Time to start carrying an extra tuner and screwdriver in your gig bag. Glad everything worked out for ya. It's always that one frickin' instance. Now you'll go back to carrying a backup and not need it for the next 10 years.
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I will never gig without a backup ever again...
- Thread starter JC BASS 91
- Start date
I was playing a gig and the front pickup screw fell out.
With the pickup crashing into the string, I managed to finish the song.
Reached around and grabbed my #2, trusty American Standard Jazz.
Always, always, always have a spare with me.
Here was the gig, notice the broken bass on a stand behind me.
With the pickup crashing into the string, I managed to finish the song.
Reached around and grabbed my #2, trusty American Standard Jazz.
Always, always, always have a spare with me.
Here was the gig, notice the broken bass on a stand behind me.
Those were, IIRC, 1970s MIJ basses. So I'm not surprised it sounded okay! Don Randall was the distributor; Aims was his venture after CBS forced him out at Fender.
Great story. Glad the gig ended up well.
Yeah, I really lucked out. I was very thankful!
I thought it was an odd break. I have a double gig bag on my wish list at Sweetwater!
That never even crossed my mind in the moment! Thinking about our covers we play, I RARELY use the G string. Something to file away for the future!
Nope. Never would have believed it happening until it did.
THAT is a heck of a story! How cool!!
I have some redundancies, but never would have thought this could even happen!!
You are NOT blowing my kilt up right now!! Good news is that the E string tuner is actually a Hipshot Detuner, so I don't have to worry about it...I hope.
Ok, that is VERY cool to know! I commented to people that it was a solidly built bass and that all it really needed was that output jack replaced and it would be a great bass. It was sunburst and tort, so it was definitely a winner in the looks department, at least for me.
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
- 6,652
- 2
- 16,421
- Disclosures
- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
I played a Fall Festival at a church, fifteen minutes from my house yesterday... and still took a backup bass. And cable. And strings. And batteries, for the backup bass. And a sweater. Jeannie swiped it. I shoulda' brought two. Or left her home.
@JC BASS 91 crao, but liked the story, glad it ended well!
Depends where/with whom we're playing, usually have a backup along (bass, one of each cable type, small multi tool, battery, set of strings in the case, sometimes even a head - a very light old GB NEO-PAK head used otherwise for home practice when no other bands w/ kit are involved). Aside from an occasional XLR Mic cable & the multi tool, knock on wood, never needed any fortunately. I usually think I'm nuts for doing this, but these types of posts make me feel better about being nuts at least.
Depends where/with whom we're playing, usually have a backup along (bass, one of each cable type, small multi tool, battery, set of strings in the case, sometimes even a head - a very light old GB NEO-PAK head used otherwise for home practice when no other bands w/ kit are involved). Aside from an occasional XLR Mic cable & the multi tool, knock on wood, never needed any fortunately. I usually think I'm nuts for doing this, but these types of posts make me feel better about being nuts at least.
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I had a tuner break on the D string of my five string EUB. My basses are all E~C, so I had two low strings and two high strings.
The gig required reading mostly lead sheets and about 25% written arrangements. The tuner broke at setup time, so I told the band I’d do my best, but couldn’t pull off the written stuff as written.
I now bring a backup go “important” gigs.
I still gamble with one instrument for some gigs.
The gig required reading mostly lead sheets and about 25% written arrangements. The tuner broke at setup time, so I told the band I’d do my best, but couldn’t pull off the written stuff as written.
I now bring a backup go “important” gigs.
I still gamble with one instrument for some gigs.
Always better to be prepared and not need back up items. I am going to get a double gig bag so I can carry two in one, less to carry! Tools, strings, cords, batteries etc, MUST haves that do not take up much space but life savers should the need arise.
Yeah….those moments when it makes you ask yourself: How much do I actually need to get the job done?
That’s the uncomfortable realization that hits me almost every time I pick up a cheap bass. Then I look at my bass rack and think about how much money and time I’ve spent over the years putting together a pro caliber bass assemblage. And that’s when I begin to suspect I’m even more delusional than I thought.
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Yeah...my very first statement upon discovery of this, muttered quietly, was "F*** you Murphy."
Dad always said "son, remember that Murphy is an optimist"
I carry a gig bag full of extra cables, tuners, picks I don't use, batteries, cords and even a capo but I don't bring an extra bass.
thanks to JC, I'll be toting more baggage.
To which Murphy replies: Looks more like it’s the other way around bro.
I feel for you. I’ve always brought a backup. Never once needed it in over 40 years and Lord knows how many gigs. But I know the very first and only time I don’t bring it “stuff” will go down.
Horror author Steven King had the right attitude. He said when he was a kid growing up in an under heated farmhouse in wintery New Hampshire, he was always told by his grandmother to keep his legs under his blanket at night. Because if he didn’t a cold pale arm would reach out from under the bed and grab it.
King said he still keeps his legs covered at night even though he knows that cold pale arm doesn’t exist. But, as he said, I also know if I’m very careful to keep my legs covered it can’t reach up and grab me. Why take chances with something like that?
Owning a back-up aside - In my observations, the arguments for not bringing a back-up are often the same slow wittedness that I witness people use to convince themselves they are good to drive intoxicated. There has never been a relevant consequence thus far...therefore...it's low risk... 'I'm good'.
I used to play bass for a big band in upstate NY many years ago. Back then I had some cheap Peavey fretless.. don't remember the model. I wasn't a great bass player (still not, truth be told, but I'm getting better), but got gigs because I read really well. Anyway, we were playing a gig at "The Fabulous Crossroads" in Moira, NY. I was married, father of three, day gig didn't pay great, going through grad school, mortgage,... the usual tighten-the-belt financial challenges of young familihood. Hence the cheap used bass with the original strings still on it and no spares.
During the first set the G string broke. No biggie.. bass is supposed to play low notes, and I can always shift up the neck when necessary. Then, the beginning of the second set, the D string broke. Played the rest of the gig (which was most of it) leaping all over the fingerboard on the E and A strings only. Leader was a very good friend of mine at the time, thankfully, and he was pretty cool about the whole thing, even though it was obvious I was struggling. That was back in the late 80s.
I carry spares now.
During the first set the G string broke. No biggie.. bass is supposed to play low notes, and I can always shift up the neck when necessary. Then, the beginning of the second set, the D string broke. Played the rest of the gig (which was most of it) leaping all over the fingerboard on the E and A strings only. Leader was a very good friend of mine at the time, thankfully, and he was pretty cool about the whole thing, even though it was obvious I was struggling. That was back in the late 80s.
I carry spares now.
My joke for the rest of the night was that I currently have an "unlucky number of basses".
My wife's response to that was, "Then buy another one!"
She's a keeper!
My wife's response to that was, "Then buy another one!"
She's a keeper!
