How many basses do you take?

[RH434]

I'm in the minority here, but I take 3.

Fender P w/flats
Thenderbird with rounds

Backup for both is SX J with Rounds.

The P and T-bird sound quite different and I use them for different songs / sets. If either were to fail, I can dial the J in to replace either with a reasonable sound, just not my preferred sound.

The double gig bag is a great thing. P and J in the bag, T-bird in a hard case really doesn't add much to the load in or out. Plus, my bass stand holds 3 so, why not?

 

[J-Razz]

Usually just my flatwound Fender P. I suppose I could take my SX jazz as a backup, it actually sounds decent with a set of Model J's in it, but I don't like lugging lots of gear.

 

[evilt70]

For years it was 1 bass (with a new pack of strings and extra batteries in case the preamp battery died. Latest couple of bands have been 2 basses, but they are in different tunings for dif. songs. Can switch quickly if I have a issue, as the guitar players have to switch for those songs also. Maybe I've been lucky, but in 25 years, never a problem except for 1 broken string.

 

[geoff_in_nc]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback! I guess I'll be taking 2 from now on, even if one never leaves its gig bag. (knock wood!)

 

[Stilettoprefer]

I have only ever taken one, (because I only own one that is playable) but since the band i'm in is playing a song in drop D, and my main has too low action for that change, in the upcoming shows I'm borrowing the girlies bass and using that as a backup/ drop D bass. I have 2 inputs on my amp (passive and active) and my main is active and the girlies P is passive. So it should work out pretty well! i'm even upgrading the pots, cap and jack since she's so awesome for letting me borrow her bass.