There are times I debate about bringing the fretless with me but we play only original songs and they were recorded fretted so I haven't found the right spot in the set to play a couple songs fretless yet to warrant bringing it. I usually just bring the main bass and a backup on tour with me. I sometimes don't even bring the second one into the venue though.
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How many Basses Does Everbody bring to a gig?
- Thread starter Harpo
- Start date
My main: Ken smith burner 98'
And i take my backup, a custom P/J. Never needed it, but who knows...
And i take my backup, a custom P/J. Never needed it, but who knows...
I usually bring two basses, fretted and fretless jazz five-string. The fretted for almost all songs, the fretless for one or two songs and as a backup.
Sometimes I also bring my electric upright for unplugged type sets, but we rarely play that, I'd like to do that more often.
Sometimes I also bring my electric upright for unplugged type sets, but we rarely play that, I'd like to do that more often.
If this next group I am in goes well and gets some gigs started, I will have to bring 5 basses to each show. The guys that I am doing gigs with have a setlist of songs that switch between standard tuning, E flat (acoustic), Dropped D, and Dropped C. Normally you'd be asking "Why not just bring two basses and switch tunings in between each song?"
Well, I live in Florida. It's so hot and humid down here that these climates are probably the worst to be a musician. Changing tuning often in this kind of climate ruins the quality of the strings. Also, I don't like there to be awkward silences right after a song that consist of tuning and giving the frontman or lead guitarist ample time to shoot their mouths off.
Well, I live in Florida. It's so hot and humid down here that these climates are probably the worst to be a musician. Changing tuning often in this kind of climate ruins the quality of the strings. Also, I don't like there to be awkward silences right after a song that consist of tuning and giving the frontman or lead guitarist ample time to shoot their mouths off.
Three:
- Fender Custom Shop Jazz w/rosewood board
- Fender Custom Shop Jazz w/maple board
- EBMM Sterling Classic
Any chance you could play a 6 or 7 string bass with the range you need and relearn on the new extended standard tuning?
Depends on the gig. I seem to always play two different basses during a show, regardless of venue size. So always bring 3 basses (2 Five strings and 1 four). If its a situation where in touring and away from home long term and lots of large venue, I bring 5 and hope nothing get crunched or stolen.
I always bring two, a 4 and a 5. I play the 4 on 2 sets and the 5 on two. Always have my Lakland 5 with me. My 4's rotate depending on my mood, lately my Home built P has been getting alot of love but last gig I had my Spector with me.
Even though I haven't had a failure or string break in 30 years and even if I didn't need the 5, I would still bring 2. Not worth the risk.
Even though I haven't had a failure or string break in 30 years and even if I didn't need the 5, I would still bring 2. Not worth the risk.
Backup basses are like umbrellas.
Bring one with you and it will guaranteed not rain.
Leave it at home and it will rain buckets even from a blue sky.
I'd rather not have rain.
Bring one with you and it will guaranteed not rain.
Leave it at home and it will rain buckets even from a blue sky.
I'd rather not have rain.
Backup basses are like umbrellas.
Bring one with you and it will guaranteed not rain.
Leave it at home and it will rain buckets even from a blue sky.
I'd rather not have rain.
Exactly.
5sg.
3 basses to every gig. Thankfully I have a flight case that holds three basses. Which three basses depends on which band, which venue and which outfits I am wearing. For example: I have a killer Gibson Flying V bass which is not suited to my blues gigs or playing in the Status Quo or Angels shows.
I bring 2, fretted (could be 5str, 4 str kahler, or 8str 4x2) and fretless (could be 5str or sometimes an EUB)
Another for the take 2, play 1. Last time I played out I took 3 but left one in the case. I usually know which one I've going to play, but as I don't need a 5er I can play a 4, 5 or the 8 for everything.
Mostly take 2, play 1, but sometimes I'll pull out the second for a particular purpose (most commonly an alternate tuning).
It's varied. When I played 5 strings live I normally brought 2 (very rarely 3) for different tunings(beadg, f#bead, eadgc) With the 7 string I normally just bring the one and it covers range of all the 5s by itself. But im hoping to get another 7 soon so I have a backup just in case. Ive yet to play a fretless at a gig. I try to take it easy on the sound guy by keeping my signal consistent so I would never change basses for different tones.
