Do you use multiple basses for a gig?

[tkarter]

I have a double stand and there is always a Strat there for the drunk bashing when they come on stage

tk

 

[Mobay45]

Congratulations on your good fortune! These may never happen to you, but are possible ...

Drunk dancer knocks a mic stand into your bass, broken nut
10 years of pogoing finally takes it's toll on input jack solder joint
Dance floor brawl during break before your final set spills onto the stage, headstock snapped
Father of the bride comes on stage to use mic to make announcements, spills pitcher/jug of beer onto your bass which is sitting in it's stand plugged in, preamp fried

Keep your fingers crossed

You are right on Mark.

None of those has ever happened to me but I've been around the forums and heard the stories enogh times to know that I need to have a second bass with me.

And besides, sometimes during a gig, if I'm just not feeling it, I can change basses and it makes a big difference for me.

 

[Rano Bass]

Congratulations on your good fortune! These may never happen to you, but are possible ...

Drunk dancer knocks a mic stand into your bass, broken nut
10 years of pogoing finally takes it's toll on input jack solder joint
Dance floor brawl during break before your final set spills onto the stage, headstock snapped
Father of the bride comes on stage to use mic to make announcements, spills pitcher/jug of beer onto your bass which is sitting in it's stand plugged in, preamp fried

Keep your fingers crossed

Broken nut? More like broken teeth (close, but never happened)
I check the solder joints periodically, input jack and pups/pre.
And what i don't use is a stand to rest my bass during breaks, i always keep it safe.
Of course accidents can happen but what the hell...
I'll keep my hands crossed anyway

 

[rhythmCity944]

I always bring 2 basses to a gig...never know if a string will break or the electronics will fail on you (like they ever do?)

If it is a church gig I'll only bring one bass

 

[AnthonyD]

I recognize the need for a back-up bass - I personally decided this was important as soon as moved from a jam situation to actually providing entertainment. What I was also looking to understand is whether or not folks are switching between multiple basses to get a certain "sound" for a certain song.

I was especially curious in that folks are eager to talk about the difference in tones between pick-up configurations and I am curious as to whether or not these differences translate into an overall "mood or tone" for the night or if the subtlties are introduced and leveraged on a song by song basis. Sounds like the former for the most part.

I play with three guitarists and they always seem to be reaching for an alternate guitar based on what we're about to play. Don't see this much in our community.

 

[Baird]

Congratulations on your good fortune! These may never happen to you, but are possible ...

Drunk dancer knocks a mic stand into your bass, broken nut
10 years of pogoing finally takes it's toll on input jack solder joint
Dance floor brawl during break before your final set spills onto the stage, headstock snapped
Father of the bride comes on stage to use mic to make announcements, spills pitcher/jug of beer onto your bass which is sitting in it's stand plugged in, preamp fried

Keep your fingers crossed

Good points!

As an OT comment, I saw a live band this St Patrick's Day and a well meaning drunk staggered to the stage with a completely full pitcher of beer for the band and proceeded to trip and dump the ENTIRE 60oz pitcher right into the keyboard player's stage monitor.

It was so sad, it was shockingly funny. The funny (to me, not the band) thing was that not a drop of the beer missed the monitor.

Things DO happen.

 

[Musicman Nut]

I'm curious - and I got time - thought I'd pose a question to the folks with multiple basses... (Translation: Question for just about everyone here!)

Do you take multiple basses to your gig with the intention of using a specific bass for a specific song? How much swapping is going on during the set? Is the tone you get that specific to a particular song?

Or...

Do you simply like having the variety to choose from and grab one from your stable for a whole gig/set.

For me, I am a set-it-and-forget-it player. I dial in my sound and that's what I put out for the whole set, the exception being picking up the fretless for a specific "fretless" song.

For me, I have a Bongo coming and I do not think I'll be using my Bongo and my Sterling in the same set. I expect to grab one or the other depending on the mood of the day.

I see people commenting on getting particular tone from one bass or another or one config or another and I'm just wondering how we leverage that.

And like I said, I got the time...

3 music Man Basses to every gig here.

 

[Evolver]

I take a back-up. Never had a bass issue but have had plenty of other things fail (typically those for which I had no back-up...).

 

[mrpackerguy]

I bring minimum 2 basses because: I can; I like playing my several basses; we only play 1-2x/month so I like to get some mileage out of all my basses.

Truth be told, the SR4 gets 70% of the action.

 

[boomer074]

I take both my bongo's mainly for all the tunings we use and they both get played about the same.

 

[adouglas]

Doesn't appear as if there are any strong feelings related to a certain configs being required for a certain circumstances or songs (e.g. "I always pick-up the single H Bongo for xxx").

Well, this year I'm using two basses, but not for backup purposes...I'm using a fretted and a fretless. So I guess that I'd fall into your category of using a certain bass for certain songs.

If there were only a couple songs that I'd use fretless on, I wouldn't bother bringing it to a gig. But recent practices are indicating that I'll be using it quite a lot.

 

[gafbass02]

as many

Ill take as many as i reckon the keyboard player will let me put his car before getting upset, so at this gig i really went for it! (on top of the ray which is always no#1).......................and he had a heart attack three songs in, he's ok now but i reckon id better keep the numbers down in future!, that said i traded the trace stack for a markbass recently and wow!!!, its stunning, and way louder despite being sooooo tiny and light!, crazy stuff!

 

[hankSRay]

I usually only bring one. I'd like to be able to bring a back up, but alas, there just isnt enough room in my bands van so I take my chances.

 

[Caca de Kick]

I've been playing an average of 4/5 gigs a week for the last ten years, and i have never needed a backup so i guess i don't need one

Congratulations on your good fortune!

Yeah I'd consider anyone like that lucky too! While I have always taken at least two with me, I've never had an instrument malfunction or even a broken string, but I sure have bailed out more than a dozen bassist who's only axe did.

 

[ptg]

When I was young and gigging: 1 fretted, 1 fretless

As soon as I get my new MM bass: 1 fretted, 1 fretless

 

[Rano Bass]

Yeah I'd consider anyone like that lucky too! While I have always taken at least two with me, I've never had an instrument malfunction or even a broken string, but I sure have bailed out more than a dozen bassist who's only axe did.

Then that's the other bassists problem
I've rescued a few bass players who have broken strings while playing, but that's life.

 

[tkarter]

My bongo will rescue two bassists and let me play it all night long too. It is one, but it is a danged good one.


tk