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Emergency back up amps at gigs
- Thread starter lawjazz1
- Start date
I leave an Aguilar TH350 in my gig bag as a spare. I've been playing for over 30 years and have never had my primary equipment fail. I do also carry a repair kit with fuses, cables, batteries, soldering iron, voltmeter and some plugs, jacks and sockets.
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
I don't bring a backup amp. I have only had one quit on me once in more than 35 years of playing. I figure that if it does happen, I can always have the soundman can always set up a monitor for me and I can get the bass through the PA.
It's never occurred to me to bring a spare amp.
Come to think if it, when I go to work I only bring one truck.
Ahhh, life on the edge.
Come to think if it, when I go to work I only bring one truck.
Ahhh, life on the edge.
I'm that way about basses, and I used to be that way about tube amps, but then I had my SVT throw a tube one night and I had to do a set with only the monitor. I hate hearing my bass out of my monitor, and it sounded like crap. So now, eh, a little micro amp isn't too bad to haul. Not like a second bass.
I take a GB Streamie 900 as a back up for every gig. I either leave it in the truck if vehicle is close by, or run a 6 space and just add it. Cheap insurance at 5 pounds, in a very small package.
I do the same thing. I run through the Sadowsky pre-amp anyway but draw my reassurance from the fact that I can go straight into the desk with it if the amp dies.
I've had amps fail on me twice in my "career." First was the ubiquitous effects loop jack thing-um-a-bob, second was a broken power switch. I own two amps anyway, both micro heads. Each one is in a bag with all of its cables, and I simply throw both in my car.
I bring a Paradriver to every gig a a backup. One of these days I'm going to grab one of those MB200's though. Seems like a perfect backup option.
I posted earlier that I carry my MB200 with me. I have never had a failure either, but here are my reasons:
Amp 1 is a TCE BG250 combo. Mine has been ultra reliable, but some have reported failures. Now - you can't access the speaker externally anyway, but I figure I can either scrounge some kind of speaker (monitor, whatever) for the MB or just use it as a DI ( I do also carry a passive DI box).
Amp 2 is a Hartke 3500 that is at least 20 years old. Anything that old could have issues.
Amp 3 is a Peavey VB-2. I bought it used from Guitar Center on line and it was shipped from Minneapolis. Has worked OK so far, but as others have said, tubes can go bad.
The MB200 is so small and light it is absolutely no effort to bring it along. I didn't buy it strictly as a backup, but it is great for that purpose.
Amp 1 is a TCE BG250 combo. Mine has been ultra reliable, but some have reported failures. Now - you can't access the speaker externally anyway, but I figure I can either scrounge some kind of speaker (monitor, whatever) for the MB or just use it as a DI ( I do also carry a passive DI box).
Amp 2 is a Hartke 3500 that is at least 20 years old. Anything that old could have issues.
Amp 3 is a Peavey VB-2. I bought it used from Guitar Center on line and it was shipped from Minneapolis. Has worked OK so far, but as others have said, tubes can go bad.
The MB200 is so small and light it is absolutely no effort to bring it along. I didn't buy it strictly as a backup, but it is great for that purpose.
Dude you are INSANE! I always drive my tow truck to work so I can bring my spare with me. Duh.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,056
- 38,404
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- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
As I posted earlier these days I carry a Orange Terror bass 500 for back up. Before I got that I always had a back up Marshall, Hiwatt or Sound City. I remember one gig in the middle of nowhere The guitar players 100 Marshall got dropped, the roadie slipped on ice and dropped it. The thing was dead as a door nail. The guitar player didn't bring a back up so once again it's the bass player to the rescue. I loaned him my Marshall Major for the night, then he had the balls to complain about it. Guitar players.
You actually got me thinking what if ?If my traynor head failed i would have to steal one of the 2 monitor sends we have... i would go direct to Pa then use the monitor send to power my Ampeg cab. if the cab failed i would use one of the monitors as my cab...yucky i know but in a pinch.....
- Jan 12, 2011
- 4,578
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- Artist, Trickfish Amplification Bartolini Emerging Artist, MTD Kingston Emerging Artist. Artist, Tsunami Cables
My backup is a trusty old made in the UK Trace Elliot GPSM7 300. It's loud and punchy as hell. The only reason it's my backup is I followed the trend and got a new Micro bass Head. A Tecamp Puma 500. 500 watts at 4ohm and about 3 lbs.
As I posted earlier these days I carry a Orange Terror bass 500 for back up. Before I got that I always had a back up Marshall, Hiwatt or Sound City. I remember one gig in the middle of nowhere The guitar players 100 Marshall got dropped, the roadie slipped on ice and dropped it. The thing was dead as a door nail. The guitar player didn't bring a back up so once again it's the bass player to the rescue. I loaned him my Marshall Major for the night, then he had the balls to complain about it. Guitar players.
I probably would've asked if he would prefer my DI at that point, hahaha!!!
- georgestrings
