Spare/backup equipment

Billy Murdoch · From: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.

When I bought my first pedal steel My finances were stretched and I had to wait for a while to get a decent amp.
I had the necessary bar,picks and leads and cheap volume pedal.I also had a few strings(not many)
As I matured (age and steelwise)I got better equipment,I then purchased several sets of strings for stock,a backup volume pedal and another steel tone bar and another guitar.
Effectwise I have a reverb stomp,a delay stomp a Peavey Profex two tuners and several leads.
Other than the odd lead going faulty,none of My gear has ever let Me down.
I admit that a lot of My gear has evolved from upgrading.
I wonder just how much "Backup" gear the average player needs.
How much do YOU think?
Your comments will be very welcome.
Best regards
Billy

Joe Gretz · From: Washington, DC, USA

The rule I was taught and always try to follow is this: If you can't do the gig without it, bring at LEAST one spare. That means a spare for EVERYTHING! You only have to go without something ONCE to learn the value of backup gear!

"It is better to have and not need, than to need and not have."

Don't be lulled into complacency. Always bring the spares!

Believe it or not, I keep a few other critical items in my truck: like spare drum sticks, a snare head, guitar and bass strings, cables, batteries, and a mic stand, etc...I actually keep an SM57 in the glove box!!! Laughing

I have saved OTHER peoples gigs!!! I'm talking about shows I was in the audience for!!!

Joe
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Dattebayo!!!

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

A back-up amp would be wise, and of course double everything else like picks and bars etc.
I run pods these days, and have a couple of back-up ones pre programmed, havent needed one though, been using them 6 years or so, i would'nt carry around a spare steel, but one set up at home is nice, and one for the road. My practice rig is the same as my live rig pretty much.

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Well Billy as you know I have 2 complete setups.. one guitar usually remains setup at home so I can sit down to it when ever I feel like it. But recently I played a big National Rodeo gig where we had to set up 2 complete stages with no chance to breakdown and shift gear. So I use that example as an excuse to justify the amount of gear I have.

I always carry a spare strings, bar/picks and volume pedal, and power cables, plug box etc.... but I very rarely carry a spare amp unless I am travelling a fair way from home. Like you, my equipment is top line stuff and not prone to breaking down on the job - which is why I have what I have !
Zumsteel and Peavey have never failed me yet !!!
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14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Even when I played tube amps exclusively, I never carried a spare amp. And until about 15 years ago, I never had more than one guitar. Picks, cords, and strings, sure. But if your "major items" are prone to breakage, quitting, and/or other problems, you're playing with the wrong stuff (or possibly not taking care of what you have).

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

For years, I had nothing more than my Fender T-8 and the Fender Bassman 4x10's. NEVER had a problem.

Thence came the Bigsby and the same olde reliable amp. Again, NEVER a problem.

I always bought NEW and top o'the line equipment and feel it was the right decision.

The worst problem I've encountered was when some BIG FOOTED jerk would stomp on a cord and break it internally. Once replaced, never a problem.

Others I'd played with had loud hummms from their amps, static from their guitars or cords, and recorruing problems. I've seen many a Fender tube amp get jerked off of a fold-up chair on the bandstand and once the DUST had settled, it went right on playing with so much as a hiccup.

Joe Gretz · From: Washington, DC, USA

My gear doesn't fail. I haven't had a malfunction on a gig (except for broken strings) in the last fifteen years (give or take). I still bring the spare gear...every time. Every time!

As a leader, it's imperative. "THE SHOW MUST GO ON!"

As a sideman, how do you explain to the boss that you weren't prepared? Think you'll get the call back?

I coordinate with band mates to make sure everything is covered. Some backup gear can be versatile, so you don't necessarily need a double of EVERYTHING...but like I said..."If you can't get through a gig without it, bring a spare."

Do what you like ( Smile

), excuse me, but I gotta go out to the truck to bring the rest of the stuff in! Wink

Joe
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Dattebayo!!!

Joe Gretz · From: Washington, DC, USA

Funny story:

I play bass in orchestras (classical). These groups usually have several bassists, as many as seven or MORE (depending). Once upon a time, one of the bassists "further up" had a problem with their bass...I let them play MY bass, and carried theirs off the stage The player in question was MUCH better than me BTW, and very cool besides.

The concert went on without a hitch, short one bass. I doubt anyone aside from the players noticed.

Think I got asked back? Smile

So, there you go! I guess I don't ALWAYS carry a spare of EVERYTHING! Laughing

Joe
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Dattebayo!!!

Matthew Carlin · From: Lake County, IL.

My band leader carries a box much like Joe's.. Cables, Picks, Strings, Sticks and such... As a band we bring an extra amp. I carry strings and picks, batteries and now and forever an extra bar... I wasn't at a gig but a few weeks ago during a practice I dropped my bar in front of the steel..... I decided right there and then that I need to keep a back up in my seat.

The best offense is a good defense, Professional well maintained gear is the safest route for me.
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"Just tryin to make some music in the money business"

Tommy Shown · From: Denham Springs, La.

I carry a Rubber Maid tub loaded with cables and extra things such as effects if needed,plus an extra volume pedal in my seat with extra strings picks and bars. And tools(allen wrenches, needle nose and dikes.Those are wire cutters to eut off the exceess string when I re-string)And last but certainly not least spare fuses for my amp. I learned the hard way one time on a gig.When I started to get an unnesecary hum on my amp. I stopped playing, turned my rig off and found that I had blown a fuse. I ended up leaving the gig and go to a gas station that just happened to be open on the fourth of July.
just my luck, the old boy had what I needed So I bought five of them. and packed them in my seat.
My wife gripes at me for having so much gear, but as previously stated, I rather have too much than not enough.
Tommy Smile

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

you've got to cut the apron strings eventually.
keep your equipment in good shape and take some spare strings. it's bad enough carrying the basics, let alone a whole music store. if my volume pedal is questionable i'll throw another in the truck.

if your stuff quits on you and you miss out on the gig, go home and fix your crappy equipment.

Drew Howard · From: 48854

Two of everything !!

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I usually take an extra volume pedal, and the usual small assortment of tools, cables, strings, picks ad an extra bar - all that stuff is usually in a backpack and I don't think about it much - just grab it and go. If I have room I will sometimes throw an extra amp in the trunk (on the theory that someone might need it, even if not me), but not if the gig is close enough to home to run get one. I suppose anything can screw up on you, but the only thing that I tend to lack confidence in (because of a couple of failures decades apart) is the volume pedal, which is why I take an extra. If an effects box goes out, so what - you can play without it. If your tuner craps out, someone else will have one or you can tune by ear.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

It's one thing if I'm doing a one-off gig just up the road, but if I'm leaving home for any length of time I won't go without two steels, two amps, two seats, two volume pedals, and all the cords and strings I can fit in the Steelers' Choice seat.

Of course, I also squeeze in my golf-clubs, but I only take one of everything - except Pro V1s - in the bag. Very Happy

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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I've had everything from stagehands putting mic stands through speaker grills and speakers (twice) to them somehow breaking tubes.

I normally carry at least two amps to every gig. I also have an "emergency" kit in my gig box - tubes, fuses, multimeter, wire, spare cables, soldering equipment, misc. hand tools - at at some point over the years I have needed every single thing at least once. Anyone who carries guitar/cord/amp to a gig is asking for disaster.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

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