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Back Up Head?

munkeyfish

munkeyfish

Aug 27, 2006
1,219
992
Home. (St.Augustine, FL.)
#1
Do you guys gig with out a back up head?

What do you have as a back up if you have one? Or Just a DI box?

I'm looking for something as a back up to my head. It is a tank, but nothing is perfect! I'm thinking I will keep a DI around, but maybe a something like a Crate Powerblock?

I also have 1 space left on my Rack, any cool 1 space Heads around?

Thanks!
 
#2
For awhile I used a Crate Power Block as my backup head (and our lead guitarist's), but I've decided to rely on the DI's in my Aphex Punch Factory compressor and Aphex Bass Xciter. I also have a passive direct box, but the Bass Xciter probably would work best.
 
#6
I bring enough crap to a gig without bringing a backup head. I think I've had two, maybe 3 failures in 30 years, and none in the last 8 or 9, so I don't bother with it. I don't necessarily recommend it, but I don't bother with backups.
 
#7
My main head is all valve, and it's lovely, but I've had tubes go and you're not going to piss about changing one of them in the middle of your set, so I just bought the cheapest transistor head in the shop, which was at the time a Warwick Profet 3.2. It's ok, and if I go from my Sansamp directly into the effects return it's quite acceptable in most circumstances.
 
#12
I did hundreds of gigs for years with only an Ampeg SVT3-Pro and never had a problem with it for 3 years. Never had a back-up. One night at rehearsal, the harp player was running a PA speaker cord around behind my amp and dropped the cord down on the power cord and shorted out the main power supply. that's when I realized how easy it would be for something like that to happen on a gig and put me in dire straights. Since then I won't leave my house with out a spare head. I have had 2 GK 1001 RB's for about 6 years now and alternate them every 6 months. I always leave one in the trunk locked up out of sight in case I have a problem with the one I'm playing thru. Murphy's Law and all that...
My philosophy is it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I don't care how long it's been since I've had any problems with any of my gear, it only takes once.
If it ever happens to you, then you'll know. The best things you can have on the road are two of everything. Along with a good credit card and a c-note folded up and stashed in your wallet for emergency's. )-(
 
#13
Whether I bring a spare depends on how far the gig is from home and how big the gig is. Many places we play are well under 20 minutes from home and I figure I could make a run and be back in short order.

Any time we play somewhere farther than that, I start considering--a backup guitar and possibly a backup amp and 2nd cab. However, I provide three power amps to the band (for mons, main-tops, and subs). At most places, I could easily run the tops and subs off a single power amp--taking the extra power amp and using it for my bass (with a little Zoom preamp I always carry).

If we were playing a bigger gig where I didn't feel I could rob a power amp (and considering distance from home) then I might bring my extra bass head. But it's been very rare where I even considered it.

Mostly we play small-medium bars. If we were playing for someone's private party or wedding--I'd definately bring spares for everything. And I always bring a bag of spare wiring to every gig.
 
#14
I've got a DI (Behringer BDI21--SABDDI clone) and a Crate Powerblock. Both are small and versatile. For example, my guitar player has used the Powerblock when his amp was in the shop and recently I've used my DI to run my acoustic guitar into the PA. Lots of flexibility and both are small enough to stash in my gearbag.
 

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