Is it important to own multiple/different amps?

[steveinohio]

I've slowed down on collecting guitars and changed my focus more to amps. A high quality rig can make a crappy guitar sound decent. Owning more than one amp is the way to go. Something is always breaking. Tone is always being chased.

 

[klokker]

I don't know if this has been covered, but it's nice to have an amp for mud, rain, fog, and old dirty trailers. Just an old beater that sounds good enough and you don't have to worry about too much. Then a nice set up for nice places.

I wouldn't want to drag my good stuff around to some of the places I end up in.

 

[MegaSwing]

Only in TB-land.

Creating new needs every day.

 

[soxhats]

It's not only important to own multiple/ different amps, it's essential to never own one longer than a year.

 

[JimmyM]

I don't know if this has been covered, but it's nice to have an amp for mud, rain, fog, and old dirty trailers. Just an old beater that sounds good enough and you don't have to worry about too much. Then a nice set up for nice places.

I wouldn't want to drag my good stuff around to some of the places I end up in.

I don't even want to drag my cheap stuff out for those kinds of gigs. I may get a discount but it's still money. But I have to use something, so might as well make it something less painful to replace. Fortunately, my biggest concern on gigs these days is weather. Not much chance of drunk kids stage diving into my rig at the Villages

 

[lowphatbass]

I play different types of gigs, vastly different venues, instrumentation and music. I use different rigs based on logistical factors as much as anything else.

 

[tonemachine]

Do you consider it important to have multiple amps? Maybe two or more of the same one so that you've got a backup? How about owning at least one tube, one solid-state and one hybrid for different tones? Who has a micro-rig for small gigs, a medium sized rig for bars and a massive rig for big halls/festivals?

I thought this would be a fun way to start off the week. For instance, I have a Mesa Buster 2x10 for small stages and an Aguilar DB659/728 & GS410 for medium stages but I'm looking into either a micro-rig for an easy load-in/out or a head+8x10 setup for larger stages (and admittedly my own ego...). I feel like we see entry of threads on having multiple basses and effects (and bands...) but the subject of owning multiple rigs doesn't seem to come up very often. Anyone out there care to share why or why not you have more than one amp or more than one type of amp?

Necessary for back up only. And maybe in a situation where you need to impress someone who doesn't realize that the player is the bottom line.

 

[johndough247]

If you own an amp where signal has to pass through a tube in order to function (no tube bypass/tube-less channel), then a backup would be a good idea in case a tube failed in amp #1...otherwise, in most other cases I'd say No. This coming from a guy that gigs with only a GB Streamliner 900 (3 tubes, if one fails it's dead)...but I have a shuttle 9.0 on its way so I'd like to stop tempting Murphy from enforcing his laws.

 

[javi_bassist]

I have only one amp and I've been like that for 2 years. Never needed another one. However, I'm in two bands now and I have to take it everywhere and it's kinda heavy. I think it's a good idea to have more, and I am saving money for another rig. A backup is always nice but not a must

 

[Kevan Campbell]

Yeah, so I'm definitely resurrecting my own zombie thread (though it's only been deceased a month or so), but it's my birthday weekend so it's happening.

Thank you everyone who contributed to this thread! I really do appreciate all of your views and thanks to the collective wisdom of Talkbass I put together an Ampeg Heritage SVT-CL and matching 8x10 for my "large stage" rig. I'm not sure my wallet appreciates this thread but thanks again for sharing your advice with me! Next gear purchase will probably be a chiropractor appointment!

 

[JimmyM]

Excellent choice! It's not so bad moving one of them around. Get a dolly for the head and lift with your legs, not with your back.

 

[MrLenny1]

Not important unless you gig a lot. Most guys don't and can't justify
owning a concert rig for local work.
I have one bass,one cab and one head for the last 15 years.
Never an issue. Just buy good stuff.

 

[chris_b]

I use a 500 watt amp for most gigs and have a backup. They go through either a 112 or 212.

I also have a 2 ohm 800 watt amp for putting all the cabs together and making some noise.

 

[Kevan Campbell]

Excellent choice! It's not so bad moving one of them around. Get a dolly for the head and lift with your legs, not with your back.

Thanks Jimmy! It's going to be very interesting owning an 8x10 and living in a third floor walk-up but I figure that the gigs where I'll need what I'm calling "Big Hoss" are paying enough to be worth the schlep. That and I'm working on building an 8x10-specific hand truck that may make moving it easier...

 

[JimmyM]

Oofa...third floor walkup? Well hey, it'll help keep you in shape

 

[Jazz Ad]

Reasonnably reliable amp and emergency DI is all you need IMHO.
Now, if you can and want to, you can have as may as you want.

 

[drummer5359]

I have my monster Ampeg SVT Classic with a SVT 212 AV cabinet. Honestly, it is all I would ever need. (But what fun would that be?) I should have my second SVT 212 AV cab as well as a SVT 810 E very soon. Overkill is my friend.

I have an Ampeg SVT 3 Pro, which is my backup. (Again, overkill...)

I have a Fender Bassman TV 12 combo for when I back an acoustic artist.

And lastly I own an Ampeg BA 115 HP combo simply because I got a stupidly good deal on it and well... why not?

All of this would be less silly if drums were not my primary instrument.

 

[B-string]

I really use only one amp, my "backups" are usually loaned out to other bassists while their stuff is being attended to. I play a hybrid and the two backups are both SS.

 

[hrodbert696]

I've never yet been called on to play any huge arenas where I would need a big rig, so the one rig has always been enough (Markbass LM III through a RevSound 2x10). I do have a combo I use for practices and church, a tad simpler to haul and set up. I've thought about taking it on gigs as a backup, but if anything went wrong with the main amp I can always just run my pedalboard direct to the PA, so I've never felt a backup was needed.

 

[modulusman]

I've never yet been called on to play any huge arenas where I would need a big rig,[/B] so the one rig has always been enough (Markbass LM III through a RevSound 2x10). I do have a combo I use for practices and church, a tad simpler to haul and set up. I've thought about taking it on gigs as a backup, but if anything went wrong with the main amp I can always just run my pedalboard direct to the PA, so I've never felt a backup was needed.

Played a music festival this week end where the headliner and second act were using no amps at all. When you start playing big staged for thousands of people you don't need an amp. That is what the PA is for.