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

[commonplayer]

I've come to the realization that nobody cares what the bass tone sounds like at a show, at least not enough to change instruments during (or even between) a set. I also play in a group with three guitarists (somehow...) so the bass isn't featured enough to matter. I just play whatever I bring and roll with it.

 

[31HZ]

As an unrepentant gear-head and tone-quester, I absolutely LOVE the idea of bringing several basses for fretted/fretless options, tonal variety etc., and really tried to make it work in practice. I would devote precious space on my board to various EQ/boost options that would facilitate easier switching, plan set lists ahead of time so I could be deliberate about when instrument changes would take place, choose gear carefully, practice switching instruments, and rehearse as if it were a gig.

In reality, however, the extra setup, stands, logistics, time, reduced flexibility (BL makes a last-minute change, calls a different tune, etc.) and sound challenges turned it into something WAY more difficult to pull off well, with a lot of effort and not much to show for it.

I would TOTALLY be into swapping out instruments (every song!) if I had a crew, and I would completely geek out about the technical production aspects of how to make the changes work well. However, I'm just a day-job Joe who tries hard to bring A-game value and musicality to every project, and trying to do instrument changes works against all of that.

Gotta say, though, that I still love seeing folks that put in the effort to do it and make it work well, so thanks to everyone who carries the torch.

 

[ChickWithaRic]

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 would never, ever, switch playing live unless I had a mechanical fault. I like to make my mistakes, and stick with them as if I had meant to do it.

And hey, I hope your health improves very soon. Don't worry about yakking. That's why we are here.

 

[J-Mags]

Even playing lead guitar, which I've been doing for 40 years, I've never switched instruments during a gig, except for technical problems/broken strings/baritone. I've never even brought an acoustic guitar to an electric gig.

It would definitely be laughable to switch basses during a 40 minute set of the punk band Sex Negative.

I’d just be switching from a P with flats to a different P with flats so………..

Pretty much this, although one is a Mustang.

 

[Jefenator]

As an unrepentant gear-head and tone-quester, I absolutely LOVE the idea of bringing several basses for fretted/fretless options, tonal variety etc., and really tried to make it work in practice. I would devote precious space on my board to various EQ/boost options that would facilitate easier switching, plan set lists ahead of time so I could be deliberate about when instrument changes would take place, choose gear carefully, practice switching instruments, and rehearse as if it were a gig.

In reality, however, the extra setup, stands, logistics, time, reduced flexibility (BL makes a last-minute change, calls a different tune, etc.) and sound challenges turned it into something WAY more difficult to pull off well, with a lot of effort and not much to show for it.

I would TOTALLY be into swapping out instruments (every song!) if I had a crew, and I would completely geek out about the technical production aspects of how to make the changes work well. However, I'm just a day-job Joe who tries hard to bring A-game value and musicality to every project, and trying to do instrument changes works against all of that.

Gotta say, though, that I still love seeing folks that put in the effort to do it and make it work well, so thanks to everyone who carries the torch.

You want a different axe for each & every song, I wish you luck.
But IME two instruments is easy. I got this little guy and it works great. Rugged and passive! (Used to have the active 2-channel thing but I hate wall warts and the EQ wasn't anything that special to me.)

Level matching is important - and potentially fiddly. But once that's achieved, I'm good to go. (EQing both to sound similar would defeat the purpose of switching AFAIC.)
YMMV of course.

 

[ToneMonkey]

I hate bringing more than one instrument to a gig. So I don't. Even when playing guitar.

For me, sticking to one instrument at a gig encourages me to do deeper rather than wider. Plus, I really hate fussy.

 

[akukulich]

If I bring two basses to a gig, one is only there as a backup. Occasionally, I'll grab the backup and play a full set with it just to hear something different. I don't switch during the set. I can imagine bringing a fretted and a fretless, and swapping back and forth, but if I bring a fretless I always end up playing it all night.

 

[31HZ]

"Deep vs wide"

I can't like that enough.

 

[JOME77]

I actually love switching basses. I keep mine strung with different strings (nickel RE, SS RW, traditional flats and modern flats) and it creates a totally different vibe to the songs and inspires me to play a bit different (each time I change).
Of course now days that pretty much limited to in house jams with friends and they don’t mind the slight delays between tunes.

 

[bass.slinger]

Two basses is manageable, but not optimal. I only take two if one is a fretless and I also play several songs after a switch to avoid delays. That said, I usually just take one bass for simplicity (fretless is seldom noticed / appreciated by the audience in a cover band playing bars).

 

[frankie5string]

The only switching during a show I do is between bass viol and bass guitar. I can't really think of a reason to have multiple bass guitars (except to have one for backup) and I don't carry two bass viols, ever. lol! Just getting one to the show is an ordeal, but better now that I'm no longer driving around in a diesel Smart car... hah!

 

[SaucyJackBass]

Back in the day when I played covers I would have a bass in drop D for songs that needed that and one in standard tuning. I would organize the setlist to have all the drop Ds in a set together so it usually was one switch per set max. The drummer would have standard audience talking points during the swap that would keep attention away from the switch.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I switched basses when i was playing in a variety band, but i did it during the set break.
The first set was old school, Motown, Stax, yadda. Pbass with flats.
The second set was 80s and 90s heavy.
The last set was modern pop and such.
Those sets got the 5 string.

I could have done the whole show with the 5 string, but i didn’t like how i played that bass while doing the old school stuff.
Different basses bring out different things.
That said, i don’t switch during shows unless it’s during a set break.
But i do try and rotate my basses, so they all get played.

 

[cv115505]

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 agree... I really do not like to switch instruments either. I do have one project where I use a bass with rounds and a bass with flats, but I use a switcher that balances the output and allows for a quick swap. It really is a hassle, though so sometimes I just use the roundwound bass for the entire show and palm mute.

 

[BassikLee]

I always brought two, with one being a spare.

 

[bass.slinger]

I'd risk being flamed, tarred and feathered by my TalkBass family here by asserting that the audience isn't likely to hear the sonic differences between basses anywhere near as easily as differences in guitars. Maybe it's something to do with the frequency ranges guitars live in versus where basses are but I'd rather my guitarists trade instruments at a show than myself unless there's a specifically long-written break I can take advantage of to do so.

I would argue the average audience member can’t tell the difference between guitars also.

 

[Liam Wald]

I am with you. I stopped switching basses at gigs long long ago.

 

[MVE]

Years ago, when I was gigging three- five nights a week (ya know, pre-baby) I really only played my one Alembic bass almost exclusively.

Very occasionally, I might have swapped it out for my Fender if the venue was a little sketchy.

I rarely even brought an amp; I would just show up with my bass and a cable, and perform.

(Its amazing how many compliments I got from the sound guys for being so “easy-peasy”)

 

[Pings Bass]

I've never had more than two on a job, fretted and fretless. There have def been shows where i just skip changing and play through on the fretless. Without a roadie running out and doing the change for you (I've never had that luxury) it can really kill the pace of a set.

 

[groooooove]

i like switching basses in terms of practice, adjusting to one or the other will give me new perspectives on things.

a big part of what makes my #1 bass the #1 bass is that I never needed to switch it on a gig. deep versatility.

sometimes i have to double on upright and switch between songs and it's a horrendous nightmare. but i haven't had a gig like that in like...5 years.