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Do you really bring a backup amp to gigs?

4-string

4-string

Jul 23, 2006
1,935
63
Norway
#1
I'm curious. Seems by posts here that many of you actually bring a backup amp? I get that you can get a small, lightweight backup amp for not a lot of money, but still. A separate DI is all I would bother with, but I don't do that either, as every soundman out there seems to have a bunch.

I did my first gig in 1983, and have never ever had an amp fail on me. Never broken a speaker either for that matter. :)
Strings and cables, yes.

I know this stuff happens, but frequently enough to justify a backup?
 
#2
If there is a good PA w/monitors---no.

If the gig is "not that important"---no

If the gig is important----my back up is a JBL EON powered 15 w/mixer---works good for a small to medium sized bass amp or back up PA. Needed it once when someone elses PA failed.

John
 
#3
This goes back a way, before bass ran through the mains, so yes, I always brought a spare. I used a spare once in a little over five years: when I was trying out a Cerwin-Vega power amp and the stupid thing kept going into thermal runaway. Another time, our guitar player borrowed my spare 50W (2xEL34) Traynor head to take the place of his 50W Marshall that swallowed most of the contents of a toppled Schlitz bottle and, two or three minutes later and without any fanfare, quietly succumbed. Being without a spare is inconceivable to me, but I'll be the first to admit I probably worry way too much about things in general. :hmm:
 
#4
If I'm playing in town, no. If I'm on the road (which is often), I always throw a backup amp (another micro head) in the car. Most of my gigs don't have front of house... for those gigs, I don't bother with a backup.

Interestingly, I haven't had an amp go down on a gig in many, many years. However, I have saved a few keyboard players and a monitor system on occasion:p
 
#5
I've done it, but only a couple of times. Sometimes if I'm told a rig will be provided, I'll bring something anyway just in case. I also frequently bring my Roland Cube 60 guitar amp for my band's guitarists, who use tubes and never bring spare tubes.

Edit: I'll add that I view the DI's in my Aphex Bass Xciter and Punch Factory pedals as backups, especially the Xciter which can act almost like a preamp.
 
#9
I had the unthinkable happen this past Monday- my Walter Woods released its magic smoke on stage. Luckily, it was the last song of the night, and we were able to limp through the last song using the di only. I usually carry a spare head (a GK 400RB), but didn't have it that night.

As luck would have it, I had already ordered a new WW Ultra, which is scheduled to arrive today. So when the broken one gets repaired, I'll be going out with two heads again. You never know when bad luck is going to strike.
 
#12
I just carry a Sansamp with me. I've had a few failures due to bad solder points in various cables expanding after sitting in bitter cold but we've never played without FOH. The only hassle is that many stage monitors can't deal with low frequencies well so I have to trust my fingers/memory and listen more intently.
 
#16
Nedmundo said:
Sometimes if I'm told a rig will be provided, I'll bring something anyway just in case.
Click to expand...

^^^^
THIS ...


I always carry two LM IIs (what's not to love 12 lbs for 2 amps)

Anyway booked into a small "juke joint" tourist venue and they swear they have a provided PA :rollno: what they meant to say was we have PA speakers! Out comes the "backup" bass amp, along with a mini mixer and RV5 we use for rehearsal, and in true MacGyver fashion we make a PA rig on the spot. Oh and it sounded great!

I had to iPhone cam this thing ... because as we all know no picture no mini PA

minipa.jpg
 
#19
RickenBoogie said:
Yeah, if you're on the road, of course. But gigs in town, or one-niters, of course not. A decent DI box in the gig bag is all the back up needed, and even that's redundant if the place you're gigging has sound.
Click to expand...

I'm talking one-niters, if you're on tour that's different.

For those who do gigs with no PA support, I can see why a backup is desirable. Still, I'm not sure I'd bother. :)

However, if I had one amp failure under my belt, I might think differently.
 

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