Question about switching between different basses during a gig

[DaveDeMarco]

There is no "should". There is only "what you want or need to do" and "what can be done". Prior to seeing Stu's band, were you feeling a burning desire to lug more basses to your gig? If so, have at it. If not, some other player's specific requirements need not influence your own.

In CTS I bring 3 basses (a Ric, a Tbird tuned down a whole step and an acoustic bass) and all serve a very specific need in the show. In my classic rock trio, I bring 3 other basses (T bird, Hamer 12-string and Dean 10-string) and for other random gigs, I'll just bring a Modulus Q5. Those are my needs. Assess your own and act accordingly.

 

[Xandrell]

When the band plays Evanescence songs in open Bb, and the guitar player switches to a 7 string, I switch to a tuned Bb 5 string. Playing the parts up on the neck of a standard tuned 4 string is no where even remotely the same and quite frankly to me, unacceptable.

 

[JimmyM]

you cant have a slap sound with a flat strings using the tone controllers so i have to use 2 basses

Sure you can.

 

[7615]

Other than the "It's about music and not fashion" part, you finally made a post I agree with

You get to a certain age where fashion isn’t going to help you. As the elephant man said “look away I’m hideous”.

 

[7615]

One other point regarding having two basses. I think it's also a valid stance that -in addition to any other way that it may contribute to the performance- it's ok to simply want to enjoy more of your instruments in a live situation.

As I've been on my journey of culling the herd and replacing or eliminating instruments that don't feel "perfect" I've found that I'm left with a smaller selection of instruments that I like an awful lot. I think the audience does notice, but even if they don't, I enjoy being able to enjoy more than one bass on a gig.


I realize this wasn't the entire point you were making, but what's wrong with "posing"?

It's a performance not a recital. So perform, pose, show-off, wear cool clothes, flirt with the audience (or remain deliberately stern, detached and impassive, also a valid choice), swap instruments etc, etc....

I'm not a professional. I'm just a guy gigging restaurants and little bars in a country trio for modest pay, but I still want to give the audience at least a little something to listen to, look at, and watch that they don't see the rest of the week.

It is very liberating to put all the poser stuff of my youthful band days behind me (managers telling one how to dress, groom and act on stage) and to just play. Not aspiring for a record deal, no big time money. To play to my generation at private parties and financial district watering holes and to get significant coin for the effort is the business plan. Why because IME many of my generation do not want to hear set pieces and our show is non stop exploration and it becomes pretty clear at some point the rhythm section is in for as much of surprise at each musical turn as the audience. That is the show. The BL is a incredible musician who starts and I and the drummer's job is to follow and the style of and sequence of songs always varies from night to night. When I joined (at a gig right after the prior bassist left - a friend dragged me to a gig saying the next gig was an actual audition for bass players who show up- I had never seem them before - brought my standup went up second and never sat back down) I asked about rehearsals , the BL said "Rehearse what- I don't even know what I am going to play." To which I thought "finally I have arrived".

The point is - sure , wear a clean shirt , a nice jacket maybe a tie (depending on venue - dress up or down as the venues patrons) shave my head or wear a hat but the drummer and I have no time to look at the audience we have to open our ears and watch the BL like a hawk.

Its all about what one wants from a musical experience. I stopped caring about what an audience might like and have pursued my musical preferences. So my experience is when I gave up with the "rockstar" stuff of my 20's and just wanted to play, it all got better on every level. Music and money. Oh and most important of all, the fun quotient is through the ceiling. And if it ain't about the fun then what is the point.

 

[JimmyM]

You get to a certain age where fashion isn’t going to help you. As the elephant man said “look away I’m hideous”.

Ya, my band is certainly at that age, so our idea of fashion is matching uniforms I never liked the idea, but our price started going up when we went to it, so I can't complain.

 

[Nick Danger]

I play in a classic rock band (mostly 60's & 70's) and we do a Beatles medley. I will usually switch to my Hofner on that for visual effect (I'm also a lefty). I run that and my #1 bass through an A/B switch for balance (and to keep the sound man happy)

 

[12stringbassist]

I always take two or three, in case of emergency, or just so another bass feels clean and fresh on swapping. Sometimes I just play one bass all night.

 

[bigtone23]

My degree of adhering to any shred of fashion is making sure that I look like I'm there to play/perform.

 

[JimmyM]

Well I went and did it...after yammering about how I only like to take one bass to gigs and only like to take more if they sound the same, I am bringing two completely different basses to my gigs tomorrow and Sunday. It's holiday shows with Bowzer and a few other acts, and Bowzer's singers always do a couple gospel numbers, so along with my 09 Precision with EMG Geezer P and dead Dunlop Super Bright Nickels, I'm bringing one of my Guitar Factory active neck thru basses with EMG PJ's/BQC and new Super Bright Nickels. And to complicate things even more, it's a 5-string and I'll be tuning the B string to A, and anyone who knows me on here knows how much I hate playing 5-strings on gigs! But doggone it, those gospel songs will sound great with some big fat low notes, and every 7 or 8 years or so I do like to trot it out.

