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Multiple basses - Do you use several live?

walknbluez

walknbluez

Oct 3, 2007
1,017
8
Sacramento, CA
#1
I don't see many bass players changing basses live. In fact, I see many pros who just use one bass the entire night. However, I'm trying to be as true to the songs as possible. For example, we have on original where the best sound is my Jazz with rounds. Then we play a cover of Neil Young's "Old Man" and I feel the best sound is my P with flats and a pick.

My problem is that the pickups in the P bass are hotter than in the Jazz. We have a show coming up where I'd be changing basses several times for certain songs. So I'm trying to figure out the best way to manage this.

Should I just play with one bass?

Should I give the sound guy a heads up? (Could be a problem with that idea)

Should I try to manage it myself by just turning the P bass down on the instrument?

Any other Jazz and Precision users who have this challenge? What's the best solution?
 
#2
I use three basses live most of the time. My primary is a Warwick Corvette, but I use a P with flats for some other stuff. The P is WAY hotter than the Warwick, so I just turn the gain down on my amp to compensate. I also use a fretless on a few songs, so I compensate for that as well. The good news is that I'm also the sound man, so I don't have to worry about sending myself something I don't want!
 
#3
Mudcat35 said:
I use three basses live most of the time. My primary is a Warwick Corvette, but I use a P with flats for some other stuff. The P is WAY hotter than the Warwick, so I just turn the gain down on my amp to compensate. I also use a fretless on a few songs, so I compensate for that as well. The good news is that I'm also the sound man, so I don't have to worry about sending myself something I don't want!
Click to expand...

My only concern with trying to do it myself is I can't really tell how it sounds FOH if I turn my gain down....did I over do it, not enough? etc
 
#4
I've got a 5 string corvette which is definitely my favourite bass, but I only bring it out on one song (an original) that actually needs it.

Otherwise the ESP LTD EC414 comes out just because I don't want anything happening to my warwick. Depends where i'm playing, i'd love to just use my corvette 100% but at student bars i'm not taking the chances
 
#5
i used to like changing basses, but i finally got fed up with it and now i just use only one bass on every gig for everything. you can use a programmable eq or something similar to make up for tonal differences, but i decided to take it easy on myself and just use one the whole night.

you could just turn off the rear pickup on the jazz off for old man. sounds the same basically.
 
#6
JimmyM said:
i used to like changing basses, but i finally got fed up with it and now i just use only one bass on every gig for everything. you can use a programmable eq or something similar to make up for tonal differences, but i decided to take it easy on myself and just use one the whole night.

you could just turn off the rear pickup on the jazz off for old man. sounds the same basically.
Click to expand...

It might sound close but you really think so? The Jazz is strung with Swing 66's and the P has flats. I hear a huge difference. It's not that I like changing basses, but we cross several genres and some songs call for a P bass.
 
#8
walknbluez said:
It might sound close but you really think so? The Jazz is strung with Swing 66's and the P has flats. I hear a huge difference. It's not that I like changing basses, but we cross several genres and some songs call for a P bass.
Click to expand...
well the strings will make a difference for sure, but there really isn't an appreciable difference with the pickups. the j pickup will be a tad brighter, but i doubt most folks could tell a difference.
 
#9
I have used two basses on gigs for different sounds.

With a passive instrument, I don't suggest turning down the volume on the instrument as it will change the sound.

I guess a volume pedal is a good compromise solution:

- can be used to silence signal to amp while unplugging instrument
- easy to change volume in a controlled manner (as opposed to fiddling with the amp gain)
- not very expensive (especially compared to dedicated solutions such as the Radial Tonebone)

That said, I'd only do this if the setlist allows for it. Too much switching (ie every song or two) will get annoying for you and your bandmates. But in the end YOU decide whether it is worth the hassle.
 
#13
I'm with Jimmy in that I use one bass for everything on a gig. I'll take different basses to different gigs, but I find there's rarely a reason for me to switch between basses within one night.

