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Why bring a backup?

S

savit260

Mar 6, 2006
6,033
101
Boston
www.myspace.com
#1
Was just looking through some pics, and stumbled into this one that I don't recall ever seeing before.

Why bring a backup?

That's why! VV VV

Link Removed
Love the idea of the club having instrument hangers next to the stage. Great idea. :)

and then there's this one.



UBBBBIGBIG.jpg
 
#4
Yeah. If you ever break a string people are gonna get mighty annoyed when you need to take five minutes to put a new one on.
Ok, maybe it doesn't take a whole five minutes but it takes a heck of a lot longer than switching basses.

And personally, I've never broken a string in my life. Which means I've had a lot more problems with soldering breaking or other such problems that can't be repaired at all without taking the thing apart.
 
#11
groooooove said:
ive broken a string on stage a number of times. sometimes the jamming goes on for another 20+ minutes after that.. i think its pretty easy to get to the end of a song with a missing string, to get a chance to fix it...
Click to expand...

I don't know about you, but I'm not stopping a show, where the patrons of the club have paid their hard earned money to see my band play, suffer through watching me change a string on stage. ;) That's not what I call giving people their moneys worth.
 
#13
Every music teacher I have ever had, has preached about a backup instrument if you are truly a professional. So I have always carried an upgraded Squire for that purpose. I never needed it but a friend of mine got his bass stolen while playing at an outdoor gig in Dallas. A word to the wise is sufficient!!!!!!!!!
 
#15
Broken strings aren't the only possible problem. A jack could go bad, pickups can fail, internal wiring can get mysteriously knocked loose, etc. Is it likely? Nope. It is in the realm of the possible though as all three have happened to me in the past few years.

That being said... I am as guilty as the next guy of not always bringing a backup instrument, and I really do know better.

PS: Finishing the song with a broken string should be something every gigging musician can accomplish. Swapping instruments mid-song should be avoided if at all possible.
 
#18
zachbass02 said:
Can you change a string in 30 seconds or less? If not then I would advise having a second bass handy.
Click to expand...

My strings are only 4-5 years old, I figure I have a good 3-4 years before I have to start worrying about breaking a string ;)

The spare strings are lightly used, so they are already cut to length and ready to be put on. I'm not sure how long it would take, I've never had to do it ;)

Also, if the gig is important, I will bring a spare. If the gig is moderately important, but a distance away, I will also bring a spare. But, for example, freebies I will not bring a spare. You get what you pay for :D

I have enough tools with me to repair almost any problem other than a cracked neck. But it would take time.
 

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