One for the giggers - backup plan

[carfish7]

So, I may be joining the ranks of the gigging musicians again after a long layoff and have been pondering how best to gear up. The Hamers are a given, but I need a backup plan in case my amp takes a dump on me mid-show. I do have a little Laney LC15 1x10 combo that I lOVE the sound of, but have to think that some sort of floor processor might do the trick and save abuse to the Laney. I do have a TC Nova System that has a speaker sim program but have never tried it through a full-range setup. Maybe that would suffice? I have to think something that is also geared towards direct recording would offer better tones into a full-range setup though. POD? Laptop running Guitar Rig? I have played gigs with guys using those Vox Tonelab rigs and they seem to sound damn good straight into the P.A. too, but they are kinda big.......

It will take all I can summon strength-wise to tote "The Beast" (Mesa Heartbreaker combo) around to shows, so the smaller and lighter the better. Cheap is good, too.

Thanks!

[MCChris]

Get you a used Crate Power Block and run it through the Mesa's speakers if the need arises.

[tmsfo]

I've got a GK 250ML that I tote around for an emergency. Size of a lunch box, loud as f**k, will drive a 4x12 no problem and has a XLR out. Lacks bottom end with the stock speakers but you could beef it up through a PA. It even sounds ok.

[hamerhead]

Get you a used Crate Power Block and run it through the Mesa's speakers if the need arises.

I keep one in the car. It'll work in a pinch for drums, bass, or PA, too.

[Studio Custom]

Dare I say Axe Fx II?

[polara]

The TC Nova System doesn't have any sort of amp simulation. I love mine but it won't make anything you'd want to hear through a PA.

+1 on the PowerBlock. Or any compact, bulletproof, powerful clean SS head. I happen to have a 75-watt First Act I carry as a backup: one of the ones they made for the 15 minutes of so they tried selling giggable amps. It has the "v-stack" circuitry that was the "next big thing" until First Act bought the technology and the Gear Pagers en masse decided it suddenly sucked.

It gets the job done if the Black Pearl dies, but a PowerBlock makes more sense 'cos it's smaller. I just happened to find the FA for a little cheaper.

[Jeff R]

FYI, I saw a clean used Power Block at one of my local shops just last week, he just took it in on trade IIRC. Forget how much he was asking but it can't hurt to call. Call two-two-five-seven-nine-one-zero-zero-one-two and ask for Jody. Jody is(was) a longtime Hamer dealer and a superb player and he speaks our language, just with a hardcore Southern drawl. Tell him I sent you.

[django49]

Yes to the Power Block.....And it will almost fit in your pocket....Well, your lunch box anyway.

If you do need something a bit more self-contained (Like with its own speaker) those Tech 21 (solid state) are lightweight, have 2 channels and get surprisingly good sound, IMHO

[earachemyeye]

Shred has a power block that he totes instead of an amp. Not a bad sounding unit at all with his pedals. Gets my vote. I've got the Pod500HD which I run in 4 cable mode. I'm using it mainly for the effects but it has some pretty good amp sims too. I do use the Rectifier sim through my amps power section. It's killer. If things did go south, I could plug into the PA but I would have to program a bunch of sims just for that ( different output settings ect.). You probably could use the same sims for recording also. It's on my list of things to do which brings me to a point that has to be made about the Pod. It's a time consuming piece of gear with tons of options and settings to meddle and tinker with. Right up my alley. YMMV.

[backinit]

Orange Micro Terror. I played one through a PC212 (?) and was shocked. $150 out the door.

[Stike]

I'm another dude that totes a Power Block incase the A rig shits the bed. I'm toying with checking out a Zoom G3 or G5 for a versitle backup/grab n' go rig.

[velorush]

Anybody ever try one of these (click photo for specs)?

Just curious as I've never had the opportunity. Seems made for just what you're talking about.

[gtone]

Long & McQuade's in Canada currently has the Traynor Quarter Horse on sale for $119. Never tried one, but I've heard they make a great backup option.

Personally, I REALLY like Jennifer Connelly's Quarter Horse...

