Active Band Man Chats - Backup, Spare, and Sub Gears Edition

It’s already February—time flies!

This winter has been super cold.

We even had a major cold wave.

It's not just cold... it’s sub-zero!

Huh? Sure, it’s sub-zero, but...?

When it’s this sub freezing, the roads get icy, and you might slip!

Yeah... I feel like I just witnessed an example of that.

Wait, did I just slip up?

Oh, spectacularly.

Think I could go for a gold medal?

Go for it... (monotone) But uh... shouldn’t we get to the main topic soon!?

Sub! As in backup! Or better yet, spare!

Ah, now I get it. Like a sub guitar or a sub bass, right?

Exactly! I use a somewhat rare guitar called the Teisco Spectrum 5.

Somewhat...?

Just somewhat.

...So?

It’s hard to find replacement parts.

I get that... doesn’t seem very compatible with others.

So, I got multiple guitars as spares, just in case.

But wait, do you ever actually use a sub guitar during The Captains’ live shows?

Nope, almost never.

So you don’t! No wonder I don’t remember tuning your sub guitar...

*Horry works as a staff member for The Captains.

But! There was a time when our lead guitarist had trouble during a show, and I lent him my guitar!

You say that like it’s impressive, but doesn’t that just mean the band can function even without you playing?

M-My guitar is a symbol, okay...!

That kinda sounded deep—like a symbolic statement or something!

My guitar is an amplifier of love...!

Okay, okay...

There is music that exists beyond sound...!

Is that... cool?

My sheet music is just full of rests...!

Rests are important, but still...

Feel the electrifying silence of my guitar, like John Cage!

So basically, complete silence. For those who don’t get the reference, search for “John Cage 4'33"!”

What about you, Horry? Any thoughts on backup gear?

All my basses are different, but they’re all great in their own way.

True, in a way, they’re all your main basses.

Yeah. Each project I’m in requires a different bass.

And you’ve got a lot of projects going on.

Yeah, I’m a regular in three... no, four bands? And then there are support gigs. Ideally, I’d use the same instrument for everything, but... I get caught up in these weird preferences...

Wow, you’re in too many bands to have backup basses for each.

I mean, I want them... Don’t you ever dream about having identical instruments lined up on stage?

Oh, I totally did! Maybe slightly different specs, or different custom paint jobs.

That’s why I at least want one backup bass per project—just in case of emergencies.

Time to buy some!

Yeah, but carrying them all would be twice the hassle... and I mostly travel by train. Plus, if I do buy another, I’d probably want a completely different type...

True! What about effects pedals?

Oh yeah... I mentioned this in the My New Gear Prediction episode, but I always want multiple copies of effects I like.

You never know when they’ll get discontinued!

Exactly.

Alright, let’s rewind to what Horry said in that episode!

I always want another one as a backup. Like the BOSS BB-1X or the PGS Advent. Especially the BOSS BB-1X—it’s getting harder to find, so I want to grab one ASAP.

See! You can’t deny it now!

Hey, I wasn’t saying anything bad!

No shame in having gear lust!

Oh? I’ll take that as a compliment!

I’ve got two pedalboards: one for The Captains and one for The Show Words.

Right.

And Horry, you have... four?

Nah, more like three. I rotate them around and tweak them a bit. Ideally, I’d have just one, but different projects need different sounds and basses. I mean, switching between an electric bass and an EUB isn’t exactly seamless...

Are there any pedals you must have on every board?

Yeah... I already have two BBE Sonic Stomp MS92 pedals, and I wish I could put one on every board. But... they’re discontinued. Gotta find a used one soon.

Gotta find one!

And then there’s the Zahnrad 4000PRE—it really tightens up the tone. But, since some of my bands don’t really need a bright, punchy tone, I don’t use it on every board.

It’s like how some people love soft, simmered green onions, while others prefer them crispy.

(Ignoring that) Also, the BOSS BB-1X I mentioned earlier. If it’s an always-on effect, I want a spare. Just in case.

Agreed.

I also have a tuner on every board, though they’re all different models. So, I guess that’s not really a backup or spare.

Yeah, but you also have basses where clip-on tuners don’t work, so pedal tuners make sense.

Exactly. Actually, some of my basses don’t even have headstocks to clip a tuner onto! Also, I feel like constantly swapping pedals around wears them out—especially the jacks and plugs.

Yeah, that might put stress on the connectors.

So in a way, having backups is kind of necessary, huh?

Pretty much.

Speaking of duplicates... you know Tech 21 SansAmp?

Of course, it’s a bassist’s staple!

I bought one back in ‘97 or ‘98 when they first came out, and I used it forever. But after years of use, I replaced it—and the sound was a bit different. They’ve done several revisions over the years, and some players even prefer specific production years.

Ahh, I get that! You develop an attachment to the gear that helped you play a great show.

Yeah, I think I liked my first one better... That’s why my current SansAmp is in second string now.

So it’s waiting in the minor leagues, hoping for Coach Horry to call it back up.

Will that day ever come...? Anyway! New gear is great and all, but maybe it’s worth thinking about backups and spares. Once something’s discontinued, it’s too late!

Yeah, if you really love a piece of gear, you should have a backup.

Finding a replacement later is a huge hassle. Trust me—I’ve been there.

Because everything is?

For love!