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Why bring a backup?

#41
I have never broken a string. Not saying that it can't/doesn't happen, but in 30+ years it hasn't happened to me.

Stuff does happen. I suppose it will happen to me eventually but i still don't bring a backup to gigs. Both my basses have a passive bypass option - I know - but it's an option. The keyboard player is a bass player as well so his left hand can cover while I do what I need to do.
 
#42
I refuse to bring a backup since a lot of times i have to walk thru the border to play and i have to carry my bass and a backpack with cords, extra strings, a DI, etc.
I just have to check my basses every two weeks to look for faulty electronics, batteries, pickups, tuners, jack, and i'm not hitting cimbals with it just cause it look "cool" :rollno:
 
#44
I am not prone to breaking a string at a gig, I think I've done it twice in 16 years (knock on wood!)... but I always bring backup. Paying gig or not, well-known or not; it's my reputation on the line every time I play to do my best.

Plus - a tale for the thread. About a year and a half ago, we had 4 broken strings at one gig. Not mine, mind you, but two guitarists and 4 broken strings. And they weren't typically known for it. So - it happens, when you least expect it.

Back up is key!
 
#45
I always bring a backup. I have had the electronics go once on one of my basses (my back up is almost invariably a passive bass) and having a backup was a life saver. A friend of mine has played most of his life and about 9 years ago had a string break for the first time in over 30 years of playing. He finished the gig playing the remaining 3 strings. The next day he bought a Jazz as a backup to his Precision. That just re-affirmed my decision to always have a backup. It's a must, even if it is a beater or cheapie bass.
 
#50
Funny...I was just reading this post about broken strings earlier today...:(

I was just jamming along with the CD this afternoon, the song was Flight of Icarus (by Iron Maiden). It's basically F#, A, & open E (all on the E string). Then without any type of warning, my G string suddenly breaks. I wasn't even within two strings of the G!?

FWIW, they're Dunlop Bass lights (.40), about 6 months old. I didn't feel like opening up a new set, so I re-used an older G string I had laying around. Changed it in about 3 minutes, but it was very dead. So I dug into new set of Dunlops and put the new G on there, but then noticed my D sounded dead next to the new G. Replaced the D, too.

As an intermediate bass player, I never thought a broken string was any concern at all. But the way this one just snapped without playing it has taught me to keep some spare strings around!
 
#52
So I haven't read every post on this thread but I really appreciate someone bringing this up.
I am sick to death of hearing this crap from some of the guitar players I play with. "Why do you need two basses?"!!! bla bla bla.
When I lived in LA, every time I went to see a world class player like John Pena, Jimmy Johnson, Jerry Watts, John Patitucci, ....Brian Bromberg...shall I keep going?? They ALWAYS had a second bass on hand AND it wasn't always a fretless.
If these guys bring a second bass then NO ONE can open their mouth and doubt why I bring one.
I do a wide variety of gigs where up to hundreds of people are watching. When the audience is closely watching or the dance floor is packed and everyone is shakin' their booty to the groove, the last thing I want to do is kill the vibe by having to stop for 3 or more minutes and change a string.
The client is not paying the band thousands of dollars to have musicians show up who can't cover their chair. Sure if it happens I can make do on the other strings but at some point I'll have to change the string or it will most likely affect my performance.
I'm not doing bar gigs where an instrument failure won't ruin the event. I'm doing a variety of concerts and other social affairs where people are paying serious money to have the band as the main focus for entertainment.
Sure, I haven't broken a string in 20 plus years but a battery could go out!! The ONLY time I don't take two basses is when I'm flying or on extremely packed road gigs in the band bus where there's a serious physical threat to the instrument, in which case I pack one bass in a hard shell.
There....:-) now I've said my peace.
 
#54
I haven't brought one to a gig, mainly because I drive a small sports car and it is a Tetris puzzle to get my rig into my car as it is. I am getting a larger vehicle in the near future, and with that, I plan to bring a second bass to my gigs. Part of it is because I like having a P and a J with me for different tonal options, but also to cover my rear in case of a problem.
 
#55
Yodhan said:
I haven't brought one to a gig, mainly because I drive a small sports car and it is a Tetris puzzle to get my rig into my car as it is. I am getting a larger vehicle in the near future, and with that, I plan to bring a second bass to my gigs. Part of it is because I like having a P and a J with me for different tonal options, but also to cover my rear in case of a problem.
Click to expand...

There ya go. Try a double bass (two basses) gig bag. Undercover makes a really nice one sold at Bass Northwest and they last forever. My first one lasted 9 years and I'm currently on my second. They'll fit in the passenger side!!! Many moons ago, I used to transport my huge cabinets in my small hatchback and I cracked a windshield. I've owned a minivan ever since!!
 
#57
I am so crazy about it, I make my guitarist(s) bring back-up. If they showed up to a gig (especially now that it's all covers so they are all paying, I'd make them drive home and get back up). Funny enough, I use wireless typically, and of course, I have a spare instrument cable wrapped up and sitting next to my amp just in case.
 
#60
I always bring a backup bass when I play out. It's worth the peace of mind knowing I can reach over and pull out a new one and be up and going in no time. One less thing to worry about so that you can enjoy playing.

I don't like tempting Mr. Murphy. Sure as shootin' the one time I dont' bring a backup will be the time that I wish I had. The best insurance policy is one that you never have to use.

I usually bring a backup head too, or at least my Sans Amp to go into the board. The only thing I don't bring two of is my cab. I don't play loud enough to worry about blowing up my any of my cabs.
 

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