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Why bring 2 basses to a gig?

#121
Two basses. One in standard tuning and one in alternate tuning. Less than 10 seconds to turn off wireless transmitter #1 and set down bass #1 then pick up bass #2 and turn on transmitter #2. Bonus is either can be a backup if needed. Like when the output jack fails (and yes I perform regular maintenance on my instruments). My basses hang from my cabs with swing string hangers so the footprint is less than a single traditional guitar stand. Why would anyone bring only one bass when it's so easy to bring two? I think folks worry too much about what others are doing when it has zero impact on them. Do what helps you perform your best a makes you comfortable.
 
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#122
For thirty years as a professional I only ever took one bass to a gig. I only started taking a backup a couple of years ago. It was only intended for a quicker response in case of string breakage. Since I started taking a one I’ve never had to use it.
 
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#128
I always have at least two - a 5 string for most songs and a 4 in alternate tuning for songs that call for it. In a pinch I can play everything with either, but it’s not ideal. It takes < 10 seconds to change basses. If I’m using an amp and it goes down my pedal board can go straight to FOH. Increasingly going amp-less anyway. I also carry extra batteries, cables, strings and ear pro. Most drummers I’ve played with had and extra snare and kick pedal with them.
 
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#129
FRoss6788 said:
Well, you'd lose money here....

My spares are not on stage with me, just very close by, and in cases.

Not really sure what's so tough for some of you to grasp about being prepared. :rollno:
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I said most. You may be the outlier.

I prepare by keeping my instruments in good working order and as many have already stated, never had one single problem. Seems like a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist for those of us who think it’s kind of absurd. But you do you.
 
#130
How many upright bassists bring 2 basses?

Being able to instantly swap out an instrument seems like a peculiarity of the rock music scene. I've never heard of it in classical music or jazz. I play in a 19-piece jazz ensemble. Players have spares of small parts such as reeds and guitar strings. No spare instruments. Many don't even own a spare. They expect a high quality instrument to be reliable, and learning how to take care of their gear is part of their lessons.

With that said, what's expected of a "professional" show is a matter of tradition, and could vary from one genre to another. I think jazz, classical, and folk are a lot more forgiving in this regard.
 
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#131
dave64o said:
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.
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By the time you go out to the car, get your bass, quick tune check, i would have a new string on.
 
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#132
I take two... not as a backup, but because the two basses I take are completely different in how they play and sound; and depending on the set/song, I play one or the other.

IMG_7244.jpg
 
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#134
I do bring a set of strings and a clipper always... but my preference is a backup bass nonetheless. Plus, our sets sometimes include a need for a second bass (P-Bass with flats on the slow dances and motown/soul, Spectors for everything else)
 
#136
hennessybass said:
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!
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I saw BB King change a broken string on Lucile during a song. While he was singing. Got the new string on and tuned just in time for the guitar solo section.
 
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#137
Better to have a spare and not need it than need a spare and not have it.

Compared to what a drummer has to load in/out is it infeasible to have ANOTHER bass up on stage??

:bassist:

No it’s never happened to me but it has happened to the guitarist i was doing an outdoor gig with. Those Zoom pedals were great yeah

Our show ended two more drum+bass reps later.
 

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