Let me know next time you're playing so I can go see all those British amps in their glory.
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Who here carries a back up amp with them?
- Thread starter musicpbass
- Start date
Let me know next time you're playing so I can go see all those British amps in their glory.
I've been considering getting a micro amp to keep in my box with my pedals as a backup. Seems odd though because lots of guys just use a micro amp instead. Then what? Take two micro amps?
Since I just recently started using an Ampeg tube head, I started bringing along my GK 700 RB-II just in case. It pretty much just stays in the car, haven't needed it yet. Not that I don't trust the Ampeg, but it was used when I bought it and I've only gigged with it twice so far. There's also a SABBDI in my bag for worst-case scenario.
It will probably be during April in Loooeyville, KY.
I hate hauling all these amps and cabs during winter. We're actively working on new songs and soundscapes until then.
I do. When I redid my rig, I was using the Shuttle 9, but preferred the tone of a 400+, so I was set to sell the 9. After thinking about potential troubles with an all tube amp, however, I went and got spare fuses for the + and decided to keep the 9 in the rack with my main amp. 5 lbs and 2 rack spaces is a small price to pay for peace of mind knowing it's there if I ever need it.
For local gigs, I just take a DI as a backup - out of towners get a backup hauled along, although I've never had to use it... Of course, I only gig with SS or hybrids
- georgestrings
- georgestrings
Always bring a back up bass head as well as a distortion pedal; that way if a guitar amp goes down the bass head and a dirt box can get us through the gig
Now if we kill a speaker, that's a bigger problem
Now if we kill a speaker, that's a bigger problem
Usually bring my Genz Benz Shuttle, although I've never had a head prob, yet 2 cab problems - maybe I should be bringing a cab!
I just bring a DI box. If my amp fails, I go direct into the PA (which I do Anyway) and my vocal monitors become my bass amp
my main amp is 20 years old and never failed in the many years I've owned it, but if it did I would still be into the PA so I could finish out the set before switching to a small BGW 100 watt amp in my rack that I sometimes use to power a monitor for our drummer. I actually had a jack on my cab go bad, as well as a speaker taking a dump, and well...I don't bring spare cabinets 
I see people here who bring a "suitcase" full of this and that, and I have nothing against that as anyone should be prepared for the worst to an extent.
I also look at many threads here about "my SVT blew a fuse, my cords stopped working, my battery went dead, my J-pickup started buzzing, my strap felt loose, my shoes were too tight"...ok, that's fine of you want to bring a bag of tools, cords, batteries,fuses, straps, strings, 3 backup basses and an extra pair of shoes....
whatever makes you feel comfortable before you leave your house is your responsibility, so you bring what you must I suppose.
I see people here who bring a "suitcase" full of this and that, and I have nothing against that as anyone should be prepared for the worst to an extent.
I also look at many threads here about "my SVT blew a fuse, my cords stopped working, my battery went dead, my J-pickup started buzzing, my strap felt loose, my shoes were too tight"...ok, that's fine of you want to bring a bag of tools, cords, batteries,fuses, straps, strings, 3 backup basses and an extra pair of shoes....
whatever makes you feel comfortable before you leave your house is your responsibility, so you bring what you must I suppose.
In my 47 years of gigging, one thing I've learned for sure is - if you can take 2 (or heck, even 3) of something, you'll not regret it. I've had to grab spare heads, cabs, cords(all types instrument, mic, and speaker), guitars, mics, power amps (PA,) set lists, night light, show light bulbs, fuses, HD power extension cords and surge protectors, tarps and towells. Side note. The towells were used to block the run-off from a decorative fountain the we couldn't get turned off, and before the end of the gig had managed to make a stream to the band area. So yes Virginia, there is a need for a spare amp (among other things.) 
redundancy helps a lot with "the show must go on".... more stuff to carry, i guess, but we carry a spare bass amp (b2r in a small 2u case), a spare guitard amp (a fender frontman 65 that SUCKS, though not nearly as bad as direct into the PA), extra instruments, an extra small mixer in case the board take a dump, and even an extra snare drum. we all play through tube amps, and we have all (at one time or another) had some sort off mini-crisis with our amp that was almost completely negated by our having the spare equipment. cheap assurance!
I use to run an Edne Navigator through a WT1000 and always carried a WTX260 or WTX500 as a backup, and never needed them. Now I run a shuttle 9.0 and have a DI in case of emergency. I always have PA support.
It really depends on the gig. If it's with my cover band where we are the show for the night then yes, I bring a little micro head just in case. If it's for one of my other project where we're typically one of multiple bands on the night then no, I'll usually have a DI, but I don't feel the need to carry the extra head.
That was me (and I'm sure most of us) for a while.
That was me (and I'm sure most of us) for a while.
I take two amps to every gig. Combined weight: 32.3 lbs. Easy to transport. Small price to pay to look professional. I play either one, depending.
