Bad for all living things and to be avoided unless truly necessary IMHO. In all seriousness, I don't have any use for onboard active eq, but I seem to be part of a small minority in this regard. YMMV.

 

[JIO]

As much as I try, I never get along well with 'active' basses.

If you were over for dinner and a few beers, afterwards I would hand you a few of my (active) basses that you would very much get along with.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I am not anti-active bass or I would not own one. I could use a battery life indicator to avoid sudden death while playing in the future. I'm just glad I had my backup! Really the part about the bass farting while I was sitting on the combo was just funny to me, and I wanted to share.

 

[FloridaTim]

Passive for me. Batteries just seem like another thing that can go wrong. I love to flip active basses. After sitting in the pawn shop for a year they never work (dead battery) and I get them for 1/3 the asked price. Thank God for uneducated pawn shop people.

 

[JIO]

I have four active basses.

In all of them, I have installed one of these....

http://www.bestbassgear.com/john-east-bli-01-led.htm

And since the Stingray had one of these, I found them and had them installed in all the others for quick battery changing...

http://www.bestbassgear.com/battery-boxes.htm

Only once did the LED start flashing. I was able to finish a 30-minute set, then change the battery on the break.

Both well designed products - the LED battery-life indicator is cool. I have the Keith McMillen Batt-O-Meter which is good for testing battery strength by just plugging into the bass.

 

[bluesdogblues]

If you were over for dinner and a few beers, afterwards I would hand you a few of my (active) basses that you would very much get along with.

LOL... (been there, done that, -almost similar moment as you said-.. unbelieveable, I was still asking for my bass at that very time)...But I'd be happy to try it again if you invite me to,..
I'm open for your offerings .. only that I don't drink alcohol/beer anymore now.. perhaps hot capuccino will do?

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I own one active bass and when you pull up on the volume knob it defeats the preamp- so you can still use it if the battery dies. ALL active basses should have this feature.