Back-lines and borrowed amps: good & bad stories

[The Veg]

This past weekend I played a small place here in Atlanta. There were three bands on the bill, and one of the other bands had already set up onstage when my band was told to go on first. After asking nicely, the already-set-up band agreed to let us use their amps and stuff instead of doing a quick tear-down and having to set it all up again after us.

The bass-amp I plugged into was an Acoustic 370, running into an Ampeg cabinet that I think was a 1x15 but I'm not really sure. It sounded awesome from the git-go, and the only thing I touched was turning the volume up a little after the first song. Lots of good rumble, and neck-snapping powerful sound. I was very much pleased with it, and I'm so glad that its owner had a nice rig and some crappy POS.

So what adventures and mis-adventures have y'all had with back-lines and borrowed amps?

 

[two fingers]

Told this story a lot around here.

Got called last second to fill in with a band that was already set up. Their rig was a Peavey head with one of those cans they used to make with 2 tens and 1-15. I could hear myself fine but the band couldn't. They kept telling me to turn up. I wouldn't push it. They got mad. I told them if they wanted it any louder they could turn it up. Lead singer cranked it. I hit one note and blew one of the tens IN HALF! Sriously. The top half of one of the tens fell back into the cab. Frame and all. I blew it in half!

I laughed. They did nit.

 

[Chad Michael]

Was invited to sit in for a song with friends, the event was "Pig Out In The Park" (rather large food / music festival in downtown Spokane)

Ampeg all-tube head and 810. I never touched anything (knobs on the bass or the head) just played... it's voice was like a 20 foot tall version of James Earl Jones. Why would you mess with that sound... (bass was a Pedulla ET5, all knobs neutral, ProSteels)

 

[4Mal]

Borrowed backline.... I try to be on the supply side of that equation as often as necessary... Lay down my MB fusion and fearful 12.6 plus 12.sub rig - nobody ever complains...