• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Have you ever NEEDED a backup amp? VOTE!

Amp failure ever stop the show?

  • Yes

    Votes: 152 28.7%

  • No

    Votes: 323 61.1%

  • No carrots option, sorry.

    Votes: 18 3.4%

  • I would NEVER gig without a backup amp!

    Votes: 70 13.2%

  • I don't need a backup amp!

    Votes: 28 5.3%
  • Total voters
    529
#81
Orange AD200 that blew power tubes after the fuse failed. Ampeg PF800 going into protect mode and cutting out. Fender TV15 cutting out from overheating.

I ALWAYS bring a backup these days that is ready to fire up in an instant. In my case the PF800 is always in a laptop carry case placed right behind my rig. I don’t quite trust it for a full gig, but I trust it in a pinch.
 
#82
Once, back about 1973, I was playing a Fender Precision through a Bassman head into two Bassman cabs, 212 and 215. Once I had everything cranked and suddenly the amp went silent. As it happened, I had a backup already in place. All I had to do was switch the cables from the old head to the new one and the show went on. I was up and running by the second verse of the next song.

Raf
 
#84
I’ve had two different amps die on me at gigs. I was really glad I had a backup both times!

OP you said you used a Sansamp once when you had amp trouble, I always considered my Sansamp a backup. Then I tried actually gigging with just the Sansamp and the fold backs and I decided I’d start bringing a backup.

I got an Eden WTX-260, which is a small, light, and relatively cheap amp. It came through with flying colors both times for me.

These days I have three main amps that I use for different gigs. I bring the second best suited amp for the gig as a backup.
 
#85
My old Peavey's never had a problem being a table when I was younger...oh the drummer did accidently (drunk) knock over my Peavey Classic 400-filament in the glass fuse was break-dancing. The old Shure Vocal Master 302 P.A. head was wonderful. (Maybe that don't count, then again maybe it does).
 
#87
I played Peaveys for years. No tone to speak of, but gee whiz you could throw (and I'm talking about the Made In Mississippi gear, not that Chinese crap they sell now) them down two flights of stairs and they'd 'take a lickin' and keep on tickin' '.

So about ten years ago, I finally decided to buy brand new, not used, not trade-in, plunk real US Gov't long green and treat myself to something brand new. I bought some Eden gear WITHOUT knowing that DN had cashed out and the transition was on. THAT's when I discovered and never felt safe without a backup rig, as the stuff I bought was surely built by a crackhead during an earthquake.
 
#89
Hi,

birminghambass said:
So far 41 voted that an amp died and stopped a show yet only a few stories of such a thing happening. Interesting.
Click to expand...

The thread title asked one question. The poll asked a different question. That may have led to some confusion. It seems a lot of us have had amps die and wish we had a spare. But we plug in direct, mix some bass in the monitors, and keep on with the show.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kro and pudgychef
#91
I roll with a DI in the bag. In 35+ years gigging I’ve had three amp failures, two I used the DI and the third time there was an amp available at the venue. And one time I accidentally forgot my amp and used the DI.
 
#93
pudgychef said:
For me it is. Any time it has been a concern, DI to mains...all good. So many good sounding (imho) DI/Pre type pedals now it would seem worth it for any bassist to have. (Some are quite cheap too...Moen, Dr. J, Behringer...heck a B1on and passive DI)
Click to expand...
I was playing for food with my instro surf trio, inside a restaurant while the car cruise people went in & out. We played 3 sets, & were trying to decide whether to play a 4th. We said, "We'll play one more song and decide." That would be about when the smoke and challenging aroma arose from my Polytone S15. Our decision had been made.
Adding insult to injury, I was playing with a large and painful brace on my R arm because I had suffered a grievous injury to my arm. So with the traditional coffee can for tips I put a nice sign that said "Help Contribute to the Bass Player's medical expenses!" From the many dozens of people who came through, we collected $11. (It cost $65 to fix the amp. The food was OK, but we clearly did not come out best on that deal.)

