Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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!
- Thread starter birminghambass
- Start date
-
- Tags
- amp backup have you ever needed vote
I had my first amp failure a few weeks ago, the power socket broke right before the show. I always run through IEM's and the PA though, so I just plugged in a DI and the show went on. But I DO always need a backup PLAN--but not an amp.
Tom
Tom
I've only needed a backup in two cases:
1.) primary amp needed to be sent to manufacturer for repair of some kind. Gigs happening before the amp was returned and I needed to use my old amp as a backup. (this has happened twice)
2.) My old GK MB200 blew up during setup for a small-room singalong. Instrument cable end hit 1/4" speaker cable tip plugged into back of head. Amp would then only make screaming noises. I ran home (3 minutes away) to grab my TH500.
1.) primary amp needed to be sent to manufacturer for repair of some kind. Gigs happening before the amp was returned and I needed to use my old amp as a backup. (this has happened twice)
2.) My old GK MB200 blew up during setup for a small-room singalong. Instrument cable end hit 1/4" speaker cable tip plugged into back of head. Amp would then only make screaming noises. I ran home (3 minutes away) to grab my TH500.
I had an SVT go into protection mode in the middle of a tune, happen to have a music man head handy I was letting another band used so I swapped it out and was playing before the song was done... seems it was the crappy wiring at the club because later the amp was fine but I didn’t know enough about what that protection made meant to keep playing it for that show
- Sep 14, 2009
- 903
- 665
- 57
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: GullanskyLab pickups
Just once in thirty-something years of bass playing: I was playing at a festival with my good old GK combo when the speaker started farting (turned out the cone was damaged), so I kept on going sending my signal from the head's DI output to PA.
Usually I play with PA support, or going directly from DA/Pre to PA, so never felt the need for a backup.
Usually I play with PA support, or going directly from DA/Pre to PA, so never felt the need for a backup.
I've never had it happen, but with social media and all, it's super easy to network with other bassists to ensure the show will go on if something happens, when there are multiple bands on the bill... If worse comes to worst.... DI. I'll spare "my tone" for a night to save massive embarrassment of not being able to continue on with the show.
Last edited:
I had a new Hartke HA5500 several years ago that would sometimes go silent for about a minute, usually during our last song of the night 
, then come back on and work fine. Hartke fixed it under warranty and it's still one of my 2 main amps. But since then I always carry a backup amp and I use 2 cabs, just in case.
, then come back on and work fine. Hartke fixed it under warranty and it's still one of my 2 main amps. But since then I always carry a backup amp and I use 2 cabs, just in case.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
My amp completely died on me 2X. First time I didn’t have a backup. I learned my lesson. 2nd time (2 weeks ago), I did.
I haven’t read any responses yet, but I’m going to guess I’ll be proven right when I do with what I’m about to say
....
If you play long enough, you will eventually, one day, need a backup.
Amp heads are so small, light and cheap theses days I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t have one. Mine fits in my glove compartment, and I still have a ton of unused space in there.
I haven’t read any responses yet, but I’m going to guess I’ll be proven right when I do with what I’m about to say
.... If you play long enough, you will eventually, one day, need a backup.
Amp heads are so small, light and cheap theses days I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t have one. Mine fits in my glove compartment, and I still have a ton of unused space in there.
In the Tower of London large as life
The ghost of Anne Boleyn walks, they declare
For she was once King Henry's wife
Until he had the headsman bob her hair
Ah, yes, he did her wrong long years ago
And she comes up at night to tell him so
With her head tucked underneath her arm . . .
I voted “No”, but my second gig ever resulted in a detached speaker cone. However, it was a 15” Crate combo and I was playing a “solo” with distortion, wah flexed all the way, delay, etc at max volume. Probably my fault and was also using substandard equipment.
I've had amp issues, but it would NEVER STOP THE SHOW!!! Maybe, pause the show for an acoustic tune or two... but, not stop. Had issues with a Kustom GrooveBass 1200 overheating & shutting down, I've seen plenty of issues with a Carvin redline head overheating too. No issues in my SVT days, nor currently with my Markbass stuff.
I've noticed a theme of amps killed by wonky wiring in clubs. In my case, it was in a theater pit. At least it happened during rehearsal. Something fried my B-15. I was not happy. I ended up sending it to Jess Oliver for him to repair. It's a little like having your amp repaired by God.
Mine was actually a speakon failure, but live, at a Beerfest with a large crowd, I couldn't troubleshoot, just turned on the spare rig and pressed on. Another time, someone stepped on my volume pedal and I had no output, that took me a few minutes to figure out
I have two amps that get used out of the house.
Aguilar AG500 lives in my trunk. I use it for shows or situations where the backline sucks or barely works. I rehearse with multiple bands and none of them have a monthly. As bass players we usually get the short end of the stick when it comes to rental rehearsals. Crappy gear thats half working because they don't have enough spares to cover the place during turnaround times.
I have an Aguilar Tonehammer 500 that I rehearse with at home. It sounds sorta the same and is much more portable. I'll bring it with me as part of my gig stuff since its so small. I'll use this at shows provided that there are speakon jacks on the backline cabinet. If it ever broke, the AG500 is right there and it works with anything.
For the curious, my current gig rig is a Mono M80 bag with a tick, pedalboard in a messenger type bag, and the TH500 in its little carry bag. The only way I'd need to make a second trip is if I had to grab a cabinet or if I somehow managed to break the TH500.
Aguilar AG500 lives in my trunk. I use it for shows or situations where the backline sucks or barely works. I rehearse with multiple bands and none of them have a monthly. As bass players we usually get the short end of the stick when it comes to rental rehearsals. Crappy gear thats half working because they don't have enough spares to cover the place during turnaround times.
I have an Aguilar Tonehammer 500 that I rehearse with at home. It sounds sorta the same and is much more portable. I'll bring it with me as part of my gig stuff since its so small. I'll use this at shows provided that there are speakon jacks on the backline cabinet. If it ever broke, the AG500 is right there and it works with anything.
For the curious, my current gig rig is a Mono M80 bag with a tick, pedalboard in a messenger type bag, and the TH500 in its little carry bag. The only way I'd need to make a second trip is if I had to grab a cabinet or if I somehow managed to break the TH500.
It didn't stop the show because the speaker was fine, but my direct output was damaged so we had to manually balance with the house, and I didn't have any monitor for my bass. So, yes and no.
47 years and I've had one failure. Brand new Peavey amp. worked fine at home, didn't get through the first song of the set. Fortunately we had a spare amp. I always have a backup amp. I've never needed the spare bass I always bring. I've never broken a string. I carry spare cables, strings, power chords, bass, amp; everything except a spare speaker cabinet.
