Gigging question - spare valves or spare amp?

[Twinfan]

I've got fuses/kettle lead but I think I'll grab a spare set of valves and leave it at that  :D

[psy]

I always take my Crate Powerblock as a back up head for gigs.  It's nothing fancy, but sounds ok & is small (& light) enough to fit in holdall I take my FX & leads to gigs in.  *touch wood* never actually had to swap heads during a gig so far. :)

[Dazza1004]

I've been considering one of those new 20 watt orange micro heads, they are tiny.

Need to do a bit more homework though and make sure it would be up to the job, failing that an ehx magnum 44 looks like an option

[Frank]

Not really a backup but with a stereo power amp I know that if one half dies for any reason then the other half will keep chugging away.

[HTH AMPS]

I've recently integrated a Digitech RP-6 multi effects into my rig for delays, chorus etc... and it doubles up as a backup straight into the desk in a worst-case scenario.  I do have a Boogie Studio Preamp which sounds great into the desk, but its not yet in our rack.  Once it is, that will be my main backup.  Our set-up is quite full on though with racks of gear, a 4k RCF rig (tops and subs), A&H G3 desk, rack with compressors/gates, EQ, reverbs, stage-boxes/looms plus monitors.

[darkbluemurder]

I used both a spare amp and spare tubes - but during the last year of gigging I only brought one guitar.

Cheers Stephan

[Telerocker]

I used both a spare amp and spare tubes - but during the last year of gigging I only brought one guitar.

Cheers Stephan

One guitar could be tricky if you break a string. I usually never break strings, but in december at a gig, I broke two strings on my main- and backupguitar. Bad luck, the band played one song without me to give me time to replace one string.

[darkbluemurder]

Yes, that is a risk I was taking. I never broke a string when I managed to put on a new set for the gig - it only happened to me on a back-to-back gig where I did use the same guitar both days without changing strings in between.

Cheers Stephan

[Telerocker]

I usually do two, three gigs with a set of strings, though I clean them afterwards at once. Tonally, I like a played in set better then a total fresh one, at the risk of breaking one, but I seldom do.

[Twinfan]

Right - just heading out to the gig now with a stripped down rig.  Gulp.  Let's see how it goes Phil X style....

[Ian Price]

Good luck mate!

Remember to try the 'guitar spin' out!

[d1dsj]

I always take a Crate powerblock as a back up. To be honest with a few choice pedals it sounds pretty darn good and it has come in handy a few times over the past few years, mainly for my band mate and other bands who have had problems. 

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Just picked up one of those new Marshall JMP 1 combos, sounds great. Got the combo so if my main head dies, I can go into the 4x12, and if for some reason a speaker blows, I can just mic up the speaker in the JMP. Great little practice/spare amp, I love it. I would never gig without a backup amp, you never know who's watching, and if that person sees an unprepared band, that's never good!

[gwEm]

Right - just heading out to the gig now with a stripped down rig.  Gulp.  Let's see how it goes Phil X style....

Have good one :)

[Twinfan]

Cheers folks - it went great  :)  I didn't try "the spin" Ian, snapped headstocks on Private Stock PRSs aren't a great idea  :roll:  :lol:

The only thing I really missed was a proper solo volume jump, but as I don't have loads of them (and with us being a four piece with one guitar) I don't think I really need one.  The 65 Amps London Pro was faultless and I really enjoyed the simplicity.

I may well use that approach again...