Why bring 2 basses to a gig?

[Micha84]

I bring a backup bass to a gig. Why not? I have it lying around anyway, it doesn't take any extra effort worth mentioning and it is nice to know it is there. If I had two of those sexy new class D amps that fit inside your jacket I'd bring a backup amp as well, and when somebody finally invents foldable, lightweight cabs you'll see this guy loading an extra one in the car before every barbecue.

 

[ERIC31]

Why bring 2 basses to a gig?

Because SH*T happens and I’ll not be caught unprepared. Peace of mind is a wonderful thing. Less stress. Well worth the effort.

 

[logdrum]

My Jay Ganz failed yesterday. So the keys player's Rumble saved the day. I am glad he had it.Yrs I am hobby level now. But we should still be allowed to carry a spare even if we are not pros.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Yeah, *** is with that bridge? Looks like its just a matter of time. I would scrap that pos.

It looks really sharp. Like, literally sharp.

 

[dave64o]

I bring two basses so I have a backup. Our guitar player also brings two guitars and our keys player brings two keyboards (because he sometimes uses both in the same song, but could do the gig with one). Our drummer has a spare kick pedal in his car and uses a second snare one with the the strainer off as a timbale on some Santana songs, so that would be his backup. Our guitar player does our sound and he even brings an extra main and amp just in case (and we actually had to use the spare main earlier this year!). Our singer has a spare mic and mic stand, and we all have lots of spare cables and extensions cords. A lot of those spares remain in our cars during a gig, but they're accessible if needed.

Some have commented "for a bar band?!" and I get that we're not an A-list band that sells thousands of high priced ticket. But we don't feel like it's some kind of burden on us and, while we can't survive EVERY possible kind of failure, we can survive a lot. It's how we like to do things. If others don't feel a need, that's their choice.

 

[TonyP-]

I'm not sure that bringing one backup bass equates to equipping one's self like a big name pro.

No…You right it doesn’t, not even close.

However, it puts you one step closer to one then the player who brings one.

 

[buldog5151bass]

When I change strings, I save the old set, and keep them in the case, for just such an emergency. Gigging since the early 1980s, never had an issue at a gig.

 

[Bass Boy]

I used to carry a couple of extra bow ties in all my bass and double bass cases. On a majority of tux gigs I have done (orch, big band, corp/social) at least one person forgets or loses their tie. U are instantly the hero.
Pro tip : learn to tie a real bow tie. People will remember you!

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Summer of 1977 went to see Graham Central Station, & Brother's Johnson at the Civic Arena!

A 1/3 way into the Brother's Johnson set Louis yells out "George I broke a string"! The tech brought him a string in what seemed like 45 seconds Louis was back to Thumping and Popping his ass off. I'm sure he had a backup bass but chose not to switch basses. Lesson at 14 I learned from that never gig without extra sets of strings or a bass for that matter. But if I knew I was gigging somewhere shady I'm taking something if damaged or stolen I'd easily replace or wouldn't miss.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Honestly I would bring a backup amp before I brought a back up bass. Had a friends trace elliot smoke so bad thought it was going to set off the fire alarm! !

 

[DJ Bebop]

View attachment 5054129
Exhibit AView attachment 5054130
Exhibit B

Have not broken a string in decades while on a gig. Strings are less than 6 months old.
Ayyyyy.

I'd carry extra strings.
Lighter than an extra bass.

 

[Marko 1]

Ha, earlier today found a great used Class D head at GC Used site at a good price and ordered it (my heads are are full-sized)

Now I will bring a backup head.

I'm really not worried about a cab going bad (mine are big enough that they don't get stressed), but I guess I could always throw my little GK 212MBE in the trailer just in case.

 

[Auspuff]

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 like your philosophy.

I bring a fretless Jazz, as my main Bass, and a freeted Jazz, as my backup.

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

27462887[/URL], member: 294811"]Link Removed
Exhibit ALink Removed
Exhibit B

Have not broken a string in decades while on a gig. Strings are less than 6 months old.
Ayyyyy.

