Good backup rigs

[OlinMusic]

I never use a backup. I sometimes take my Crate Powerblock with me. I was about to sell it.

I watched Metal Skool go thru a meltdown once and switch to a Line 6 head. I watched it happen to Panic Channel with D. Navarro. This is my first time with a problem in front of people ever... and I have played more than a few years.

In regards to my fuse blowing post...

What are your ideas for good backup rigs?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Good backup rigs

My backup at the practice when my Marshall went was the keyboardist's guitar amp. He couldn't make it that night so I just plugged in.

But once things get going with a new project that's in the works, the Vox AD50 is the main amp, Marshall Lead 12 through the board via an Ultra-G DI box as backup.

Always always always have a backup at gigs, even if it's a 10 watt combo that you throw a mic in front of.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Good backup rigs

my band takes a 50 watt Jansen bassman (think 60s locally produced blackface bassman clone) head with us as backup. It can replace either the guitar head or bass head.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Good backup rigs

Depending on the amp I am using, I will usually make sure I have gone thru it fairly well. I can use either a Marshall 900, a Super Reverb, Deluxe Reverb or my Bogner Shiva. The Super I have never had a problem with, or my Deluxe. The Marshall is pretty solid also. The Shiva is 2 new to really judge it, but I doubt it will be unreliable, it would be my first choice.

I would always travel with a Spare amp and a hand full of fuses. If you blow a speaker, go to the "other amp". If you blow a fuse, switch to the other amp and change it as soon as you can.

 

[V!N]

Re: Good backup rigs

If something bad would happen, I'd ask the support act / the band we're supporting if they had anything I could borrow. :smokin:

 

[34029324079]

Re: Good backup rigs

you could take tubes/fuses/amp simulator like a Pod and plug through the PA.

otherwise I recommend a solid state marshall head (under $300) - cheap and reliable and less chance it will get stolen.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Good backup rigs

i have a yamaha dg stomp preamp (w/ speaker models) that i toss in the bag ... i can always send it to the FOH via the snake and listen thru the monitors is i have to ... or i can send it thru my carvin mini PA thing that i use for the piezo and synth ... if the carvin went, i'd just bail on the synth / piezo parts and play them on electric

but my main amp is a solid state fender - pretty bullet proof

good thread idea!

t4d

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Good backup rigs

I think that Crate Power Block is probably all the backup you need. If I were gigging, in addition to my real amp, I'd take my V-amp.

 

[B2D]

Re: Good backup rigs

I usually do not take a backup amp to gigs (I should but it's hard when you have limited space and time) but I take at least one backup guitar.

I have a Carvin Legacy and a Peavey Classic 50.

 

[joelap]

Re: Good backup rigs

^ was also going to say Crate Powerblock and/or Behringer V-Amp. I've got a pedal I'm building known as the Dr. Boogey which is basically a Mesa Dual rectifier circuitry, just instead of tubes it uses Jfets. Basically sounds 95% alike a real Dual Rectifier. If I was ever gigging for money, I'd build a cab sim and use my Dr. Boogey into the cab sim into the mixing board, or the powerblock assuming my speakers werent the problem.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Good backup rigs

^ was also going to say Crate Powerblock and/or Behringer V-Amp. I've got a pedal I'm building known as the Dr. Boogey which is basically a Mesa Dual rectifier circuitry, just instead of tubes it uses Jfets. Basically sounds 95% alike a real Dual Rectifier. If I was ever gigging for money, I'd build a cab sim and use my Dr. Boogey into the cab sim into the mixing board, or the powerblock assuming my speakers werent the problem.

Get the Behringer Ultra-G, cab sim issue solved. The Dr. Boogey is awesome. I'm not a mesa fan but that pedal kicks serious butt. That with the Ultra-G in to the board would sound excellent.

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: Good backup rigs

The other guitarist in my band had his head go down once on him for some unknown reason (B52 SS crap), and ended up using one of the opening acts heads. Usually, there's no problem grabbing stuff from an opening band or something if crap does go wrong.

That said, I've always had my PODxt in my bag when gigging.

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: Good backup rigs

I have a pignose 45 watt 1x12 all tube combo that's tiny, weighs only about 25 lbs, I throw it in the car just in case.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Good backup rigs

I can always plug my GT-8 into the board if my power section dies. If everything goes ape, I just plug my BK Butler Real Tube II preamp into an old H&K Redbox and deal.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Good backup rigs

Hmm Solid State Marshall or perhaps a Line 6 combo?


Riff, the Pignose sounds VERRRY interesting - how does it sound in terms of tone?

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Good backup rigs

Lately, I have been taking a Mesa DC-3 to backup my Mark IV--and a couple times, I wound up using it rather than the Mark IV. I carry extra tubes and fuses, too.

When first moved to Portland from Seattle, I had a really embarrassing moment at a jam session when my recently re-tubed Mark III combo suffered a short in the V1 preamp tube--causing the most psychedelic wailing and moaning you've ever heard!

I was totally embarrassed; but three other lead guitarists wanted to know how I got that sound! (Just kidding!)

Bill