Stanley Clarkes current touring rig

D.A.R.K. · #1 03-24-2011, 10:37 AM

Last night in va. it was an ampeg 4x10 on top of a 1x15. 2xalembic f1x pre amps, using an svt4pro for a power section. Also the little fender guitar amp he uses for some crunch/ highs.
Upright went to a 4x10 hlf can with another svt, which he used the pre on.
Pretty big pedal board, but he only used a couple stomp boxes, looked like an ebs envelope and an mxr octave(or perhaps the same manufacturers but reversed function).
My wife and I were front row center, she took a ton of pics, I'll post some later when she sends them to me.
Being front center, we heard mostly stage volume.
It was killer, I love how he gets a bit of grind, the 4x10 and 1x15 stack sounded full and was slamming.
I know how some here dis the speaker configuration, but I'd play that rig any time.
I was surprised to see him using ampeg, with smv it was an swr rig (with the little fender amp, maybe a blues jr. but I'm not sure which one).

BIGREDSIX · #2 03-24-2011, 10:46 AM

When I saw him during the Return to Forever reunion tour a while back he used the SWR/small Fender rig.

JimmyM · #3 03-24-2011, 11:10 AM

stanley just recently switched to ampeg, like in the past month.

RickenBoogie · #4 03-24-2011, 11:41 AM

no doubt, due to your influence, Jimmy.

D.A.R.K. · #5 03-24-2011, 02:23 PM

The cabs were the newer pro series.
I've always liked mismatched speaker configurations,
despite the science and a lot of people saying it isn't good.
Definitely handled the huge tones the alembic pre and basses put out.
He was driving the power section of the amp hard, limiter light was in full effect most of the time.
I'll double check when I see the pics and make sure which model heads he was using,
I'm unsure if he was using the 2pro or 4pro for the eb stack.
The 2pro would make some sense, he was definitely getting some grind that wasn't typical of an f-1x.

jumbodbassman · #6 03-24-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

no doubt, due to your influence, Jimmy.

TB (jimmy really) has converted another

tsunami1052 · #7 03-24-2011, 04:04 PM

Ampeg & Tech 21 need to put Jimmy on the payroll.

D.A.R.K. · #8 03-24-2011, 04:21 PM

You know, I'm quite surprised Jimmy isn't on the artist list for ampeg...
His gig is high profile enough. Send em a resume, Jimmy...
D'oh, helping derail my own thread....
Anyone else seen Stanley on this tour?
Thoughts on his rig?
Anyone want to tell him stacking a 4x10on a 15 doesn't work?

billfitzmaurice · #9 03-24-2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.A.R.K.

Anyone want to tell him stacking a 4x10on a 15 doesn't work?

You do realize that he plays what he's paid to play? And if that's what Ampeg wants to sell that's what he'll use.
No one has ever said that a 4x10/1x15 doesn't work, just that it's a poor match.
And what do you want to bet that there's a 3015LF inside that 1x15 box? Or an 18Sound 15NLW9300?

Welcome to Marketing 101.

mark107 · #10 03-24-2011, 04:46 PM

I wold think he plays what the rental company delivers. You don't think he is carting around anything other than his bass, do you?

D.A.R.K. · #11 03-24-2011, 04:51 PM

I think although he may have an endorsing artist fee, I doubt it would dictate which cabinets he uses.
I could be wrong, though. And the pair matched quite well, sonically, from my listening point.
And as a previous gear endorse, as well as someone who works full time with endorsees,
It is rare anyone is paid to use gear. More often it is provided for free, on loan, or sold to the artist at great
Discount. That is 101. Of course, there are some players who are so high profile that they may receive money, but I have yet to meet them.

D.A.R.K. · #12 03-24-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark107

I wold think he plays what the rental company delivers. You don't think he is carting around anything other than his bass, do you?

Yes, the tour was carrying all it's own back line. With the endorsed groups I work for, mics are provided as a tour package and are returned after tour to be replaced with fresh ones for the next. Drums and back line are offered to buy at considerable discount, and when touring over seas are provided for the tour for free and returned when the tour ends.

alexgeddy · #13 03-24-2011, 05:03 PM

What he shows on stage doesn't mean that is what is going to the house sound.... I don't think Ampeg can deliver that...not the hi fi tone SC demands..

my 2 cents worth

D.A.R.K. · #14 03-24-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexgeddy

What he shows on stage doesn't mean that is what is going to the house sound.... I don't think Ampeg can deliver that...not the hi fi tone SC demands..

my 2 cents worth

I couldn't hear the house, I was front center 15 feet from his rig. The stage was way too wide, the front fills werent cutting it.
I'm sure he was running di from the alembic pres and had his fender guitar amp mic'd.
And his tone has never been hi fi in all the times I've seen him, he likes his dirt and his amps are always
pushed To the point of grinding a bit. But I haven't seen his early years, just later on.

JAUQO III-X · #15 03-24-2011, 06:06 PM

Stanley Clarke is an official Ampeg endorser. As of Nov or Dec 2010.

D.A.R.K. · #16 03-24-2011, 06:16 PM

pics...
sorry they aren't that great, crappy cell phone, and we were a bit busy enjoying the show.
stanley isn't listed on the ampeg roster i saw today, but i'm sure that'll change soon.
these two i snapped quick after:

during:

there's a 4 pro on top and a 2 pro on the bottom.
awesome show, albeit a bit loose. seems like he had taken a bunch of berkley kids under his wing for this, which is awesome. all killer chops players, but still developing their own voices. drummer was off the hook, but pushed it so hard he lost it a few times. band had a blast, talking right to us in front and laughing with each other a lot. what a great experience, and i give props to the audience too, everyone was really nice and respectful.

FenderP · #17 03-24-2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

stanley just recently switched to ampeg, like in the past month.

Maybe officially, but the two times I saw him in the past few years (solo at Jazz Alley in Seattle and with the CCW trio at the Blue Note in Japan) he was using AMpeg.

bottomzone · #18 03-24-2011, 06:24 PM

Although Stanley is an Ampeg endorser, he knows the sound he wants to hear. If he didn't like what his Ampeg rig was delivering, I'm pretty sure he would not be using their gear.

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

millsbass5 · #19 03-24-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

stanley just recently switched to ampeg, like in the past month.

Yeah,right......Like you would know!!!

I Forget · #20 03-24-2011, 08:21 PM

From what I could tell he used the same rig here in Oz in february for a return to forever gig, right down to the fender guitar amps. Stan was great, easily the highlight of the lineup. Some even worse pics.