Do you really bring a backup amp to gigs?

[Oren Hudson]

I'm a gear junkie . I take a back up bass , strings , batteries , strap , strap locks , preamp / di pedal , and a 3000 watt amp for whatever goes out . And a slew of cables , adapters , and Whatever else I throw in the truck or trailer

Jarrod's got it. I always tell my band-mates "If you've got an extra anything, take it with you." I know that there are sometimes space limitations, but having a spare anything, from batteries for your wireless, to bulbs for your show lights, will pay off.

 

[bass12]

It's certainly a good idea if you're on the road. I had my amp die on a cross-country tour once and I was lucky that every venue had a good PA system with sufficient monitoring.

 

[jastacey]

If you have the amp and the space, why not

 

[themarshall]

Kenny Allyn, that is awesome!

Now, to finally put all these "do I need a backup?" threads to rest: Of course. Always. Everything. That's why we gig with a Volvo tractor-trailer rig with 2 Dodge Sprinter vans on a flat bed. The contents of the vans are identical, and include all gear, PA, instruments, etc, save 1 thing. In the event the OTH rig goes down, we pile into the Sprinters, In the event one Sprinter goes down, we tow it with the other. In the event that both vans go down, we employ the "1 thing" mentioned above: 2 tandem bikes w/rickshaws. The last-ditch, doomsday-scenario consists of a kazoo, harmonica, tambourine and ukelele.

 

[otis_thick]

Yes. It only takes one time of being "dead in the water" to realize the importance of "being prepared."

+1 If you play out enough...long enough "Something" will happen...I have had amps fail from: fuses, tubes, cold solder joints, low A\C (early PV digital amp)sound guy confusing amp line loop trough with DI while having phantom power on to a 38 cal. slug TWICE once at a club where a bar fight took place after the band left the first night of a 2 nighter and once by a drummers CRAZY girlfriend at a practice place!

 

[UncleFluffy]

backup bass, backup strings, backup cable, backup head, and some duct tape

 

[Hot Rats]

I bring a walkabout as a spare. It just stays in the truck. No harm. I carry a sansamp in my gig bag so I am covered. Never had an amp fail though. Bass either. Never even had a string break on me. Hmmm.....I take care of my stuff and make sure everything is clean and in tip top condition. Take care of your stuff and it will take care of you.

 

[mkrtu9]

I only have one amp However I do take my POD X3 live incase I need to DI.

 

[JimmyM]

when i first got my svt and b-15 fixed up, i would bring a backup. now i don't bother since i trust them as much as i trust any other amp i've owned. but most of my gigs have pa so i'm never stuck if it goes down.

 

[Gerhn Blanston]

For now I'm bringing a Peavey Mark IV but I have my sights on a GK MB.

 

[seamonkey]

At one point I did, but I never had a SS failure in years. So an extra channel in the PA is fine for me.

 

[UncleFluffy]

On the computer side of things, there's a saying: "there's two sorts of people: those who backup their data, and those who will eventually wish they had"

Murphy's Law will always get you in the end.

 

[JimmyM]

On the computer side of things, there's a saying: "there's two sorts of people: those who backup their data, and those who will eventually wish they had"

Murphy's Law will always get you in the end.

right. that's why i always bring a backup car on a long drive.

 

[dcr]

I bring a nice direct box, but that's about it.

Sometimes, however, my backup head rides in the trailer. Just not all the time.




dcr

 

[nostatic]

At one point I did, but I never had a SS failure in years.

Mein Führer, I have some bad news concerning recent SS failures...Mr. Himler is on the phone.

I once had a tube blow up at a gig. It caused a rip in the space/time continuum, and suddenly I was transported back to the 50's, backing up Chuck Berry at some high school dance. Then I started to fade away. Freaky...

 

[lowfreqgeek]

My backup is usually a couple varieties of DI, but I've rarely, if ever had to use one on a gig.

When I'm gigging in different venues around town several nights/week then going to work the next day, the last thing I want to do is load/unload a spare rig every night. Perhaps if I had a van that I could leave it in I'd consider it, but I have a truck.

However, I do have a spare amp in the event that my main amp goes down and needs repair.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

At one point I did, but I never had a SS failure in years. So an extra channel in the PA is fine for me.

I use a software PA emulator. At my shows, the audience must wear USB headphones. It's a great system, the audience digs it too. Well, Sis does and Mom puts up with it as long as I rub her feet.

 

[guy n. cognito]

My rhythm guitard doesn't believe in backup amps. The lead guitard does. At our last gig, the rhythm guitard's amp quietly shuts down during the third set. Before any of us realize what's going on, he's headed for the lead guy's backup.

Personally, I bring a backup of anything practical: basses, strings, cords, fuses, straps, amps.

 

[Bluesy Soul]

right. that's why i always bring a backup car on a long drive.

I try to think, but nuthin' happens!

No further comment required.

I'm a gear junkie . I take a back up bass , strings , batteries , strap , strap locks , preamp / di pedal , and a 3000 watt amp for whatever goes out . And a slew of cables , adapters , and Whatever else I throw in the truck or trailer

Obviously the importance of backups varies with typical, individual gigging situations; but I'm with Jarrod. I gig primarily in the Denver metro area which, in most instances, is too spread out to make a trip home for a spare realistic. Also, the venues typically do NOT have a house PA (or it's inadequate) and, as other posters have said, my backups bail out my bandmates more often than me--though I've used their backups once or twice.

I have a large drum accessories bag (made for drummers) with back up micro head, cables, mic stand, strings, heavy duty extension cord, duct tape, batteries, essential tools. etc. that I take to some gigs; and a smaller accessories bag I take to gigs where I know I won't need the extension cord, mic stand, mike cables and some other larger items. Regardless of which bag I take, however, it always includes the micro head for backup and I take a spare bass. I figure I owe it to the venue, to my bandmates and, most of all, to the audience to be prepared to play as agreed.

 

[electracoyote]

I only bring a backup when I have no P.A. support. Otherwise, if the amp or cab dies, I just use my Sadowsky outboard pre/DI and have the soundman crank me up in my monitor.

I also bring a spare DI.