I hate switching basses...who's with me?

[G&L-Forever]

The Radial Bassbone, Bassbone V2, and Bassbone OD are all great tools for switching between a fretted bass and a fretless, or an electric and an upright, or an electric and an acoustic. I have also used the Bassbone for switching between a 4-string and a 5-string. You have two totally different EQ settings, plus a special piezo setting if you are using a piezo pickup.

 

[beatdatthang]

I bring 2 basses because we do things in different tunings. Fortunately, the lead guitar player and I talked the vocalist/rhythm guitarist (who plays acoustic and just capos everything) into managing the setlist so there are minimum swaps during a set. Typically, we only swap coming out of a break.

 

[Polfuste]

I'm with you. My backup only get out one time because of a mechanical problem on my main during a gig. But the most of time, i use the same bass for all the gig.

 

[bassbrad]

@JimmyM I find myself in total agreement and these daze unless the show calls for it and I know that the pacing of the show will allow for instrument switching I will play it all on one bass, but will usually have a back up just in case. Adding to the fact that I am no longer as mobile as once I was instrument changes are much more cumbersome.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

Nobody likes showing off my basses more than me. They're not super special or anything, but I used to be in love with the idea of switching basses just to show off the collection a little, plus it's cool to have different basses for different sounds and tunings. I've tried to enjoy it, especially since I spent a good many years doubling on upright on most of my gigs. Sounded like a good idea at the time.

Here's why I ended up hating it...

---It either slows the show down or it leaves you hanging and looking like amateur night because you're not ready when they start the next song. And many bandleaders don't care if you're switching and they'll count the song off anyway. So I just want to play one bass that can do it all.

---It's easy to switch basses that all have similar sound and output, but switching between a Stingray with new rounds and a Hofner with old flats is going to take some EQ to keep levels consistent and tones not so different that it throws the mix into a meltdown. And the more different basses, the more EQ's you need. Some folks will use programmable EQ's or pres and that's what I did most of the time, but it can take some effort to get it right. And I just don't want to spend time screwing with it. Once saw Heart's sound tech have to rebuild the bass mix from scratch for every other song because Steve Fossen switched every other song and never used the same bass twice.

---Two basses are manageable, but any more than that gets on my nerves during setups and teardowns. Have I done it? Sure I have! How do you think I know???

Anyway, thx for listening to me yak while I try to get over health problems. Been a while I had this much free time since going corporate. And feel free to comment either pro or con.

I carry three basses when out playing, 4-string, 5-string and a 4-string fretless.

I would change instrument at end of set. Anything can be my backup, though the 5-string still takes getting used to having that extra string.

My strap fits all and has the wireless mounted on it, makes changing pretty easy.

 

[JimmyM]

Possibly, but as a tangent I'd argue that the audience is much more likely to notice the visual image of the guitarist(s) changing instruments than the bass player. I'd further (respectfully) suggest that guitarists need to have the freedom to change instruments because of how near-universally picky they can be about their sound in changing venues.

You know, there are guitarists I've heard no difference at all when they switch, like the guitarist in the oldies band I was in...he has a huge collection of guitars...Strats, Teles, Pauls, SG's, customs, hollowbodies...and I swear the only time I can tell a difference is when he switches from electric to acoustic.

Meanwhile, in the blues/jazz band I played with before Covid, the BL had a parts Tele as his main guitar, and he buys another Tele and AB's them on a gig, and I could totally tell that the new one was brighter and less bassy. Both sounded like him playing them, but noticeable differences in tone.

But I'll tell you, the guitarist in the oldies band got caught a lot on gigs because the BL/drummer absolutely didn't care if either one of us had to change, even if I was playing upright. I got caught a lot, too, and complained about it, and he lost his mind over it. And none of the oldies acts we played with cared, either. It was their show, you did at their pacing, and that was that.

 

[JimmyM]

I carry three basses when out playing, 4-string, 5-string and a 4-string fretless.

I would change instrument at end of set. Anything can be my backup, though the 5-string still takes getting used to having that extra string.

My strap fits all and has the wireless mounted on it, makes changing pretty easy.

I did that on gigs I swapped basses out, too. I can't stand doing gigs without wireless, even if I stand in one place.

 

[Ronzo]

That right there is what led me back to Fenders and FSO's despite wanting to bust out after years of my Fender being my only good bass...having to cover so much tonal ground in a show where my (considerably more expensive) active neck-thrus sounded great on some things and not others. And not only did Fenders/FSO's sound great on everything, they sounded way better to me.

My SOP is to bring two basses in a double gig bag when playing out. Most of my choices are Fenders/FSOs, except for the Höfner and the Ibanez 5, so pretty easy.

Really sorry to hear about your health issues, @JimmyM. Prayers sent.

 

[eriky4003]

I really enjoyed the video of Rush's last tour and Geddy playing lots of basses. I wish he had brought along the Wal and played that one.

Ric5, I'm a huge Geddy fan but did not see their last tour. I do have the concert on Blu-Ray and was hoping for more Rick-toting songs. The Wal would have been nice to see and hear. If memory serves, there was no Steinberger which I was okay with.

