Do you really bring a backup amp to gigs?

[John D Harris]

If you can afford one (or more) of the small ~500W (or more) micro-heads, it seems like a good way to avoid having to go strictly DI-only (unless that is a happy solution/alternative for you anyway).

I usually am just barely in the mains of our PA (unless we're doing a festival or similar) and our monitors can't really handle any bass input.
So my onstage rig is 90% or more of my sound.
My preamp -- Yamaha PB-1 -- is very reliable, so I at least have a DI if my power amp should go down, but I would like to have a micro-backup amp. I could get through a gig just running through the mains, but I would not be a happy camper while doing it.
Finances just don't allow me to get a second amp at this time, though.
I do have an EA iAmp-600 which normally would be my main gig amp (except for really big shows), but it currently needs some work.

 

[pbass2]

If you can afford one (or more) of the small ~500W (or more) micro-heads, it seems like a good way to avoid having to go strictly DI-only (unless that is a happy solution/alternative for you anyway).

Indeed. I have a short tour coming up where I think I will bring a backup head for the first time ever in all my years of playing, even though there will be backline rigs provided. This is a punkish rock gig and I can't imagine only being in the wedges if the amp goes perflooey. I have a small Pelican case that holds my cables, tools, strings, etc. and there's enough room to slip my LMII in there, so what the heck.

 

[jnewmark]

If you can afford one (or more) of the small ~500W (or more) micro-heads, it seems like a good way to avoid having to go strictly DI-only (unless that is a happy solution/alternative for you anyway).

I usually am just barely in the mains of our PA (unless we're doing a festival or similar) and our monitors can't really handle any bass input.
So my onstage rig is 90% or more of my sound.
My preamp -- Yamaha PB-1 -- is very reliable, so I at least have a DI if my power amp should go down, but I would like to have a micro-backup amp. I could get through a gig just running through the mains, but I would not be a happy camper while doing it.
Finances just don't allow me to get a second amp at this time, though.
I do have an EA iAmp-600 which normally would be my main gig amp (except for really big shows), but it currently needs some work.

Pretty much my gig situation these days- small PA to cover horns and vocals, and everybody else on their own. If you can find a mint shape, used MarKbass or GB 5lb wonder head, it's a good idea to have it along. Actually, I'm thinking of getting a Carvin BX1500 as my main head, racked in a 3 space with my MB F1. Still a very lightweight rig compared to most rack rigs, and the benefit of having the second head right there at your fingertips in case one head goes down for some reason.

 

[otis_thick]

I want to add....I just had my new (less than 7 months old) Carvin DCM2000l fail from ALL speaker connections having cold joints... 3 weeks ago...at the start of a packed gig...I tried all of my backup cables; speakon and bannanas....I touched the cable and BOOOOOM there was sound but at the time I did not know the problem but I had a backup JBL 6230 in the back of SUV.....BTW I called Carvin service and they told me I could go into myself and check a few places and to check for cold joints...and they would not void the war. if I went ahead and fixed it myself instead of waiting for return and repair...that threw me at first...but when I got it to my shop at work...it took just a few hot love taps with the iron and all was good...I was thinking if you are telling the custumer to do the repair AND its in your FAQ this must be a common Carvin issue....NOTE for self techies: you need an extended tip to reach the board without taking almost ALL of the unit apart and burning relays and caps plastic..to reach the contact points....

 

[chiplexic]

That tiny 200 watt MB-200 that GK is putting out looks like a great amp to have for emergency back. As long as you don't need more than 200 watts in a pinch. It's small,light and cheap at $250 or less throgh RMCAudio.com. Based on how loud the bigger MB-500 is I'd bet the power of the MB-200 would be fine for limping home if your go to amp croaked.

 

[Adam Bomb]

That tiny 200 watt MB-200 that GK is putting out looks like a great amp to have for emergency back. As long as you don't need more than 200 watts in a pinch. It's small,light and cheap at $250 or less throgh RMCAudio.com. Based on how loud the bigger MB-500 is I'd bet the power of the MB-200 would be fine for limping home if your go to amp croaked.

Agreed. If/ when they ever come out I'm going to buy two and carry them around in my cargo pants pockets. Everywhere.

--Bomb

 

[will33]

My backup bunch of stuff consists of an ARTtubemp (quick-n-dirty pre or di), a Peavey Tmax (2ohm stable bass head w/eq), can string 4 monitors off that thing if one of the poweramps goes down, a 2nd bass, extra mic and stand or 2, doubles of every kind of cord/cable/connector that could ever be used, duct tape and a couple 9v batteries. Everything except the bass head fits in a carry-on luggage type bag.

Edit: If I had one of the miniheads it would all fit in the one bag.

 

[hills1234]

I'm taking a backup head to a gig for the first time this weekend. I've been using a GK rig the last few years (700RBII/Neo210/115) without ever thinking about - or needing - a backup. But I have now assembled a vintage Trace Elliot setup (AH250MkV/1048/1153) which sounds amazing. I'm gonna use this as my main rig on Saturday, and even though it's behaved itself at rehearsals, being a 20-something year old amp, I'll definitely have the GK head on standby.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Admittedly, I'm an electronics tech, and I do regular maintenance on all my gear (lubicating pots, checking for loose hardware, frayed wiring, etc.), but this fall will be the 40th anniversary of my first gig, and I've never carried a backup, and never had an amp fail on the job.