And fortunately, since it has its own EQ and my wireless allows me to program different scenes in it with different gain levels (Line 6 G70), I won't have to add another pedal to my overcrowded board. But don't get used to it...under ordinary circumstances, I still hate bringing more than one bass to gigs. But hey, tis the season

 

[mesaplayer83]

Well I went and did it...after yammering about how I only like to take one bass to gigs and only like to take more if they sound the same, I am bringing two completely different basses to my gigs tomorrow and Sunday. It's holiday shows with Bowzer and a few other acts, and Bowzer's singers always do a couple gospel numbers, so along with my 09 Precision with EMG Geezer P and dead Dunlop Super Bright Nickels, I'm bringing one of my Guitar Factory active neck thru basses with EMG PJ's/BQC and new Super Bright Nickels. And to complicate things even more, it's a 5-string and I'll be tuning the B string to A, and anyone who knows me on here knows how much I hate playing 5-strings on gigs! But doggone it, those gospel songs will sound great with some big fat low notes, and every 7 or 8 years or so I do like to trot it out.

And fortunately, since it has its own EQ and my wireless allows me to program different scenes in it with different gain levels (Line 6 G70), I won't have to add another pedal to my overcrowded board. But don't get used to it...under ordinary circumstances, I still hate bringing more than one bass to gigs. But hey, tis the season

You go, boy!!! - lol... On a more serious note - usually when I play both a 4 string and a 5er at a gig, I'll EQ my amp for the 4 string, which is nearly always passive - then use the active EQ on the 5er to work with those amp settings... By doing this, my change overs are pretty smooth - haven't had any soundmen complain about it yet...

 

[moreorless]

I generally always bring two basses. The first one is the primary and the second is one of my lightest weight basses that I switch to for the second half of our 4 hour set. (We do 2 hours straight through and then a quick break and finish up the night with an hour and 3/4 set, sometimes a bit more depending on crowd response and how tired we are!) The type of bass is actually inconsequential overall as I can adjust what sounds I need via my effects pedal and/or tone knob on the bass. Occasionally I may tune one of the basses down a half step for certain songs beforehand to eliminate the need to retune mid set and keep things flowing as smoothly as possible. (At some point I do have to retune the bass again, but, there it is...) But, as mentioned, the second bass is always a lighter weight one that helps with on going back issues and fatigue.

 

[Stephen Hurley]

You have to go Full Geddy. Here is the list of basses you need to bring to your next gig:

• 1972 Fender Jazz Bass (Black) My Number One
• 1972 Fender Jazz Bass (Blonde)
• Fender Jazz Bass (Surf Green Custom Shop)
• Fender Jazz Bass (Trans Red Custom Shop)
• 1960 Fender Jazz Bass (Fiesta Red)
• 1962 Fender Jazz Bass (Sea Foam Green)
• 1963 Fender Jazz Bass (Black with matching headstock)
• 1964 Fender Jazz Bass (Lake Placid Blue with matching headstock)
• 1964 Fender Jazz Bass (Sonic Blue with matching headstock)
• 1965 Fender Jazz Bass (White)
• 1966 Fender Jazz Bass (Shoreline Gold with matching headstock)
• 1966 Fender Jazz Bass (Fiesta Red with matching headstock)
• 1957 Gibson EB-1 (Walnut)
• 1964 Gibson Thunderbird IV (Sunburst)
• 1964 Epiphone Embassy (Cherry)
• 1967 Gibson Thunderbird II (Polaris White)
• 1959 Fender Precision Bass (Olympic White) with matching headstock
• 1965 Fender Precision Bass (Burgundy Mist)
• 1968 Fender Telecaster Bass (Paisley)
• 1967 Rickenbacker Model 3261 (FireGlo)
• 1968 Rickenbacker Model 4001 (BurgundyGlo)
• 1977 Rickenbacker Model 4001 (JetGlo)
• 1975 Rickenbacker Model 4080/12 (JetGlo)
• 1978 Rickenbacker Model 4080/12 (FireGlo)
• 1961 Hofner Solid Body 2 Pickup (Cherry Red)
• 1992 Zematis Bass (Black with engraved metal front)

(Geddy Lee's Basses used on the R40 Tour - yes he played all of them at each show)

I can confirm this. The poor tech had a sprint out at the end of every song. Glad I got to see them on the last tour!

 

[B-Mac]

I recently saw Stu Allen and Mars Hotel, and the bass player rotated between four basses each set. Each one sounded great for the chosen song. I've always been a Primary/Backup kind of player. I'm wondering now if I should switch between basses at a gig, and how to determine which bass is the right fit, or if it really makes any difference at all (other than flash/style points). My primary bass is a Fender AmStd Precision and backup is AmStd Jazz. I play in a six-piece rock band, so I pretty much don't go higher than the ninth fret or I just get lost in the mix.

I'd say if you're a recording artist that has a following of devoted fans then you might want to, especially if you used iconic basses on specific songs for a specific bass sound that is absolutely integral to the song. Like the R40 Rush tour mentioned previously or when Yes used to do special concerts and CS brought out his collection.

Otherwise, not so much. But, hey, it's your gig! If you enjoy doing it then do it! Especially if you have roadies...

 

[Loring]

I have 3 4’s a 5 a 6 and fretless. Typically 2 4’s and either the 5 or the 6 will be on the roster depending on the band/gig. Fretless doesn’t see enough live action unfortunately.