Backup power amp - Yes or No?

Hello all, hope everyone's been doing great so far.

So my rack rig is currently nearing completion - with my Synergy SYN-2 and its modules doubled/backed up just in case a failure happens, as well as my effects being pretty much set with line mixers, I can say that I am finally looking forward to worrying less about gear and focus more on writing music.

Now, as some of my followers on Instagram might already be aware, I acquired a Fryette 2902 power amp for my rig last year. My plan is to back it up with a Fryette LXII so that if the 2902 goes down, I have a spare power amp handy just in case anything happens.

However, it seems that not everyone on Facebook agrees with the plan. Some people told me to just go direct with the Synergy SYN-2's should my power amp fail, or consider modelling options as backup, claiming that backup power amps are unnecessary.

Here's the thing about my setup: 1. I run stereo effects with my rig, meaning I will need both channels on the power amp when going live. 2. Guitarists like Misha Mansoor of Periphery figured out a long time ago that without power amps and onstage cabs to move air, front row audience misses out on the guitars in the live mix as a result. If this is true, then I have concerns that without my power amp, my front row audience could potentially miss out on the guitars. 3. I could consider solid-state power amps as backup; however, they do not give off the same tone/feel as tube power amps. For live situations I could live with it in a pinch; however, for studio sessions where gear has failed on me before, this is a major no-no.

But I want to hear what you guys think. Is it better for me to focus on other aspects of my guitar rig? Or are the folks on Facebook bullshitting about not needing a backup power amp, and therefore, is a backup power amp justified?

If you're gigging weekly then backups are a good call. The fryette is extremely well made and shouldn't be susceptible to pcb based failures like cheaper pcb amps. I cant speak to the synergy modules. Just remember, with all tube gear in winter make sure to load in early and let the amp come up to room temperature before powering up and let the tubes and chassis comedown to room temp before taking the amp into colder weather after your set. I cannot stress this enough. Most pcb and tube failures can be traced (no pun intended) back to extreme temperature swings coupled with mechanical vibrations from riding in cars. Tubes will lose their vacuum and sometimes even crack, pcbs will warp causing traces to peel up...

Thank you for your kind advice. I knew that the Facebook forum folks were bullshitting about not having any backups. Like honestly, I feel like not having backups for any of your tube-related gear is basically asking for your show to go completely wrong, even if the power amp is made by a quality brand.

Right on, man. Facebook groups are a great source of misinformation on any topic.

Look, in pcb gear with multiple tubes you want a whole backup unit on the road. Its not as sturdy and tolerant of temperature swings as point to point, turret, eyelet and terminal strip based gear. It's better in lots of other ways and is incredibly consistent though. But if you gig heavily backup everything you can't do without or make sure its generic stuff you can rent last minute in an unfamiliar city...

I didnt gig and tour vintage fender and marshall for a decade because they're my favorite sound, it was reliability and the ability to easily rent reissues if something went sideways. Eventually I started doing backups when we went further afield and finances permitted. I never had those pieces go down at a show but I've had other amps flat out blow up... regular maintenance helps, fresh tubes, spare tubes and fuses but nothing works indefinitely on the road. I used to have friends who liked to tinker send me out with their prototypes because if I couldn't break them then they were bullet proof. And I'm not that hard on gear either but the show schedule exerted a high degree of constant stress on parts.

Later down the road I might pick up either a Kemper or Fractal as a backup just in case my outboard effects fail on me. But I guess that's a story for when I do get back into performing live again.

So far, my Strymon's and Boss MD-500 haven't failed on me...yet.

I wouldn't stress about solid state gear, particularly solid state that doesn'tneed to drive a speaker directly, ie a power amp. It has much smaller voltages and lower current draw than tube circuits. There aren't a lot of places that radiate large amounts if heat. Just a few power supply spots like voltage regulator ICs. They just get warm to the touch and those parts have a really long life in a proper circuit. When a pedal or rack unit breaks on the road its usually a jack lifting of its solder pad. If your rig stays wired this is highly unlikely.

Good to know. I'll keep that in mind, thank you. :)

I always carry a backup for tube-based amps. The backup is a solid-state amp. On the other hand, I never carry backups for solid-state amps.

It's a matter of probabilities, of course... usually, things tend to go a bit worse for tube amps, for all the aforementioned particularities.

That being said, I actually never needed to use backup amps in any situation. As of backup guitars, that's a whole different story... :-D