In fact, the only extras I carry are a small selection of tools, 9V batteries (I use active EMG's), and a couple of cords. One bass, one amp. Never broken a string, either, thanks to a light touch and relatively dry hands.

I've always bought quality gear and been pretty conservative about which brands I support, but still, maybe I've just been fortunate?

 

[JimmyM]

Admittedly, I'm an electronics tech, and I do regular maintenance on all my gear (lubicating pots, checking for loose hardware, frayed wiring, etc.), but this fall will be the 40th anniversary of my first gig, and I've never carried a backup, and never had an amp fail on the job.

In fact, the only extras I carry are a small selection of tools, 9V batteries (I use active EMG's), and a couple of cords. One bass, one amp. Never broken a string, either, thanks to a light touch and relatively dry hands.

I've always bought quality gear and been pretty conservative about which brands I support, but still, maybe I've just been fortunate?

a little of both. but i'm with you. i hate bringing stuff i don't use.

 

[jnewmark]

Admittedly, I'm an electronics tech, and I do regular maintenance on all my gear (lubicating pots, checking for loose hardware, frayed wiring, etc.), but this fall will be the 40th anniversary of my first gig, and I've never carried a backup, and never had an amp fail on the job.

In fact, the only extras I carry are a small selection of tools, 9V batteries (I use active EMG's), and a couple of cords. One bass, one amp. Never broken a string, either, thanks to a light touch and relatively dry hands.

I've always bought quality gear and been pretty conservative about which brands I support, but still, maybe I've just been fortunate?

I would say you are lucky. I have only broken one string in 40 years, though ! Amps are another story! Just taking a quick survey of the pages here on the amp forum, there is at least one or two threads per page about amps failing on the gig, or making annoying noises. Count your lucky stars !

 

[coreyfyfe]

In about 7 years of gigging I've broken one string. I had one gig where I thought I was getting noise from my bass prior to the gig and brought a backup, and then there was some noise while we were playing so I swapped basses but it ended up being an issue with an open connection for the FOH guys. Our drummer got blasted with noise through the monitor. Good times. Still have yet to have an amp go down on me, but there's still time....

 

[Bluesbob]

Until I started reading the "two basses?" thread on this board's Basses forum I never brought a second bass with me. Now I think I'll just start doing it all the time, although I've never broken a string or had any other failure occur to my instrument.

But bringing a second amp (Eden WT400, in shoulder bag) is even easier, and I usually just leave it in the car. I actually did have an amp go on me once, about ten years ago. My old '76(?) Peavey Mark IV decided to give up the ghost mid-song at a St. Patrick's day gig. Fortunately, it was our next-to-last song, and we were able to cut it short and go into an acoustic "Danny Boy" to end the evening.

So, yes, I always bring a back-up amp. I hope to never need it, but it's so easy to deal with that I don't even think twice. I have to draw the line at cabs, though. I can always grab a monitor or two (they're mine anyway) in a pinch. Maybe that's not the best solution, but after I load the 4X10, there's not a lot of room left in the back of the car.

 

[johnnycat42]

I bring an extra amp just because it weighs just under 4 lb's and is not much bigger than a sansamp pedal. Easy enough to leave in the trunk of the car for security.

If it was an SVT or something much larger, I think I would just bring a SANSAMP DI pedal though.

 

[will33]

Never broken a string, either, thanks to a light touch and relatively dry hands.

That much I should revise from my earlier post. If something gets left out, it's the backup bass. I broke one string, one time when I was 17....I'm 38. Most of my backup stuff ends up bailing out some other person/situation other than my bass rig. But I did need my backup amp one time. No amp trouble but it's one of those that has a power cord that plugs in the back like a computer and I forgot the cord.

I did have backups of a lot of other stuff we didn't need though.

I have used my backup more than a few times though for mic cords, guitar cords, etc. Twice the bass amp was a poweramp, etc. These have always been places that don't have a house PA and all that...what people hear is whatever you brought.

 

[dhomer]

Generally I don't carry backup amps, but there was a time or two when it was necessary. My solid state Bmax had a bad power supply capacitor, resulting in the unit cutting out when it felt like it. Didn't have time to fix it before a gig, and I asked the guitar player to pack his Ampeg combo just in case. Wound up tapping the Ampeg's preamp to feed my big rig, and we got through just fine.

Could have used some backup vehicles though. Lesson learned.. Don't buy a Ford that has an A4LD automatic tranny. Had 3 of em and they all leaked fluid and stranded me. The Ranger I drive now has a stick..

 

[mike costelow]

I've had amp and bass failure and blew the speakers out of my 210 once,does'nt happen often but once is enough! I have a bx500, lmiii and sansamp bass driver di which all fit in one backpack if I want. I leave xtra cab in van with all my other gear so I don't actually lug it all into club but it's close at hand if i need it.