Louie7
Joined: Jan 30, 2007
Posts: 448
50,000 Light-Years Beyond Planet Claire
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 10:14 AM
The whole concept of taking a backup guitar and/or amp to gigs is fairly new to me. (like the last 5 years).
I think I played the bulk of my career without any regard to backup.
On the other hand, I usually take two guitars with me anyway, for a variety of reasons.
I might need a different sound or type of guitar for certain songs, etc.
But the idea of hauling a backup amp, to me, is unwelcome. Dragging one beast is painful enough.
I will toss an extra amp head in the station wagon IF there's any reason to suspect that my gig amp may crap out on me (unusual).
I know a lot of you young bucks have energy to spare and think nothing of filling the SUV with every amp and guitar you own. haha, but I remember the 'smaller is better' revolution; although I'm not personally a total minimalist.
Comments ?
Louie
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 10:41 AM
Hauling a backup amp is a waste of space in the van. It just wouldn't fit. Backup guitars are necessary. What if you lose a saddle screw, trem plate falls off(has happened to me), or break a string? The show would be an absolute failure if you had to change a string in mid set. Nobody wants to wait for a restringing.
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2682
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 10:56 AM
At a Slacktone show at the Lava Lounge, Dave's Slacktone amp died. It turned out to be a bad rectifier tube. Luckily he had a second amp, a Super Reverb on hand. It happened to me once too, turned out to be a cracked solder joint (damn PC boards). Minor problem but no sound. Anyway I am now paranoid even though I only rarely play out.
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IronMaiden
Joined: Nov 02, 2006
Posts: 564
Virginia Beach
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 11:11 AM
Yeah, screw that...Maybe if I were Dave Slacktone (or any pro)I would but Im just some idiot playing in a bar and if my amp breaks I would probably start crying and go home and not worry about the gig.
Definitley good to have another guitar though if not for anything else but string breakage.
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SurfBandBill
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 12:02 PM
I always bring at least one extra guitar to shows with me. Also, since I picked up my PowerBlock, I just throw that in my merch box in case my Showman poops out.
~B~
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Surfgitar
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1342
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 02:53 PM
I bring neither a spare guitar (even though I own 9) nor a spare amp (even though I own 3). But it's on my list of things to do.
— CUTBACK
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11050
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 02:59 PM
I echo Bill. $100 powerblock, cheaper then most decent pedals these days. It's rare that the speaker goes bad, so you're generally covered with the Crate. FWIW: I always bring 2 guitars, as I often break a string. I just get so excited....
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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Anonymous
Joined: Nov 10, 2000
Posts: -180
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 03:05 PM
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P2gee
Joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 264
Waco Texas
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 06:55 PM
Well the only gigs I play are in my bedroom, so if my guitar or amp takes a squat, I just turn out the lights and go to bed. But if I was in a situation of playing money gigs no doubt about bringing a second axe. I can understand hauling a second amp can be quite a chore, the few times I hauled my Pro Reverb to friends garage jams got old real quick. Still, in a money paying situation, I think I would at least carry some kind of single 12 practice type amp that would at least make some sound. Dealt with enough electronics subject to cyclical vibrations to known that failure WILL come usually at the most inopertune time.
— 2012-2013: FILTHY POLAROIDS
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estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 10:56 PM
Another vote for the Crate Powerblock here. I've had one since they came out (though it cost me a lot more than $100 with the postage from the US and the import tax) - very handy to carry as a backup and actually a pretty good sounding amp for a solid-state.
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
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Sonichris
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 1892
Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 11:22 PM
I always carry another guitar, but never a back-up amp. so far, burned up an amp twice - once it was a speaker, the next was a tube. I've never had a guitar problem. Maybe I should reverse my thinking. Carry a spare amp, and only one guitar.
Chris
— "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"
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HBkahuna
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1778
Star, Idaho. Formerly lived in Surf City USA.
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Posted on Apr 19 2007 11:42 PM
One of the things I have been noticing at local gigs lately are reverb tanks going toes up.
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Louie7
Joined: Jan 30, 2007
Posts: 448
50,000 Light-Years Beyond Planet Claire
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Posted on Apr 20 2007 09:59 AM
whew who can afford multiple tanks?
L7
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HBkahuna
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1778
Star, Idaho. Formerly lived in Surf City USA.
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Posted on Apr 20 2007 12:29 PM
Someone always seems to have a spare tank in their car. It's so cal...
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SurfBandBill
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
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Posted on Apr 20 2007 01:14 PM
I never bring a spare tank. While I have a backup in the garage, I am of the mindset that it would risk more damage in all the back-and-forth transit, and I'd rather have one I KNOW works while I trouble shoot on one that poops out.
~B~
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spskins
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3770
tn
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Posted on Apr 20 2007 01:43 PM
We have a friend in Portland that has a tank and barely ever uses it. It's gotten to the point where if he sees that we have one of our annual shows coming up, he just drops it off with Scott. One out three tanks is always having trouble.
— http://www.satanspilgrims.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25547
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Apr 20 2007 01:47 PM
I know that no pedal can replicate a tank sound, but everybody should have a pedal they can live with for the rest of the show, if their tank goes out on them.
Just like the Power block is not a showman tube amp, but can get you by if need be.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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PhatTele
Joined: Jun 05, 2006
Posts: 445
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Posted on Apr 20 2007 01:51 PM
I play through a Vibroclone (1x15 Bandmaster Reverb with Twin OT) for big gigs or a sup-ed up 1x12 6L6 Princeton Reverb for small gigs. I keep a Holy Grail reverb on my board and a BF Bassman head as a backup (along with cables to run the combo's speakers). It'll sound fine running a 2, 4, or 8 ohm load and the Holy Grail sounds fine live.
2 guitars too...
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TvD
Joined: Mar 03, 2006
Posts: 81
Toronto
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Posted on Apr 20 2007 02:06 PM
It's been a while, but there was a time when I couldn't go more than 10 songs or so without breaking as string. I don't go anywhere without a spare guitar.
—
Trevor von Drat
http://www.myspace.com/vondrats
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Redd_Tyde
Joined: Apr 23, 2006
Posts: 260
Oceanside, CA
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Posted on Apr 20 2007 04:09 PM
I have been dragging around a Line 6 FloorPod. If something craps out. I can either pulg into house sound or through one of the lines on the keyboard amps and finish things out.
I bring 2 guitars ony becuase the other guitarist doesn't.
_RT
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December Birthdays 
BACKUP 
I DONT NEED NO STINKIN BACKUP 
