Backup amp, a necessity?

[Kael]

Get a DI pedal preamp like a tech 21 and keep that handy. Isn't as good as an amp but it will work.

 

[joel406]

Backup is a must.

 

[HolmeBass]

You don’t need one until your amp fails at a gig. Of course by that time if you don’t have one it’s too late.

I bring a back up bass, strings, and amp, but not a backup cabinet. I have had to use my backup amp twice, and both times I was really happy I had it. So were my band mates - they were also damned impressed.

Note if you’re playing with a nice PA a backup could be as simple as a SansAmp and running your monitor send into your bass cabinet. Not ideal but will get you through the gig.

 

[smogg]

I do not carry a back up amp per say. But, I do have one of these

 

[aglide]

In a way, there's really no excuse to not bring 2 amps, considering how small and light the Class D stuff is nowadays.

 

[Mosfed]

Nah / just have a good DI in your arsenal

 

[LowActionHero]

I have a DI on my pedal board and a small backup DI in my emergency bag.
If my amp and it's DI died I would find a way to go through the PA only.
I'm not gonna drag around a whole second rig.

I do bring a backup bass to most gigs, never needed it yet but even if it's only a broken string it would take awhile to change.

 

[slowjam98]

I bring spare strings, spare chords, and a spare battery.

“Now, where did I put that Eb dim 11?”

 

[Whale guy]

I've had to use my back up head twice when the ampeg can't cope. I bought an old 1000 watt Hartke that weighs as much as a car, but works well.

I would say, start with the one amp and keep a D.I. box in your bag because they are cheap. In about 1 minute, you can be direct into the P.A. after you get busy, then look for another amp. That way you know more about what you will need.

 

[JoeWPgh]

With the cost, size and weight of class D amps, I see no reason not to bring one

 

[Peteyboy]

My amp, like most amps, has an XLR out. And I carry one of these:

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Nope to your question.

In about 5 thousand gigs I can count the equipment failures on one hand.

Car and weather problems are a way bigger issue. Even band leaders who give you the wrong date or location have been more of a problem than gear. That’s my experience.

 

[jeff7bass]

Never was into TC E stuff, but a little while back heard a live band and the bass was tight, punchy, and clear. Sounded so good I had to find out what it was and that's not really like me. Walked up to do a gear check and it was TC E head and cabs.

Same thing happened to me. I think he was playing a 112 combo, maybe a 115 combo, and the sound was pretty incredible.

 

[AxtoOx]

played an SVT 810, always brought along a Nemisis 210 I could DI, needed 3 times in 5 yrs

 

[delta7fred]

One failure when you don't have a spare is one too many. A DI is fine if you have a PA that can handle the bass but not every band does.

In over 50 years of gigging I've had one bass amp die mid gig and one fail to power up because the mains was way out of spec (Crappy generator supply that caught fire and ended of the gig!).

The first time I didn't have a spare (but an audience member went home for his bass amp and saved the night), the second time I did.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

With my amp and the extension cab it would actually be 400 watts per set of 2x10s. Thx for the head’s up though. Much appreciated!

That would take care of a lot of venues for sure. If you didn’t figure this out already, make sure you are not going below the minimum ohmage for your amp. .

 

[MegaSwing]

I prefer combos with stand-alone heads for this reason. You must have some provision in the event your amp gives out. I've never had a cab fail on me. Even if it is the PA system, you must know what you will do in the event of an amp failure. Little lightweight amps that fit in your gig bag are worth their weight in gold.

So, perhaps not a necessity, but a smart move. Figure out a way that keeps the schlep factor low.

 

[darwin-bass]

Oh, wait I have had ONE amp failure - SWR DI output was fried by phantom power. I used a direct box (rest of the amp was fine) and the gig went on.

I ended up fixing the amp (replaced an op-amp) and build a phantom blocker box to put between my SWR and any PA it connects to. Never had another issue.

 

[jdh3000]

This. Also, one cover group I play in uses click and swell tracks all night, and there is actually a backup version of every instrument in the system. I could actually fall over dead and the gig could go on; they would just turn up the bass backup.

This comes up now and then and it's a personal decision. Me, I weigh the chances of equipment failure against the added weight/cost/hassle of carrying a spare anything. What I come up with is cables. Those are pretty much the only thing likely enough to fail that I bring spares. Everything else, just doesn't make sense for me. 30 years of gigging data.

Also, if I'm to be facetious a second - where does it end? Spare bass? Spare amp? Spare PA? 2 phones? Spare car in the garage in case yours doesn't start that night?

I agree... You just have to have confidence that your gear will hold up. If I were playing major sold out arenas, yea a backup would be justified... my roadies could wheel it in... butplaying down at Bob's Country Bunker isn't going to be the end of me if it failed.
I don't have enough room to carry a lot of extra gear.
I've played many years and knock on wood, never had an amp go out on me.

Anything is possible, but less probable, especially if you aren't breaking in a new piece of gear.

 

[Bassist30]

Whatever you can afford it is a necessity.