I use a P-bass with TI flats. I'm kind of experimenting with the TIs because they can get that flatwound thump but I can also play with a pick and the tone fully open to get a more aggressive, edgier tone. Before I started using TIs, I used roundwounds and would ride the tone knob and change right hand positions a lot for different tunes. I've found that even a 1 pickup instrument like the P-bass can cover a lot of ground just by varying my right hand position and playing with the tone knob.

Still, your situation might be different and you might need more drastic changes in tones - I guess it depends on what lengths you are willing to go to to get your variety. For me, the variety in the P-bass is enough (especially considering I don't have to deal with switching instruments), but for you it might be worth it do deal with the complications from using different instruments. If that is the case, using a DI between the head and speaker or mic'ing up your cab could be a good solution. Then you just adjust your amplifier volume to match between the basses and the FOH sound will change as well.

Otherwise, maybe some sort of pedal to switch levels/EQ settings like the EBS Microbass or the programmable Sansamp pedal might help...
 
#14
Stereo Joe said:
I'm with Jimmy in that I use one bass for everything on a gig. I'll take different basses to different gigs, but I find there's rarely a reason for me to switch between basses within one night.

I use a P-bass with TI flats. I'm kind of experimenting with the TIs because they can get that flatwound thump but I can also play with a pick and the tone fully open to get a more aggressive, edgier tone. Before I started using TIs, I used roundwounds and would ride the tone knob and change right hand positions a lot for different tunes. I've found that even a 1 pickup instrument like the P-bass can cover a lot of ground just by varying my right hand position and playing with the tone knob.

Still, your situation might be different and you might more drastic changes in tones - I guess it depends on what lengths you are willing to go to to get your variety. For me, the variety in the P-bass is enough (especially considering I don't have to deal with switching instruments), but for you it might be worth it do deal with the complications from using different instruments. If that is the case, using a DI between the head and speaker or mic'ing up your cab could be a good solution. Then you just adjust your amplifier volume to match between the basses and the FOH sound will change as well.

Otherwise, maybe some sort of pedal to switch levels/EQ settings like the EBS Microbass or the programmable Sansamp pedal might help...
Click to expand...

Well I just got a Line 6 M13 and I was planning on adding a volume/expression pedal anyway.
 
#16
I usually bring a couple of basses and the solution I found to the volume difference was a programmable preamp (I'm using a Tech 21 Sansamp Deluxe, but it's not the only thing that will do this) with different patches for each bass to get them to the same output level. Clean and simple.
 
#18
walknbluez said:
The P has a '62 re-issue. It's pretty meaty. You're probably right, I notice a huge difference and maybe other bass players will, but maybe your average listener won't.
Click to expand...
unless your pickups are so drastically different that it would be totally impossible to not notice a difference, i doubt even most trained bassists could tell the difference in a blindfold test. so i'm assuming that they are drastically different.
 
#20
walknbluez said:
I don't see many bass players changing basses live. In fact, I see many pros who just use one bass the entire night. However, I'm trying to be as true to the songs as possible. For example, we have on original where the best sound is my Jazz with rounds. Then we play a cover of Neil Young's "Old Man" and I feel the best sound is my P with flats and a pick.

My problem is that the pickups in the P bass are hotter than in the Jazz. We have a show coming up where I'd be changing basses several times for certain songs. So I'm trying to figure out the best way to manage this.

Should I just play with one bass?

Should I give the sound guy a heads up? (Could be a problem with that idea)

Should I try to manage it myself by just turning the P bass down on the instrument?

Any other Jazz and Precision users who have this challenge? What's the best solution?
Click to expand...

I might change basses once in a set IF there is a moment in the show where changing basses is possible WITHOUT interrupting the momentum of the show.

I think that is the thing that is most important- to keep the show going so the beinning or end of every other song isn't like a musical instrument chinese firedrill.

Or pick up a P/J config and play on both sides of the fence as best you can.
 

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