How many Basses Does Everbody bring to a gig?

[malthumb]

Well, my message was intentionally provocative

If I could easily bring the second (third and so forth) bass to every gig, I would! The problem is being overly-anal doesn't pay well, especially over here where I live where there is no parking spaces at all anymore, traffic is horrible and public transportation is pretty much the only way of getting there...

Not at all provocative. Just more evidence that one size really does NOT fit all. Whether we're talking P-Bass vs every other bass brand and configuration in the world, or active vs passive, or finger vs pick vs slap. All have their place.

I know a few guys who are happy with a P-bass and a cable for professional big venue gigs. I've also seen a high school kid bi-amp a Ric through a MarkBass stack and a Marshall stack while using two pedal boards, one of which looked like a mini-organ keyboard. Different carpenters....different tools.

 

[Hahaha]

Back in the seventies and eighties I worked full-time as a bass player doing all sorts of extended road gigs, cruiseship gigs & such and don't remember anyone bringing spares. I don't think that most of the full-time pros I worked with even owned more than one instrument back then.

What I've seen fail on gigs are: 5 guitar amps, two bass drum heads and two PA mixing boards. I think it's a good idea to carry a spare, but I wonder if it's a recent development. Maybe in the old days we couldn't afford a spare instrument on musician's pay. Ddi those of you who worked back then carry spare basses?

 

[T-34]

I was hanging alot with pro musicians (small groups, not big productions) back in the 80's. No one had spare gear.

 

[JimmyM]

Most of the time I didn't bring spares of anything but cords and strings. And sometimes I didn't even have that. Went a long time with only one bass. Might have had a junker as a backup occasionally, but most of the time I only had one. Not until 96 did I have more than one good bass.

 

[T-34]

Until internet forums, the idea of owning multiple basses didn't even cross my mind

 

[Scottkarch]

I've only broke one string ever playing live. I bring mine mostly for fun... It's over the top, but I have fun doing it. Parking in the suburbs is fine. No public transportation etc. Otherwise I'd do the same thing. From the few professional musicians I know, hobbiests have way more basses than most professional musicians.

Sort of like photography. I'm guessing you can guage a professional photographer vs hobbiest based on how many lenses they carry with them. Professional photographers will have 1 or 2. Hobbiests maybe 4-8. Nothing wrong with that if you can afford it.

 

[oddeotek]

Just one. I own four basses and it may be any one of those, depending on my mood. I broke a string once on tour in 1967, a nylon tape wound string came unraveled, but that was the only time in 46 years. I figure that I can change a string between songs if I need to since I always carry an extra set. When I break out the old Steinberger, changing a string is really fast.

 

[Engine207]

Until internet forums, the idea of owning multiple basses didn't even cross my mind

+1. How 'bout it...?

 

[Joshuadriller]

Just one. I own four basses and it may be any one of those, depending on my mood. I broke a string once on tour in 1967, a nylon tape wound string came unraveled, but that was the only time in 46 years. I figure that I can change a string between songs if I need to since I always carry an extra set. When I break out the old Steinberger, changing a string is really fast.

Amen! I do the same thing.. One bass and an extra set of strings.

 

[bigmoosepi]

Two

1 pbass 45-105 tuned to EADG

1 pbass 65-130 tuned to CFA#D# or DGCF - usually D lately.

 

[Britbonic]

I broke a string once on tour in 1967

Best line in this thread!

 

[cnltb]

One.
Sometimes two, but not very often at all.

 

[rude_basstard]

I bring three. One five string I keep in standard, sometimes drop D or drop A. A four string I have in Bb Standard. And another five string I use as a backup for either of the other 2.

 

[awilkie84]

I bring 2, but usually only play 1. Unless it's an open jam night, then I'll switch from a 4 to a 5. With my cover band, I play solely 5 string and just have a backup for when things go wrong.

 

[Baird6869]

I ALWAYS bring 2 basses to a paid gig. I think it is the professional thing to do as things can go wrong, but that is only IMO. If you only bring one bass, good on ya.

I bought a Levy's double bass gig bag and it is basically the same as carrying a single guitar case weight wise. I may never play the 2nd bass but it is there if I break a string (super rare), battery dies, a solder breaks, a bridge screw comes loose, a nut breaks, etc.

Best $200 and change I have spent on a case/gig bag and it goes everywhere with me.

 

[adi77]

now 2

 

[rogerbmiller]

Fender Double gig bags come up at $50 all the time. That is what I use!

I ALWAYS bring 2 basses to a paid gig. I think it is the professional thing to do as things can go wrong, but that is only IMO. If you only bring one bass, good on ya.

I bought a Levy's double bass gig bag and it is basically the same as carrying a single guitar case weight wise. I may never play the 2nd bass but it is there if I break a string (super rare), battery dies, a solder breaks, a bridge screw comes loose, a nut breaks, etc.

Best $200 and change I have spent on a case/gig bag and it goes everywhere with me.

 

[vin*tone]

1

 

[rogerbmiller]

I have a 4 hour bar gig coming up and I was thinking of bringing three (one for each set) just for a good laff....

 

[boomboom4200]

My main 2012 fender American deluxe, and my back up epiphone Thunderbird