Do you REALLY gig with backups?

everdrone

everdrone

New member
Really? I mean, I see shows all the time where the guitar amp goes out, and the dude says "show is over"! just happened last weekend at the Bay of Pigs doom show at Nightrocker club http://www.reverbnation.com/bayofpigs420 ...I see guitarists "strap" go out and he has no backup guitar, and his set is usually over in 15 minutes since sets last like 35 minutes these days anyway and he ain't going to his car that may have already been pinpointed for carjackingz (?)

any thoughts insights comments on gigging with backups is welcome :beerchug:
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I've had to do it before...back in the days when I gigged with my bassman I had what turned out to be a minor issue so I had to plug into my back up, I'm glad I had another bassman at the time!!!
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

hmm
this is how I met Dr Hook
they were playing at a local club
and just as my buddy and I walked to the door
the bass players head died
we went back grabbed a head and saved the show

my buddy and I were "with the band" the rest of the night

great evening

guess they didn’t have backups
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I think today it's easier than ever. Seriously...

Into "classic" sounds like Fender, Vox, Orange -- Tech 21
Into "modern" sounds like ENGL, Soldano, Peavey -- AMT Electronics
Want to use your own pedalboard? Electro Harmonix Power amps

I've seen Tech 21 pedals go as low as $70, AMT is a newer company but I have still seen pedals sell at $100. The EH stuff isn't expensive...

Of course you need something to plug into but generally you will not have a problem finding somewhere to plug in. Whether it be a PA or a crappy solid state, or another persons amp.

(And I know those are generalizations with the Tech 21/AMT stuff, both companies have some products in the other ranges, but just as a quick reference. :) )
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

Backup for everything...No, that's just not practical. For those things that most often fail, Yes: Extra strings for the guitar, instrument and speaker cables, mics, and a Crate Power Block amp w/ a Digitech RP355, plus the ability to "tap into" the main amp's speaker(s).

But: No PA back up and no guitar backup. Never had a guitar "fail" except for strings (I know it is possible), and it's just too inconvenient to have a backup PA just-in-case.

This is from the perspective of a 'local' band doing the small to medium local venues. It would be much different for full-time, touring professionals.
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I've always (9 times out of 10 anyway) taken more than 1 guitar to a gig, and I have spare cables/picks etc in my bag, but it's only recently I've started taking a spare amp.

In 14 years of gigging and rehearsing I've never had an amp fail on me, but since the valves went in my Splawn (they were just old, no issue) at rehearsal a few months back, I've started taking an Orange Micro Terror as a backup. Obviously it doesn't sound as good as my main amps, but it's loud enough through a mic'd cab to allow me to carry on and also doesn't take up much space in my bag.
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I have never ever taken two amps to a gig. I think one needs to keep perspective on what type of gig we're talking about as well. If the gig is very large such that you're being paid a good chunk of money to perform, then yes, I might think about making sure I can deliver 100% on that performance. Now, for a local band playing local bar being paid peanuts: Is your time worth dragging two sets of equipment around?

Should you carry a few spare tubes and cables? Yes. However, if your amp is so flaky that you worry it may suffer a catastrophic meltdown mid-performance then you sir, need a new amp.
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I always take 2 guitars, spare leads, strings and the good old Crate Power Block. In the 3 or so years I've had the power block I've only had to use it once when a near new top drawer handwired amp decided it was going to make strange noises all on it's own and my band mate has used it 2 or 3 times. I keep my CrunchBox in my lead box to use with it just in case now as I can still sound pretty good with just the CB/ PowerBlock. For how little space it takes up it's a no brainer for me.
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I take an old Zoom 3030 and my Plexitone prototype in a case whenever I gig so that I can always push something through the PA if my amp dies. If my pedalboard was to go then I'd just put the plexitone into the front of my amp. The Blackstar HT-Dual on my board also has an emulated output so I'm pretty much covered. Worse case scenario is that I could pull the Blackstar off my board (it has its own PSU) and put that straight into the PA. Although my guitars cover different sounds, I usually take 2 with me. My Tele bridges the gap between my Legacy and my Esprit.
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I have to say though that the Orange Micro Terror looks like a good buy as a backup amp... :D
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

Last major failure I experienced was the PA amp. The singer has a powered monitor and, as it was a small pub, we were able to get away with it. In general there's no way we can afford to have back ups for everything and there's no room in our van to carry it if we did. I always take 2 guitars in case of a string break but can't remember the last time I broke a string. However, last night at rehearsal my amp went down - usable but a horrible whistling sound that sounds like a pre-amp tube has gone. A reminder to at least carry my Blackstar pedal around with me as it can go through the PA.
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

where we play most places have a pa available so were not bringing any backups for that, but my orange jim root terror is the perfect backup amp for me. small, heavy as hell sounding, and through a 412 with no mic you can still hear it over the drums. i have a backup guitar but only bring it for tours
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

LatsMcGee said:
I've had to do it before...back in the days when I gigged with my bassman I had what turned out to be a minor issue so I had to plug into my back up, I'm glad I had another bassman at the time!!!
Click to expand...

You were carrying two bassmans?

:eyecrazy:

Vow ...

I could not (effectively) carry one, and that was one of the reasons (apart from the 10" speaker deal) I let mine go...

B
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I most often gig with several guitars for various tunings and tones plus I gig with a stereo amp set up so if at any time a guitar or amp takes a dump I can just swap guitars or kill the power to the amp that's acting up and keep on playing. My board s set up in such a way that I can bypass the entire thing I need be and keep on playing, every guitar has it's own strap, I take a dozen or so picks to a gig, 2 capos and 2 slides as well as batteries, spare patch cables and more long cables than I'd ever need at one gig.

So, yeah...I'm covered!
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I have gigged a barbeque with a backup guitar. And used it - back in action mid song.
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

Always bring backup guitars, only bring a backup amp when on tour (covers me and the other guitarists ass) but never had to use it on tour so far. I had an amp go only once at a show I was playing (day after I got it back from the shop too...) and I just used the opening bands head for the rest of the show, no biggie.
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

I do not gig with a backup for EVERYTHING, as some ppl have stated. If my phase shifter fritzes out, for example, I will just do without. I do have 2 amps and 2 guitars for most gigs, tho, just in case. I do not bring a backup cab, either.
 
Re: Do you REALLY gig with backups?

Crate Power Block used to just live in my jeep but that's it. I wouldn't even take it inside the club. If I'm only making 100 bucks for 4 sets and hauling in the PA then I'm not getting paid enough to lug too much extra stuff.
 
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