Same thing happened to me a couple of months ago. A popped E String, TWO SONGS INTO THE SET!! Thankfully, I was playing a 5 and not the 4 string. I’m fine up and down the neck, but for some reason, the MD was calling out chord numbers in the In Ears. Of course, it’s one of the times I did not have a back io, so I’m onstage, trying to change a string.

 

[dune]

I had a Kahler trem put on my G&L El Toro around 1985. The tech had never installed one before (and likely never did again) and had it set up so that the strings crossed the rollers at probably a 50-degree angle. Needless to say, given that crazy angle I started breaking strings like crazy. Over the course of one night, I literally broke every string on the bass (not all at once, but still...). The only backup I had was my Fender Mustang which I hated playing. We were doing floor shows at the time and the BL understandably insisted that I play the Mustang during the shows. Highly motivated by the threat of having to play the Mustang, after the gig one night I changed the setup and managed to significantly reduce the problem but didn't eliminate it completely. Since the Kahler was an open bridge, I quickly got to the point that I could change a string in well under a minute if I was using one that had already been on the bass. I was changing my strings weekly back then, so I always had several old ones hanging off the side of my rack. After I fixed the setup I would still break the G with some regularity, but rarely broke any of the others. Understandably it had a lot to do with how much I was actually using the trem.

These days, I if were to start gigging again I would always take 2 basses and neither would be the Mustang.

 

[MegaSwing]

I take a spare bass when I’m more than 20 minutes from home, and I always take extra strings and a backup amp. As tiny and affordable as high-power bass amps have become, there is literally no excuse not to.

Because stuff happens.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

Seeing where that string broke I suspect the bridge had a lot to do with it. I would not gig with that bass again without filing or replacing that bridge to give it a more rounded break angle. You can either file it down or replace it with a bridge that doesn't have such a sharp break angle.

Otherwise, consider bringing a backup bass or some replacement strings. Another consideration is replacing roundwound strings sooner than 5-6 months if you gig regularly.

 

[bassicmike]

Honestly I would bring a backup amp before I brought a back up bass. Had a friends trace elliot smoke so bad thought it was going to set off the fire alarm! !

I had my Neo-Pak start smoking at a patio party gig. Luckily it was a very informal gig at the drummers house. Unplugged and went direct. I don't have a backup amp any more but I always have a DI with me now.

 

[Doug P]

I’ve come across this subject many times, on TB and other sites.
The one thing I have not seen here in what 5 pages of responses…….. If you are getting paid for being up on a stage with a crowd, ( not just a couple of your friends and your wife ) why would you not be prepared for
“the thing that never happens” ??
The audience doesn’t want to see you stop go get a string and put it on, tune up, smile to your band mates and say “sorry, ok, let’s start that song from the second verse……”. Really ??
You don’t have to “be professional “ but you can be ready for whatever ??? I don’t understand how so many can talk about their gear, what cab sounds best with brand X amp, how many basses I own, the perfect brand of flats on my P -Bass with tort pickguard, should I place my compressor in front of my other 8 pedals or behind…… ?
Now I’m not the “God” of bass players, but being ready for that one time matters…..remember your getting paid, a nice size club of a couple hundred out there came to see and hear a show. Maybe they paid a good cover. Is this how your going to present yourself and your band in your area / city ? The manager is behind the bar going… *** ?
I don’t remember playing with a drummer who didn’t have a spare kick pedal and snare. Guitarist with a back up or different tuning or….. a spare amp or DI box that anyone could use to make noise.
Get a gig bag that holds two basses maybe ?? I can only speak for my experiences where things went wrong and I’m happy I was not holding up the show. I sure don’t want to be “the one” that the crowd is looking at during that string change or…. We have spent much $$ to get our gear, get the band formed, promote our band to get paying shows, and get asked to play again by the venue, promoter, or other bands.
So, yea I’ll take a spare bass, batteries, cable, and……. Because I’d rather have my band mates and peers think I’m doing the best to bring it every show, for $100 or $1000 at payout.
My first TB rant. Bring it !

 

[TonyP-]

Honestly I would bring a backup amp before I brought a back up bass. Had a friends trace elliot smoke so bad thought it was going to set off the fire alarm! !

Makes sense