Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Have not broken a string in decades while on a gig. Strings are less than 6 months old.
Ayyyyy.
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Why bring 2 basses to a gig?
- Thread starter RyanOh
- Start date
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Have not broken a string in decades while on a gig. Strings are less than 6 months old.
Ayyyyy.
a backup is good, but I usually would bring one fretted and one fretless. not necessarily the best backup for the song, but hey, good enough just in case
I've yet to switch basses during a gig, nor have I ever had a bass fail on a gig (fewer than 200 gigs under my belt).
but I like having a backup there should something happen.
I don't want to even change a string or fiddle with anything, which I think would make the player appear to be unprepared, or otherwise unprofessional to the audience, and imo justifiably so.
If I never need that backup, like insurance or a spare tire, it's worth having.
but I like having a backup there should something happen.
I don't want to even change a string or fiddle with anything, which I think would make the player appear to be unprepared, or otherwise unprofessional to the audience, and imo justifiably so.
If I never need that backup, like insurance or a spare tire, it's worth having.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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That bridge looks like it would break any string
I never take backup bass to a local club gig, but I do have a spare strings set, cable and batteries. I figure it wouldn't be a big deal to put on spare string if one failed. On a biger gig, like festival, I may bring backup bass, even though I haven't had any kind of failure in more than 20 years of playing.
In the history of modern music, most bands played with members having one instrument and making do, while creating music we admire today. I fail to see why would someone playing local pub equip themselves on par with some big name pro on a continent tour.
Edit: Further more, never saw key player bringing backup. Same as drummer, or anyone from horns section. When I think better, only guitar players, having instrument prone to breaking strings due to bending, carry backups.
In the history of modern music, most bands played with members having one instrument and making do, while creating music we admire today. I fail to see why would someone playing local pub equip themselves on par with some big name pro on a continent tour.
Edit: Further more, never saw key player bringing backup. Same as drummer, or anyone from horns section. When I think better, only guitar players, having instrument prone to breaking strings due to bending, carry backups.
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I'm not sure that bringing one backup bass equates to equipping one's self like a big name pro.
If the stage is generous enough, I also think it looks kinda cool having another bass there on stage, on a stand facing the audience, even if it ends up being nothing more than a display.
Don't y'all have two basses that you think are beautiful?
Don't y'all have two basses that you think are beautiful?
That is true. But, I have seen people on this forum write about carrying spare amp, cab and other equipment. There was a poll recently with results sugesting most folks here are, as expected, home players, amateurs and some semi-pros. I just don't get all the paranoia with spare equipment.I'm not sure that bringing one backup bass equates to equipping one's self like a big name pro.
Back in the day (70’s), I generally had a second bass around which was more or less a travel bass. My new Precision was primary and a Japanese copy was my bang around bass. I broke one string onstage during that decade. Had more trouble with patch chords and floor monitors.
A year ago I took a series of gigs with a Santana Tribute band. I took my single go to bass, a EBMM Sterling to the stage, plugged it in and tested it, all good. We waited to be called up and paraded through the club to the stage. Picked up my bass and it was dead. A frantic two minutes ensued as the soundman and I debugged the problem as the band and audience watched all too quietly.it was like a frantic stress filled minute till I popped in a new battery. Covid had taken another victim, my annual change batteries on my bday ritual. I now consider taking two basses to gigs and often do.
A year ago I took a series of gigs with a Santana Tribute band. I took my single go to bass, a EBMM Sterling to the stage, plugged it in and tested it, all good. We waited to be called up and paraded through the club to the stage. Picked up my bass and it was dead. A frantic two minutes ensued as the soundman and I debugged the problem as the band and audience watched all too quietly.it was like a frantic stress filled minute till I popped in a new battery. Covid had taken another victim, my annual change batteries on my bday ritual. I now consider taking two basses to gigs and often do.
i used to take a fretted as a backup (when i had one) but somewhere along the line, i realized that the best backup for a fretless was another fretless! who knew? 
Don't y'all have two basses that you think are beautiful?
i do, i do, i do! 
Maybe 8-9 years ago, I saw The Meters at the Austin City Limits theater. In the middle of the show, George Porter (one of the all time greats) broke a string on his P Bass during a song.
The band just kept playing while he walked over to the side of the sage, grabbed a string out of his case, and proceeded to change the string right there on stage. He tuned up, and was right back in the song. No tech, no back-up bass, no stopping the show... he didn't even take the bass off.
SMOOTH!
In over 50+ years of playing bass, thousands of performance, I has one incident we’re a bass failed on a gig. A battery went dead and the 12 volt battery clip broke when trying to swap out. Moral of the story. Change the battery before leaving for the gig.
RE: Strings
I always have extra sets at gigs, along with extra cords, and both instrument and speaker cables. My basses are thoroughly inspected for any sort of potential faults well prior to and gigs.
The reality is there isn’t a lot that can go wrong with a stock Fender bass if you keep your eye on it.
I bring one extra bass and a spare amp. Usually they stay in my truck. If I'm playing three sets, and usually that is the case, I don't want to worry about having any issues.
I have yet to have a failure, but being prepared is easy. I don't see the problem with it.
Also, most places I'm playing, not all, don't have the kind of FOH I'd want to send my bass through so a backup head is a must.
You call it paranoia, I call it common sense.
I bring my fretted 6 and my fretless 6. If one fails, I can always use the other.
Not as smooth or professional as grabbing another bass, and how many pieces was that band?
Rookie move imo.
2 basses, 2 heads, 2 cabs, spare cables. In case of pedalboard issue, I can go direct to the amp.
One with rounds, one with flats.
Nothing against people who have spare equipment, but does situation really call for it?
What kind of gigs? If people payed tickets to see you or those are corp/private parties, ok that's common sense. If it's local pub or small club? Ok, it's your personal preference and that's fine by me.
But let me ask you, does your keys player carry spare keys? Does drummer have spare snare or kick pedal? Singer has one more mic? Those are as (un)likely to fail as bass guitar.
