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Is my amp being used when I'm not there?

#41
CL400Peavey said:
If you are worried about your gear, then you shouldnt leave it there.
Click to expand...

I am worried about it, but 100% safety would mean having my gear at home and not gigging it, wich IMHO defies it's pourpuse... I'm just trying to find a balance I'm confortable with.

That's why I wanted to:
A) find a way to tell if it is in fact being used
B) If it is, block it's use without moving gear around.


By the way, I'm based in Madrid (Spain) and English is not my mother tongue... sorry for any mistakes, Should it be called metro?
 
#43
heavyfunkmachin said:
By the way, I'm based in Madrid (Spain) and English is not my mother tongue... sorry for any mistakes, Should it be called metro?
Click to expand...

Your English is just fine. Some cities in North America use that term, Washington DC for one, but we all understand what a subway is. Many of us would assume you were in New York just going off that, because Americans can be surprisingly provincial about this stuff.
 
#44
heavyfunkmachin said:
They are sneaky, they Will just dare to do it if I don't notice/cant proove it has happened...
Click to expand...

I obviously don't know these people, so I can't say. But be smart - if you want to be somewhat lazy, leave only your cabinet there. You can easily carry the head and bass on the bus or train.

Even if it was just an accident, if you show up and your head is smashed, what are you going to do?
 
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#46
Kmonk said:
Absolutley 100% WRONG! just because something is there, doesn't given someone the right to use it. People should respect the property of others and not use anything that doesn't belong to them without permission.
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agreed. Leaving your gear in a shared space is not equivalent to giving license to others to play your gear. I've shared many a rehearsal space and while I wouldn't be shocked if someone used my gear, I don't consider leaving it there license to use it.
IN MY OPINION and lots of :):):):):):):):):):):):)
 
#47
I don't think anyone is saying your are saying others can use it simply because it is there. However:

1. Some people mistakenly may think it is there to be used (many rehearsal places have gear for that reason);
2. Some people just don't care.

Leaving my keys in the car doesn't mean that I give anyone the right to borrow my car. But I sure as #!$%^#! wouldn't do it.
 
#48
it happens easily - I have played over someone else's gear at several spaces - I ask whomever provides the space for the session if there is an amp I can use, and if he says yes I take his word for it. Of course if I break something, I will have to fix it. If I'd be paranoid about others playing my gear, I'd hang up a note saying "Please do not use this bass rig" covering the pre and take the powercord home.

However, I'd never leave basses in a shared space. Things just break if that happens, I'd rather be the one who did it.
 
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#49
+1 on buying some cheap gear to leave there and keep the good stuff at home. Shoot, the next thing you know they'll be borrowing the amp for a gig!

Even WITHIN my band, the singer borrowed the PA (which belonged to the guitarist) to go DJ a party without asking. Guitarist was pissed when he found out. Singer didn't understand why.

If someone is playing your gear, they coukd break it. Simple. Either keep cheap gear there or assume your stuff is getting used and might be broken one day when you show up for practice.

Also I would be surprised if people aren't using the amp to hold their open drink containers.
 
#51
I've had this problem more times than I can remember.
I used to just take out the fuses and put them in my gear bag. Worked fine.
Actually ran into one of the other band guys and he told me there was a problem with my amp.
I said OK, I will get it fixed.

Maybe just cover it with a tarp or something ?

I do like the idea of putting some scotch tape on the speaker input jack and see if it is moved or broken.

Maybe just take the speaker cable and power cord ??

Do your cases lock ?

I had to do that once.

Came to band practice and a string was broken on my bass. I found the keys to that case and started locking it.

Thankfully, I now have wonderful studio mates who have been with me for 6 years now. I trust them and let them use my stuff whenever, I know they take care of it.
 
#52
Bob Lee (QSC) said:
Take the fuse out and take it with you.
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Yeah, I suggested this back on page 1, but no reaction...and as it turns out, no fuse!
His head is a PF-500.

It will fit easily in a small rucksack. He is leaving two basses there, too. I think that is risky.
 
#53
This isn't going to let you know if your amp is being used, but it might keep someone from using it unless they're rather tech savvy:

Does your head have an effects loop? If so, insert one of these into the return jack:

http://www.cnaweb.com/1-4-mono-plug...Nx4Z9IRR-nr0hkY-9uIxRx9TAWZl-Af6s4BoCawrw_wcB

It should disable the amp until you pull it out, and is probably inconspicuous enough that nobody will notice it unless they give it a serious look.

Actually one of those little 1/8" iPhone to 1/4" stereo adapters that you sometimes get with headphones has an even lower amount of plug that would stick out of the jack and might be even less obvious.
 
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#54
Slough Feg Bass said:
I've had this problem more times than I can remember.
I used to just take out the fuses and put them in my gear bag. Worked fine.
Actually ran into one of the other band guys and he told me there was a problem with my amp.
I said OK, I will get it fixed.

Maybe just cover it with a tarp or something ?

I do like the idea of putting some scotch tape on the speaker input jack and see if it is moved or broken.

Maybe just take the speaker cable and power cord ??

Do your cases lock ?

I had to do that once.

Came to band practice and a string was broken on my bass. I found the keys to that case and started locking it.

Thankfully, I now have wonderful studio mates who have been with me for 6 years now. I trust them and let them use my stuff whenever, I know they take care of it.
Click to expand...

Back in the 80's I used to take the power cord with me but back then I was the only one who had an amp using a removable power cord, might not work now since they are more
common and there may be another one available to use. Still, worth a shot.
 
#56
buldog5151bass said:
1. OP already said removing the fuse was not an option.
2. At this point, as I already said, the guy may be using the amp - he shows up and the amp is locked, he might take it out on the amp.
Click to expand...

I find that highly unlikely that someone who is trying to hide the fact that he's using the amp is going to actually damage the amp. Too much potential liability with the small pool of suspects who have access to the space. Possible, I guess.
 
#60
Jim Carr said:
Seriously, the amp is 14" x 3" x 11" and weighs 11 lbs. That is about the size of the Real Book. Take the amp home in a bag. Fine for subway rides or travel on bike or foot.
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Totally agree. One of the cool things about these amps, besides the fact that they sound great, is that they're super portable. Get a laptop bag, and carry it with you. Problem solved. Doesn't help if someone blows up your cab or wrecks one of your basses, but the amp will be protected.
 

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