The second part of my post on having a backup plan will focus
on auditions and gigs(when it counts). It’s more important, and
more expensive to put together a backup rig for gigs,auditions
etc. Generally, money is on the line and you have more to lose
than a practice routine or bummed out jam buddies. A lot of
touring pros have an entire second rig, identical to the first,
ready to go in case the first rig craters. While you may not
have that level of $ to spend, you will have to have something.
You don’t have time to stop and spend 10 minutes changing a
string or a fuse! Here are some ideas;
Spare Guitar- Most guitarists capable of gigging still have
their first guitar; the price is right and it
beats nothing. There are many fine guitars out
now for $400-500.Fender standard Strats & Teles
Epiphone Les Pauls, mid-level Ibanez, etc., that
would work well for a backup ( and not bad for a
main guitar either).
Spare Amp- You could keep a small pre-amp pedal in your case,
like a Tech 21 SansAmp and plug it into the PA. It’s
easy to buy a small 20-30 watt amp for $200-300, and
most are multi-channel with FX; Fender Champion 40,
Marshall MG30,etc.
FX- The pre-amp pedal and amps mentioned above all have some FX
built in, but you could always get a cheap multi FX pedal.
Whatever back up combination you choose, always test it out and
work out some useable sounds first.Also be sure and change your
strings! Back in my teen years I broke 2 strings during a solo
at a gig, with no backup guitar. That put a damper on things!
Of course you will still need spare strings, cables, etc.
SUM- You can field a backup rig from $200 (old guitar, Fender
Champion 40), to almost $1000 (Fender guitar, Marshall MG, FX).
Whatever the budget, at some point you will be happy you did!
