How many Basses Does Everbody bring to a gig?

[EdwardofHuncote]

Wow - my first thread!

Depends on the gig... but seldom if ever more than 2. If it's an upright bass job, then I usually don't need anything else, but if it's a hi-gain situation, I might load up a fretless Turner Renaissance bass with the Electroline 535. Trouble with having 2 basses at a gig; it's hard to keep an eye on both.

 

[Hauhnar]

my one and only bass, an ibby sr520

 

[RonChase]

2 my trusty Hofner depending on the color of my jacket I will carry a green, black cherry or violin color, my back up can be my Ric copy Dillion, everybot as good as the real thing, or my 1980 Ibanez Blazer or my LTD Les Paul bodied bass or my new classic vibe 1960's jazz, I love all these bass guitars, I have had costlier one but these things look great

 

[RonChase]

The thunderbird is gone it got me a G&L tele on trade but here is the Ibanez and classic vibe

 

[RonChase]

Oops got away

 

[Groove Doctor]

For me, a lot of it boiled down to time and convenience.... And how versatile/capable were the instruments I was bringing to the gig?

And don't discount the backup bass factor. On one gig last year we wound up with terrible ground loops due to dirty/ungrounded power at the stage. My main bass wound up sounding terrible because it could not cope with the ground hum. But my recently shielded backup bass? It sounded great because it wasn't picking up the ground hum from the power.

One venue we played at regularly, there was horribly noises thru my fretless PJ bass louder than the band thru the PA. Ended up the band room was upstairs just metres away from electric tram wires, and the single coil J did a fantastic job of reproducing the EMR. Fortunately that bass also had a humbucker pickup that was immune to this noise.

EMG's in my jazz bass are incredibly consistent sounding from venue to venue - only trouble I ever had was a broken nut at the G string. E A D were fine so I got away with it that gig.

Had a fuse repeatedly blow in my valve amp at one venue (church hall fundraiser gig) - dirty power from a pie warmer turning on/off. Fortunately it was during rehearsal/ sound check so I borrowed the church's solid state amp.

I always carry a preamp/ DI as an amp backup in gigs with PA... ParaDriver for EB gigs and Fishman Plat Pro for doubling. Great tools for problem rooms. It's also saved the keyboard player a few times from nasty ground loops or EQ issues.

 

[karl_em_all]

Always one bass. I really hate carrying gear.

 

[bassteban]

I had a guitarist give me a mildly confused look when I lugged 2 basses to a kinda-sorta audition... unsure what tunings the 2 gtrs might use, I went standard-tuned 4 (w/detuner set to low D)& BEADG 5er. What was somewhat comical to me was the fact HE had 8-10 guitars in his rack and SEVERAL LP's- he showed us 3, I think he had more. I actually needed the 5 for a tune in D and Eb, but I'm nuts...

 

[Stilettoprefer]

One, but I bring a backup just in case. Only needed it once so far, but that was enough for me to keep bringing the backup.

 

[adi77]

one

 

[dkelley]

At the same time? I cut it down to one a few years ago. Used to wear a guitar and a fretless bass for years though, sometimes a fretted and fretless bass at the same time.

 

[BassTapp]

I'd like to say I take two of my basses to a gig but I honestly don't have the space or time to warrant it... With an originals only band our sets aren't too long anyway and the bass I use I use for all our gigs so it has become in a sense my signature, if we start writing heaps of songs in different turnings then I might consider a second bass on stage. Maybe I'm living recklessly?

 

[AuntieBeeb]

One.

When we start working on the next album, I've got a few ideas which would suit the 8-string, so I might start using that occasionally. But until that day: one.

 

[DiabolicLow B]

Only one, I have enough stuff to carry as it is.

 

[aquamentus]

Up until recently I only had one gig worthy bass. A P bass. I picked up a Jazz and now bring both. But only use the Jazz.

 

[BassDoc51]

I bring a back up

 

[chadds]

One at a time.

 

[rtslinger]

Two Fender P strung with Flats everything else has round wound Classic Rock

 

[Scottkarch]

Just played last weekend.
Dean 12 string
Washburn B-20
Spector Core Fretless.

Probably switched 5 times

Set1
Fretless
Fretted
Fretless

Set2
Fretless
12
Fretted
Fretless

 

[bmc]

I bring my Sadowsky and that's it. I don't need a backup. I have four other basses and have no interest in bringing more gear to a gig than I need.