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Post by fingersmcginty on Feb 23, 2018 12:31:31 GMT -7
Howdy folks, Joining a new wedding band so i'll need to be prepared for anything should things go wrong. I have a lovely 1 x 12 maz 18 combo NR ...I'm just so paranoid abut tube amps... what should i be bringing along . I presume i'll be ok with a few spare power tubes?
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Post by BritInvasion on Feb 23, 2018 12:37:12 GMT -7
Fuses too. And you might want to consider an Electro-Harmonix 44 Magnum mini-amp head in case you go down and don't have the time to troubleshoot . Good if you're in a hurry.
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Post by buckeye on Feb 23, 2018 16:09:34 GMT -7
Fuses too. And you might want to consider an Electro-Harmonix 44 Magnum mini-amp head in case you go down and don't have the time to troubleshoot . Good if you're in a hurry. Great advice. I bring along an Orange Micro Terror just in case. It aint no Maz but it'll do in a pinch. Over 150 gigs with the Maz in in a little over 3 years and not one issue. Very reliable.
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Post by bryan0418 on Feb 23, 2018 16:56:38 GMT -7
I bring the EH 22 Caliber pedal amp just in case. I used to bring my mini Ghia when I owned it. Always good to have something to swap in a hurry and keep the party going. You can always troubleshoot during breaks.
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Post by zpilot on Feb 23, 2018 23:22:48 GMT -7
I've always carried spares for everything; tubes, fuses, cables. Not just for my MAZ. For every amp I've ever had. But I maintain them well so I don't recall having a failure in the last 30 years. That's a myth about tube amps not being reliable. At least it is concerning quality amps like a Z. If I was gigging regularly now though I believe I'd carry one of those little Quilter amps as a spare.
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Post by Maddog on Feb 24, 2018 0:00:49 GMT -7
Me? A Z-lux 1 x 12 combo....and a MONZA head....and of course.... a guitar....Crank it and smile!
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Post by southmusic70 on Feb 24, 2018 6:13:39 GMT -7
EH 44 caliber
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Post by Stephen on Feb 24, 2018 6:20:25 GMT -7
I always take two amps with me. I’m too much of a klutz to change tubes at a gig!
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Post by Rockerfeller on Feb 24, 2018 8:26:51 GMT -7
EH44 Magnum. It is the size of a pedal, (it is a pedal!), cheaper than a back up amp, easy to carry and it will get you through the gig. I actually don't carry one, the other guitar player does. But it is there if one of our amps goes down. This is a super easy, FAST, no brainer for a back up.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2018 8:32:05 GMT -7
Make friends with the other band (if there is one).
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Post by John on Feb 24, 2018 9:34:05 GMT -7
Yeah...those Electro Harmonix 44 caliber things. The best, smallest, quickest and cheapest backup you can have. Have your gig bag behind your amp.
Yes, have spare tubes too....but it may be difficult...if not untimely to trouble shoot in the middle of a wedding gig. Is it the power tubes, is it the fuse, is it a preamp tube? Is it the rec tube? If you're playing weddings (I've been in a wedding band too), they don't give a crap about your gear...they just want you to entertain..NOW! Some weddings can be tuff gigs. Mother of the bride can be brutal at times. (as can the bride, bridesmaids..etc)
If you have the EH 44...you can be up and running in just a few seconds. Save the trouble shooting for a break, or for when you get home. you'll be able to finish the gig with the 44. NO ONE in the audiecne will notice your tone isn't the same. NO ONE! And they won't care. They WILL care if the band has to take a break due to equipment malfunctions. Let the band know you need a few seconds to hook it up. The front person can talk for a few seconds, and the band can select a song that doesn't have any guitar in the intro...or maybe a keyboard heavy song.
Remember: A wedding band is "hired help"...and you can be treated as such.
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Feb 24, 2018 10:50:59 GMT -7
I've always carried a small plastic tool box that has at least one spare tube of every kind in my amps -- that's maybe a dozen tubes total. Not bad to carry, and I've never had a failure. But as John points out, I have worried how long it would take to find the bad tube and replace it under pressure at the gig. I think either the EH44 to plug into the speaker cab, or a DI so you can go straight into the board would be the fast solution. And I agree, 99% of the audience will not know the difference (even though they may notice "something" is different, it won't be a deal breaker).
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Post by GuitarZ on Feb 24, 2018 18:05:21 GMT -7
You know, as I contemplate getting back out playing again, I am thinking of taking a back-up amp. I have also been carrying extra tubes for a while. But I got to thinking. When I was actively playing 3-5 nights a week back in the day, I don't think I had any spare tubes or anything. I'd just walk in with my Marshall, my cab, and guitar, and play. My Marshall only went on the fritz once across my 10 years or so of serious playing. Maybe I was just lucky. I did keep extra strings and a spare cable.
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Post by fingersmcginty on Feb 28, 2018 1:23:46 GMT -7
That magnum pedal looks nice. Might be a good investment so if the amp goes defective at a gig I just feed the 1/4 " plug from my last pedal in the chain to the magnum and then the output goes directly to the speaker?
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Post by bryan0418 on Feb 28, 2018 6:08:00 GMT -7
That magnum pedal looks nice. Might be a good investment so if the amp goes defective at a gig I just feed the 1/4 " plug from my last pedal in the chain to the magnum and then the output goes directly to the speaker? You are correct. Your last pedal goes into the input of the 44 Mag and a speaker cable goes from the output to your cabinet. It is cheap insurance to keep your night going.
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Post by sharkboy on Mar 2, 2018 20:13:47 GMT -7
I took three amps and a full replacement tube set to each to one gig, but even I knew that was excessive. One horrific downside is that random audience members feel obliged to “jam” with you.
Aside from faulty tubes, most tube failures happen from thermal cycling and mechanical shock. Unlike some amps, the Zs seem to adequately ventilate the tubes (not just tube thermal graveyards.) They should last a while. You can control how much shock happens to the amps with careful cartage.
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Post by Maddog on Mar 4, 2018 5:15:13 GMT -7
I sadly feel the "old days" of playing 3-5 years without a "gig-time" amp failure are quickly coming to an end. I too have gone years without a mid-gig disaster, but the quality of the tubes I was then using was much greater than that of the tubes we are relegated to use today. Especially if you're playing an EL84 amp, you better have a contingency plan.
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Post by doctorice on Mar 4, 2018 6:28:22 GMT -7
Like others, I bring fuses and a few tubes, plus spare cables. But the EHX "amp in a pedal" -- I have the 22-watt version -- is my insurance. I've not played a gig in years in which there would have been time to troubleshoot an amp.
I always have a second guitar. It comes out for a batch of slide tunes, but it's there for regular duty if needed.
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Post by buckeye on Mar 4, 2018 10:08:55 GMT -7
Like others, I bring fuses and a few tubes, plus spare cables. But the EHX "amp in a pedal" -- I have the 22-watt version -- is my insurance. I've not played a gig in years in which there would have been time to troubleshoot an amp. I always have a second guitar. It comes out for a batch of slide tunes, but it's there for regular duty if needed. An extra guitar is essential. I recall a past gig where the input jack solder joint failed on my main guitar. I always have my home built Tele with me which I have tuned to open G for certain Stones tunes, it saved my but that night!
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