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Who here carries a back up amp with them?

#81
Because I use both EBG and upright, I'm always kind of backed up. The upright goes into a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-8 which is tiny but acts as a monitor with the DI going out through the PA. I play EBG through a bigger rig, backline and no PA, but if it ever quit I would just plug the EBG into the setup that I use for the upright.
 
#82
I've had a head overheat on stage and shut off (the fan in my Ampeg B2-R stopped). I used my Tech21 Sansamp to play the rest of the gig through the PA. If I had fame and fortune, I would bring a back up amp. In my case, I just bring a DI. The more serious you get though, the more you shouldn't have any excuses.
 
#83
musicpbass said:
Its an debatable subject.

I'm struggling not to, but, I sometimes get that uneasy feeling of "what if...." haha

Just curious to see who is and is not carrying a back up when gigging.
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I dont currently have a backup, but since I recently purchased a tube amp, I will probably be getting a solid state backup in the near future. I'm thinking like a Hartke LH500 or one of the old Peavey ss heads. A Deltabass or Firebass. Maybe even a Mark VIII.

I used to have a SVT II Pro and the tubes went out in the middle of a new year's eve gig. Very embarassing. Thank god we had hella PA support and a reliable Countryman DI. Saved the gig for me. Ever since then, tube amps requires me to have a ss backup 'just in case' lol.

Randy
 
#84
mustbampeg said:
I dont currently have a backup, but since I recently purchased a tube amp, I will probably be getting a solid state backup in the near future. I'm thinking like a Hartke LH500 or one of the old Peavey ss heads. A Deltabass or Firebass. Maybe even a Mark VIII.

I used to have a SVT II Pro and the tubes went out in the middle of a new year's eve gig. Very embarassing. Thank god we had hella PA support and a reliable Countryman DI. Saved the gig for me. Ever since then, tube amps requires me to have a ss backup 'just in case' lol.
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i've had as many problems with ss amps going out on me as tube amps, probably even more. using ss is no guarantee you'll make it through the night, either.
 
#86
I think of bringing a back up amp kind as being on par with bringing backup undies to a first date. Could definitely help in an emergency, but I'd consider it a pretty peculiar practice. (And bass amps cost a hell of a lot more money than undies.)

If you don't have the confidence that your amp will last the gig, I'd probably look to switch my gigging rigs.

Obviously this is gig-dependent. I PERSONALLY don't know anyone, except jazzers, who play without some kind of PA.

Thread like this remind me a little bit of the threads of people asking Jeff Berlin how many basses he owns. (To which he responded something along the lines of: 'I don't really see why you would need more than one bass, given that you can only play one at a time.')
 
#87
jeff is more representative of the pro musician mindset than most. you wouldn't believe how many pro musicians i work with that never bring a backup anything. that's why i have to laugh at threads like this when someone says something like "true professionals always have a backup." um, no they don't. some do, some don't. anyone who would say that obviously never spent much time around pro musicians.
 
#88
"Pro" can mean a lot of different things. I know pro players that can't be trusted to find their way to the bathroom let alone worry about backup gear.

Also, there are a whole lot of different types of gigs in the world. I end up doing a fair amount of small shows where we're providing our own PA and I never know who's showing up and with what gear. I always have a QSC K10 in the back of my car. Worst case scenario if my bass amp fails I can use that for bass, and it also can handle PA chores for a small room. For clubs that provide a backline, I don't worry at all - just bring my own DI and I'm set.
 
#90
I bring a spare bass in a gig bag. In the gig bag's pocket, I fit a micro head and a duplicate of every cable that I need (inst., AC power, XLR, extension cord).

I just throw the bag in the car with the rest of my gear. Most of the time, I never even open the bag. But if something fails, I know I have a back up.
 
#91
I like to bring a backup to gigs because it gives me peace of mind. I play through an Ampeg SVT CL and bring along a GK 700RB for backup. I will place the GK on top of my rig so I just have to plug the speakers and power cable in and I am off and running. I get some strange looks from some people but I don't mind.
 
#92
For about 5 years I never had a backup amp, other than a DI, mostly because I didn't have two amps... but now I have had a couple of failures due to overheating and blown fuses so I always bring a backup amplifier. These days my rig is a Reeves 225 with a Sunn Coliseum 300 as a backup. So while I gigged for years without any kind of backup, now that I have the amps, I don't see any reason not to carry a backup even though sometimes it's a little inconvenient.

I am pretty insistent about using a separate DI, instead of the line out from the head. That way, if something blows mid-song, the soundman has a working line, and you're out for a few seconds rather than possibly a whole song or worse.

I would like to eventually get a smaller, micro-type head for a backup, like maybe a GB Shuttle 9 or something similar, since the Sunn is fairly bulky. But as long as I've got a reliable DI, that'll get me through any situation I might find myself in.
 
#93
JimmyM said:
i've had as many problems with ss amps going out on me as tube amps, probably even more. using ss is no guarantee you'll make it through the night, either.
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Nope, but with one of each, ONE of them will probably work throughout the night, lol.
As a side note, I've never had a ss amp go kaput on me. And I've never had a Peavey ANYTHING go kaput on me. Probably why I am equating Peavey with reliability. Most of their older ss amps are not the best sounding (to me), but every one i've ever had worked every time i turned it on. Therefore, to me, that would make a reliable backup, imo.

Randy
 
#94
mustbampeg said:
Nope, but with one of each, ONE of them will probably work throughout the night, lol.
As a side note, I've never had a ss amp go kaput on me. And I've never had a Peavey ANYTHING go kaput on me. Probably why I am equating Peavey with reliability. Most of their older ss amps are not the best sounding (to me), but every one i've ever had worked every time i turned it on. Therefore, to me, that would make a reliable backup, imo.
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yeah, if only they sounded worth a crap ;)

actually, right around the mid-80's, peavey bass gear actually started getting good. so i could see the attraction. anything before that, pretty much from any brand...meh.
 
#95
As far as I.m concerned I am being paid to entertain and carry a spare even though that 4 pound head is taking up all kind of room and it is a terrible burden to have to run out to the car and get if I would need it or even a guitar player could use it and I have even used one as a power amp for monitors at one time! To me it is just common sense to Be Prepared!Also I would rather run out and get my spare than stand around with my Thumb up my <<< worrying about How I might finish or even start the gig!
 
#96
JimmyM said:
didn't used to, but lately i have just because my backup is so small and takes up so little room in the van. carry two svt's or two b-15's? no way! but i'll carry a small class d backup.
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Exactly the same here. -oh, hang on, mine isn't class D I don't think. :hiding:

Even if I'm using my Mesa Walkabout -which is a pretty lightly weighted amp- I take my so far 100% reliable, Mark Bass LMII with me to every gig.

Darn good sounding 'spare' if you ask me!! ;)
 
#97
musicpbass said:
Its an debatable subject.

I'm struggling not to, but, I sometimes get that uneasy feeling of "what if...." haha

Just curious to see who is and is not carrying a back up when gigging.
Click to expand...

I do not carry a back up amp. I dont even carry a primary amp. I carry a DI box, my bass, and my pedals. Ive never needed a backup anything. If a pedal doesnt work, I just take it out of the chain and fix it later. Easy, Simple, Load off my back.
 

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