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Touring: the bare essentials?

B

beefandbones

Aug 14, 2008
85
0
Seattle
#1
I'm in an American indie pop band, and we're planning a tour of Europe this spring. We're kind of going on the cheap, so I'm trying to keep the weight down. I'm thinking of taking my bass in a gig bag (gate checking or carrying it on the plane), and we've worked it out to borrow bass amps from other bands and clubs along the way. I have a lot of experience playing live and with short tours, but little experience touring for so long, so far away from home.

Any tips or tricks or advice more experienced players can offer?

By way of other equipment, I have a couple of compressor pedals (Demeter Compulator, Barber Tone Press), a Barber Linden EQ that I recently acquired but haven't used live yet, a Bass Big Muff that I hardly ever use, and a Tech 21 Bass Driver. Whaddaya think - should I bring any of those?

I normally play through an amp, but on our last short jaunt of a tour, I had the soundman use the DI signal for the house, and just used the amp for monitoring. I liked that a lot. Sometimes I use a compressor, but not always. Of course, I'm planning to bring a tuner, picks, a strap, cables, etc.

Anyway - thanks for your thoughts.
 
#2
you seem to have a good idea what you want to pack music-wise...

As far as personal stuff goes, budget for buying some socks/undies over there - if you pack two weeks worth of stuff for flying, you'll be loaded down. Pack minimal clothes & whatnot.
 
#8
Get one of these compression bags:

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And 2-3 pairs of these guys:

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Just jump in the shower with them, wash'em down and hang them to dry over night.

Gear wise you sound fine to me.
 
#9
Check the voltages of the countries you are going to. Make sure all your pedals can convert or work with the different voltage or make sure you buy batteries for them!! Same thing with your computer and such. Bringing your own DI, XLR, Mic and cables would be a great idea as well. I never leave home without my own mic.
 
#10
I've heard about unscrewing the neck from the body and carrying it in a suitcase, and I like the idea of traveling 'in cognito' but it seems like it would be a lot more difficult. You'd need to take it apart after every show and stow it in the suitcase (and then put it back together before every show), or else travel around holding the actual bass in your hands, wouldn't you? Anyone have experience with this? Wouldn't you start to wear out the screw holes in the wood if you did that nearly every day for a month?
 
#11
hmm..maybe they meant just for the flight. Fold up a gig bag in your luggage, then use that for the day to day stuff.

I've heard stories of guitars being damaged, even in FAA approved flight cases, from being dropped etc. I wouldn't trust anything other than my hands on the bass at all points during the whole process. I've also heard your should loosen the strings before flying.
 
#15
Baby powder or desitin to treat heat rashes and 'monkey butt'. I always pack an anti-fungal cream as well. Sweating, driving around for hours, infrequent showers, lots of waiting around...you know how it goes.
 
#16
bosozoku said:
Baby powder or desitin to treat heat rashes and 'monkey butt'. I always pack an anti-fungal cream as well. Sweating, driving around for hours, infrequent showers, lots of waiting around...you know how it goes.
Click to expand...

Very wise advise!! Do not discount the value of quality T.P. until you don't have it! Take something good along in that respect! Lots of socks...lots and lots of socks! Bring extra deoderant and extra disposible shaving razors. Ya know, in case you meet a nice French girl....no reason her lack of quality bathing habits should ruin your entire evening.

Also take extra Levis with you. You can sell everything but the pair you have on you on your way out of Europe and make a killing!
 
#17
I'd think about an ATA rated hardshell case. Here's one example (which holds the bass in a gig bag): http://tinyurl.com/65upfsr

Others have suggested that a hard-shell golf bag works well to store a bass (in its gig bag, of course). Either way, you're going to want a high-quality gig bag (i.e., one with lots of padding) if you go this route.
 

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