Bass rig vs fancy PA

sweetcharlie454 · #1 06-01-2010, 12:08 PM

A bass player's sound is something thay have worked for years to create, and it is this reason, that i am proud of my rig. My band recently discussed not bringing any amps, but instead all playing through our "Bose pole" and sub PA system, i am the only one to dissagree with the move, does anyone have experience with the bose set up, or a situation with your bandmates wanting you to go all pa?

Fuzzbass · #2 06-01-2010, 12:14 PM

Tough one. I love my rig, but it would be nice to leave it at home and just DI into a PA/monitors.

You could always use a preamp or pedal(s) ahead of the DI if you wanted to add some overdrive/fx/eq.

Your guitarist seriously has no reservations about this? Normally they're the fussiest about having to use their own rig.

countrybassist · #3 06-01-2010, 12:14 PM

I agree with you. In fact, I had a band call me to audition for them a few years back and they told me that they all run direct with no amps on stage. I turned down the audition because of that and a few other reasons as well. As far as the Bose, I did see an acoustic solo artist use one. It sounded very good, but as far as how it would fair with an entire band, I don't know

rockstarbassist · #4 06-01-2010, 12:15 PM

I've seen a few bands use it where everyone is going direct (even guitard) into that system. Both people using POD XT Live or comparable Boss units. Sounds ok for what they were doing, but it was mostly the tired 60s/70s/80s tunes all in the same few keys, so it wasn't authentic to the tunes anyways. You could hear the bass ok only b/c it was just a 3 piece and the drums were just acoustic and not mic'd except for the kick. This same band plays at my fave bar so I always walk by and check it out.

It works for them, but for a loud rock band, I'd think you'd need a LOT of those things and twice as many Sub pieces/engines, so just depends on what style you play. They're light and sound good, but whew are they high ($$). Worst thing you can do is test it out and go from there.

When I played in a country cover band we were going "All PA" except I had my rig that was barely on and the lead guitard had a little Peavey 112 combo that was barely on. Course that was like a 10,000 QSC+JBL rig that was just stupid huge and loud, so it sounded great!

countrybassist · #5 06-01-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

Course that was like a 10,000 QSC+JBL rig that was just stupid huge and loud, so it sounded great!

sweetcharlie454 · #6 06-01-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

Tough one.
Your guitarist seriously has no reservations about this? Normally they're the fussiest about having to use their own rig.

Yea I know...Actually it was his idea, he went and bought the thing and now automatically expects me to abandon my stage gear, plus I play with a deep sound, i just don't understand how that little system can handle it at loud volumes.

rockstarbassist · #7 06-01-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrybassist

Seriously bro, I ain't never had a band with a PA like that one!

2x215 JBL SRX's + 2x218 JBL SRX subs on the bottom, per side. Had like a 60U rack with all the power amps and drive rack units, outboard FX, etc..

LOVED playing through it- just glad it wasn't on my credit card bill!

rockstarbassist · #8 06-01-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetcharlie454

Yea I know...Actually it was his idea, he went and bought the thing and now automatically expects me to abandon my stage gear, plus I play with a deep sound, i just don't understand how that little system can handle it at loud volumes.

I don't think it does. Which is why you gotta have a lot of them, which at their price point isn't worth it.

peterpalmieri · #9 06-01-2010, 12:20 PM

I'm not sure what you mean by:

"have worked for years to create, and it is this reason, that i am proud of my rig"

If you can reproduce a pleasing tone by just using the PA and only have to show up to gigs with a preamp and your bass why not?

If you aren't happy with the tone you end up with that's an entirely different story. Voice your concerns in this context and let them know you won't settle if it doesn't work for you...

71Rick · #10 06-01-2010, 12:26 PM

My regular cover band uses the Bose L1 system right now, and I would NEVER solely rely on that for getting the bass sound out into the crowd. Occasionally, on gigs where I brought a small amp that I didn't want to push too hard, I would piggy-back on the Bose just for a little help, but I've found the tones for bass guitar to be weak and muddy. We primarily use the system for vocals/keys/acoustic....bass & lead use their own rigs.

If you were playing small clubs in a jazz combo, it might be worth it (saving stage space and ease of setup), but otherwise, I wouldn't do it.

rpsands · #11 06-01-2010, 12:35 PM

The L1's subwoofer section is worthless for electric bass in my experience which is quite a lot (we use an L1 and L2 for various things, neither one can put out bass worth a damn in anything but a small acoustic gig).

gmarcus · #12 06-01-2010, 12:41 PM

Hey try it out and see what it sounds like. Get a VT Bass pedal or tone hammer. Walk into the gig with your bass over your shoulder......done.

Given that I doubt it will sound great....but maybe good enough. What kind of music are you playing?

chadds · #13 06-01-2010, 12:42 PM

Use your rig. If this breaks y'all up something else will. Next it could be what strings to use. If u search here you'll find many bassists who didn't like the Bose. I agree to get enough bass modules you'd have spent huge money and it still may not sound like you.

The Bose system sounds good for vocals acoustic guitars etc. It falls far short for many of us except the add copy writers.

electracoyote · #14 06-01-2010, 12:43 PM

The soundman for my band owns the Bose system. He also (of course) has a more typical seperate component system (mains, subs, amps, etc.).

We only use the component system. We've never used the Bose, and if he suddenly wanted to try it, I would be very wary.

Son of Bovril · #15 06-01-2010, 12:52 PM

Op: please post your current setup so we can see how you are getting your sound so we can give some more informative info

without knowing your rig, I would say give it a try and see how it sounds out front and on stage. I would advise the use of some sort of preamp, whether a VT bass pedal or even a whole rack setup. best case scenario it sounds great and your life is easier, worst case you tried it, it sucked and you are back to using your own rig...

SteveC · #16 06-01-2010, 01:15 PM

I played in a band with 2 18" JBL's per side and 3 ways on top of that. Sounded darn good. I used an Avalon U5 and Shure IEM's and would love it if I had that situation for every gig.

**IvanMike** · #17 06-01-2010, 01:25 PM

as a guy who usually recommends power and all that, this will sound odd, but if i could do all my gigs going direct no amp (except a good DI or preamp) i would. no hesitation. I worked years to get my sound from my hands. Just sayin'.

Eric Moesle · #18 06-01-2010, 01:27 PM

For all you naysayers complaining about being told to go ampless, be aware that most casino gigs REQUIRE you to go ampless as a condition of the gig and just use their in-house PA.

I don't prefer it, but I make sure I can DO it when required.

jaywa · #19 06-01-2010, 01:30 PM

I've never seen a band with 2 or 3 electric guitarists, bassist and mic'd acoustic drums even try to carry a room of any size just with one of those Bose set-ups. The low end just isn't there and especially at the price of those subs.

For acoustic guitar/vocal/keys setups like some friends of mine do in cigar bars around here, though, it's the cat's pajamas.

rfclef · #20 06-01-2010, 01:50 PM

We use a Bose L1 for our vocals, and the gutarist puts some of his amp through it sometimes. I would never give up my amp to go through it, but for the vocals, it is fabulous. We have used it indoors and out, and never maxed out the volume. Not even close. I would love a 2nd L1, mostly cause I have a thing for visual symmetry... Keep your rig, let them do what they want.