 

[Frank Vozak]

I own 4 basses---my go to Fender CB-60 Acoustic and three electric basses Squier Precision Mini, Squire CV Jaguar and Glarry PB II which I play if I use an amplifier. I rotate the three basses so I will not be accuse by my wife of just hoarding basses. I practice with the three electrics unplugged and play with the Oak Park Farmers Market Band with my CB 60 since we are acoustic only.

 

[rockinrayduke]

I got tired of people onstage pointing out on the mic that I'm changing basses. Thinking I'm going to take my ol' P-Bass with rounds, some extra strings and that's it. For the casino gigs I do it's plenty and the sound guys love it.

In the Beatles trib band I was in I changed between the Hofner and a 4001. The BL was a real BSer on the mic so I had enough time to make the change, the only one in a 90 minute show.

 

[Mighty Thumb]

Seems like there are a few common threads in this discussion. Who has control, or influence over the set list? Band member or hired gun? What kind of music is being played? What type of venue? Very interesting to hear about the Broadway music mentioned previously. That’s so far outside my experience I would never have even thought about it. Great discussion.
Hope you get to feeling better soon @JimmyM

 

[Agent0]

I encounter that with musicals too. One even called for fretted, fretless, and both upright AND 5 STRING UPRIGHT. So sometimes I wonder if the arrangers even know what they are saying. I am only intermediate level on upright and the leader didn't care so on one show I was going to do cover everything on 5 string fretted and my fretless. I had a PZ-PRE to handle the switching. But I realized nobody but the guitar player even noticed the switches to fretless. So I went with just the fretted. Doing it with just the one is a good opportunity to use all the different techniques and settings to get different sounds. I did have one trumpet player say he thought he heard upright so that was cool.

For my big band gig I sometimes bring my EUB to use on certain songs. If I do I just turn down and switch the cord. I find that easier than dealing with two extra cables and a power cord for the pedal.

 

[Jefenator]

I'll switch if it feels appropriate and I'll double if asked to but one thing I will not do is make anyone alter their set list to accommodate that. (The guitarists sometimes get into this, planning sets around the 12-string or whatever; it's a hassle.)
If I can't switch in time I won't. When they specifically want the switch (usually for upright doubling) there always seems to be enough time.
I'm all about quick transitions but sometimes a bit of between song banter is fine. (It's an art unto itself.) My "oldies" guy cues them so fast I don't even have time to grab a sip of water. Most of the other groups are the opposite. (Sometimes I feel like I have enough time to go to the bar, get the bartender's attention, get a beer, get back onstage, switch basses and still be waiting for the count...)
But that's another thread.

 

[Chris V]

I bring two basses to a lot of gigs, but I have two stands, each has its own strap with strap locks, and both are plugged into an a/b foot switch. I can swap basses in about 10 seconds, and I make sure the bandleader knows where in the set that’s going to happen.

It helps that my little TC has 3 presets and a foot switch, too - my precision is louder than my jazz, but it’s no big deal.

 

[Chris Breese]

I’m with ya.

 

[GeneralElectric]

Hope you feel better soon Jimmy.

I always bring 2 Basses to a gig. I use a radial Bassbone OD to switch EQs but rarely instruments. If I have my second EQ for a different bass, that bass is living in the gig bag after sound check.

I don’t think audiences care what you’re playing. I try and bring the right tool for the job and set myself up for success.

-If I bring a Pbass with rounds my backup is gonna be a similar Pbass with rounds.
-If I bring my Stingray, my backup is going to be a P bass with rounds.
-Every bass has to be able of hitting the lowest note in the set.
-If I’m bringing two different Basses then they should both be able to sound good on all the songs in the set.

 

[micguy]

I have multiple basses - all different setups/pickups/electronics/vibes. The point is to have instruments that, no matter the vibe of the gig I'm doing, I can do the whole gig WITHOUT switching instruments.

 

[JimmyM]

Seems like there are a few common threads in this discussion. Who has control, or influence over the set list? Band member or hired gun? What kind of music is being played? What type of venue? Very interesting to hear about the Broadway music mentioned previously. That’s so far outside my experience I would never have even thought about it. Great discussion.
Hope you get to feeling better soon @JimmyM

Thanks very much, and thanks to everyone else who wished me well on my road back. It's affecting me, but I'm in no danger of becoming worm food any time soon according to my cardiologist.

It's all situational, indeed. There are gigs where it's easy to find time to do changes, there are gigs where it's not, and there are gigs where you have to do those changes quite quickly, and nobody cares if you can't switch from electric to upright in 2 seconds or not because they'll just get someone else who can. The Show Must Go On.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I'm having trouble with this "slow down the show" idea.

I can switch basses in ten seconds, fifteen if I'm really fumbling for the side jack.

That's always been less time than the rest of the band takes to launch the next song.

What am I missing?

Does that include the time it takes for the sound guy to adjust or is there no FOH? If there is do you spend time with him go over those changes?