Who here carries a back up amp with them?

[bassplayer7770]

When I had a Peavey Pro Bass 500, I would take it as a backup. These days, if my Crown/BBE rig were to crap out, I'd have to just go direct to the PA. I do have another preamp, but I don't bring it to gigs.

 

[Vintage Guy]

I have a Carvin 6 space rack. In it is a Carvin Redline 1000,a Carvin Redline 600,and my Korg tuner. If one amp dies,just switch speaker cables and power cord and go. It weighs a ton but worth having it ready to go.

 

[countrybassist]

I carry a LMII to backup my SVT

 

[nutdog]

No. Worst case I could plug into PA. We did a wedding reception once and in the middle of a song I noticed the the bass drum dropped out. The drummer was using a lot of floor tom. His pedal broke. He didn't have a backup. We took a break and duct taped it. Wish I took a picture. It was kind of comical at the time, but it worked.

I guess my point is you can only be so backed up, unless you're willing to carry two of everything. Which some may wish to do. And I could see how this would be a very professional attitude. But I'm not professional enough to carry two basses, two amps, double cabs, two PA's, two drum sets, etc., etc...

And with my luck, the power would go out. Guess I need to pack a generator. No, wait, two generators.

 

[MegaSwing]

Problem with using the PA as a backup is that every group can't hook you up that way, for whatever reason. However, when it is available it is a clean, simple fix.

 

[bassplayer7770]

Problem with using the PA as a backup is that every group can't hook you up that way, for whatever reason. However, when it is available it is a clean, simple fix.

My band uses our own PA (unless the venue provides it) and an in-ear monitor system, so going direct really wouldn't be a big deal for us.

 

[bigtexashonk]

I've had only one amp failure ever, but it's a situation I never want to experience again. For all but very small gigs, I carry a LMII as backup to a Thunderfunk TFB750. Small, light and great insurance.

 

[Humabass]

I always bring an Ibanez Promethean head as backup for my
Epifani UL902.

 

[MoeTown1986]

i carry a eden nemesis 320 backup and have actually had to use it. something went out on my hartke 3500 during sound check. forgot what it was but it was like a $10 easy fix. some little capacitor or something. thank god because i absolutly LOVE that Hartke head!

 

[coreyfyfe]

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.

I think the combined weight of my two heads is like 97 lbs but it's a bit off-balance as it's 90 + 7

 

[chokeslam512]

With all the lightweight micro heads, why not? I gig with my shuttle 12.0 which has two power sections (in essence a backup within itself.) I take along my GBE 600 as backup also.

 

[Corevalay]

A backup is never a bad thing to have. The worst thing that can happen is you don't use it.

+1

 

[brianrost]

I used to always carry a spare. The only times it got used was when one of the guitar amps died. After a few years I decided not to bother with a backup.

Since then, the one time in 30 years of gigs that my amp died (due to a tube failure) I just DIed into the PA and kept playing.

I do carry a DI, fuses and spare cables, but that's all.

 

[fokof]

I often bring my monitor on a IEM gig as a backup.

 

[OriginalSnub]

I always bring one and it saved me last week when someone dropped my main amp which may or may not still work. The LMII fits in my backpack with the cables, batteries, etc so I'm still making the same number of trips to the car.

 

[joshwilkesbooth]

I carry a Sansamp Bass Driver DI as a backup.

 

[etoncrow]

I carry a Euphonic-Audio Micro iAmp 300 to back-up a Euphonic-Audio Micro iAmp 550

 

[6jase5]

Just a DI for me. I watched a bass player blip out his Eden rig. They plugged him in direct, took about 3 minutes and he was back up and running and it sounded much better for the remaining 3 songs. I politely told him afterwards and he responded with "I know I know, kinda makes you wonder don't you think?"

 

[MrRumble]

I bring both of my Eden WT 405's and 2 basses. Ya never know when one will crap out on stage.

 

[tombowlus]

I generally carry a backup. The GK MB200 is ridiculously cool in this role, as it's quite affordable, fits almost anywhere, has a DI and also offers surprising volume.