How many basses do you bring to a gig?

[fishdreams]

1 bass, certainly if it's local/public transport and the 1 set I usually do (& I rarely see anyone over here, from Will Lee to John Pattitucci, with more than one bass; only doublers carry sometimes a bass guitar with the double bass. It's too much hassle in NYC with tiny or no stages, running around form 1 session to the next, minimal setup time, and cramped traffic/streets/traincars/platforms )

If you feel better at ease with 2 basses on stage, go ahead by all means, but I honestly don't think at all it's a necessity unless there's a few weird tunings here and there, you need a fretless for a few songs or something like that. I have never seen anyone bring a backup violin, flute or bassoon, double bass or cello, instruments way more vulnerable than the average bass guitar. Just take good care of your instrument and keep it in tip top shape, and you'll be alright under normal playing circumstances. I actually have better peace of mind that way, during the gig (and less gear is also less opportunity for stuff to break down).

 

[xroads64]

2

 

[Eminor3rd]

I only ever bring one -- but if I was playing THAT frequently, I'd bring a single backup

 

[Dkerwood]

Thanks to the fine advise offered here, I take 2 - 1 primary and one backup. Even in my short time of gigging I've had to use the backup (strap pin pulled out). Was able to fix the primary between sets, but I would have delayed the start of the show if I hadn't had the backup.

Luckily, I run FOH so I don't need double amps, but I do have a backup of everything I need to gig (cables, DI, mic, strings, batteries, etc). Not everything is equal in quality to my primary gear, but the show could continue.

I've got a backup preamp, backup cables, backup strap, tools to repair strap buttons, backup batteries even though it's just the backup bass that's active... yeah, I believe in the backup thing.

I need to figure out logistics on the backup bass, though, as the gig is on an open outdoor stage. Not sure if they'll allow me to have the backup bass on a stand on the stage. Theoretically the entire show is tracked (to allow for band members to have one day off a week but still keep the show going... I don't look forward to the day when the drummer is off), so I guess if my bass were to go down they'd just switch to the track and the show would be fine, but I'd greatly prefer to be able to just grab the backup and play.

After looking at the first draft of the show, I don't think there's any time to swap basses mid-show. It's a super tight 34 minutes with 15 or 20 songs involved.

 

[Dkerwood]

1 bass, certainly if it's local/public transport and the 1 set I usually do (& I rarely see anyone over here, from Will Lee to John Pattitucci, with more than one bass; only doublers carry sometimes a bass guitar with the double bass. It's too much hassle in NYC with tiny or no stages, running around form 1 session to the next, minimal setup time, and cramped traffic/streets/traincars/platforms )

If you feel better at ease with 2 basses on stage, go ahead by all means, but I honestly don't think at all it's a necessity unless there's a few weird tunings here and there, you need a fretless for a few songs or something like that. I have never seen anyone bring a backup violin, flute or bassoon, double bass or cello, instruments way more vulnerable than the average bass guitar. Just take good care of your instrument and keep it in tip top shape, and you'll be alright under normal playing circumstances (and less gear is also less opportunity for stuff to break down).

This is why I was wondering if it's overkill. You don't see a lot of pros with two axes. I wonder what a professional sax player would do if they lost a screw or a pad mid-set.

That said, I'd much rather have it and not need it. It just means I need to invest in a double gig bag.

 

[bassliner50]

One bass. There are other pieces of gear or life situations which are far more likely to fail or be problematic. I take little precaution if any for those as well. Playing out 55 years. So far so good.

 

[Wisebass]

hi Dkerwood

I'm planning to bring two basses - one primary and one backup.

That is a good plan! Because things can go wrong!

I always bring two basses. And I play them both!

Murphy goes on every gig...

Yep! Someone should fire that dude!



may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[zubrycky]

For such a gig, I would bring a backup. Better safe than sorry.

Normally I always bring only one bass. However, I brought two in the past for some Gooks gigs because the requested bass tone changes on some of our songs.

Speaking about the Gooks, I remember that the backup bass (brought for that particular gig only because I had bought it recently and I wanted to show it for the guitarrist) saved the day once because the E string of my main instrument broke right after the end of our first set.

 

[nilorius]

One, because i trust it and know it.

 

[TolerancEJ]

Going way back, I only had one main bass so I didn't know the luxury of having other basses to bring.

If you're fortunate enough to have more than one, I think 2 basses should be fine. One as your main and a second as your backup in case you break a string or something. Potentially, a 3rd bass if you plan to alternate fretted and fretless among the setlist. However, your alternate fretted/fretless bass could also be your backup, so I've come full circle again and eliminated the 3rd bass option. lol

 

[40Hz]

Two for me. Main and a backup ready to go. Been doing it since forever.

Never once needed the backup. But I also know the first night I don’t bring it, I almost certainly will. Because there’s always that first time. Murphy is inescapable.

 

[spade2you]

Two. Fretted and fretless in a double gig bag. I never ended up needing the backup bass. I've been in and seen bands where a guitar went down.

Many moons ago, I was on a bike ride and realized I forgot to bring a spare tube. My only flat was that year was during that ride and about 3-4 miles in. Had to walk of shame back to my car.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I bring two. Double gigbag makes that easy.

Yeah I need to get me a double gigbag. Would just make sense for me considering 90% of my gigs I drive by myself with my gear in my car. I have hard cases for when they occasionally have to go in the band trailer for longer hauls but the hard cases are overkill for local stuff.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

I bring 2, a main, and a backup that's as close to the main as possible, for quick-easy swap-out without having to adjust playing or knobs.

 

[FlyingPigSound]

I'm starting a 7-week contract this summer, playing between 3-4 half hour sets a night six nights a week. I'm planning to bring two basses - one primary and one backup. Am I being overly cautious? I know several do gigs like this on a regular basis. How many basses do you bring to the gig?

I bring two...relying on the theory that if I bring an umbrella, it won't rain...

 

[jmhaslip]

I always bring at least 2. A four-string (PBass) and 5-string (PJ) fretless. Sometimes I bring a 5-string fretted (PJ) too.

 

[Fingerer]

Just bring one. Take a risk. Nobody seems to do that these days.

 

[Tony In Philly]

I always take at least two. I once had my primary bass's pickup go bad during a gig too.

 

[JohnnyBottom]

Try to bring 2 of everything as well...... or sometimes dont know if Im going to be in a red or gold mood.

 

[Altitude]

Yeah, if you're going to the trouble to bring it, have it out of its case, in tune, and on a stand. Otherwise you're going to defeat the purpose if you actually need it. And yep, I don't leave anything I bring to a show out of sight unless there's a locked green room.

In the end, it's a matter of what makes you comfortable. And it's not for any one of us to question the judgment of another of us in that regard.

I do enjoy sparring in this particular argument whenever it comes up (which is a lot). People try to assert a definitive answer but there are double standards everywhere. As regards redundancy, almost all of us carry an extra patch cable or two because those fail comparatively often. Batteries, strings, that kind of thing absolutely - there's a beyond material chance those things will fail on a gig.

Basses, not so much. Only considering the chance that a bass will catastrophically fail on a gig (meaning unrecoverable at the gig and the gig is over), if you applied the same standard you'd probably be carrying an extra amp head, have an extra car ready if yours breaks down, extra iPad if you use one for charts, and a couple spare cone drivers for your cabinet. (I have talked to guys who do carry all of that stuff and more. I think it's extreme over-preparedness but people do it).

But, again, to each his own. And obviously there are a lot of reasons why a guy might want to take two basses to a gig other than as a backup.