Setting your bass on fire

[AaronVonRock]

Has anyone ever set their bass on fire during a gig for dramatic effect or just for fun? I don't mean setting it on fire and destroying it like Hendrix. Something more like lighting the headstock or body for 5-10 seconds at the beginning or ending of a song. If so, please share your techniques, dos and don'ts, and any other related anecdotes. I would prefer not to ruin my bass if possible, but I don't mind cosmetic damage.

I realize this is a fairly ridiculous topic, but I feel like doing something fairly ridiculous at our next show because rock n' roll is fairly ridiculous.

 

[Yango]

All the time.

 

[iammr2]

I would risk a bass for that. On the other hand, it's kind of fun when you light a guitarist on fire. Has quite the dramatic effect.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

Nope and nope.

 

[PortlandBass77]

If I was in a band that drew decent crowds then I would probably buy a $40 Squier and light it on fire.....

 

[AaronVonRock]

If I was in a band that drew decent crowds then I would probably buy a $40 Squier and light it on fire.....

I was considering buying a cheap bass and doing just that. But I think it would be "cooler" if it was my regular bass that I play during our set instead of switching it out for a beater just to light it on fire. It kind of loses some of the effect doing that.

This is our first gig this year since our singer moved back. I think there will be a decent crowd at the club (100+ people is decent for us).

 

[PortlandBass77]

I was considering buying a cheap bass and doing just that. But I think it would be "cooler" if it was my regular bass that I play during our set instead of switching it out for a beater just to light it on fire. It kind of loses some of the effect doing that.

This is our first gig this year since our singer moved back. I think there will be a decent crowd at the club (100+ people is decent for us).

Well, I would play the Squier through the whole show of course, then light it on fire during a guitar solo at the end....

 

[Laklandfan]

I've played gigs, where by the end of the night, I wanted to set myself on fire.

 

[Mushroo]

Ever heard of the Station nightclub? Don't be an idiot.

 

[BboogieXVII]

Ever heard of the Station nightclub? Don't be an idiot.

Maybe just get a better light show or projector or something, I'd definitely leave fire out of any show.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Ever heard of the Station nightclub? Don't be an idiot.

Yeah, right? Why in the heck would anyone ever even consider lighting their bass on fire??? So dumb

 

[Acoustic356]

... if you play with fire, you're going to get burned...

 

[RustyAxe]

Fire on stage in a public place is never a good idea. Never!

 

[brendanbassix]

I've played gigs, where by the end of the night, I wanted to set myself on fire.

me too man....I know your pain :-(

 

[Mushroo]

If your band is that desperate to impress the audience, may I make another suggestion? Write some good songs and rehearse until they sound tight. Works every time, and no charred corpses.

 

[brendanbassix]

If your band is that desperate to impress the audience, may I make another suggestion? Write some good songs and rehearse until they sound tight. Works every time, and no charred corpses.

+100,000,000

 

[AaronVonRock]

Something along these lines, not a full-on pyro production. Skip to the 5:00 mark.

 

[Joe Nerve]

If your band is that desperate to impress the audience, may I make another suggestion? Write some good songs and rehearse until they sound tight. Works every time, and no charred corpses.

Yep on that.

I can't possibly imagine a stage scene where the bassist set his headstock on fire that would be entertaining. Unless he did it by crashing it into his PA head or something like that.

Here's a question for you:

Why do you want to do this?

 

[brendanbassix]

Why is this in technique? This should be in band management and once you have tried it gig stories and bass humor

 

[Bodeanly]

If even the smallest thing goes wrong or if enough people complain, you may never play the venue again.