Securing a micro head

[JazznFunk]

At first I thought this was about the amp sliding off the cab.... not sliding off into a thief's coat pocked. My main thought is.... don't play places where the audience has ready/close enough access to steal your stuff?

 

[iiipopes]

Velcro.

 

[MrLenny1]

Hmm, most crooks want to steal a guitar or microphone.

 

[G On Bass]

It usually takes me a while to get a Speakon out of the back of my own amp, so it's kinda built in security. I'm more worried about my basses than my amp. But if they are that quick and that good, yet stupid enough to risk the hassle and expense of getting caught over a ~$300 Peavey MiniMax, I say go for it. Hopefully they take to cut up yoga mat it sits on that keeps in in place. If they want my cabs too, they gotta gimme a sec to hit the restroom before I can help them put them in their car.

 

[JC Nelson]

Just keep it out of reach.

 

[Hasty]

Tell me about that stand! It’s perfect!

It's definitely a Frankenstein build, but I absolutely love it. Rock solid and easy to transport. The frame itself is a super basic Multi Purpose drum rack from Gibraltar Hardware. The part that holds the 4u case are technically called Laptop/Mixer stand arms, but I had seen a video where some guy used then as a keyboard stand.

I didn't buy anything complete. I cobbled the parts together with Craigslist pretty easily. The stand/drum rack was from a listing where a guy had a ton of random Gibraltar parts for sale so I went over and basically built my rack in his living room (with his guidance) to make sure I picked all the right parts. I had to cut down the crossmember tube by about a foot, but that wasn't a big deal. He was totally intrigued with the project, so it was cool that he helped me decide which parts were best to pick out. I think I also have a piece or two that might be Ludwig? As long as they're the same diameter it doesn't matter to me. They all work together.

The laptop arms were in another CL posting from some guy with an electronic drum kit for sale who was willing to part out the pieces. Which is the perfect depth for my rack mount case. I love the adjustable rubber stops on it, because it basically locks it into the rack. The arms took a little longer to find, but I wasn't in a rush. Everything shows up on Craigslist if you're patient.

Total cost out of pocket was around $100.00. It can disassemble to fit in the car or for storage, or I can just nest the rack and cab into it flat in the car (which is easier). I can also put my cab up onto those mixer arms with no problem if I wanted to elevate the cab and I'm using a smaller head and not the rack mounted amp. I did that once at an outdoor gig.

 

[Loring]

I thought the base looked like Gibraltar- my drummer uses that system. Now I need to start hunting! Thank
You!

 

[Hasty]

I thought the base looked like Gibraltar- my drummer uses that system. Now I need to start hunting! Thank
You!

If your drummer already has Gibraltar stuff, he might have 75% of the parts you need in his extra parts bin. When I showed up at a gig with my rack for the first time, the drummer said I should have asked him first because he had boxes full of extra support tubes that he would have given me. If nothing else, he'll probably know where to source out the parts cheaply. If you want a pic of just the rack, let me know and I'll send you a DM with it.

 

[Loring]

If your drummer already has Gibraltar stuff, he might have 75% of the parts you need in his extra parts bin. When I showed up at a gig with my rack for the first time, the drummer said I should have asked him first because he had boxes full of extra support tubes that he would have given me. If nothing else, he'll probably know where to source out the parts cheaply. If you want a pic of just the rack, let me know and I'll send you a DM with it.

would love that! I may have to jerry rig something for longer legs…

 

[joe_f]

Id say the laptop cable attached to cab is good. If the case won’t allow it you can remove the case to drill a hole. Or you could even take it to a glass/plastic shop and have them custom fabricate a lucite case that you could then lock to the cab. It would cost less than you think.

Thanks for a thoughtful reply!

As a reminder to anyone who needs it, I didn't say anything about playing rough places or dives (neither of which is a necessary precursor to theft, which is often simply a question of opportunity). I'm not currently doing either. It was just an observation that gear that is increasingly smaller, lighter, portable and more or less untethered logically makes an easier target. As surprised as many of you seem to be that I've considered that, I'm more surprised you haven't.

