What spares&etc to take?

[dave moffat]

Following on from the Lesson Learned thread, what back-up kit/spares would you suggest to a total noob, even down to cable ties and gaffer tape ......

I'm thinking spare

Bass, strings

leads, amp,

9v and 2032 batteries, 

I'd rather learn from your experiences than mine😁

 

[dmccombe7]

28 minutes ago, dave moffat said:

9v and 2032 batteries, 

What are the 2032 batteries for ?

 

Bass & strings

Lightweight back up amp (currently EBS Reidmar 750)

Leads

9V batteries for basses and pedals

AAA batteries for my wireless system

Spare fuses various sizes but def 13A.

Various tools incl screwdrivers flat and phillips heads small and med sized heads, pliers, knife or Swiss Army style knife etc

Headache pills (you just never know when a migraine might come on)

Water 

Small hand towel for drying my hands and head and wiping neck and strings if its a hot sweaty gig. 

Think that's it

Dave

 

[Paul S]

All those. 

Strap.

If you use an EQ pedal of some sort that has a DI that could get you out of trouble if you didn't have or want to take a spare amp and your PA had enough beans to take the bass.

I keep a multi-tool thingy in my bag, too.

 

[FinnDave]

1 minute ago, dmccombe7 said:

What are the 2032 batteries for ?

Dave

Only thing I can think of is a clip on tuner. I use an old plug in tuner I've had for about 15 years - takes AA batteries but can't remember changing them!

[Paul S]

Just remembered spare picks, if you use them.

[Davo-London]

Spare bass?  - See other thread!

+ Money (for beer obvs)

 

Davo

[FinnDave]

The rhythm guitarist in my band is a bass player in a couple of other bands, so we even have a spare bassist if we need one!

[BrunoBass]

Spare bass guitar

Spare strings (shouldn’t need them, having a spare bass, but you never know).

Three or four spare bass to amp leads

Spare kettle lead for amp

Spare amp to cabinet lead

Spare picks / sweat bands etc

Also, a multitool, packet of Vocalzones, earplugs, 

That all goes into a small wheelie suitcase (£15 from Tesco) that also contains my (small) Pedal Train Metro pedal board and my Hercules folding mini stand. 

[ambient]

I keep a bike in the boot, just in case the car breaks down. 

[ambient]

I’m imagining several dozen members of the forum, using this thread as an excuse for returning from the weekend’s bass show with lots of new gear. 

[dave moffat]

Thanks there are a few things already that I hadn't thought about and a couple I had to google 🙄

2032, for tuner and Uke Bass (takes 2)

I suppose it's a case of covering everything but in the most compact way.

Hadn't come across Vocalzones before, will immediately go and bulk buy if our local chemists stock them, as I know I'm going to be doing some of the vocals.

No f'kin way I'm biking round here unless it's got an engine😀

1 minute ago, ambient said:

I’m imagining several dozen members of the forum, using this thread as an excuse for returning from the weekend’s bass show with lots of new gear. 

If it wasn't the other end of the country I'd be joining them

[Stylon Pilson]

Here's what's in my kit of spares. Back when I played in originals bands, doing a 45 minute set and sharing the night with 3 other bands, I wouldn't generally take a spare bass etc. But now I'm in a covers band, there's no one to fall back on.

• Spare bass (at the moment I use a fretless for some songs, so I consider that to be my backup in case anything happens to my main bass)
• Spare amp
• Spare power cord for amp
• Spare speaker cable
• Spare instrument cable
• Spare mic cable
• Spare mic
• 9v batteries
• Allen keys and screwdrivers
• Electrical tape (smaller than duct tape, works at a pinch in most cases)
• Spare ear plugs
• Spare guitar strap
• Spare pedalboard patch cable
• Spare AAA batteries (for wireless)

S.P.

[nightsun]

Spares of everything.

Use a two cab rig so if a cab goes I'm covered

Bass

Amp

Mic

All leads

then strings, batteries and a toolkit

 

 

 

[casapete]

I have two of everything, except a speaker cab which we just don't have room for. ( As it's a 4x10 cab I think it would be rare for all 4 drivers to go kaput? ) I always ensure the spare bass and leads are close by too as you never know.

In my gig case I keep a small toolkit / fuses / superglue / cable ties / electrical & gaffa tape / batteries / allen keys / mic clip holder / earplugs / strings (bass & guitar!) / plectrums / Behringer BD121 DI pedal. Rarely need any of it TBH but somehow gives me reassurance knowing I can cater for all eventualities.

Does seem to me that bass players are usually the ones with the most spares on a gig. 😄

[Hellzero]

Nobody mentioned a spare guitarist, drummer, keyboardist and singer... 🤣 

[SH73]

11 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Nobody mentioned a spare guitarist, drummer, keyboardist and singer... 🤣 

Beat me to it

[Happy Jack]

You're all missing the obvious. You won't need any spares, because you look after your kit and you check it before every gig. What you need to know is which spares and tools will be needed by the rest of the band ...

 

[Dan Dare]

2 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

You're all missing the obvious. You won't need any spares, because you look after your kit and you check it before every gig. What you need to know is which spares and tools will be needed by the rest of the band ...

 

So true.

"Have you got a spare lead, Dan?"

"Yes thanks".

"Er, can I borrow it?".

"Where's yours".

"Haven't got one".

"Why not?".

"I don't need one".

"Because you know I carry one?"

"Ummm" (shuffles feet).

"Here you are".

Later, at end of gig.

"Got my spare lead?"

"I'll just hang on to it until I get another".

"Yeah, right. Let's have it."

"Aww man. You're so mean"

Etc, etc.

 

[James Nada]

I take spare everything except amp and cab (I'd use one of our power monitors in the event of amp failure, plus I carry a DI box for pa connection).

I can't think of an occasion in the last 5 years where I've required a spare anything. My spares have been used to get everyone else in the band (including the drummer) out of a fix though quite regularly though.

[dmccombe7]

Just bought an almost new Gruv Gear Stadium bag to carry all my spares. £60 including postage.

Kitchen sink attachment is extra 

Edited September 16, 2019 by dmccombe7

[itu]

By the way: CR2032 =

- C = lithium cell

- R = round

- diameter 20 mm

- 3.2 mm thick

 

I do carry an extra cable (for the g-word player), set of strings, batteries (9 V), tuner/metronome, and some small tools.

If the strap could break, I could sit, etc.

Edited September 16, 2019 by itu

[dmccombe7]

5 minutes ago, itu said:

By the way: CR2032 =

- C = lithium cell

- R = round

- diameter 20 mm

- 3.2 mm thick

 

I do carry an extra cable (for the g-word player), set of strings, batteries (9 V), tuner/metronome, and some small tools.

If the strap could break, I could sit, etc.

That's an interesting bit of info. Slightly geeky but i like it 

Dave

[dave moffat]

the R 20 32 I get but C = lithium? it's symbol is Li

[Bleat]

…. spare groupies in case there's none at the gig or the ones there are found to be faulty.

 

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, dave moffat said:

the R 20 32 I get but C = lithium? it's symbol is Li

I'm no expert but does the C not stand for Compact ?

Duracell version is DR2032

 

Edited September 16, 2019 by dmccombe7