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How many Basses Does Everbody bring to a gig?

#181
2, if you got the space...if your packing light, 1. I've broken 3 strings(2 A's, and 1 E's) in the past 2 years, but never at a gig, I guess I dont really know my own strength. The time I broke the E it was on my old warwick, the bridge exploded and the string slapped me in the face.
 
#182
If I were playing more than an hour set, I'd bring both of my 6ers (different tunings) and my fretless.

However, that's never the case, so I just bring both of my 6ers and call it good.

I've broken a string once on stage, but played the rest of the covers without it (how often does Justin Chancellor really use his G-string anyway... :rolleyes:). Other than that, I bring the alternatives mostly for tuning and potential electronics issues.
 
#185
I usually bring only 1 bass. 1000's of gigs, never broke a string or had it go bad. If I break a string, so what? I have 3 more. Our drummer only brings 1 drum kit. Our guitarist only 1 guitar. We have only 1 PA console. And we have only 1 lead singer. We keep it simple. :D
 
#188
definitely 2!! once i forgot to unplug my main bass (which was active) from my amp, and it was left there overnight. when i showed up to my gig it took me about 5 minutes to realize that the battery was dead :( so definitely 2!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#191
It depends on the situation and the type of band your in.

I love to show off my basses and would love to bring multiple basses to a show. But our show moves to fast, they will only allow me time to change basses twice during the show. I only bring 2. And I have to have transmitters on both.So it's just a matter of taking one off and grabbing the other.

My answer is 2.
 
#194
bluewine said:
It depends on the situation and the type of band your in.

I love to show off my basses and would love to bring multiple basses to a show. But our show moves to fast, they will only allow me time to change basses twice during the show. I only bring 2. And I have to have transmitters on both.So it's just a matter of taking one off and grabbing the other.

My answer is 2.
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This is what it's down to for me as well. I'd love to have an array of basses strutting their stuff up there, but practicality usually limits it to two. Usually fretted and fretless but can vary according to the music. I have a multiple guitar setup for guitars (multi-stand and mixer) that can deal with up to 4 instruments and it works for bass too. But practically it's usually too much.

My main concern though for bringing two and not one (where the music only needs one kind of bass all evening) is backup. I've never broken a string on the gig but I've had a LOT of things go wrong. My idea is "backup" for everything. Each bass case has a bass it's cord, it's strap, a set of strings for THAT bass, spare battery, plus all tools needed to adjust/fix anything on the bass (tiny screwdrivers, allens, cheap tuner, any special tools etc.) It's not just strings, but all manner of things can crap out on you. Ever be playing and a saddle or two decides to screw itself down to the bottom? You will never be more thankful for that tiny allen in the tool kit! With two bass "kits" it's all covered and I can use it to change basses as well. win-win. I don't bring a spare amp or cab (too much like work! Even left in the truck) But my bass selector/mixer is a passive DI as well. So the PA is my amp/cab backup position.

A lot of people here like to live on the edge and only bring one of everything, no strings or batteries and laugh at us "belt and suspenders" guys. What can I say. That's you. A band without a bass for half the gig is not going to go over very well. I really don't enjoy looking bad or having the band I'm playing in look bad. You just never know what opportunity was sitting in the audience the night your bass died.
 
#195
bassmasta1209 said:
Also, have you ever broken a string at a gig? I've only broken a string twice before, and not at gigs.
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Yes I have broken a string at a gig. The Eye let loose one time and the core wire broke another. I have a "boyscout" Kit with strings, batteries, tools, etc. for those just in case moments.
I always bring at least 2 basses, often 3. No more than that because then hauling them becomes a pain.
 
#197
I used to carry one bass until last week. I had just started the first set on my old Precision with one of my regular bands...and all of a sudden BZZZZZZZ 60 cycle hum and nothing else. Frantically I'm checking chords, amp, etc. as the rest of the band continues playing. I take out out some screws on the the pick guard to find the ground wire broken off the jack. I was able to strip back the wire and attached it with gaffers tape. I was out for a total of four songs. That wont happen again. :scowl:

"Precious" (sans case) now resides in the trunk of my car.
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#198
BigOldHarry said:
25 years for me. This whole notion of the "backup bass" has always seemed like a GC sales promotion to me.

But I do bring extra strings/batteries...
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you have been fortunate. I was on stage opening for Great White at a local venue in the 90s when my bass went kaput. I didn't have a spare but I had my kit with me and(failing to come up with another bright idea) switched out the battery mid song (thank goodness for the Carvin battery box), maybe missed a dozen bars and was right back in there. I started thinking, what if it was something more serious? A gig like that and I'd have had to try to borrow somebody's bass? Nah, I just bring more than one...

It has been a very long time since I broke a string at a gig, but once is enough for me and it happened twice so I try to eliminate those chance things happening by the belt and suspenders method.
 

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