Cab lights?

[HugeInJapan]

I'm putting together plans for a fEARful 151566. I was thinking of running LED rope lights or EL wire around the edge of the cab under the spear grill and maybe around the speakers. Here's a link to what I was thinking of using:

Subcategory Items - ThatsCoolWire.com

Has anyone ever tried anything like this? Any thoughts on my plan?

[BassmanPaul]

Added weight, more to go wrong, more to rattle and no useful contribution to the sound. With all respect it's YOU that the audience should be looking at - not your speaker cabinet!

[Bass_Pounder]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Added weight, more to go wrong, more to rattle and no useful contribution to the sound. With all respect it's YOU that the audience should be looking at - not your speaker cabinet!

+1

Too "gimmick-y"

[Mybikeisblack]

May be a gimmick, but its a cool concept.

[FrenchAK]

I think it's a great idea. It'll distinguish you and your band from everyone else, and that sound activation part would be awesome around the front of a kick drum or bass cab.

There's really not that much to go wrong, and even if it did, worst case scenario is you have no lights. You can still play the gig. At most it adds a couple of pounds, and who's going to notice a couple extra pounds on a big, heavy bass cab anyway?

[Bass_Pounder]

Originally Posted by FrenchAK

I think it's a great idea. It'll distinguish you and your band from everyone else,

Silly me................In my 30+ years of gigging experience I always thought the way bands distinguished themselves was by their musicianship and songwriting abilities

[4-string]

Why not? It will stand out. If you don't like it you can always turn the lights off.

I would find it tacky, but I'm not you.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

Silly me................In my 30+ years of gigging experience I always thought the way bands distinguished themselves was by their musicianship and songwriting abilities

Bands actually distinguish themselves by superior management, business acumen and professional artist development coaching.

Everything else is more or less trivial.

Glad to help.

[seamonkey]

Come out with a symbol for your band and draw it out in this stuff.
That would be cool

[Bass_Pounder]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Bands actually distinguish themselves by superior management, business acumen and professional artist development coaching.

Everything else is more or less trivial.

Glad to help.

You actually are 100% correct

Taking a look around at what is out there on the "Pro" level, it does seem that talent and songwriting skills are no longer a prerequisite

[amimbari]

LED's in the bass or guitar, neon in the amp and cabs -- OMG help....the 80's are coming back!!!

[jsmilez]

Originally Posted by HugeInJapan

I'm putting together plans for a fEARful 151566. I was thinking of running LED rope lights or EL wire around the edge of the cab under the spear grill and maybe around the speakers. Here's a link to what I was thinking of using:

Subcategory Items - ThatsCoolWire.com

Has anyone ever tried anything like this? Any thoughts on my plan?

heh... I've got DR neon strings and a string of IR LED's on my pedalboard to light 'em up. I'm waiting for my Orange SP212 cab to show up so I can do exactly what you described with an orange string of LED's. I'm debating between running them behind the speaker grille, sitting them underneath like a lowrider or running them into the port. Pay no mind to the naysayers. after every gig, I hear about people being mesmerized by the Neon strings. We may suck, I don't know. but peeps LOVE the glow!

Edit: I love the sound activated EL wire in your link! I went with this stuff: http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts/lu...0058_1948.aspx wired up a female "boss style" connector and used a 12v power supply I had kicking around. good luck! and... I want pics!

[lowendgenerator]

Oh that's cool! I don't care what anyone else thinks! I didn't know they could run on a 12v wall wart adapter. This changes everything. Glowing rack of doom approacheth!

[jsmilez]

Originally Posted by lowendgenerator

Oh that's cool! I don't care what anyone else thinks! I didn't know they could run on a 12v wall wart adapter. This changes everything. Glowing rack of doom approacheth!

Hell yes!

[neurotictim]

FWIW, I've played quite a bit with EL wire, and as far as brightness goes, you'd do better to do LED strips - which you can also get to run on 12vdc.

I thought at one point that it didn't need to be that bright, since IME I'm spending most of my time on a dim stage, but if you've got stage lighting, you need bright lights.

[dbnet03]

Never did and will never do to my rig but I say, it's your rig so have fun at it Post pix when you're done.

[rodl2005]

Go for it! It's YOUR rig. I wouldn't but sound activated I think would look good. & yes bands these days are noticed for many different facets.
I think it'd look best if activated (by sound) only occasionally, so its a real eye catcher when it does light up

[jsmilez]

Originally Posted by neurotictim

FWIW, I've played quite a bit with EL wire, and as far as brightness goes, you'd do better to do LED strips - which you can also get to run on 12vdc.

I thought at one point that it didn't need to be that bright, since IME I'm spending most of my time on a dim stage, but if you've got stage lighting, you need bright lights.

the LED's are blinding at 12v... You can use 9v, but I found the UV didn't interact as well with my strings.

here's some porn: keep in mind, these are daylight pictures. (nevermind the dog hair. )

[TJ Spicer]

Had the exact same idea a couple of months back, haven't got around to doing it yet though!

[VanillaThundah]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Bands actually distinguish themselves by superior management, business acumen and professional artist development coaching.

Everything else is more or less trivial.

Glad to help.

To springboard off of that, you need the aforementioned and a good old fashioned marketable gimmick: