How Many Basses at the Live Gig?

[Methaneman]

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?

What does the songwriter think? Maybe he doesn't care or maybe he would like the different tones.

 

[gln1955]

One and a spare is all I ever need, and I've never actually needed the backup. I was in a band with a guitarist who bought five guitars to every gig. He killed the flow with every change and made us all look bad. He could have done it all with his Les Paul and his acoustic and no one would have cared even a little.

 

[funkinbottom]

One. In forty years of gigging I've never had a bass fail. Only once have I had a string break at a gig. So yeah, just one.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

When I was playing, two.

 

[57pbass]

Always 2 .. A Precision Bass and an active Jazz Bass.

 

[Muttleybass]

The places we play wouldn't have room for 4 basses all set up. That's a lot of real estate. Plus a lot of fiddle-farting around changing basses/amp settings mid set.

2 basses. 1 is strictly a back up that rarely, if ever, leaves it's case.

 

[bigswifty1]

The only time I take more than one bass is if I'm playing with two bands on the same bill and they tune differently.

 

[bmusic]

What does the songwriter think? Maybe he doesn't care or maybe he would like the different tones.

I’ll know more this afternoon.

 

[LBS-bass]

One, or maybe two, if I need the low notes on a five string.

This is the result of our over-emphasis on tone by bedroom players, which is great for selling gear (and why we're conditioned by advertisers to place our focus there) but not so great for handling the practical flow of things in a live situation.

When I have to bring my fiver out, I like to brush up a few other songs to surround the one I need it for, so that I can use it for a block of songs rather than just on the one song. Makes instrument changes a bit less onerous if I can play it through to the end of the set.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think that tone doesn't matter. My favorite fiver and my favorite four string don't sound much alike to me, but the nuances of tone in the bass register that your live audience is going to hear and pick up on are pretty limited and can mostly be achieved using your onboard tone controls. I would be very hesitant to bring out a group of instruments for any show, never mind a single set, as I've come to the conclusion that the added value isn't enough to justify the additional hassle.

YMMV, especially if it's a big show in a big venue.

 

[bmusic]

This is all helpful.

Jay (the guy) is very much a raconteur in between songs, so time will not be an issue. Also, probably half of the audience will be enjoying a mix via livestream, so nuance of tone will not be entirely wasted.

But I definitely hear you all. Probably the P and the fretless would suffice. I’ll see what Jay thinks…

 

[BassNugget]

I would say as many as the gig requires, neither more nor less.

For me, it is usually a 4 and a 5. Usually 2 basses.

 

[dave64o]

I always bring two basses to a gig so I have a backup and, since I brought two, I'll play them both.

However, I do NOT change basses between songs to get the "right" tone. Our typical show is four sets, so I'll play each for two sets and I stick with that bass for the whole set. The only time I'd switch is if I had some problem that forced me to use the other one, and luckily I've never had to do that.

Also, I rarely even try to match basses to the specific set lists for the night. I just decide which two I'll bring because they're the ones I want to play and I'll grab one for the first set and usually just alternate from there.

 

[lermgalieu]

I bring 1. Back in the day I would bring a fretted electric, a fretless electric and my upright. These days I’m lazier I suppose, but I also think having a single bass allows me to be most dialed in with the fewest disruptions to the set. But to each their own.

 

[Thankful birds]

Whether you want them to or not, there are certain things that sound guys and venues read as “I’ll be difficult to work with, and am playing to my ego and and not your venue.” Switching basses is on that list.

Also on that list-
1. Guitarist switching guitars multiple times
2. Guitarist uses a full stack
3. Guitarist refuses to turn down to stage volume
4. Guitarist uses 2-4 amps that all require separate mics to get their “sound”
5. Singer uses a vocal processor
6. Drummer soundchecks at a volume that is lower than playing volume, requiring all other volumes to be maxed to compete
7. “Good news, we brought our own sound guy to run your sound guy’s board, with which our sound guy is unfamiliar”
8. “Good news, we have our own light show”

Trust me, just do the 1 bass and maybe back up. The venue, sound guy, audience and presumably your band mate will appreciate it.

 

[lamarjones]

One, batteries and a used set of string in the gig bag. SOME gigs I'll bring a fretless or an EUB but my main bass covers everything I need.. actually I got three set up exactly the same, general specs and electronics so they all drive the pedal board the same. Everything pretty has the volume, I think you're doing multiple basses through the same rig you should make sure you're at the same volume on your different inputs.

 

[Klangfarbe]

Bring the Fretless Fivestring P with Half-Rounds and you are done.

(Picture only peripherally related, because PJ and I don't know 'bout them Strings. )

 

[Smooth_bass88]

yeah 4 is way too much. Another thing to consider is output level. You don't want to surprise the FOH person with a bass that's suddenly louder/quieter than previous one especially if they've got you dialed into the mix already.

 

[G On Bass]

2 PJ5s. 1 with flats, 1 with rounds

 

[MrLenny1]

One bass, It's not a recording session.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I bring two, and once in a great while I bring a third (a fretless) to play on a couple songs. I usually play one primary bass (Carvin LB75) for the duration of the gig unless it has some kind of problem, which is rare….