doubling live... NO AMP... who's doing it?

derridiandrift · #1 10-17-2010, 09:49 AM

I posted over on the upright side but I thought I might get more responses over here.

Here's the story...

One of my gigs is a recording act... an acoustic country/roots/blues outfit where I'm doubling on upright and electric. I'm kind of new to upright, so I'm still finding my way around making this work.

The line-up of the band varies somewhat depending on who is available and the kind of show it's going to be. Typically we're three singers (me included) who all play instruments, a full drum kit, three guitar players (two of them take turns playing mandolin, electric, and acoustic), accordion, keys. Sometimes we're whisper quiet. Sometimes we're ripping, but we're never crazy loud. When we play locally, the guitar player uses a Blues Junior for the electric. When we're out of town, he usually gets something equally small. We're always in rooms with production supplied.

I've been using an amp when I have the chance to bring one (typically my B15-R). Up to this point I've been unplugging from one instrument to the other and then tweaking the eq. I'm thinking of going very stripped down and using a preamp pedal/DI and going straight to the house without an amp on stage.

I want to hear from anyone who is already doing this. What preamp/DI are you using (remember I have to double on electric for about 1/3 of the show)? How satisfied are you with your ability to hear yourself on stage (my band likes hearing lots of bass on stage). What pitfalls did you run into when you went this route?

KJung · #2 10-17-2010, 09:52 AM

That will be TOTALLY driven by the monitor system, and whether you have your own mix. I rarely find monitor systems that can reproduce the tone that I enjoy when playing live, and even with rather large front of house systems with a separate monitor board and monitor mixing guy/gal, I rarely have my own monitor mix.

Hence, I never, ever play without a backline amp.

If you are in the rare situation where you have your own monitor speaker provided that you like, and also have the opportunity to define the mix and bass tone coming out of that monitor, there would be no reason to bring an amp (in general terms).

IMO. A two channel amp, or a small mixer like the Tonebone would take care of you doubling thing.

RickenBoogie · #3 10-17-2010, 10:13 AM

The Radial BassBone is the thing you want, but like KJung, I never leave home without my bass rig, unless I'm going out and NOT playing bass.

KJung · #4 10-17-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

The Radial BassBone is the thing you want, but like KJung, I never leave home without my bass rig, unless I'm going out and NOT playing bass.

Hah... I called it a 'tonebone' ....

The Bassbone is what I meant.

will33 · #5 10-17-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

That will be TOTALLY driven by the monitor system, and whether you have your own mix. I rarely find monitor systems that can reproduce the tone that I enjoy when playing live, and even with rather large front of house systems with a separate monitor board and monitor mixing guy/gal, I rarely have my own monitor mix.

Hence, I never, ever play without a backline amp.

If you are in the rare situation where you have your own monitor speaker provided that you like, and also have the opportunity to define the mix and bass tone coming out of that monitor, there would be no reason to bring an amp (in general terms).

IMO. A two channel amp, or a small mixer like the Tonebone would take care of you doubling thing.

+1

You'll find that most monitors suck for bass and there's almost never as many monitor mixes as there are people. I'd still keep a combo amp just for stage volume. If not a true 2 channel as Kjung mentioned, at least something with 2 inputs and a switchable graphic eq. No more unplugging, set the rotary knobs for electric sound, graphic for upright or vice versa and just push the button to change sounds when you change instruments.

Jefenator · #6 10-17-2010, 11:51 AM

I used to use the house PA a lot, particularly when I was doing mellow acoustic duos & trios with the upright (I'd occasionally sub in the 5-string fretless).

I was lucky to have a nice pickup system that included a good buffer - the resulting signal worked great through just about anything I ever plugged in to.

The fretless was like that, too. Seems to be key, having electronics that are friendly so everything you want is all set to go, right out the output jack.

At one point I was going direct so much, I got one of those little SansAmp DIs. In theory it should have been THE perfect tool for the job but I never liked it at all - seemed way too compressed. (Total YMMV thing - just got to try stuff out until something "clicks".)

I confess I haven't done much doubling lately. If I were to do so ampless, I'd see if I could just run each axe to its own channel in the board. When switching, I'd just turn down the volume & pick up the other axe (my upright has an onboard volume).

In case channels are limited, some kind of A/B box or mixer might be good to have. (Sounds like that BassBone could be a great solution - provided it "plays nice" with your instruments.)

IME as the SPL and number of players increases (and/or their sense of taste decreases), so increases my need for a dedicated bass amp.

JimmyM · #7 10-17-2010, 12:39 PM

definitely get something like a bassbone (official name is radial tonebone bassbone, btw), but take your amp. ken's right...the monitors you get will make all the difference between a good night and a bad night, and if they only have one or two monitor sends, everyone will be forced to hear you through their monitors, even if they don't want to. i once had a drummer read me the riot act because i tried to do a gig ampless. i told him to put me in his monitor, and he told me he hates to hear bass in his monitor because it interferes with his singing. so i'd just suck it up and at least bring the amp. besides, it's a b-15r so it adds tons of cool points to your onstage look

Son of Bovril · #8 10-18-2010, 02:01 AM

there are a few pedal/preamps that could do it, the EBS Microbass II also has 2 inputs and channels you can switch between or combine. The radial stuff as mentioned is great too. Alternatively you could look at something programable...

As far as playing without an amp goes, +1 to everything already said. Monitors are usually not enough for a good onstage bass tone so rather bring a small amp to use as an onstage monitor

vin*tone · #9 10-18-2010, 05:41 AM

LR Baggs DI. Seriously - it's gold.....and a passive A/B switch to keep both your basses plugged in.

Essthreetee · #10 10-18-2010, 06:20 AM

I don't play DB, so I can't help there...but my band is doing the ampless thing. All (both guitars, drums, and bass) are going straight to the board. Our board only has 3 mixes, but this is working out because the lead guitarist/singer is in the middle with his monitor mix loud as hell...so I can hear it plenty. For myself, I have my Marshall 2-10 combo pointed at my face in as a monitor...works great. So I guess technically I am not ampless but I run from my Sansamp PDDI to the board and then out the PA.

Did that help any or am I just rambling....I guess it is early and I have been up unable to sleep....