How many basses do you take on stage?

[neepheid]

Hey horse, you WILL drink this water I have led you to.

[Kev]

I just want a better answer than "1 works for me"

[Leonard Smalls]

We always have 2 basses on stage, with 2 amps/cabs and 2 sets of FX.

If we only had one of everything what would our 2nd bass player use?

[MacDaddy]

40 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said:

We always have 2 basses on stage, with 2 amps/cabs and 2 sets of FX.

If we only had one of everything what would our 2nd bass player use?

 

A keyboard

[paul_5]

One fretted, one fretless. Identical models apart from the ‘speed bumps’ - ensures I don’t have to muck about with eq settings or compressor thresholds etc…

[snorkie635]

2 hours ago, SumOne said:

 

 

Risk vs hassle. Why not carry backup pants incase you 5h1t yourself? 

 

 

 

I do. 😞

[snorkie635]

59 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Hey horse, you WILL drink this water I have led you to.

Neigh, neigh and thrice neigh. 😉

[WinterMute]

In the serious playing years I'd have 2, a fretted and a fretless, and occasionally a 3rd in a different tuning before I started playing 5 string.

 

For many years I had just 1 fretted 5 string, so that came out with a spare set of strings in the bag, which I never needed.

 

If I gig these days it'd be back to a fretted and a fretless, both 5 strings, I reckon I could get through a gig on either one if anything went bang.

 

I also used to carry a pre-programmed Bass Pod XT in case the backline gave up the ghost, I'd at least be able to get some sound into the PA...

 

It's more useful to have spare cables, batteries, strings, gaffe tape and an extra strap, as these are things I've been asked for on more occasions than I've had equipment failure.

[Woodinblack]

I have pretty well enough leads and stuff in case that goes wrong, and screwdrivers / alen keys. Honestly i have never needed any but the rest of the bands have!

[Waddo Soqable]

3 hours ago, snorkie635 said:

I do. 😞

What you shlt yourself? Is this a regular occurrence?  Haemorrhoids? Have a word with the doc... 

[SamIAm]

Just one.

S'manth x

[SuperSeagull]

Two, main and a spare. Had to use spare twice in about four decades but when I needed it I needed it!

[snorkie635]

10 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said:

What you shlt yourself? Is this a regular occurrence?  Haemorrhoids? Have a word with the doc... 

i never feel comfortable talking crap to the doctor.

[Ed_S]

I take a backup whenever possible, but only take one bass on stage with me because (as others have asserted) my gear is well maintained and on balance of probability will be fine.

 

Or to put it another way, I don't need load balancing or high availability for the kinds of gigs I play, so in the event of an issue that exceeds any fault tolerance the instrument might have, my recovery point is to be operational with the same number of strings in the same tuning as before, but not necessarily looking, feeling or sounding identical - just familiar and appropriate. My time objective is probably about a minute, so the backup needs to be ready in its bag at the back or side of the stage. Got to admit, I've not performed a test restore in some time.

[martthebass]

For years (read decades) I used to take just one but when I joined my current band about 7 years ago it was as a dep. To be professional I took 2 basses, the main and a spare just in case. The habit stuck and it’s still 2. I circulate the basses though so it’s not always the same main; if the main is a shorty then so is the spare and if I take a main 34” then so is the spare.

[Waddo Soqable]

44 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

i never feel comfortable talking crap to the doctor.

As long as you don't lay one in his surgery

[rushbo]

For the vast majority of the gigs I play, I'll always take two basses. The second bass often gets a run out in the second set. I haven't had a bass fail or a string break for years, but if people are coming to see your band, they're there see you play, not to watch you try and whittle a bass from a chair leg as the only instrument you brought to the show is defunct. If, for whatever reason, you can only bring one bass to a show, it's always worth having something in the back pocket that the band can play while you change strings/leads/pedals or pants.

Edited June 11, 2023 by rushbo

[Skybone]

6 hours ago, Kev said:

So if something did happen that rendered the bass unplayable, jack socket failure, tuning peg snapping, pickup screw failing etc, would you just sit the rest of the gig out or would your band stop playing and call it a night?

 

In the 30+ years of playing and being in bands, none of these have ever happened. 

[Skybone]

Repeat post.

Edited June 10, 2023 by Skybone

[snorkie635]

3 hours ago, Waddo Soqable said:

As long as you don't lay one in his surgery

I could always say it was a sample he'd asked for. 😉

[Bolo]

1 bass. Just the main 5 string.

[lee650]

Always two there are! No more no less 

 

Rock covers band- Spector Euro 4 and 5

Funk/jazz fusion band - 80's Squire jazz and precision.

 

Pit gigs, just 1 😁 whichever bass fits the show, but usually a 5

 

I use a different one for each set, through an EBS A/B/preamp. 

 

Edited June 10, 2023 by lee650

[martin8708]

Just the one P bass , never had a bass fail me or break a string in 38 years .

Regular inspection /maintenance is definitely a plus .

Blown a few amps in gigs though .

[lee650]

20 hours ago, LowB_FTW said:

Always two, there are. No more. No less. A Master and an *apprentice.

 

Mark

 

*backup

Ahh you beat me to it 🤣

[pbasspecial]

2 - main and a spare. Broken 2 strings playing live, had an input socket fall into beside the bass and also had an earth wire  detach too. No worries with a back up, brown trousers without.