Now if we could all only be as on it as Christian McBride not having an A string while playing very complicated music would be no big thing.
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I will never gig without a backup ever again...
- Thread starter JC BASS 91
- Start date
I don't understand the "just bring some tools and a bunch of spare parts (tuners / soldering stuff / jacks)" argument vs just bringing another bass. Just unplugging one, plugging in another one, and continuing on is much faster and more efficient than finding a table or dropping on the floor to work on your bass for 20 minutes...
Spare strings, sure - I get that you can change one string in a few minutes, but c'mon, saying "Hold tight everyone, I'm gonna need a bit to swap out a tuner (or trouble shoot then re-solder some connection) seems over the top when you could start playing with another fully function bass in literally a minute.
Spare strings, sure - I get that you can change one string in a few minutes, but c'mon, saying "Hold tight everyone, I'm gonna need a bit to swap out a tuner (or trouble shoot then re-solder some connection) seems over the top when you could start playing with another fully function bass in literally a minute.
Replace all tuners on that bass and never worry about issues for the rest of your life.
I used to carry around a multi tool and butane soldering iron. Had to fix a broken output jack in a bar once - luckily it happened during sound check. I was very experienced at soldering as I was a AV tech at the time (early 2000s) but having to do that in a dark bar under pressure sucked. Never went without a second bass after that experience.
In this case, I would have swapped the A and G tuners out, restrung the A string and used my 3 string bass. Gig on!! I have never had a tuner break, but it sure can happen. When we toured a lot (10 states) I used to carry a backup bass as well as a full tool box with everything from tuners, pickups, screws, nut, and tools!! Now that I mostly only gig and go home I bring none of that. But it is always in the back of my mind as to what if...
I bring spare strings, spare tuners, a spare neck, a spare body, spare pickups, spare wiring, spare pots, spare strap buttons, spare screws, spare knobs, spare bridge, and spare tort to every gig.
Rebranded Gotohs...supposedly. I'm not entirely certain they are real Gotohs at this point.
Same! The only difference is on my Ric and on my Ric clone, which has Schallers for reasons. Oh...and my cheap, Glarry just has those rubber strap retainers. Everything else has Dunlops.
I have ordered a full set of replacement tuners for this bass. I'm seriously doubting their trustworthiness after comments on this post as well as some research online. The opinion online seems to be that Carvin had Asian knockoff Gotohs branded with their logo. Ugh...rather be safe than sorry.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It's a good reminder.
Speaking of having a backup...
Speaking of having a backup...
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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oh that's annoying! For me the general rule of thumb is, if it's a low pressure local gig, I'll just bring 1 bass, or if it's a quick opening set (with other bands) again, just one bass. I can recall maybe two occasions when a bass went down on the gig. But so many of my gigs are travel gigs these days, I have to bring two. At this point the band leaders expect it.
I've been on both sides of this. Once had a tuning machine crumble on my Ric as I was tuning up right before going onstage. We were the opening act. The bass player in the headlining group lent me his for the set, which was fretless! I'd never played a fretless before. Actually managed to get thru the whole set without messing up too much.
Second time was at a neighbor's house party. The bass player in the band they'd hired had an amp failure right as they were setting up, so I offered my SWR Redhead which was right next door. Party on.
Turns out that she was a really good player and I ended up taking some instruction from her a few months later. 
Second time was at a neighbor's house party. The bass player in the band they'd hired had an amp failure right as they were setting up, so I offered my SWR Redhead which was right next door. Party on.
Turns out that she was a really good player and I ended up taking some instruction from her a few months later. 
For the longest time, I always took a backup bass with me for those "just in case" situations that might arise. After years of never needing it, and never taking it out of the case even, last week I decided to stop doing it.
Last week's gig was fine. My 2000 Carvin LB-70 played with no issues and all was great.
This week, tonight, I had it with me and we played through sound check with no issues. We mill around the private party for a while and then we go to play. I try to tune my bass and I canNOT get the A string to stay in tune. I look, and I get it tuned, and can watch the post slip and drop out of tune under tension. WTH!?
I reach up and this happened...View attachment 5226797
So there I was, about 40 minutes from home and have a broken bass.
Fortunately, someone in the audience pipes up and says, "You need a bass? You can borrow my dad's."
They go get it, bring it up to me and they say, "Its a pretty crappy bass, sorry," and hands me a Precision bass copy with a single mini-humbucker where the split-P would be. The name on the headstock in fancy script is "Aims". The output jack is janky, and no strap (my strap has Dunlop strap locks on it). I get a chair, and I sit for both sets and manage to get through with this bass.
It actually wasn't a bad bass. The jack was really the only bad part about it. The neck was nice, it stayed in tune and sounded pretty dang good. I don't know what I would have done had it not been close at hand for a party guest!!
I will never go without a backup ever again!!
