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How many times has your bass failed you?

#122
RexxRokket said:
I was reading some stuff about having a spare bass at gigs in case that something goes wrong with your main one, but how many times you guys have really experienced that? do you think that you really need a 2nd bass on stage (considering that you don't change your tunning)?

I have more than one bass for sure, but I never take a backup, never needed to either. How about you?
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I prefer to take 3 or more … I have active, passive, short scale, long scale, fretted fretless, and an 8 string … so for me taking one bass is just wrong on many levels
 
#124
I've been playing for over 45 years, and only once - and it was not the bass that failed, but rather an E string that broke. Only once in all of those years. It was at an inopportune time, the beginning of "stair way to Heaven", where the bass comes in, and my string just went Kaput! I felt lucky that I had a spare set of strings, so I changed them at the time. And, it took too long to make that change. But since then, I always keep an extra bass nearby, but I've never needed it in 45+ years.

There I go, I've messed with the good luck and carma now, so I'm gonna need it this weekend.... Arg.
 
#125
Gizmot said:
I had what I thought was a reasonably fresh 9 volt battery fail in my G&L L-2500. As luck would have it, I was only about 5 minutes from home so I was able to quickly go home, grab another bass and get on with the gig. I discovered this problem before the start time, so I got the problem fixed before it.
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I will only play active basses, but, I will only play active basses that can play passive if the 9V battery fails.... It's never happened to me, I put a piece of blue painters tape on the control cavity of when the battery was replaced, and what it's voltage is. That way, I make sure to change them at least once a year. And, if I dont, the preamp should at least allow me to play through passivly....
 
#128
Tuner broke on s 5 string EUB string
E to C. D string tuner broke so I had no "middle string". Had to read standard notation on about 50% percent of the tunes. I explain to the band what was going on—- and sucked it up. (No back up axe).
In the 70's— was playing my only bass
(Ric with flats) in and old school country band. G string broke ( first and only time on a gig).
Played 3 hrs on 3 strings— no problem.
 
#129
I had an input just completely die on me on stage in college. The bass was a Hohner B Bass V. I didn't have a backup, so I borrowed a Strat and a Digitech octave pedal and played the rest of the set on that. It felt utterly, awesomely ridiculous.

None of my other basses have ever let me down. I feel like I let my Monarch down like every time I pick it up lol
 
#131
Remember the extra bass isn't always for a backup...it also is used for another tonal option.
But on your question...Twice but it wasnt an actual failure, it was 2 broken strings.
Glad I had another with me though.
 
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#134
Had a Stingray 5 preamp start going bad on a gig (popping in and out), and did not have a spare. Fortunately, I was able to tap on the electronics cover, and it stayed functioning the rest of the gig. If the bass is passive or passive capable, I do not bring a spare, assuming I have the tools to fix a loose connection. If I bring an active bass I always have a spare. Peace
 
#137
GIBrat51 said:
Well, I never did - but, it wasn't my bass anyway. I was just really lucky... There's this Guy named Murphy, who has had a long and successful career making sure that anything that can go wrong - will go wrong. Eventually... One thing I learned really early in life was - don't tempt Murphy. Especially if you make a career out of being a Combat Engineer. It's a real foolish - and dangerous - thing to do... Yeah, there are people who haven't met Murphy - yet - but, IME, they're usually the people who win lotteries, too. If you're not one of those people? Well, I imagine Murphy will get around to you one of these days...:cool:
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He's right behind youuuuuuu!
 
#139
I play mainly passive basses and they have never failed me, when I played active basses I always had a spare full charge battery (and what ever tool needed to change it) and I always have a "played on" set of strings in case of a broken string so i can replace a broken string and continue. That is called being prepared, you can call me a Boy Scout.
 

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