Why bring a backup?

[michael_atw]

Don't be an idiot. You are comparing a situation in which it is simple and easy to have a spare, to something that is downright impossible.

I'm guessing, since you don't believe in being prepared, that you have removed your spare tire and jack, right? How about your owner's manual? I'm guessing you've just thrown that away, too. And, since having a wreck is almost unlikely, I'm assuming that you don't carry auto insurance, right?????

It's amazing to me how hard some people will try to be unprofessional.

Well...I'm sorta forced to carry auto insurance.

I don't even remember if I have a spare tire or jack in my car.

Owner's manual? They still make those?


It's amazing how mad people will get at a post in a thread. Chill out, before you start calling people names. Someone's gotta keep it interesting. It sure ain't you. And who's to say its easy to carry around two guitars...let alone have the money to buy two? Maybe you. But everyone ain't you.


For me, it sorta brings to mind the song "I'm One" from Quadrophenia, where Pete Townshend sings: "I've got a Gibson without a case..." So, if you saw someone walk into a gig with one Gibson, caseless...that they're just carrying around - are they unprofessional too? Or maybe just broke, and trying to get by? Is that the first thing you think when someone walks into a gig with just a bass - "Oh boy, another unprofessional coming in here unprepared."

 

[guy n. cognito]

Well...I'm sorta forced to carry auto insurance.

I don't even remember if I have a spare tire or jack in my car.

Owner's manual? They still make those?


It's amazing how mad people will get at a post in a thread. Chill out, before you start calling people names. Someone's gotta keep it interesting. It sure ain't you. And who's to say its easy to carry around two guitars...let alone have the money to buy two? Maybe you. But everyone ain't you.


For me, it sorta brings to mind the song "I'm One" from Quadrophenia, where Pete Townshend sings: "I've got a Gibson without a case..." So, if you saw someone walk into a gig with one Gibson, caseless...that they're just carrying around - are they unprofessional too? Or maybe just broke, and trying to get by? Is that the first thing you think when someone walks into a gig with just a bass - "Oh boy, another unprofessional coming in here unprepared."

Oh, I'm not mad. Just trying to interject a little common sense to the discussion. Matching your silliness with a little reality.

Pete Townsend may have wrote the words, but they didn't apply to him. If his Gibsons were caseless, it's because he had an individual roadie assigned to carry each one. Let's get real, shall we?

 

[Craig_S]

I have never broken a string, in all the years I've been playing, and I still take a spare bass to every gig. Sometimes, I just want to play a different bass... It's always good to have a spare. If you're worried about lugging another one, you're a lazy schlub...

 

[michael_atw]

Oh, I'm not mad. Just trying to interject a little common sense to the discussion. Matching your silliness with a little reality.

Pete Townsend may have wrote the words, but they didn't apply to him. If his Gibsons were caseless, it's because he had an individual roadie assigned to carry each one. Let's get real, shall we?

If you knew the back story to Quadrophenia, you would understand.

 

[seanm]

Do you take it to gigs?

Yup. But I should probably throw a spare jack into the gig bag.

Don't be an idiot. You are comparing a situation in which it is simple and easy to have a spare, to something that is downright impossible.

I'm guessing, since you don't believe in being prepared, that you have removed your spare tire and jack, right? How about your owner's manual? I'm guessing you've just thrown that away, too. And, since having a wreck is almost unlikely, I'm assuming that you don't carry auto insurance, right?????

It's amazing to me how hard some people will try to be unprofessional.

Getting way OT, but I read where car manufacturers are thinking of removing the spare and jack to save weight. Many people *never* use the spare because they have a cell phone and auto service (CAA or AAA or the like). They don't want to get dirty messing with a spare.

On the other hand, I paid extra for the full sized spare.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Yup. But I should probably throw a spare jack into the gig bag.



Getting way OT, but I read where car manufacturers are thinking of removing the spare and jack to save weight. Many people *never* use the spare because they have a cell phone and auto service (CAA or AAA or the like). They don't want to get dirty messing with a spare.

On the other hand, I paid extra for the full sized spare.

Any car manufacturer that has removed the jack and spare has done so because they have added run-flat tires. 6 to one.....

 

[seanm]

Any car manufacturer that has removed the jack and spare has done so because they have added run-flat tires. 6 to one.....

No, they where going to use the normal tires. The idea is to save money, run flats cost more.

This is just a "thinking about it". A poll shows that most people never use the spare, they would, or do, call a tow truck. So you could save gas mileage removing the spare and jack. Much like they saved weight by going to those toy spare tires.

I'm sure they would have a spare available as an option.

Tires are much better than they used to be. On the truck I have only had to use the spare once... when I was pushed sideways across two lanes (there is a good reason for the bush bars on Land Rovers ). I used the spare to drive home.

 

[guy n. cognito]

No, they where going to use the normal tires. The idea is to save money, run flats cost more.

This is just a "thinking about it". A poll shows that most people never use the spare, they would, or do, call a tow truck. So you could save gas mileage removing the spare and jack. Much like they saved weight by going to those toy spare tires.

I'm sure they would have a spare available as an option.

Tires are much better than they used to be. On the truck I have only had to use the spare once... when I was pushed sideways across two lanes (there is a good reason for the bush bars on Land Rovers ). I used the spare to drive home.

Interesting. Ive owned several cars w/o spares, and all have run flats. Can you name which cars have neither a spare nor run flats? Even my Miata had a tire repair system, and that car has almost no trunk.....,...

 

[dcr]

Knock on (exotic) wood, but I don't recall EVER having broken a string on stage.

