Backup amp, a necessity?

[ShawnG]

I’m still starting out, so no live playing with a band yet. But I am hoping that is in my future.
Do those of you that do gig (small bar/brewery-type venues, private parties, play at churches, etc., not touring bands) feel that a backup amp is a necessary piece of your “kit?”
I tend to be a “be prepared” kind of guy, so feel that if I have committed to play somewhere with a group, I should be committed to making sure I have the equipment with me to make that happen in the event a key piece of my equipment decides that night is the night to quit working. I see myself taking an extra bass, extra strings, etc. But are modern-day amps reliable to the point of not really needing a backup?
I currently have a Fender Stage 800 amp that I like. I’ve considered looking for a used Rumble V3 2x10 expansion cab (thinking that 800 watts through two 2x10s should suffice for almost any venue without PA support). Wouldn’t need to hook up the extra 2x10 if not needed. If I added a used Trace Elliott ELF, or something similar, to the package, that and the expansion cab could serve as a pretty nice backup. At used prices, an ELF and an extra Fender 2x10 aren’t cheap, but also not a huge financial commitment.
The fact that the Stage 800 is basically a computer driving the amp makes me think a backup would be a pretty good idea.

 

[Funk With Me]

I keep an EBS Reidmar 750 handy in a bag in case I blow an amp. Speaker cabs aren’t as easy to keep handy as spares.

 

[jeff7bass]

I always brought two of everything to every gig so I get it. I would get a new head though so it comes with a warranty. The new TC Electronic heads do a good job for less.

 

[Reedt2000]

I've been playing large and small gigs with my Markbass 1x12 combo. Its 300 watts which is plenty for small or even medium sized venues and for large stuff I use it as a stage monitor and DI into the sound system (I do that for medium size gigs too depending on what band it is). I do bring a spare bass but not a backup amp. Instead I keep a DI box handy, so if (and knock on wood I've never had this happen) the amp has an issue I'll just run direct and dial bass into the monitors. It should be mentioned that I know the sound systems being used can handle that in a way which would sound good, at least to the audience. I might not get the stage monitoring I like, but I can live with that

 

[Killing Floor]

I toured for years and have done thousands of gigs and have never had a backup amp. Now I have one, so to speak, because I heard an amp I liked and I bought it. But I wouldn't take 2 to a gig. I've never had an amp fail. I know it's possible so if you have that kind of luck get another. I bring a backup bass but have never broken a bass string in a show or rehearsal (40+ years) and have never had a battery in a preamp fail in a show or rehearsal. Maybe I'm lucky. If you need a backup cab the problem is not your cab.

 

[cableguy]

I bring 2 basses to every gig as well as a GK MB200 as a backup amp. I ain't worried about needing a backup cab. I also have a separate DI in my bag if I need to run straight to FOH in a emergency.

 

[Inara]

I've never had a bass fail at a gig (I'm sure I will now lol), but I've had an amp fail 3 or 4 times. After the first, I started carrying a backup. Now, though, all my shows have FOH support, so I just keep a good pedal-format preamp in my gig bag.

 

[eldorado2001]

I’ve had an amp quit on me during a gig, and I’ve had my output jack rotate on my bass, causing an open short.
I always have backup everything with me now. And always 2 cabs, in case a speaker fails.
It only takes a few minutes to be prepared.

 

[fdeck]

Since 1977, the only gear failures I've had at a gig were amps, notably a broken power switch and the dreaded effects loop switching contacts. I was able to play out both gigs. I keep some spares in a bag in my car, including an MB200 head. The vastly more frequent sources of failure are cables and dead batteries.

My cello tailgut broke once, but that was at a lesson.

I bring a spare bass when it's out of town. Usually, my electric bass is my spare. I can't imagine bringing a spare upright.

 

[ezstep]

I have broken a string once, and I have had batteries die on me when I was much younger. I have taken a spare bass, and I have carried a spare head from time to time but never had to use either.

 

[jastacey]

I would say why not, I've always dragged a backup, a couple of years ago, was using a Rumble 500 head, it decided to take a break, took a 5 minute break, and pulled out the spare, that I had, you just never know, as to the iffy Rumble head, Sweetwater took care of the issue, had another one, in a couple of weeks, like I said why not, if your posing for $$$, act like a pro, bring backup ... IMHO

 

[Samatza]

My backup is the FOH and monitor system however when we do get back into full swing I’m going to keep a TE Elf and 1x10” cab in the car as backup for amped gigs.

 

[2112]

Do you need to bring a backup amp? That depends on how much hassle you want if your amp should fail at a gig. Me? I bring two of everything... basses, pedalboards, IEM's, and so on. Because as we all know...

 

[Joe Nerve]

For me its a must. My head crapped out on me about 5 years ago. I was lucky that a bass player in the audience actually ran home to get me a head.

After that, I got me one of these.

I fits in a glove compartment, and it does the job.

I've had to use it 3 times already. But I gig a lot.

The Carvin head I choose to use as a main amp doesn't help much . I love it, but the BX500 and 700 were known to have issues.

 

[Funk With Me]

I've never had a bass fail at a gig...

I broke strings a couple times over the years. It would have been nice to have a second guitar ready to go at the moment.

I just never got in the habit of bringing a second bass. The work/reward ratio and the chances of having one stolen or sum such weighted my decision. It also depends on the type of gigs. There have been times I brought two.

 

[ZachM]

I’ve had a few amp failures on gigs, so basically my philosophy is that if I’m being paid, or I care about professionalism, I bring a backup. These days it’s extremely easy to have one - even if you just got a crappy $50 pawn shop amp and leave in it the car, why chance it?

 

[musicman556]

I don't gig, in the traditional sense, more than a few times a year. However, I've played at every church I've attended for about 20 years now. I have various heads and an Ampeg 410HLF that stay there. I've never had a failure of any kind yet, but I still usually have 2 basses with me at all times. Output jacks and batteries have been my only real issues. I baby my gear, and have mostly nice stuff.

That being said, I still have backups on hand off and on. I actually just ordered a Trace Elliott ELF which I'm planning to leave in my gig bag, so I'll always have a backup amp with me from now on.

Like you mentioned in your OP, I also like to be prepared. I never was a boy scout, but I think I might have been OK at it.

 

[rylie]

back up amp is similar category as insurance
you only need it until you need it
then you're glad you have it
back up can be as simple as a DI box in your gear bag or your pedal board

 

[Peteyboy]

I've been gigging regularly since 1989 and I have never brought a spare amp to a gig. For the first 10 of those years I was lucky to be able to afford the one I had.

 

[jdh3000]

Our band uses subs, and I have a Di off my pedalboard. If my amp went down during a show, I could make it through the night with just the FOH sound.

We're I I still frelancing around I might would carry a spare if the band didn't use subs...