 

[Marko 1]

Rackmount it!

Doesn't that negate the biggest reason people buy small amps?

 

[Marko 1]

It's hard to imagine anyone but a bassist seeing a bass amp as worthy of stealing, or maybe a musician just to sell, which would present other problems if done locally.

 

[Loring]

People steal anything… I remember a guy stealing a bar code reader that only worked in the warehouse it was wirelessly connected to… expensive unit but worthless once taken out of its environment.

 

[joe_f]

People steal anything… I remember a guy stealing a bar code reader that only worked in the warehouse it was wirelessly connected to… expensive unit but worthless once taken out of its environment.

Exactly. It's an electronic gadget. Looks expensive, take a chance. Fence, resell, trade, part out, etc. That's very basic thief mentality, for anyone out there in Candyland.

 

[bucephylus]

My experience is that gear tends to be vulnerable during load in and during load out.

I have never, in all my years of gigging seen anything disappear off of a live stage. At least the clubs I gig, the stage is never far from view of players; and the patrons of the clubs I gig do not approach the stage, except for announcements etc.

Load in / out is a different matter. My small head goes in a duffle with cords / pedals / etc. Might be a target; but the instruments tend to be more obvious for grab and dash. So, I tend to watch my stuff like a hawk during those periods. Fortunately, the rest of the band tends to be around.

Where I have seen instruments disappear is from unlocked cars, where the player goes in for a last beer. Don’t do that.

 

[mikeswals]

Doesn't that negate the biggest reason people buy small amps?

Exactly. Doesnt make sense...
I carry my class D in my backpack with my show clothes.

 

[fdeck]

Thanks for a thoughtful reply!

As a reminder to anyone who needs it, I didn't say anything about playing rough places or dives (neither of which is a necessary precursor to theft, which is often simply a question of opportunity). I'm not currently doing either. It was just an observation that gear that is increasingly smaller, lighter, portable and more or less untethered logically makes an easier target. As surprised as many of you seem to be that I've considered that, I'm more surprised you haven't.

Also, as a reminder, the original post asked:

Aside from taking it to the bathroom with you between sets, what's everyone doing to secure a small amp head?! Hopefully there's something reasonably effective, convenient, and not too cobbled-together?

This doesn't sound like "just an observation." It sounds like the OP was actively considering doing something to secure their amp. The responses suggest that most people who have considered it, have come to the conclusion that doing nothing makes the most sense for their situation.

 

[joe_f]

Also, as a reminder, the original post asked:

This doesn't sound like "just an observation." It sounds like the OP was actively considering doing something to secure their amp. The responses suggest that most people who have considered it, have come to the conclusion that doing nothing makes the most sense for their situation.

OP doesn't have an amp to secure yet. OP was indeed making an observation: "When I see a small, lightweight head..." OP wrote in a casual, conversational tone and hoped it might inspire more of that and less pedantry. Nonetheless, OP has his answer. Thank you.

- OP

 

[Zbysek]

Ok, so who has given some thought to this? When I see a small, lightweight modern head, I instantly think of how quickly and easily it could grow legs and disappear from the bandstand. I've considered things like those thin, flexible bike wire chains to lock them to the cab handle, or the Kensington laptop things (basically the same stuff), for those amps with some kind of perforation or handle to loop through. I've seen ones attached to a washer that could go under one of the feet.

But this stuff is case by case. Aside from taking it to the bathroom with you between sets, what's everyone doing to secure a small amp head?! Hopefully there's something reasonably effective, convenient, and not too cobbled-together?

PS Experts have already informed me that carrots, tort, or flats won't work!

I don’t do anything specific to secure my small amps on the stage against theft. I just apply a reasonable amount of ordinary diligence: I don’t leave them on the band stand until the next day, I lock the car between trips when loading and unloading gear, etc.