Not bringing a spare: lesson learned

[two fingers]

I take a spare everything. I have a spare head, spare bass, backup DI box, tons of spare cables, adapters, batteries (and I don't even use them), couple flashlights, etc. I have a gear box that weighs about 75lbs and I usually only take my strap, tuner, and one cable out of it every show. The rest is just "in case". Pun intended.

 

[BawanaRik]

I bring a cord and batteries. My bass has always gotten me through. What I don't do is use pedals. And since I'm now using a passive bass the batteries are for guitarist. And they really do come in handy,.

 

[PauFerro]

I also bring a backup head/amplifier in case my amp goes, spare cord, and spare light. Plus backup batteries for effects, since I started using them. Plus backup strings for my piccolo bass since its more prone to breaking.

 

[obimark]

I only play passive P-basses and have never bought a spare to over 50 gigs now.

I worry more about my head breaking down and have almost bought a spare el cheapo hartke head or soemthing.

If I blow a speaker I still have (2) backups as I play a 210 and a 112 cab.
I also bring a hartke bass DI, so worst case I could try to use some of our pa power and go into my cabs.

 

[GlennW]

When I hear my bass cut out on a note. I'm using a wireless, battery should be good, but decide between songs to go to my backup cord.

As I pull the wireless cord out, the hex-nut from the input socket falls out, I try to plug in my cord but the socket pushes up into the body.

So, for all of you that don't think a spare bass is a smart idea, believe me, I won't get caught again!

It's also a "smart idea" to perform a little check for things like loose nuts and screws.

It sounds like your problem never would have happened if the nut on the jack was secure. That's negligence on your part. I've read many posts about gig dilemmas which could have been avoided by addressing obvious little things like loose nuts.

 

[MegaSwing]

Shiggity happens. 'Are you ready?' is the question.

At my last gig, I discovered a similar glitch in a bass I just bought, just before the second set. Problem with the input jack. Fortunately, a couple of raps on the strings and it goes back to normal. Did I have a backup on hand? No. Fortunately again, the gig was 10 minutes from home.

Still an unforeseen problem.

 

[bluewine]

It's really the professional thing to do, if not a back up bass or amp, at least have a back up plan.

Remember, many of us are under contract to provide a service, it's your resposibility to make sure you have the tools to provide that service.

It's a hassle lugging bass rigs and lugging back up makes it worse.

I bring at least 2 basses to every gig plus a back up head ( GK 1001rb ). I have never had to use them and I am out gigging every weekend.

It's just not worth it, in that rare case that something goes wrong and your standing there empty handed. Going home for back up gear is not always an option.

Blue

 

[lowfreq33]

A back up amp I don't worry about, we always have good PA, and I've got the MXR DI on my pedalboard. I do bring a back up bass on out of town gigs, but it usually never comes out of the gig bag.