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Which Bass would you take?
- Thread starter BassJuju
- Start date
Doesn't everybody insure their stuff? Certainly they do.... right? I couldn't imagine having an uninsured piece of equipment.
From the insurer's standpoint, the only additional type of policy on a piece of gear you travel around with is "accident" coverage. A standard homeowners or renters policy covers your personal property if it's stolen, but if you drop it or something and just damage it, it's usually not covered, AND your deductible still applies. They usually call those policies "personal article policies", and there is typically no deductible. Obviously every insurer has exceptions. But the cost shouldn't be that high. a $10,000 instrument can be insured for about $6/mo.
+1
My '64 P-bass gets played at local bars all the time. I don't leave it unattended but I play the thing like God intended.
When my bass isn't in my hands it's in the case. If we don't have a stage, it's in the case between the Bass amp and the drums. No one is getting it without attracting attention.
I really don't have anything constructive to add to this thread.. However, this is one of the funniest replies I have seen on TB.
Entirely dependent upon the venue, and the stage, and the barriers/barricades... or lack thereof.
Either one of my high-end, "ohmygodIlovethisthing" basses, OR whichever one will do the most bodily harm in the event of the sheeoot hitting the fan. A bedliner-coated Epiphone Tbird with a chain-link strap is my go-to for that.
Either one of my high-end, "ohmygodIlovethisthing" basses, OR whichever one will do the most bodily harm in the event of the sheeoot hitting the fan. A bedliner-coated Epiphone Tbird with a chain-link strap is my go-to for that.
I'm choosing to believe this bass exists and am wondering what kind of sustain you get with bedliner?
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I think we all have at least one bass we allow ourselves to get attached to no matter how many (or few) we end up owning.
I have four basses I have a strong sentimental attachment to. Three were gifts from my musician GF. The other is a bass I've had since 1974 that was the first "professional" instrument I ever bought for myself. And it was my only bass for the first ten or so years afterwards. Those four basses don't get played out much unless it's a studio type gig, or I'm going over a friend's house.
The rest of what I own, I don't worry about at all. I bought them to be played everywhere, and that's what I do with them. It would certainly annoy me if any of them got damaged or stolen. But it wouldn't be anywhere near as upsetting as if something happened to one of the other four.
These days I make a conscious effort not to get too emotional over musical instruments. Sometimes it's unavoidable. But I really do my best to keep the material things I worry about to as small a number as possible. And for me, that number is four.
I have four basses I have a strong sentimental attachment to. Three were gifts from my musician GF. The other is a bass I've had since 1974 that was the first "professional" instrument I ever bought for myself. And it was my only bass for the first ten or so years afterwards. Those four basses don't get played out much unless it's a studio type gig, or I'm going over a friend's house.
The rest of what I own, I don't worry about at all. I bought them to be played everywhere, and that's what I do with them. It would certainly annoy me if any of them got damaged or stolen. But it wouldn't be anywhere near as upsetting as if something happened to one of the other four.
These days I make a conscious effort not to get too emotional over musical instruments. Sometimes it's unavoidable. But I really do my best to keep the material things I worry about to as small a number as possible. And for me, that number is four.
I take the one which sounds the best with a live band. And that's my most expensive, custom made fretless stingray. And yes, I will take to a trashy dive bar without a second thought. I mean I bought it so it could be heard.
It's only stuff. Life is short. Good gear is expensive. I spent a good amount of time putting money aside to buy me a good, expensive bass.
You bet your butt I'm taking it with me, fancy place or not.
You bet your butt I'm taking it with me, fancy place or not.
Insure it. Play it. Enjoy it.
Flying gigs, Dodgy venues, or (unattended) at festivals = Beater bass.
Flying gigs, Dodgy venues, or (unattended) at festivals = Beater bass.
I've got an early 90's US Jazz Plus that was my only bass for a number of years and it got used in every kind of venue you can imagine almost every weekend for over eight years. The case looks like crap and is beat all to hell, but the bass within is as clean as the day I got it new. It takes a bit of extra work to insure it doesn't get dinged up, but it's not that tough.
If you're playing at places that you're worried about taking a nice instrument to, the question could be whether you should be there?
I've always taken whatever instruments I wanted to use anywhere I played. I take very good care of my gear and everything I own looks, plays and sounds great, most of it indistinguishable from brand new.
I love playing all my instruments and I'll continue using whatever I want at any of my gigs
I've always taken whatever instruments I wanted to use anywhere I played. I take very good care of my gear and everything I own looks, plays and sounds great, most of it indistinguishable from brand new.
I love playing all my instruments and I'll continue using whatever I want at any of my gigs
I take both of my basses to gigs. But I usually only take my Bossa OBJ to rehearsal.
My Bossa is versatile and really can fill in any situation. It's relatively lightweight and helps out in long practice sessions.
My Ibanez GWB35 just comes out when I need that fretless tone. Also I mainly practice on fretless. I think that most band mates you'll find are kind of scared of fretless so I don't bring it to rehearsal. Especially since I'm not the bandleader in my current situation.
My Bossa is versatile and really can fill in any situation. It's relatively lightweight and helps out in long practice sessions.
My Ibanez GWB35 just comes out when I need that fretless tone. Also I mainly practice on fretless. I think that most band mates you'll find are kind of scared of fretless so I don't bring it to rehearsal. Especially since I'm not the bandleader in my current situation.
Next time I go out of state to visit relatives, I intend to order an Ibanez TMB-105 from Sweetwater and have it shipped there so it arrives about a day after I do. Then I'm going to leave it there. One of my nephews plays guitar. Maybe he'll take up bass too. Either way, I don't want to lug stuff around and take risks with one of my babies. The basses I like do not cost $2000 but they are discontinued and it's not easy to find something comparable. So, I'm not taking chances on that hassle.
It's very real... but the sustain comes from the active EMG Musicman pickup I installed. The bedliner is a relatively thin coat, over the factory flat black paint finish. The bedliner is sanded at the forearm area, so I don't bleed. The rest of it isn't sanded, so those whom I smash with it (if necessary) do bleed.
The chain strap isn't pictured, but is also very real...
Attachments
A fat handful of twenties and tens and fives (plus an occasional baggie of whatever gets tossed in there, for the band members who do that sort of thing) in the tip jar by the singer's mic stand, free beers and shots from the patrons, and easy women... all for about two hour's work including load-in... THAT's why I'll be there. But that's just me.
