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I will never gig without a backup ever again...
- Thread starter JC BASS 91
- Start date
Some time ago I went to see Medeski Martin and Wood. Chris Wood was playing a vintage Hoefner and the E string unraveled smak in the middle of a song, hung down to his knees. And he never missed a beat! Just kept going and stayed in tune on the higher strings.
and thats how it works. its like a spare tire, even though most people never use it, do you really want to be without one?
Just curious, are Carvin tuners rebranded Schallers or Gotohs? The only time I've ever had a tuner fail was one on a Peavey and it was a rebranded Gotoh ..... or an asian knockoff.
Yeah, these things happen. I had exactly the same thing happen on my Warwick FNA Jazzman 5-string. Luckily it was the day before a gig when I was re-stringing it and I worked at a music shop at the time. The shop had an old ibanez tuner that fit so I threw it on until I could get replacements tuners. I immediately bought a backup bass and have brought 2 to every gig since.
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
When I was gigging a LOT on electric, I always had a passive P-Bass or Jazz Bass in my double gig bag with me. Never needed it, but it was always there! Sometimes I still bring the P-Bass with me on jazz gigs where I'm playing double bass, just in case something happens.
Rule of 2.
I bring 2 of everything, and never do 2 illegal things at the same time.
.....2 straps as well ( spare is w/o dunlops
I bring 2 of everything, and never do 2 illegal things at the same time.
.....2 straps as well ( spare is w/o dunlops
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I was wondering the same thing...within minutes of NBD, I pull the original strap buttons and replace them with Dunlop locking buttons...always.
If you gig enough and long enough.
Sooner or later Murphy's Law is in some way, gonna bite you squarely on the butt!
And Murphy will go out of his way to strike at the most inopportune time.
I "always" have extra cords, strings, two basses, a main gigging head and a backup head, also have a SansAmp BDDI.
The group I work with also carries a spare, small guitar amp in our equipment trailer.
It's been called upon several times over the years and saved the day.
IEM's, we have a road case's drawer half full of spare buds and cords, and they've been needed!
Sooner or later Murphy's Law is in some way, gonna bite you squarely on the butt!
And Murphy will go out of his way to strike at the most inopportune time.
I "always" have extra cords, strings, two basses, a main gigging head and a backup head, also have a SansAmp BDDI.
The group I work with also carries a spare, small guitar amp in our equipment trailer.
It's been called upon several times over the years and saved the day.
IEM's, we have a road case's drawer half full of spare buds and cords, and they've been needed!
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Seems like that would be a rare sort of breakdown, but the same thing happened to me very early on (over twenty years ago I'd say) and I had not one, but TWO tuners broken when I took my bass out to set up at our gig. This was a Korean Spector NS-94 that got a new set of decent tuners a week or two after this happened, but that bass also got a stable-mate (backup) that went to every gig going forward.
Even now I don't want a collection at home. I just want two that I love to play.
My guitar pal in our band is trying to trim his collection of instruments down to under a dozen or so and I have to go easy on the snarky comments every time he shows up at a gig with only one guitar. Don't want to jinx him, but I know that this is going to wreck one of our shows at the worst possible moment. Popped string, crapped out cord jack... those gremlins are always up to something
Even now I don't want a collection at home. I just want two that I love to play.
My guitar pal in our band is trying to trim his collection of instruments down to under a dozen or so and I have to go easy on the snarky comments every time he shows up at a gig with only one guitar. Don't want to jinx him, but I know that this is going to wreck one of our shows at the worst possible moment. Popped string, crapped out cord jack... those gremlins are always up to something
I saw Michael Manring at Chicago's Double Door 17 yrs ago.
While playing "Selene"he broke a string while playing his Hyperbass.
Unfased,He kept on playing.
Although having three other basses lying at his feet.
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“My backups have backups” has been part of my live performance credo since the 90’s. It’s really no extra sweat to have a backup gig bag loaded with a bass, a 2nd DI, strap etc. Just enough stuff to ensure that I’ll always make it through a show.
It’s not the audiences job to put up with a performers lack of foresight.
It’s not the audiences job to put up with a performers lack of foresight.
At least someone got you up and running again but that does suck man, so does carrying around an extra bass around all the time tho. I have two basses my first bass (epiphone SG) n my rickenbacker I can’t imagine carrying both around plus all my other stuff,hopefully God never smites me down for my sins during a show lord have mercy amen
Lately, I’ve been bringing a bunch of spare stuff out of paranoia. I always bring 2 basses, tools, an extra 9V and pack of strings, and lately I’ve even started bringing a backup head.
I’ve been playing through an Orange Terror bass 1000 of late, but I bring my GK MB800 (It only weighs like 4 lbs and fits in a gig bag pocket) just in case I blow a tube in the Orange. Paranoia is real but always being prepared for contingencies is a virtue.
I’ve been playing through an Orange Terror bass 1000 of late, but I bring my GK MB800 (It only weighs like 4 lbs and fits in a gig bag pocket) just in case I blow a tube in the Orange. Paranoia is real but always being prepared for contingencies is a virtue.
I concur, consider replacing the full set of tuners - with genuine Gotoh or equivalent.
I'm guessing those are Carvin tuners, which might not be up to par. (Other Carvin components haven't always been the most robust IME. I've seen my share of cheaper tuners seize or strip or break.)
I see in the photo one plastic washer looks different than the others. Not sure what's up with that.
I definitely wouldn't roll with the rest of those tuners for a fly-in gig, just sayin'...
I'm guessing those are Carvin tuners, which might not be up to par. (Other Carvin components haven't always been the most robust IME. I've seen my share of cheaper tuners seize or strip or break.)
I see in the photo one plastic washer looks different than the others. Not sure what's up with that.
I definitely wouldn't roll with the rest of those tuners for a fly-in gig, just sayin'...
Sorry for your experience, but yeah, you don't need back ups until you do. I hear ya - it sucks dragging around extra gear, but when stuff happens, it sure feels good to be able to adapt on the fly.
Bummer about the tuner! Since I have a double gig bag, throwing another bass in there is not a big deal, so I always bring an extra one along. If I'm only doing one set, I don't bother leaving it out, but if I'm doing a whole night, I'll bring one with flats, one with rounds and play both through the gig as songs dictate.
The breakdown and subsequent loaner also goes to show that even 'crappy' basses can work just fine...
The breakdown and subsequent loaner also goes to show that even 'crappy' basses can work just fine...
I wouldn't call it being "paranoid", I'd call it having a professional attitude of always being prepared.
