How many Basses Does Everbody bring to a gig?

[Cmymud]

One, but I have been trying to convince myself to leave an extra one at church just incase

 

[Rip Topaz]

I always bring two, and then can't make up my mind which one I want to play.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I usually bring two. I will either play one the whole time and keep the other as backup, or switch basses for set one and set two.

 

[georgestrings]

I used to bring 4 to gig with my last 2 rock bands - an E standard 4 string, an Eb 4 string, a 5er to play, and a 5er for a backup - I'd usually leave the backup 5er in my vehicle...

Now that I'm doing a modern country gig, I bring an E standard 4 string, and a 5er, and call it good... So for me, it's 2 currently...


- georgestrings

 

[Thumpinshelton]

I take 2 to the gig and play one. The other is a backup.

 

[malthumb]

My band writes in drop C# (And we aren't even metal!) I hate my guitarist/singer for writing so many songs in C# but there is nothing I can do but drop down to C# myself. Then we play some songs in drop D (mainly covers)... So then I just tune the E and A string back up half a step (sometimes the D, but never the G)

As for me, I bring one bass normally, I always just brought whichever bass I have been practicing on more.

Just curious....wouldn't a 5-string tuned BEADG handle this? This is why I picked up 5-string to begin with. In the churches I've played in, a lot of music is written in Db....and then there's that organ....

 

[4Mal]

2 or 3 depending on the gig. 4 fretted, 5 fretted and either a 4 or 5 fretless. In general if I bring it, it is going to get played.

 

[Scottkarch]

The guys mentioning the difference in volume between basses are right. That us really the only hard part of playing so many basses. We play mainly small bars and rarely have much if a sound guy if any.

I've thought of getting a nice volume pedal with plenty of sweep for accurate control. Another could be a multi channel/setting preamp or multi effect and get setting for each bass.

It just futz with the volume knob while playing.

Anyone have any other options?

 

[bryan gibson]

Generally take two to a gig. One is my fretted 5'er, and the other is my "old faithful" Kramer 4-string fretless. I always like to have a backup, and sometimes I'm just in the mood to go "mwaaaaahhhh" for a while. My head is a Hartke 2000 model, so use the switchable (on off) EQ to set a specific curve for the fretless. Quick and easy

 

[SneakyT]

I generally bring 3-4 basses to each gig and always play at least 3. I'm guessing I'm really in the minority. I play fretless for about 50% the show, fretted 4 for about 30% and either a 8 or 12 string for the remainder.

Partly it's because I have such a wide variety of basses and I love to play them all. So they all make it into the rotation. I enjoy fretless the most, but I play fretted on songs I sing so I don't need to look at my left hand as much while singing. And either 8 or 12 string for our Cheap Trick and other Rock songs. We joke onstage about the bass changes. It's only a few seconds and doesn't slow us down. I have fun with it.

Anyone bring additional basses to play at gigs rather than as just a backup?

I'm with you buddy. I'm in a nineties cover band. One standard, one Eb and one 8 string for Jeremy.

Original band: one Jazz, one P-bass and one Bass VI. Usually a backup jazz.

 

[Splods]

I'll bring two.
My Spector Perfomer, with a P bass as my backup. I can cover pretty much any range of normal tones with those two basses.

 

[Dave W]

I usually bring two, sometimes only one depending on the gig. When I bring two I try to make a point to play both of them.

I don't think I'd ever bring more than two unless I was on tour and had roadies.

 

[themarshall]

Usually at least 1, unless I'm there an an audience member, then 0.

 

[fivestringgecko]

I always bring two... one to play and a backup.

Neither of my main gigs have shows that really allow for switching basses and I don't want to hold up the show. There's also no real need either... neither band plays anything specific enough to require me to switch. My funk/cover band is adding Sledgehammer which Levin played on a fretless, but I'm not going to cart an additional bass to switch just for one song.

5sg.

 

[TheCush]

I play 1 but bring 2 (sometimes) so I have a backup.

This is me, too. Two in case I break a string, but I stick with one all night.

 

[Rusty G String]

I always bring a backup, but never used it. We stay in Eb tuning all night. My backup isn't nearly as nice as my main, but I just got another bass that is good. Next show, I'll probably mix it up a little.

 

[Chad Michael]

I always take two.
One fretted, one fretless.
The song says which one I play.

Yep, this.

I't s been a few years since I gigged, but this was my preference as well..

 

[P_bass]

25 or 6 to 4

You must gig in Chicago..

I bring 1 and on occasion a 2nd.

 

[Wookieonbass]

I bring 2, play 1. Not much time between songs for switching back and forth.

 

[jasper383]

Take one plus a backup. Have never needed the backup.