However, I have had numerous cases of mysterious electronic buzzing and humming that I couldn't / wouldn't stand to play with. And I had one coil of a Bart "P" pickup die one time out of the clear blue. Fortunately this was a rehearsal, but could have easily been on stage.

And I second the recommendation for a double gig-bag. I mostly carry a leather double bag, although I do sometimes carry 2 singles. And a lot of times, they'll go in the front seat of my Toyota. Amp's in the back.

As far as the OP, I always carry a spare wherever I go....even to rehearsal. And I practice with different basses so that I'll be prepared to use the other JIC I have to pick up my spare. If I'm there to play, I don't want to be caught without an instrument to play..whatever the cause, reason, or situation. To not be prepared just seems unprofessional.





dcr

 

[Diogenes]

... I don't want to be caught without an instrument to play..whatever the cause, reason, or situation. To not be prepared just seems unprofessional...

Well, apparently some people here think that being prepared is a weakness fed by paranoia or an indication that you abuse your instruments or don't have the aptitude or inclination to maintain them and therefore expect them to fail.

Thankfully I've seen the light and will forego the drudgery of having to lug around an additional back-breaking 10lbs worth of backup bass and will be better served by improving my "standup" routine.

 

[seanm]

Interesting. Ive owned several cars w/o spares, and all have run flats. Can you name which cars have neither a spare nor run flats? Even my Miata had a tire repair system, and that car has almost no trunk.....,...

Cool! I have never heard of a car having run flats outside of VIPs and some military vehicles. I don't think that even the PMs car has run flats, although I bet the US President's car does.

Like I said, the article said they where "thinking about it". I have never seen a car that didn't come new with a spare.

Out of curiosity, what cars have you owned with run flats? And how did they affect the ride?

 

[Eminor3rd]

Man I've broken like two strings in my life, both in practice within the first year or two I was learning to play. Averaging about a show a month for 8 years, and practicing weekly. I've been in rock bands that are fairly aggressive. I don't know how you guys do it.

 

[savit260]

Cool! I have never heard of a car having run flats outside of VIPs and some military vehicles. I don't think that even the PMs car has run flats, although I bet the US President's car does.

Like I said, the article said they where "thinking about it". I have never seen a car that didn't come new with a spare.

Out of curiosity, what cars have you owned with run flats? And how did they affect the ride?

Lots of cars come with run flats these days.

Corvette and the Mini Cooper "S" come immediatly to mind.

There are plenty of others.

 

[michael_atw]

Man I've broken like two strings in my life, both in practice within the first year or two I was learning to play. Averaging about a show a month for 8 years, and practicing weekly. I've been in rock bands that are fairly aggressive. I don't know how you guys do it.

Not treating stuff right. That's how I think it happens. You beat crap up, you end up getting beat. I've averaged a show a week for 5 years - and never broken a string, brought a spare, or had electronic problems.

I like one of the earlier comments about brass players who never bring spares. Or whole orchestras, for that matter. And, according to tb'ers in here, that would qualify as either "laziness" or being an "unprofessional". And everyone knows how unrprofessional orchestras are.

 

[seanm]

Lots of cars come with run flats these days.

Corvette and the Mini Cooper "S" come immediatly to mind.

There are plenty of others.

Nice. The Mini Cooper can even have run flat winter tires.

Edit: Ouch! Run flat tires are expensive. They also seem to be mainly on high end cars.

 

[godofthunder59]

Gig rule #1. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Bring a back up ! I bring 9v, AAA, AA, batteries, a complete tool kit. Extra straps , cords, strings, Back up Amp etc. I even carry guitar strings You just never know.

 

[savit260]

Not treating stuff right. That's how I think it happens. You beat crap up, you end up getting beat. I've averaged a show a week for 5 years - and never broken a string, brought a spare, or had electronic problems.

I like one of the earlier comments about brass players who never bring spares. Or whole orchestras, for that matter. And, according to tb'ers in here, that would qualify as either "laziness" or being an "unprofessional". And everyone knows how unrprofessional orchestras are.

If an oboe goes down in an orchestra, the show isn't going to come to a screaching hault.

I think that's worth a mention don't you?

Try playing farily agressively with a pick in a rock band in a sweat filled high energy show. You'll experience a broken string eventually. Not that that is the only thing that can go wrong. As I've said before, I saw my guitar player (who is about as anal retentive about his equipment as anyone I've ever met) lose his guitar off it's strap when the retainer failed on his strap lock. Gibson Flying V's apparently don't bounce. Broke a tuner clean off. Just one of many examples I've seen go wrong in years of gigging. Could have just as easily been my bass.



That's not really mistreating your equipment. Yeah, when I played finger style in a blues band... I can't recall ever breaking a string on stage . Certainly happens now though.

 

[Danny Fox]

I always carry a spare bass, but swapping from the hyperbass to a mexican jazz bass can be a real passion killer

 

[seanm]

If an oboe goes down in an orchestra, the show isn't going to come to a screaching hault.

I think that's worth a mention don't you?

It does if it is the main soloist

 

[Bottoms_Up!]

Can you change a string in 30 seconds or less?

For S&G's, I just timed myself at 32 seconds on my Steinie from from old string to new string which included walking over to my amp where I had a string ready and wheeling it into tune. It probably would've been quicker had I changed the G string as opposed to the E string as it was hard to hear the harmonics while I tuned up (I was not plugged in).

With that said, I'm firmly in the back-up camp. If you have one, why not bring it along and show it some love?