Then again, farther along, we were in attendance at a soiree that featured the reunion of the original Mermen (SF's gift to the world of psychedelic surf). A couple of other bands played first. The bass players had been sharing one SVT. Allan Whitman's 8 string bass w/active pickups may have done it in--it croaked. So he switched basses, and the only available amp was a pretty crappy keyboard amp. I just happened to have my '63 Bassman (hot-rodded to Showman specs) with me. I got Alan's attention, and we swapped my Bassman for the SVT head. After that, everything was happy as a clam on Prozac.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pudgychef and mikewalker
#94
Never because of amp failure (knock on wood). But sometimes I'll choose to switch because one sounds better in a particular room or with a particular bass. My choice of cabs can effect which amp I opt for as well.
 
#95
I definitely need more than one amp. Sometimes I need to set up multiple rigs. I’ve also had a number of amp failures over the years - usually some issue with the preamp, but at least one roasted power section. In each case that I can recall, we were able to DI into the system. I always have one of those somewhere.
 
#97
My Markbass LMII fell out of the boot of the car onto the tarmac when unloading for a showcase gig (playing 4 or 5 songs only with no PA support for backline, so didn't bother bringing a load of backup gear). It was in a padded gig bag and appeared to be okay. PLugged in and all okay, however, about 3 or songs in, the volume just disappeared. Turned it off and on again, nothing. Turned off, unplugged, plugged in, turned on and volume came back, only to go again moments later. All the while, rest of the band still playing. Had to flag them down to stop. The guy running PA runs over and plugs my pedal board direct in the PA (no DI box, just literally straight into the desk from my jack lead, and saves the set.

I put it down to dodgy power in the venue and forcing the amp to go into protect mode, but that drop still played on my mind. Tried the amp again at rehearsal and was fine for a couple of hours, then it went again. Turned it off for a few minutes and came back to life, only to go again. So I knew it was damaged. Took it to a repairer who initially couldn't find anything wrong with it, but it eventually stopped working after a few hours for them too. Had to pay nearly £200 for a complete new logic board and components as the damage was likely microscopic and untraceable (the downside of modern class D microamps).

It now appears to work fine, but I don't completely trust it, knowing that it failed on me. So I bought a new amp and relegated the markbass to backup duty. Generally, it stays at home, as I have a Harke Bass Attack pedal that I can use as a DI, but if the gig is a fair distance from home, I will bring it with me, just in case.

I'm now considering getting a Helix, which will do double duty as my bass amp tone and DI so it doesn't matter what amp I use on stage. I could even go smaller with a combo. Until lately, my bass amp has been supplying the room sound, but as the two guitarists have the Helix too, we are considering going ampless at some gigs anyway. If anything, my amp will just be a stage monitor.
 
#98
Really useful thread. Although 60% of us (including me) have never had an issue with amp failure it's quite illuminating that fully 30% have. That suggests keeping a backup amp head maybe quite a sensible precaution, particularly if it's something like a wedding function where ruining a bride's day has gotta be the last thing anyone would want to be remembered for!

I'd be really interested in a follow up poll (if you fancy running it) of "IF you have had an amp break down, was your amp < 5 years old, > 5 years old etc."
 
  • Like
Reactions: birminghambass
#99
Al Krow said:
Although 60% of us (including me) have never had an issue with amp failure it's quite illuminating that fully 30% have.
Click to expand...

As has already been pointed out, I don't think that's an accurate assessment of the poll. Even given the difference between the thread title and poll title, I think there are many more people noting in comments that they have experienced amp failure of some sort - just that a backup wasn't needed, or didn't stop the show, likely because they limped through the set with additional bass in the monitor, or just listening for the FOH wash.
 
#100
I was playing a Baltimore Ravens gig two years ago. It was called the ravens walk out right out side of the stadium. The stage was running off of generator power and I guess my amp didn’t like it, because it fried in the second set. I could have used a backup amp that day. One of the sound crew men quickly ran up and DI’d me to the board. We are on IEM’s so it really wasn’t a big deal. I voted yes to needing a backup amp. But I really didn’t need one at all.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back