Re: Rent the backline / buy the backline ?
Hey Shane,
In Germany I started providing backline while I was supporting the USO, MWR and AFE tours which all had to travel pretty light. What I learned from that experience is that musicians have degrees of pickyness; drummers tend to be happy behind any reasonable drum kit with fresh heads, bass players are a bit choosier but are generally ok with a good 4x10 cab and namebrand solidstate head. Guitarists are a different animal entirely and are much harder to please.
With this experience I purchased an above average Mapex 5 piece kit, Zildjian cymbals and SKB cases, an SWR 4x10 cab and head in cases and a pair of Roland Cube 60 guitar amps, also in cases, for the really compact MWR shows. The drums paid for themselves a few times over, the bass amp wasn't far behind and the Rolands I may have broke even on. Usually the Band's Manager would give me some pushback on the drums and bass amps until I quoted them the cost for the boutique equipment they wanted from the backline shop. 9 times out of 10 they would accept the drums and bass amp, but pay extra for the guitar amps from the backline shop.
Your stock of backline doesn't have to keep everybody happy, but if you can cover a few of the often requested items, you can pocket some of the money that would otherwise go to the backline dealer.
Cheers
