Do you use your “best” bass on gigs?

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I'm not sure which of my basses is 'the best' but I tend to take a couple of my JMJ mustangs to gigs as they sound great, are easy & comfy to play, and I probably wouldn't notice if they picked up a ding or two. My Ric 4003 and Gibson non-reverse thunderbird would probably be considered better basses by some, but I'd be gutted to get either one dinged.

[Sean]

I don't have a No.1 per se, they're all favorites for different reasons. 

 

With the "drive-time Rock covers" band, I use a pair of Spectors (a Euro 4 and a Euro LX 4) that have the same pickups, same pre-amps, same set-up spec, same Eb standard tuning and same strings. It's run/standby redundancy. They're tools, albeit very pretty ones, to do a job. 

 

With the "obscure covers" band, I use a Spector Euro 5 LX with a BBP35 as backup, although I would like to find a Euro 5 or NS5CR. All four are absolute peaches but they get used out in the real world. 

 

I have basses that don't go out at the moment but that's mainly because they aren't what I use in these bands. They've all been gigged in the past except the one Spector and that's just because it's new and I haven't taken it to jam night yet. 

Edited Thursday at 09:04 by Sean

[Woodinblack]

All my basses are gigged, apart from the ones that need work or a couple of 4 string basses I have. However, not all basses go to all venues, there are some venues where I don't trust the loading and I wouldn't take the rarer ones. There are basses I play more at home than others but that is just based on where they are in the house, or how they sound. 

[fretmeister]

17 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

1966 jazz bass in candy apple red. Stays in its case. Won’t take it to gigs, won’t sell it. Took 2 years of saving up to buy it.

 

 

 

You see, if you played jazz then gigging it would expose it to fewer people than at home.

 

Job done!

 

 

[snorkie635]

27 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

 

You see, if you played jazz then gigging it would expose it to fewer people than at home.

 

Job done!

 

 

Quicker inviting both the crowd to your gaff and playing the gig there then? 🤭

[dudewheresmybass]

I use different basses for different bands. 

Some bands require a particular look or core tone, so therefore requiring a variety of basses.

 

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!

[Doctor J]

If you wouldn't bring a bass into a situation you would put yourself into, you really need to reevaluate your life choices 😁

[cdog]

I'm currently borrowing my Dad's lovely EB Stingray. I'm a bit scared to gig it lest anything happened to it as it's over 20 years old and immaculate, but my Dad's keen for me get some use out of it. 😐

For my current band my Sire V7 is just perfect and I can't dial in a better tone with the Ray. That's probably a topic for a different forum though....

[tauzero]

Most of the basses I take to gigs are irreplaceable. I just try not to treat them like Fenders.

[shug]

Pretty sure it's safe on a pub gig with you in the room all the time, likewise on tour where you travel with it.. It's putting it on an aeroplane or otherwise entrusting it to a third party where things might unravel, especially if there's a change of flight an route.

Get it played, man!

[BigRedX]

13 hours ago, Doctor J said:

If you wouldn't bring a bass into a situation you would put yourself into, you really need to reevaluate your life choices 😁

 

This.

 

My gear is all repairable and/or replaceable - it might not be cheap and it might take some time but it can be done.

 

Myself, particularly now I'm in my 60s, maybe not so much.

[bassist_lewis]

Of the 5 basses I own, I use different basses on different gigs for different reasons. And all of them bar one are difficult but not impossible to replace, and they're insured outside the house and in unlocked cars.

Since I got my Wilcock Mullarkey its been my go-to for practice and my original/fun gigs (helps that its pink). However, for weddings I use my Serek Midwestern 5, as it does more conventional tones and I can get the low notes. My JMJ hasn't seen much action recently for no real reason other than I'm favouring the other two, but I have a couple of country gigs in August I've decided to use it for as it looks more the part. My Acinonyx is great but has such a unique sound I'm yet to find exactly where to use it.

My Callowhill MPB 5 is truly irreplaceable, as Tim passed away shortly after I got it. I keep it mainly for sentimental reasons, as it has been superseded by the Serek as my main 5.

I have some great basses and I enjoy playing them, so I find reasons to use them.

[Bagman]

I play the Bass (es) I want to play on a gig 

I don't own any "new" instruments and most have scars - marks 

The bass the punters talk about is the L2 Steinberger - and that's all about it's appearance 

[Obrienp]

I guess I do. I don’t have a bass that cost more than £1K but the one that cost the most  (used Maruszczyk Elwood 4a 32”) is my main bass with one band. I couldn’t afford to replace it with a new one now and I would be upset if it was nicked, or seriously damaged but instruments are not ornaments, you have to use them.

 

The Maruszczyk doesn’t get any audience attention but the much cheaper Guild Starfire 1 does. I guess the latter is big, red and retro looking.

[Stub Mandrel]

I'm prioritising gigging my AVII Precision, my most expensive purchase, but it stubbornly refuses to do acquire wear or battle scars...

 

I used to use my Performer for every gig in the 90s. For some reason I'm reluctant to use it of late. Must get it out there soon.

 

Edit: I don't deliberately abuse my basses. 

 

My choice for gigs is always led by what playing experience I want and what sound I feel like having. 

 

On the original question, if you have great looking, easy playing and excellent sounding instrument, it seems churlish never to let a band and audience benefit from it.

 

One could argue you should always use your best bass... but I'd say use the one(s) likely to bring out your best on the night.

Edited 34 minutes ago by Stub Mandrel