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.
Ways to lock up an amp head?
- Thread starter Johnny_Paps
- Start date
Last edited:
Take it home, dude.
If you're worried about it, then you always will be.
- What if someone uses my amp when I'm not there? I can lock out the input jack.
- ...but what it someone tries to use the power section?
- ...but what if they turn on the amp and mess around with it, trying to figure out how they can get it to work? Well, I can lock out the AC power.
- ...but what if someone wants to use the cab and goes to disconnect the head, and so they move the head off of the cab and damage it? Well, I can lock down the head to the cab somehow so that it can't be moved.
- ...but then what if someone puts a beer on top of the head, and it spills during practice? Oh poopie! Well, maybe a full road case.
- ...but what if someone doesn't know what's inside the road case and mishandles it even though it's really heavy? Well...
Get an Ampeg solid-state rackmount for the practice room, use the SVT for gigs. and don't look back.
I used to just take the power cord (on my Musicman HD 130 I shortened the cord to 12" which made a grounded extension cord necessary) and speaker cable.
That way, there was no question I didn't want it used as the would-be scrounger would have to go out of their way to do so. No one I associated with was that disreputable.
I also turned the rig to face the wall and put a cover over it.
That way, there was no question I didn't want it used as the would-be scrounger would have to go out of their way to do so. No one I associated with was that disreputable.
I also turned the rig to face the wall and put a cover over it.
This. No spilled beer damage, either. Goodwill is a great place to find a used footlocker.
I'd take that one home (probably leave it there too), granted it's 80 lbs (300 CL) 85 lbs (50th Anniversary/Vintage Reissue 300's). A $ 2-3K amp head alone is too tempting for theft. But I'd also get a lighter weight solid state for practice sessions instead. The tube amp would be for the actual show. Even there, if you can get away with lighter solid state/digital amp, BA or RB, you're still going to worry about damage, theft or just the unauthorized use.
I'll give idea for alternative approach.
Get some cheap usee amp head, put it on top of your nice Amped, and tell drummer it's OK to use that backup amp.
His friends will be happy they have something to play with and leave your Ampeg alone.
Get some cheap usee amp head, put it on top of your nice Amped, and tell drummer it's OK to use that backup amp.
His friends will be happy they have something to play with and leave your Ampeg alone.
Probably easier to just have a conversation with your band. If your main concern is your drummer might bring random people, etc. Then I’d simply just have a chat saying you have concerns about the safety of your gear when that happens.
I can’t think of any secure ways to “lock up” your amp. That does not involve buying something to put it in.
But if you can find a used pelican case that it fits in, that’s what I use to use to transport mine, it also has places to put padlocks.
I can’t think of any secure ways to “lock up” your amp. That does not involve buying something to put it in.
But if you can find a used pelican case that it fits in, that’s what I use to use to transport mine, it also has places to put padlocks.
This is a case of wanting you cake and wanting to eat it too.
Locking the amp in any way in an unalarmed building will only keep the honest folks away.
I’m in the camp of the honest folks, but I have the tools and skills to cut through ANYTHING.
Lug the head or get a light one for rehearsal.
I lugged a Sunn ModelT when there were few options (limited by by funds).
Locking the amp in any way in an unalarmed building will only keep the honest folks away.
I’m in the camp of the honest folks, but I have the tools and skills to cut through ANYTHING.
Lug the head or get a light one for rehearsal.
I lugged a Sunn ModelT when there were few options (limited by by funds).
As many have already suggested - I would take any item home if there’s any doubt or suspicion that it may be used by other parties. Do you really need such a huge rig for rehearsals?
A few years ago I went to use a combo of mine which had been left in a similar situation and it wouldn’t work, when I took it in to have it checked out the technician said that that someone had burnt out the preamp by possibly putting something like a speaker out cable into the input socket.
A few years ago I went to use a combo of mine which had been left in a similar situation and it wouldn’t work, when I took it in to have it checked out the technician said that that someone had burnt out the preamp by possibly putting something like a speaker out cable into the input socket.
Talk to the drummer and set limits, turn your amp around between practices so it’s “off limits”. If you put a lock on it without talking to the drummer you’re going to look bad to the other guys. It’s a rehearsal space, things in it are for rehearsal, would be their thinking. If talking and communicating doesn’t do the job, you’re going to walk into rehearsal to find a locked power cord and a missing amp.
I would play with people I trust not to mess with my stuff. but thats just me
Someone else mentioned this but consider getting a cheap head to leave there and only bring the SVT out for shows. You lose the ability to hear what you will sound like live in a practice context but I'm sure you can get a close enough working tone with something else. This also saves you from having to ever carry it up and down the two flights of stairs.
I remember the days of having a rehearsal space on the 4th floor of a building. Nothing like loading your gear back in after a gig at 2am! The worst was the Fender Rhodes!
Anyway, If you're worried about people using the amp and ruining something I like the idea of removing the fuse. If you're worried about someone stealing the thing I'd try a bike lock. The cable type. Maybe wrap it through the handles on the side and through the towel bar on the back of the cab (assuming you have an 810) Good luck!
Anyway, If you're worried about people using the amp and ruining something I like the idea of removing the fuse. If you're worried about someone stealing the thing I'd try a bike lock. The cable type. Maybe wrap it through the handles on the side and through the towel bar on the back of the cab (assuming you have an 810) Good luck!
I wonder if there's a market for dummy 1/4" and Speakon plugs that lock into the jack and can only be removed with a key. Then again, if they existed, the "Lock Picking Lawyer" on YouTube would put up a video on how to defeat it. 
Get a tool bag that fits and padlock the handles together.
Nothing you can do to prevent it from being stolen. A lock will only slow a thief down. Cords can be cut, locks can be cut and a locked cabinet can be taken away to be opened at leisure. If you are concerned about theft, don't leave anything in a shared, uncontrolled space you are not willing to lose.
