Re: Fretless

Brian Running wrote:
Do you gig without a backup bass? I don't, but I've never actually needed the backup.

Sure, I've done it many times. More often, though, I've got another one in the bag, just in case.

I've never, ever, not once broken a string on a bass, going back to 1969.



--------I have, at a most inopportune time. Imagine this: The venue is a semi outdoor B & G, we had a new guitarist. The guitarist starts getting feedback he doesn't seem to know where from, while a tropical storm blows in, the rain blowing in almost horizontal, making the busboys scramble to close the flaps of the "tent". Of course, they close the flaps near the band last, and the drummer is getting wet and irate. Lead guitarist breaks a string. Singer/guitarist breaks a string. Then *I* break a string, the "A".
I struggled through a couple tunes, but it's difficult for me to play without the "A". If it had been the "E", I could have probably toughed it out till the set ended. But,as it was, I had to borrow an umbrella from the audience to go into the driving rain to get my back up bass. Fortunately, at this venue, my truck was near the stage.
Anyway, we sounded like crap, and almost lost the gig, the owner being in attendance. Our PR guy (the guitarist/singer) had to smooth it out over the course of a couple phone calls and appearances before we got re-booked.



I change my batteries 'way more often than I need to, and have
only worn out a battery in a bass once, while practicing. It's nice to have a back-up bass, but the odds are mighty, mighty slim that it'll ever be needed for reasons other than tone selection.

----It's hard for me to switch basses mid set, they often do songs as the crowd dictates, and there's not enough time generally to switch.
For example, last night a guy comes up the the band with a $20, requesting "Hotel California". Well, you know right away the guitarist starts the intro.......
.

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