[burningyen]

I strongly suggest that your backup method should use the same speaker (or at least a similar speaker type) as your primary gig rig. So if you're a tube amp user, bring a backup head/Power Block/44 Magnum to run into your speaker. I would only recommend a backup modeler if you bring your own monitor, which probably means your primary rig is a modeling rig too. I used to keep a POD in my gigbag to back up my Bruno amps, but the one time I had to rely on it (the Bruno was DOA during soundcheck), the house PA and monitors sounded SO horrible I couldn't bring myself to do it. I had to hightail it to my bandmate's apartment, grab his BFDR and bring it back to the club. That was not a fun moment.

[Jakeboy]

I take a Tech 21 TRI AC to every gig in case my amp fails....just run a guitar cable out to the P A and the gig is saved. Sounds good too.

[RCM78]

I have a POD XT Live all set up with all my sounds if my amp goes down...

Oh, the TC Nova System DOES have speaker simulation built in so thats an option too...

[tomteriffic]

My back up is on the pedalboard as well. It's a Tech 21 Character Series Blonde. it takes a minute or two to re-patch some stuff and twiddle some knobs, but turn on the speaker emulator and there you are. I even skip the amp entirely for some small shows/stages.

[dogsrock]

Vox has a new pedalboard with a small footprint, stomplab. I think it's about $70.

[Teh]

Amp modeling has gotten pretty darned good lately. I picked up a Zoom G3 for clean effects on my acoustic rig and was blown away by the quality of the Fender and Marshall amp models. Nice set up, bright displays and very reasonably priced ($169 street). Btw, the other effects in the box are pretty darned good as well. Not quite as feature rich as my Boss GT-10, but to be fair I don't use 85% of the features available on that board.

Here's a link: http://www.zoom.co.jp/products/g3

[3of5]

I have an essentially unused Crate Power Block I would be happy to sell. PM me if you are interested. Have a Tech 21 Tri-AC too.

[Steve Haynie]

Premier Guitar did a Rig Rundown with the Late Night With David Letterman guitar and bass players. Felicia Collins has a Crate Power Block on top of her amp, and she talked about it. At the 23 minute mark she picks it up and refers to it as "single coil" when she should have said "solid state."

[Ting Ho Dung]

Last year after Christmas a friend of mine picked up a Fender Mustang "open box" for around fifty bucks at GC. He said there were several to choose from. I think he said it was 100 watts and he is quite impressed with the amp modeling. He said if he were gigging he'd use that and his favorite cab.

[kizanski]

Call two-two-five-seven-nine-one-zero-zero-one-two and ask for Jody. Jody is(was) a longtime Hamer dealer and a superb player and he speaks our language, just with a hardcore Southern drawl. Tell him I sent you.

+1!

Joe-DEE!!

(Also a long time Robin guy and Woody Harrelson impersonator)...

[MCChris]

[Brooks]

I strongly suggest that your backup method should use the same speaker (or at least a similar speaker type) as your primary gig rig. So if you're a tube amp user, bring a backup head/Power Block/44 Magnum to run into your speaker.

THIS. +4 (5?) for the powerblock (or similar small loud SS amp), use your same FX & speaker.

i used a PB & vox tonelab ST for awhile in the rush tribute.

[geoff_hartwell]

The power block is a great backup fo shizzle. I happen to also prefer solid state amps for my primary use (Roland JC).

I'm sure this will be an unpopular opinion, but I've used a roland micro cube direct into the PA (with my same pedals in front)

set to the roland JC model and LOVED it. Small Mackie mixer, and JBL Eon mains and monitors.

I use it on acoustic gigs weekly - Duotone acoustic into a loopstation direct to board, and electric pickups into the micro cube direct using the aux out. In that situation, I'm not crazy about their "classic" (marshall) and fender sims, but it's actually a killer 90-second-setup-rig, and it works great. In an electric situation (drummer, etc) using my regular pedals into the microcube-then-into-the-board has been surprisingly satisfying. I have to admit I love telling inquirers on a set break that it's a $60 practice amp.

In those situations it definitely helps keep the overall volume at a great level in a small place, being able to hear myself clearly through the floor monitor. And it's the size of a lunchbox. And it's red. Seriously, try it.