Why bring 2 basses to a gig?

[3bc]

I haven’t broken a string in over twenty years since I stopped playing with a pick in a punk band. Used to absolutely beat on them and would break a string every 3 or 4 shows.

I can slap the hell out of them and they are still good. A pick in combination with that bridge that seems to create a sharp edge/pinch point seems like a problem.

 

[Texan]

Perfect example: This past Friday night, I was playing a show with a packed house. First note in the opening song of the opening set, my E String snaps at the bridge. I finish the song, swap basses and change the string during the break. Always have a second bass, set of strings and wire cutters.

 

[31HZ]

Like many things in life, the primary question involves each person’s RISK TOLERANCE. Everybody is different in their approach, and the analysis certainly includes each person’s personal experiences. Some people, for whatever reason, are more accident prone. Others are not (I’ve never broken a bass string over 35 years of playing). Some deal with adversity without stress, while others are more affected. Some have different backup plans to account for certain risks (such as equipping active basses with an active/passive switch), but feel the chances of another risk are so low as to not require any plan.

For me and it seems several others, playing a set list where both a fretted and fretless basses is preferred easily solves this problem.

Agreed.

The implication that a new player needs to immediately start saving for a second bass, in order to not be irresponsible, is beyond absurdity.

Bring two basses/amps/cabs/etc., or don't.

But don't wave around your gear fetish and/or your anxiety-driven need to be "the guy who always saves the day" like some outrage-broker bumper sticker that tells everyone that you need to be on YOUR SIDE in order to avoid moral transgression.

If only we were as strident about learning our instrument, huh?

 

[74hc]

Never, and never had an issue.

 

[74hc]

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.

I definitely love my active/passive switch on the Kiesel. Works too, as I had to use it once. EB needs to get on the ball. Doubtful because Sterling seems so set in his ways.

 

[brianrost]

View attachment 5054130
Exhibit B

Had that happen to me once back in the early 80s. I had a spare because I brought fretted and fretless basses to every gig in those days.

Check that bridge saddle...mine had been gouged by the roundwound strings to the point where the vibrations of the string started to saw away at the windings. I switched string brands and had the saddles filed smooth again.

 

[60bass]

Because poo occurs and a band needs bass. Period, end of story.

 

[shirojiro]

One for set one....

The other for set two....

View attachment 5054587

Are those factory paint?

they’re awesome!!

 

[bdplaid]

I fail to see why would someone playing local pub equip themselves on par with some big name pro on a continent tour.

I just don't get all the paranoia with spare equipment.

Because I saw a friend of mine's bass break a nut just before start of show. No amount of string changing could fix that. He'd have been without an E string all night, in a heavy rock band. I loaned him my P bass. He didn't have a spare.

I had a speaker cab fall on my bass, in a stand, mid-break. Bent the A tuner, which wouldn't budge.

Broke two strings in one song once.

Guitar player's amp caught fire once. Another had his Mesa Boogie fall off the stand and bounce across the floor.

And Amateur/hobbyists aren't known for the best maintenance on their axes.

You never know what's going to happen. And if something happens and you have a replacement at home, you'll know how stupid you are.

 

[SteveBassJr]

Just in case you're not feeling it with one of them you can switch over and maybe feel it with the other one.

 

[azureblue]

When I used to play gigs that needed different bass sound and playing styles (Slapping), I carried one set up for Motown flatwound thump, and another for that Alembic skinny round wound string slap sound.

 

[Bonafide]

There are infinite scenarios like this in life. I don't drink - but some players I know and play with drive their vehicle intoxicated to some degree after a gig. 20 + years they have never been in an accident, never been pulled over. The lack of consequences make it easy for them to keep doing it. Personally I find the mindset misguided and ill-considered/ill-judged.

 

[Paul New]

I treat it just like cave diving. If something is essential, I have three.

 

[Ralph Manak]

Two very different opinions of George Porter changing a string instead of reaching for a backup bass...

Indeed, good catch. I'll add: 1) The band is a team, and in the case of The Meters, I'll just say that being good at music helps the band to handle any situation and keep the show in motion. 2) With that in mind, handling the emergency is part of the show—the part that becomes a success story that everyone there can tell about George Porter and The Meters. It's a deliberate, real-life choice rather than a rookie move.

 

[bassmaster831]

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.

To each his own, but I do bring a backup for everything I have. I have a backup bass, backup cello, a DI/preamp in case the amp fails, and for my DJ setup, I carry 2 laptops and a spare dj controller. My bandmates all do the same as well, and we do the same for our PA system setup. I'm in a wedding/cover band doing 100+ gigs a year and we are at the point where we do mostly private events, and then higher-end casino/bar gigs. we have 2-3 bars that are more like a local bar that we play at, but those venues provide us a large amount of leads for our weddings and private events so they are strategic. Our philosophy is that we want to sound our best and look most professional everywhere, as any gig has potential wedding/private clients at them. if things go wrong, they aren't going to think it's a mistake or understand why, they will just think we are amateurs. As far as using backups, they have come in handy more than once in situations where the venue doesn't have the right gear, or where my gear has failed on me. because of my dual dj controller/laptop setup, I once was able to switch decks when one of them crashed mid-first dance. I look at it like insurance: probably won't need it but will regret it if I don't have it when there's a problem.

 

[Ralph Manak]

To be consistent, the car-spare tire analogy works like this:
spare strings = spare tire
spare bass = spare car

 

[tb-player]

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.

When’s the last time you changed your strings?

 

[TK1820]

I do because I have more than 1 and like to play them! Also, I usually take a flat wound and a round for different sounds...
I also take an upright for some tunes.

 

[FRoss6788]

I do because I have more than 1 and like to play them! Also, I usually take a flat wound and a round for different sounds...
I also take an upright for some tunes.

Show off...

 

[Texican]

Things that have gone wrong on my gigs (and the solution in parentheses):

-Broken Strings on two occasions (once had a spare bass, once I had spare strings)

-Soundman sent phantom power and fried my direct board on an ampless gig. (Had a spare passive DI)

-Amp head stopped working at a rehearsal. (No backup plan… I was done for the day and ruined rehearsal)

-Drummer’s kick pedal broke (he had spare pedal).

- Drummer forgot hihat clutch (oddly enough I had one in my vehicle… Incredibly lucky break)

-Drummer broke snare head (had extra snare)

-Guitarist’s helix produced no sound (we had to spent 45 minutes troubleshooting. No solution or backup plan, and luckily it was just a cable routing issue)

-Singer was drunk and sounded like crap (no spare singers lol, we just took the L and moved on).

-Showed up to Backlined gig just to find out that the bass amp needed a speakon adapter to match the head to the cab (ran direct with preamp/DI pedal)

I’m very happy for all of you guys that have experienced a world where things don’t go wrong. But I get the feeling a lot of you aren’t really playing that many gigs, at very many different venues, with very many variables.