Who feels vulnerable only having one amp ??

Makatak · #1 02-03-2011, 04:01 PM

Question says it all , do you feel the need to have 2 amps , maybe one for gigs and one for home . either incase one blows or maybe you dont want to use your main one all the time ? interested to hear what the consensus is .

BigOldHarry · #2 02-03-2011, 04:07 PM

Nope... but I do. That is, I do have 2 amps - but less for "backup" purposes as two uses: My Ashdown ABM for normal gigs (when I used both of my 2x10's), my beat up old GK400RB for smaller gigs when I use a single 2x10.

dmrogers · #3 02-03-2011, 04:28 PM

When I was down to one amp it did worry me. I had quit playing bass (was playing guitar) and had the opportunity to sell my backup.
When I switched back to bass, I felt the need for a backup. Plus, it gives me a rig at home for practice.

I feel good about the amps I have and they have yet to cause problems, but it's good to have a backup. I think about how I would feel if we were at a gig and my head wouldn't work and I didn't have a backup. I would be pretty bummed.

georgestrings · #4 02-03-2011, 04:30 PM

Although I've always owned more than 1 amp as a bassist, I rarely take both to a gig - a good DI is my "backup amp"... Now, if I did gigs without decent PA support I might think differently, but it's just fine in my current situation...

- georgestrings

jeff62 · #5 02-03-2011, 04:32 PM

I have two amps, one for smaller gigs and one for larger. I never bring both. I'm in the "my DI is my backup" category.

Sartori · #6 02-03-2011, 05:01 PM

I don't have my own backup amp, really. My band has a backup amp, though, that can work for bass or guitar in a pinch.

RickenBoogie · #7 02-03-2011, 05:43 PM

I own several amps, but like Georgestrings (above), I only carry a DI box as my back-up amp. 2 of my amps are actually "gig worthy", the rest are small combo's for livingroom acoustic jams.

Calaverasgrande · #8 02-03-2011, 05:51 PM

I've only got one really loud amp. I do feel like I need to get another one. Might even shoot for a hybrid just for a change of pace. Unless a YBA3a comes up on CL!

armybass · #9 02-03-2011, 05:51 PM

I used to always have a GK 400RB in my 4Runner as an emergency amp, had to use it a few times too. After a two year hiatus from gigging I have purchased a GK MB210 Combo and intend to get a GK MB112 for smaller gigs but still think I need another amp, maybe a GK 800RB or Eden WT400 to leave in the vehicle and maybe even a 210 cab too. I never leave without more than one bass and feel the same way about amps....I am neurotic I know.

rockstarbassist · #10 02-03-2011, 05:53 PM

Nah my stuff has been bulletproof over the years so I too just own one gigging amp and then take my JDI to every gig "in case.". Never needed it tho.

mdogs · #11 02-03-2011, 05:54 PM

Always carry my backup with me, my Sansamp BDDI works great for going direct in a pinch.

Blue_Whistle88 · #12 02-03-2011, 05:56 PM

Used to run two Fender Bassman 250 115 combos, good sound plus if one died I was all good, but now I just a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 with an 800W Ashdown 8x10 cab. If I need to practice at home I just use headphones (or if it's just technique practice, play unamplified), or I could even just plug a good set of 2.1 computer speakers into the headphone jack.

As far as a backup goes? Well, if my cab dies I'll just use the great DI on the Shuttle, and the Shuttle does seem to be very reliable so I don't worry about it breaking down (the circuit protection system is really effective based on what I've read). However, should it ever die during a gig I also use a GT-10B full-time and that has a stereo DI built into it, along with amp modelling, so that would do the trick just fine. Yes, it's not a wonderful sound, but it'd do the job just fine as a backup and I definitely don't use it normally.

Fuzzbass · #13 02-03-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makatak

Question says it all , do you feel the need to have 2 amps , maybe one for gigs and one for home . either incase one blows or maybe you dont want to use your main one all the time ? interested to hear what the consensus is .

I would definitely feel vulnerable having only one amp, same as I would with just one bass.

Don't get me wrong: I have quality gear, and in the 30 years I've been gigging I've only had a handful of failures. Still, bad stuff tends to happen at the most inopportune moment and I'd rather be prepared.

I don't necessarily bring multiple amps to every gig, but I usually keep a spare head in my car, and my rack rigs tend to have built-in redundancy. For example, 10 years ago my Alembic F2B stopped working at a gig, but I was able to use the rack compressor as a preamp. My current rack rig has two preamps (SansAmp RBI and RPM), and a dual-monaural power amp.

Munjibunga · #14 02-03-2011, 06:15 PM

I always carry a backup.

HolmeBass · #15 02-03-2011, 06:24 PM

I carry my Eden WTX-260 as a backup. My Metro thermalled out on me at a gig on January 8, just about a month ago. I had the WTX-260 online in about 3 minutes. The drummer looked at me when he heard bass again (he was a sub but I've done lots of gigs with him) and asked if I had a backup- yep! He was impressed, he said if he busted a snare head it would be all over for him. I had to just about dime the WTX-260, but it worked ok and got me through the rest of the gig.

Of course the next day I plugged the Metro in to see what was wrong, and it worked just fine. That's the second time it's done that to me- in 9 years.

If I do a small acoustic guitar/coffee house gig I use the WTX-260 as my main amp and a SansAmp Bass Driver DI as my backup.

superdick2112 · #16 02-03-2011, 06:30 PM

My SWR Headlite is my bass security blanket. Purchased almost a year ago as a Taurus pedal amp, it became my main bass amp for a while when my Phil Jones M-500 head went in for service. The SWR is so small it fits in your glovebox or bass case, pumps out 400w in to 4 ohms, and sounds great - one of the best purchases I've ever made. My PJB rig went on Craigslist last week - I plan on buying a second Headlite, an Amplite, and an assortment of Golight cabs when it sells. Nothing wrong with PJB gear, its just so much easier to move the light weight SWR gear, and I have come to really love the tone & punch of the Headlite.

PauliePower · #17 02-03-2011, 06:31 PM

I own an ancient Peavey MK IV that comes along to every gig (gets left in the car), in the very unlikely case that my MK VI XP fails. I know it's silly, but I just know the time that I don't bring it, that's when I'll need it.

Besides, both my heads only cost a total of £135 together, so it's not like I'm worried about wasting money on unused stuff.

Vintage Guy · #18 02-03-2011, 06:41 PM

I have a Carvin 6 space rack that I keep a Carvin Redline 1000,and a Carvin Redline 600 in,plus my Korg tuner,and my Furman Power conditioner, If one amp fails I switch the speaker cable,and fire the spare up. Never needed it yet,but I just feel better knowing there is a spare ready to go.

Lublin · #19 02-03-2011, 06:45 PM

I own just one - a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0. If that goes down I'll run off of my Sansamp PBDDI. If that goes down I go home.

JohnMCA72 · #20 02-03-2011, 06:48 PM

I've got 3 cabinets, some combination of which can work just about anywhere besides backing each other up if necessary. I've only got 1 head, though, & I'd like to get another ASAP. Murphy's Law is always in effect!