• 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.

How Many Basses at the Live Gig?

#261
After 260 replies... I know you need more thoughts on this.

I only bring one. I use to bring 2 for different sounds, but I know it was just for me. So went with one. Then the new band had a few songs in Eb, so I started bringing a second 5 string to play those songs. 20 years of just playing 4, could never get use to a 5 string. So got a digitech drop for those Eb songs and I'm back to just one 4 string. I should probably have a backup, but I like living on the edge. I'm crazy like that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: scallster
#265
bmusic said:
I’m mostly a recording hobbyist, but a songwriter I respect asked me to play an extended set with him, and I jumped in. I’m having a great time woodshedding the material. Feeling some rare musical fulfillment.

First few times running through the material, I was on my go-to P with flats, but pretty quickly one tune started to beg for the fretless. So I got that locked in; sounds good.

And then another—90’s R&B vibe in A-flat—really wanted the 5-string with rounds. Done.

Last night, as I was packing up the 3 basses for today’s rehearsal, I thought “Am I insane?” I want to get the perfect sound for each song, but am I going to look ridiculous up there? Like I’m in an 18-song flex all about myself?

It was shortly after that thought that I decided to refresh myself on something real quick and, with the P packed up, I just grabbed the Mustang off the wall and…smh…now I need to have that sound (Mustang, La Bellas, foam mute) on this one song.

Is 4 basses over 18 songs a ridiculous look? Will I hate myself at the end of the night—or more specifically, will my 55-year-old back hate me? For you guys, what’s the most basses you would bring to a gig?
Click to expand...

Almost always two, one as a backup. Very rarely three if a song requires a five string, though one time I Velcro'd an iPhone to the front of a bass to use as a synth for a Muse cover.
 
#266
Me:

One. I've never had any catastrophic failures. Knock on wood.

If I play live, I do my best to "fake" the sound I need - play the bridge, play the neck, tone settings.

Maybe a fretless if a key tune or two need it. I have to have time enough to transition.

If I'm recording, I have a collection on stands - I try to get "THE" sound for each tune.

As I've gotten older, I've learned to keep things as simple as possible. There's too much going on to consider all the equipment differences.

If I were touring, I'd have a tech and at least five of exactly the same thing.
 
#273
For 30 years I brought 1 bass. Sure, I was prepared with extra strings and a strap could always be fashioned out of bar towels, MacGyver style, if necessary. But then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit me. What if…there was a catastrophic break down like a broken nut or electronics failure that would be a show-stopper in the worst way. Now I bring a back up that sits tuned and ready to go in the case. If you see the back up it’s only because something very bad happened to #1.
 
#275
SamBassPlayer said:
Same here. I often bring just one bass. If my primary bass is active I'll sometimes bring a passive P/J as a backup in case I have battery or electronics or noise problems with my active bass. I do carry a set of strings in the highly-unlikely chance I break one - I never have broken a bass string, but it's a holdover from my guitar-playing days.
Click to expand...
Luckily my Kiesel basses all have active electronics but a passive bypass if I pull up on the volume…. I’ve never had to use it, and I always pack an extra couple of 9 volt batteries.
 
#277
Having just lost the A tuning peg on my Icon, snapped off somehow, and being one of the rare times I only took one bass, I would say at a minimum take two. But I play in a tribute band where I need predominantly a fender precision with flatwounds or a her fretless sister, except where I MUST have the growl of roundwounds-a third precision. And there is a song where I need the low B with flatwounds. I won’t play a five when I don’t need to. So I bring four. I could do all of this with my 5 string, but why? You bought the basses because of… whatever! Play what you want when you want!
 
#280
bmusic said:
Is 4 basses over 18 songs a ridiculous look? Will I hate myself at the end of the night—or more specifically, will my 55-year-old back hate me? For you guys, what’s the most basses you would bring to a gig?
Click to expand...
If not ridiculous, certainly ostentatious. I never take more than two, my main axe (fretless 5) and a fretted 5. One good bass is all you need. The only reason I bring a fretted is that some gigs require a bit of slap. The other consideration is stage size and the footprint you take up. If your bandmates are tripping over your guitar stands you won't score points. Changing instruments in the middle of the set won't endear you to the singer/songwriter. It's *HIS* gig, don't get in his way.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back