Replacement tuner on order, but won't be here before our next gig. Its ok, though, as I have plenty of basses in the house, its just that this one is my "JC Bass Signature" bass.
Well, looks like Murphy strikes again... You may not ever need to play the backup bass, but now you know; it's major job is... Murphy repellent.
I've seen lots of posts on TB against taking spares of any kind, mostly based on the disparager saying things like a) they've been gigging 40+ years and have never needed a spare before and b) that I'm no A-lister playing 50,000+ seat stadiums. Neither argument makes any sense at all.
If someone doesn't want to take a spare, I have no problem with their choice and I'm not going to waste my time trying to talk them out of it. But, for me, I prefer having a spare bass. It's no extra trouble to bring a double gig bag and I enjoy the fun of picking two basses to bring and then playing each for at least one set. Our typical gig is four sets, so I'll usually play each bass for two sets, chosen mostly on random whim in the moment.
EDIT: I always play that bass for a full set. The only time I would change mid-set is ... when something bad happens and I need the backup right away!
For that matter, I bring spares of just about everything as well - even a cabinet and head. So far I haven't needed a spare bass, amp, or cabinet, but that has literally no bearing at all on whether or not I'll need one at our next gig, a gig next year, a gig ten years from now, or never at all. However, my "spares bag" has come in handy lots of times when I or someone in my band needed a mic cable, instrument cable, speaker cable, extension cord, battery, portable USB charger, etc.
Call me ridiculous if you want. But I've resolved a lot of problems before they became problems this way, so I'll continue being prepared. If you disagree, that's OK with me. You do you.
If someone doesn't want to take a spare, I have no problem with their choice and I'm not going to waste my time trying to talk them out of it. But, for me, I prefer having a spare bass. It's no extra trouble to bring a double gig bag and I enjoy the fun of picking two basses to bring and then playing each for at least one set. Our typical gig is four sets, so I'll usually play each bass for two sets, chosen mostly on random whim in the moment.
EDIT: I always play that bass for a full set. The only time I would change mid-set is ... when something bad happens and I need the backup right away!
For that matter, I bring spares of just about everything as well - even a cabinet and head. So far I haven't needed a spare bass, amp, or cabinet, but that has literally no bearing at all on whether or not I'll need one at our next gig, a gig next year, a gig ten years from now, or never at all. However, my "spares bag" has come in handy lots of times when I or someone in my band needed a mic cable, instrument cable, speaker cable, extension cord, battery, portable USB charger, etc.
Call me ridiculous if you want. But I've resolved a lot of problems before they became problems this way, so I'll continue being prepared. If you disagree, that's OK with me. You do you.
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"Murphy Repellent". I like that!Well, looks like Murphy strikes again... You may not ever need to play the backup bass, but now you know; it's major job is... Murphy repellent.
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2 basses. Only one scenario when that doesn't happen: I have a gig downtown that I reach by public transportation. It's one set and I bring one passive bass. Still all the requisite gig bag stuff - strings, adjustment tools, etc. And these:
Very handy! A few drummers and guitarists have been happy I carry them as well!
The Bar Band Bassman
Very handy! A few drummers and guitarists have been happy I carry them as well!
The Bar Band Bassman
I have a 92 Carvin LB75 that came to me with locking Sperzels on it as original equipment, Sperzel couldn't keep up with the demand so Carvin switched to Gotohs which I have on my 95 Carvin LB75 fretless bass. I've never had an issue with any of them.
Always a spare! Always a spare you like to play and do play.
I do not gig anymore, but when I did, I would always take the second bass. I always been a rule of two so it always made sense. That being said I always carried a 2nd DI with me and chords as well.
I’m glad the gig worked out for you in the end, and I’m reminded that is not the bass that makes the player.
I do not gig anymore, but when I did, I would always take the second bass. I always been a rule of two so it always made sense. That being said I always carried a 2nd DI with me and chords as well.
I’m glad the gig worked out for you in the end, and I’m reminded that is not the bass that makes the player.
Glad it worked out!
This is part of why my Steinberger Spirit is my longest owned bass. I’m not crazy about the sound, but it works perfectly as a backup and something to just quickly grab when needed.
This is part of why my Steinberger Spirit is my longest owned bass. I’m not crazy about the sound, but it works perfectly as a backup and something to just quickly grab when needed.
Or….How about lesson #2; don't use strap locks, or any other accessory that limits flexibility
Permanently attach a strap to each bass…
I use #8 stainless steel sheet metal screws and cup washers to permanently attach the straps to my basses. That’s NOT going to come off. That’s the outcome of catching an Alembic bass mere inches from the floor after a so-called strap lock came apart.
And no, it’s not flexible. I don’t want it to be.
And no, it’s not for everyone. Or anyone else. I don’t want it to be.
This is how I’ve done all my straps for years. It works for me. And I’m the only one it had to work for, right?
