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Emergency back up amps at gigs
- Thread starter lawjazz1
- Start date
I usually bring a small/lightweight backup head (formerly a Carvin BX500, now a GB Shuttle 9.2) unless I'm confident that one of the other bands on the bill will have something I could use in a pinch.
I don't, but I'd love to get a Streamliner 900 as a back up, only it would possibly make my 9.2 a backup. 
Anywho, I usually have a DI with me.
Anywho, I usually have a DI with me.
For backup I have a 450w Behringer head that I got dirt cheap (like a hundred bucks), which I carry mainly because my SVT3Pro used to crap out on me regularly, but since the SVT was replaced I haven't used it. However, I think we've used the Behringer at various times as an emergency fill-in for things like PA, monitor amp, and/or guitar amp, since I seem to be the only band member who expects electronic disaster! By the way, reputation notwithstanding, the Behringer has always fired up whenever I press the power button.
I carry a 4-space rack bag containing an SVT 7Pro and a ShuttleMax 9.2. I turn them both on, and if one goes down I can swap connections in under 30 seconds. I never used to carry a backup, but now that I run the 7Pro, it just wouldn't be prudent to not have one...
I currently use a Shuttlemax 6.0 as a backup.. I haven't needed it though as my 900 has been pretty solid except for one hiccup.
... ^ this ... it never leaves my shoulder bag that goes with me every time I play/rehearse/etc ... I always have more than one cab going, so I could make something work under most any situation ...
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,056
- 38,404
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Yes. Several backup plans. I always bring an extra head and leave it in the truck. I also keep a Countryman DI (passive) and a Rolls DI (active) on my gear box.
I used to not worry about a backup, but now that you can just carry a little micro with you as a backup, I'll bring one on the gigs I'm using a tube amp. Not that I worry about tube amps breaking so much...tubes are another story, though.
- Sep 5, 2011
- 774
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- Uncompensated endorsing user: fEARful
Never did, proberly never will.
I saw one band (called 'amplifier', nice coinsidence) that had one guitar head broke down. It took the guitarist 2 songs to decide that it would be better to switch from his endorsment head to his not-endorsment backup, that was on stage, but not attached, not warmed up and not even set up (tonewise). Cost the guy alot of time to switch.
My amps never let me down in +10 years of gigging, and I don't play super-upmost quality amps/heads. But I must be fair, I always have two amps on stage (dry/wet rig) and in case something happens, the wet-channel is the one to sacrifice. Two amps failing in one show is not likely to happen.
But no, I never cared about backup heads.
I saw one band (called 'amplifier', nice coinsidence) that had one guitar head broke down. It took the guitarist 2 songs to decide that it would be better to switch from his endorsment head to his not-endorsment backup, that was on stage, but not attached, not warmed up and not even set up (tonewise). Cost the guy alot of time to switch.
My amps never let me down in +10 years of gigging, and I don't play super-upmost quality amps/heads. But I must be fair, I always have two amps on stage (dry/wet rig) and in case something happens, the wet-channel is the one to sacrifice. Two amps failing in one show is not likely to happen.
But no, I never cared about backup heads.
For a couple years I had a SVT-2 Pro as my main touring head, and would usually bring either another SVT-2 Pro or my SWR 550x along as back up. And yes, I've had amps fail on me. That SWR never failed me though, and continued to use it as a backup when I switched to a SVT-CL.
And if all else fails, SansAmp BDDI.
And if all else fails, SansAmp BDDI.
Sometimes I make sure that other bands have an amp and are willing to let me use it in the worst case.
If there is no other band, I have my LM II for backup. On stage I use lots of iron, and I don't want to carry two of my main amps with me. So the LM II is the right thing.
I use a GenzBenz GBE 1200, an Ampeg SVP Pro + heavy poweramp and a Peavey TMax. Any of them is more than 40 lbs, so I prefer the LM II for backup.
If there is no other band, I have my LM II for backup. On stage I use lots of iron, and I don't want to carry two of my main amps with me. So the LM II is the right thing.
I use a GenzBenz GBE 1200, an Ampeg SVP Pro + heavy poweramp and a Peavey TMax. Any of them is more than 40 lbs, so I prefer the LM II for backup.
I take my Promethean (Class D, 500W) head and Sansamp BDDI always, whether it's the rig I'm going to use, or as a backup when I'm using one of my vintage tube heads. I needed it once, when crap power at the venue (low voltage, I suspect) caused my SVT 2 Pro to keep going into Standby. Switched to the Promethean and it worked like a champ the rest of the show.
Every show I take two Fender 350s in stereo and I run in our PA to our Mackie sub. So if one 350 gos down I have the second to get me through, if they both fail my zoom b3 has a DI box. So I have a back up for my back up. Lol. Plus I have plenty of hardware, strings, batteries, two bases, chords and even a extra mic. The back up bag stays in the trailer. But there is not one thing I use that I don't have a back up for and the tools to fix it. The only problem is the rest of my band knows I bring all this stuff and likes to always count on me instead of taking care of themselfs. Oh well.
