How Many Basses at the Live Gig?

[hrodbert696]

Two, usually a four-string and a five-string (but on a gig where no song needs a five-string, I'll bring a second four just as a backup).

 

[Clark Westfield]

Always 2.

Had a pickup screw fall out once and ‘was flopping around.

Grabbed #2 and kept going.

 

[godofthunder59]

Four basses for 18 songs seems a bit much but do what makes you happy. For shows bare minimum I bring two, usually three. In the past there were times I had five on stage, those days are over. Rehearsal I only bring one unless I have some tunes to play on fretless.

 

[LowActionHero]

One bass, maybe one more for a backup if the gig was out of town, but it usually stayed In the truck.

When I first got my Zoom B3 I had the idea of setting patches similar to the amps originally used on each song. Quickly realized matching levels and EQs would be too much work and the sound guy would likely murder me.

So I mostly stuck with one main sound all night, occasionally I would switch pickups and/or roll the treble off for one song.

 

[Stranger Danger]

2

1 to play and 1 backup

 

[Stranger Danger]

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?

You are massively over thinking this. And yes 4 basses is absurd.

 

[Rib 13]

2...main bass and a backup

unless you are superfast at switching basses, deadtime between songs will kill performance momentum faster than anything and you dont need to contribute to that

 

[InhumanResource]

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?

I bring one. Controls wide open, don’t touch em for the duration unless I really need to.

 

[willddd]

For the longest time only one, never used a backup (nor needed one, thankfully, although have had a few broken strings...always have had a set of spare strings), but recently I bring 2, a P style and a 70's MM style. For fun.

 

[HeavyJazz]

If it's a short gig and/or outside with questionable weather conditions (too hot, too cold or rainy), I only take the Zon 5/2. It always holds its tuning and can sound great in most any genre. If the gig is longer and the environment safer, I'll pack two 5'ers - normally the Emperor and Will Lee, if I'm not needing the EUB or fretless. Nice to keep them all in some sort of rotation so they don't get jealous.

 

[Jim Nazium]

Just my opinion, but I would say the time spent picking the bass with the perfect tone for each song would be better spent making sure you absolutely know the songs 100%. Bring your P bass to the gig (which is what most band leaders want to hear), plug in, tune up, nail the songs, get asked to play the next gig.

 

[Hummergeist]

1 plus backup here also.

 

[climber]

well... I've done 56 years of playing & touring with 1 bass 98% of the time. The only time I took 2 was when the band really wanted to have the fretless sound for a special couple of tunes, or when I was in a group that did a lot of funky fusion (slap) but I had to play a solo Bach section in the middle of the show as a feature and I just really wanted that particular texture.

 

[klejst]

I always bright at least two, one main and one backup. But I suppose it'd be convenient to have more if you require multiple tunings, fretless, 5'er, etc.

 

[Whale guy]

I always use my P in performances, and I keep a J style Soundgear hanging right next to me. Carry an umbrella to keep it from raining.

 

[drumvsbass]

Do what you like. But, don't expect anyone to notice. If you are motivated to ask people afterwards about it, or expect some kind of badge because you nailed the particular 'tone' on some song as a bassist you need to check your ego in the mirror. The bassist's work is in the lines. I used to do 'Uptown Funk' with a P-bass with flats, no one ever said I needed a 5er with rounds.

 

[GrapeBass]

Do what you like. But, don't expect anyone to notice. If you are motivated to ask people afterwards about it, or expect some kind of badge because you nailed the particular 'tone' on some song as a bassist you need to check your ego in the mirror. The bassist's work is in the lines. I used to do 'Uptown Funk' with a P-bass with flats, no one ever said I needed a 5er with rounds.

I uncontrollably/naturally play differently with different basses, Ps vs Js and flats vs rounds (et al). So, while I do generally agree with you that the audience may not notice but IME they do notice the general vibe. Most of the time the band might not notice. LOL

 

[bass12]

One bass unless I also "need" a fretless (very rare).

 

[Jjacks651]

[
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?[/QUOTE]

Short answer, Yes, its too many.

Maybe two at the most, one 4 string, one 5 string if needed for a particular song.

John

 

[bmusic]

Do what you like. But, don't expect anyone to notice. If you are motivated to ask people afterwards about it, or expect some kind of badge because you nailed the particular 'tone' on some song as a bassist you need to check your ego in the mirror. The bassist's work is in the lines. I used to do 'Uptown Funk' with a P-bass with flats, no one ever said I needed a 5er with rounds.

I had to have a good think about this. Is it about ego? The idea of people complimenting me never entered my head. I just want to serve the songs and songwriter as best I can. If people come up to him and tell him how great a song is, I’ll wear a piece of that badge.

To the extent that it’s about me, it’s more along the lines of “Well, this is why I have a 5-string, this type of song” or “this is the song my fretless has been waiting in the closet for.”

Various responses here have got me leaning P-only. One of them is certainly the assertion that any more than that starts to be a distraction. So, point taken.