Poll: how many basses do you bring to a gig?

At least two, I always have a backup. sometimes as many as five. Lately it's been three.

 

One double bass for my jazz gigs. Used to bring just one electric bass before I bought my Gator double gig bag so most of the times I bring two (electric) basses (voted for "two-Gotta have a backup, just in case").

 

I only have two.

So, two.

And the argument for back up is pretty common on TB. In all of my years of playing I only needed a back up once and didn't have one. Never again. YMMV

 

2. Sometimes 2 4s, mostly a 5 and a 4, depending on gig
'92 Stingray 5 / '14 Gibson EB4

 

For years I only had one bass and only took that. Then SWMBO commented that I always had spares for the PA, so why not my bass rig? So now it would be 2 with an alternate path (DI) to the PA, just in case.

 

Two -- gotta have backup. In the decades I've been gigging I've only had a half-dozen or so mid-gig failures, but each time I was grateful I could do a quick switch over to backup.

I totally agreed with Jimmy: I bring two, but play just one (almost always). I never need to switch, so I don't. I definitely understand enjoying variety in tone, but for that I'll switch basses from one gig to another, rather than by set or by song.

Should go without saying, but I'm just talkin' about my personal preference.

 

I normally take 2, but sometimes 3. That covers me for backup as well as different tunings. And the set list is set up so that I only have to change out a bass once per set if even that.

 

In one originals band I was in a while ago I would bring a fretted and a frettless for a couple of tunes. These days it is too much of a hassle.

In our first post-Covid open practice (open to friends and neighbors) I brought my new basses - a Fender Jazz and a Squire P, that up until that point had not seen the stage with me.

It was an error. I could not get either bass to sound good to my ears. The EQ on both are so different. I eventually got the P sounding ok, and laid off the jazz for the rest of the afternoon. Most people didn't know what was going on, but the band was rightfully pissed that I was eating up so much time. For the rest of the year I will be back to using my Ibanez SR1200 on gigs and the other toys in the studio.

 

Always 2.

one for standard tune, the other for E flat.

Also, works as a backup.

 

Most of my playing is done on upright. Sometimes I have to take the electric when I ask them if they want it. They have never asked me to take two electrics so I wont ask any more questions

 

Fretless and fretted. On a special occasion I might bring a Ray and a P for variety but that's really not the norm. I could do one or the other but I like having one with rails and one without for different tones.

 

This ^

Failures are rare but when they happen you gotta have a plan B. My backup bass (currently a SBMM Ray35) serves as a wet-weather or questionable bar bass too. Its job is to fill in when there's a problem OR step in the line of fire if things seem sketchy

(Though I dig the Ray35 a lot and lately just play it cause I like it )

 

Love those Hiwatts!!! I had a Custom 100 back in the 70’s. It’s the only piece of gear I’ve regretted selling.

 

I’ve never had a bass fail me on a gig ever. Amps, I’ll take a spare.

 

Used to roll with just one but started having too many weird little things happen so always have a spare with me now.

 

Fretless (my Fender Frankenstein) and fretted (currently my Epiphone Jack Casady, sometimes my Rickenbacker). When I'm in good practice (which, after the long pandemic layoff, I'm not) I can switch in about 15 seconds: mute, set one bass down, pick other bass up, step on footswitch, unmute. Just long enough for the BL to say something about the previous and next songs

The band is on notice that if I ever bring three basses on stage, they will need to have an intervention.

 

I always bring a backup that is completely interchangeable with my go to. I never had a bass fail until I did. Stuff happens and I was glad to be able to pick up the spare and deal with issues at the next break. I don't want to be the moron to hold up a show because I was too lazy to bring an extra bass. The only thing I don't have an extra of at a gig is a cab. I generally run through FOH, so if my cab fails, I still have presence in the monitors and for the peeps. Extra head? Yes, even though my backup DI would get 'er done.

 

I bring two amps, too, one of them a very small combo that will nonetheless do the job if the main one poops the bed.