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Practice bass....
- Thread starter TheBlueFalcon
- Start date
No. I usually practice with the basses I'm going to use at any given show. The feel of each instrument is different, and there are reasons I choose to play one over the other that have nothing to do with expense.
That said, I will sometimes plan to take my inexpensive instruments to certain venues to reduce the chance of theft or damage. But if I do that, I will also practice for those shows using those instruments.
I don't play gigs where I have to worry about my basses getting damaged or stolen, period. Not worth it to me.
Not a kid any more, and been playing basses since I was 12 years old, and that was 56 years ago.... Man time flys when you're having fun.
Also a reason I have top notch basses and amps. Life is too short these days to have to settle.
I read the OP as this:
meaning "in addition to" having a better quality instrument...not choosing between one or the other
some responses in this thread aren't making that distinction
meaning "in addition to" having a better quality instrument...not choosing between one or the other
some responses in this thread aren't making that distinction
Practice is the safest place for an instrument. The cheap instrument is best as a backup or kick-around instrument.
The only place I'd consider not taking my best instruments is a particularly rough bar and even then I'd probably take them. Instruments exist to be played. I try not to own instruments I wouldn't gig.
No need, I've been playing for 52 yrs and now just have 1 EB (Fender P bass), a full-size double bass, and an electric upright bass. Take care with them when you're playing out (ie, always use stands, don't let them get knocked around) and you'll be fine forever. Sure they have a few little knicks and such, but thats part of their character. I also believe there's alot to be said for always using the same instruments. Especially with upright bass (or fretless eb, for that matter) alot of the key to good intonation is muscle memory. That means getting your hands used to always being in the same spot to play notes accurately. Hard to do if you're changing instruments all the time.
That's awesome for you. Been doing this since 1979, so not quite as much time into this as you have.
I'm playing a tribute show this month with 15 different bands playing 5 songs each, and I'm on the fence about which bass to take. The main issue on a show like this is having to babysit the instrument the entire time I'm there, which takes something away from my ability to enjoy myself while watching the other bands. I don't generally play in dive bars either, but I'm not going to needlessly burden myself and ruin an otherwise fun night. Life is way too short.
I could just take my axe out to the car, but I have a hatchback, so it's visible in there.
Pretty sure I'm going with the SchecterThe Fodera Emperor. Or a Marleaux Contra Special.
Having a similar model will really help this. If you have that SR1800 for your main bass and let's say a SR200 as a backup or sketchy gig bass, they are going to feel similar. Yes, practice with both so you arent thrown off when you are at the show.
Since they were trees, every bass has only ever wanted to be played.
Play, practice, gig, anything with a great bass. Trust me, it's what it wants.
Play, practice, gig, anything with a great bass. Trust me, it's what it wants.
Old story: I gave my upright teacher an old white squire bronco that my high school band director had literally thrown in the dumpster. He was like, “cool, maybe I can fix this up and loan it to students who want to try electric.” He ended up replacing all the electronics, setting it up with really high action, and gigging with it as his main electric bass for over a year. I laughed when I saw it on the stand in his studio, and he said, “f/:; you, I got your dumpster bass dialed in. This thing plays so good and is so easy to carry around, it weighs four pounds, you’re not getting it back.”
This is a huge reason I stopped playing out. I would rather jam for fun with some friends.
I dont know what people make on a gig, some friends would make about $100-200. I can go to work on a Saturday and make that fairly quickly on overtime.
There's no such thing as "too nice" to use for practice or gigging. Instruments are built/meant to be played. I'm taking a $40,000 upright bass to a one set bar gig tonight.
Now, I did buy a Palatino EUB for biker bars, airplanes, and outdoor festivals. That was a life-changing purchase.
I enjoy playing out too much to stop. Sometimes you just have to pick your battles. The day I stop playing out is the day you want to wheel me to the edge of the cliff and push.
And that comes down to where you are in your life and what things are worth to you. I'm guessing its insured? If you have an instrument like that and live in NYC, I bet you are doing pretty well for yourself. (Awesome!)
Good luck tonight
When I bought my Pedulla for $1K, I was in high school making $6 an hour at a part time job. (That's why it took a year to save up for it) I played it a lot, just not at any shady places... it wasnt worth it to me to have it damaged or stolen.
Haha
What I should have done is find some different people to play with. And get gigs in places other than the basement of some guys house in a really crappy neighborhood where all of his friends are eyeing the gear. One guy actually made threatening comments about beating us up and taking our gear. Line crossed.
Finding the right people to work with is definitely the biggest challenge in my book. I'm not quite there; have some great people that I play with but there are always issues. Have some other great people that I want to work with but they are in that same mindset of "it's not worth it anymore," having done this for so long. I don't know how I'd get those people out of retirement and they'd probably not stay out for very long. So I limp along as best I can.
