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Thunderbird Club

#21,421
I rarely have backup when it comes to gigs. one bass, one amp, nothing else. no extra strings, no backup bass, not even pedal. Although i've done the backup bass once (never had to use it - so i thought why bother having too much gear on stage that i won't use), Used my MXR bass D.I.+ couple times when i didn't have a bass amp (usually cause we were the only band playing & i didn't have a bass rig back then). As for strings: that's the funny part. If a gig is coming soon & my strings are dead, i'll swap em out probably a week before gig time. One instance, when i first played my thunderbird way back when with my old band we got to the venue early morning to check out the acts & such & as i was just fiddling around & warming up, I believe it was the A or D string that snapped. About 20 mins before i made my way to the venue, i had stopped to get a pack of strings. So, i went back home, changed the strings, set the bass up & it was good to go.
 
#21,422
Think I only broke a string once or twice in years of fairly constant gigging (80s). Played with a g**tard who broke a sting every other song ... and that was before pedal tuners etc = **constant** tuning up on stage.

G string on the Bird snapped recently, likely a result of the constant de/restringing during Operation Chrome. Does make you think a backup is a good idea but.
 
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#21,424
Break a few strings in front of a lot people during a show (I have quite a few times) and make them watch you change out a string that might be in your case = Not a good idea if you want to get paid like a pro, or even get asked back. I went through a stretch with my purple '76 where I was breaking E's and A's on new DR Stainless sets at rehearsals and shows so a backup was never far away, it took getting a new chrome 3 point from Gibson to finally cure the issue.
 
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#21,425
Famous last words - I have never broken a bass string. I also use a pick so rarely that you could say I don't use picks. I think some bridges just have a sharp point in them. I have been lucky enough to not suffer from one of those bridges. That doesn't mean it won't happen. A guitarist I play with had a guitar that ate strings all the time. He got the bridge sorted out (by Mike Lull), and he hasn't broken a string since.
 
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#21,426
I think the worst is when the battery in my bass dies into the 3rd song and by the time I fig or out, songs over. I have a cool tester for this now, I forget to use it. Or wireless cable pops off mid song. The plus is those who might say bass isn't important quickly understand when the bass is suddenly gone. Amazing how powerful even root notes can be on stage.
 
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#21,429
I would have to look this evening, and I'll probably forget. But, the fretless 'Bird started as a Pro IV, and as I recall, the nut was plastic. Still is, since that and the bridge are two things I didn't change on that bass. The bridge is painted black, but I believe most of the parts are brass underneath the paint.
 
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#21,430
kat888 said:
This G went at the nut end ... which reminds me ... my Epi PRO IV neck appears to have a brass nut. Is this usual or has this been fitted during the repair for the cracked headstock (before I bought it)?
Click to expand...
Yep, brass painted black, standard on Epi Pro IV
 
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#21,433
EdO. said:
My Pro V has a brass nut FWIW. I see no reason why I'd ever change it out to something different. This bass sustains like a freakin' piano. But then so does my Classic IV, no idea what it's nut is made from.
Click to expand...

Thanks Carlo and EdO. Yeah, with a bit of mild compression and some valve breakup, it holds a note for what feels like an eternity.
 
#21,436
I've been blessed to never break a string live. I run wireless and if the main stops working, I just turn off the transmitter, hang the bass on the Hercules, turn on the 2nd transmitter, turn up the volume and go back to it. Normally less than a minute.

Years ago, in the early 90's I think, I helped a bunch of bands as a roadie. The bass player in No Secret had a Steinberger clone that was pretty messy, so I was cleaning it up before the gig, cleaning cheeseburger grease off it. I ran the polishing cloth over the bridge and his A string just unravelled itself on the saddle. Naturally he didn't have any spare strings and we were a long was from a music store, so I had Wayne drive me back to my place, 40 minutes away by the speed limit, to grab my Charvel 2B. We were back to the gig in an hour, total. Basically, just in time to tune it, hand it to him and have them go on. I told him to turn his amp down because mine was active, and he didn't for most of the first strong. Some bassists....
 
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#21,440
kat888 said:
Think I only broke a string once or twice in years of fairly constant gigging (80s). Played with a g**tard who broke a sting every other song ... and that was before pedal tuners etc = **constant** tuning up on stage.

G string on the Bird snapped recently, likely a result of the constant de/restringing during Operation Chrome. Does make you think a backup is a good idea but.
Click to expand...
Eh, strings have never been why I've brought backups. I'm way more worried about electronic failure.

wolfkeller said:
I think the worst is when the battery in my bass dies into the 3rd song and by the time I fig or out, songs over. I have a cool tester for this now, I forget to use it. Or wireless cable pops off mid song. The plus is those who might say bass isn't important quickly understand when the bass is suddenly gone. Amazing how powerful even root notes can be on stage.
Click to expand...
These days the only thing I use live that has a battery in it is my ebow.
 
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