Touring with lightweight head and cabinet on the rider

lloydcole · #1 07-10-2011, 08:55 PM

Hello,
I'm new to this forum, so excuse me if this has already been discussed. I did search...

I'm thinking of touring with a 4 piece r'n'r set up but there will be too much flying involved to be travelling with our own backline... We'll take what we can, but kit and cabinets will need to be rented by the promoter.
I was thinking of buying a lightweight amp, like a MarkBass...

I wonder if I might get suggestions for the most reliable cabinets to spec (Ampeg 4*10 and a 1*15 is what I used to use, and was happy with that), and what lightweight head might be the best. The sound would be old school, Bill Wyman, Macca, no zing needed. I'm very happy with the sound of my B-15, and we always use it in the studio, but it will not be touring any more...

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

JimmyM · #2 07-10-2011, 09:15 PM

I'd get a PF500 if you like Ampeg stuff. I had the Markbass and it's really good IMHO, but Ampeg really nails that Ampeg sound like no other. Bring that and rent an 810E and you're good to go.

dannylectro · #3 07-10-2011, 09:16 PM

I may get excoriated for this post... but I bought a Markbass (still in my sig) but sold it after three gigs and a some rehearsals. Went back to my GK400, and even bought a second one used from eBay - just in case the one I've had for the past 15 years dies.

pasta4lnch · #4 07-10-2011, 09:23 PM

food for thought - when I'm using a rented backline I always bring my SABDDI - gets me the tone i like quick. Granted it's different from amp to amp, but it's close enough.

still it's easy enough to grab an F1 - it's not much bigger . . . and if you want to get crazy a LMII AND a SABDDI (or a VT Bass) is the cats pj's!

congrats on the tour - post pics when you can!

lloydcole · #5 07-10-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

food for thought - when I'm using a rented backline I always bring my SABDDI - gets me the tone i like quick. Granted it's different from amp to amp, but it's close enough.

still it's easy enough to grab an F1 - it's not much bigger . . . and if you want to get crazy a LMII AND a SABDDI (or a VT Bass) is the cats pj's!

congrats on the tour - post pics when you can!

Thanks for reminding me. We always used the SABDI. My son's band lost mine. I need to get a new one.

JimmyM · #6 07-10-2011, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lloydcole

Thanks for reminding me. We always used the SABDI. My son's band lost mine. I need to get a new one.

I'd get a VT myself, but I guess that's a personal decision.

Petebass · #7 07-10-2011, 11:30 PM

I travelled with an AI amp for years. You'd be surprised how often my rider requests were ignored. Quite often I'd turn up to the gig to find a combo amp instead of a cab, meaning I went to the trouble of carting my amp half way across the world for nothing.

Now I just use whatever I get, but take a nice EQ pedal along with me to produce the tone I like.

JimmyM · #8 07-10-2011, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petebass

I travelled with an AI amp for years. You'd be surprised how often my rider requests were ignored.

I wouldn't, and this is a good point...

Be prepared for your rider request to be ignored. This is especially true if you request an SVT and 810. Our local backline company guy told me an SVT/810 is double what a SS head and 410 costs to rent. Therefore, I bring a VT Deluxe because I know that at least 1/3 of my road gigs are going to be an SS amp and 410. And no matter how crappy they are, the show must go on and you better find a way to make it work or you don't get paid. For me, the VT Deluxe makes it work. At least I know I can send something out to the house that sounds like what I like.

fokof · #9 07-11-2011, 12:05 AM

Just get a good rack preamp and rent any active monitors in the city you are.

EON 500 , RCF ART , etc..

2 SRM450 will do the job just fine too.

Joe Louvar · #10 07-11-2011, 12:06 AM

The little GK MB500 bass heads sounds great and fits easily in a gig bag - but whatever you take, make sure it works with the AC power where your going.

JimmyM · #11 07-11-2011, 12:17 AM

Active monitors???? BLECCCCHHHHH!!!

OK, I overreacted a little, but I can't hang with monitors. Not only do the vast majority of them suck for bass (unless you pay top dollar...you think SVT's are hard to get? Try getting top notch monitors sometime), I hate having anything else come out of my monitor that isn't my voice.

Petebass · #12 07-11-2011, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Louvar

- but whatever you take, make sure it works with the AC power where your going.

Another good point. One of the things that helped me choose an AI amp for this purpose was that it not only switches from 230v to 110v at the flick of a switch, emails with AI revealed it's also designed to run at a generous + and - of these voltages. 110v mode worked fine in 100v Japan for example.

svtb15 · #13 07-11-2011, 01:57 AM

Im heading to europe again tomorrow.. I always spec an 810 or 2-115 cabs and this time im specing 2-810 cabs instead and bringing my Genz Benz ShuttleMAX 12 to drive them...
I have brought my shuttle 9 on previous trips but we are doing larger gigs this time out...
My Shuttle 12 is only 6 pounds and fits in the case with the guitar players pedals boards... My shuttle 8 used to go in my carry on or suitcase with ease.

svtb15 · #14 07-11-2011, 02:00 AM

Jimmy .. with a passive P or J.. where would you start with settings for on your VT for a clean yet slightly amped tone... I was thinking of running my VT for my IEMs...Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I wouldn't, and this is a good point...

Be prepared for your rider request to be ignored. This is especially true if you request an SVT and 810. Our local backline company guy told me an SVT/810 is double what a SS head and 410 costs to rent. Therefore, I bring a VT Deluxe because I know that at least 1/3 of my road gigs are going to be an SS amp and 410. And no matter how crappy they are, the show must go on and you better find a way to make it work or you don't get paid. For me, the VT Deluxe makes it work. At least I know I can send something out to the house that sounds like what I like.

JimmyM · #15 07-11-2011, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svtb15

Jimmy .. with a passive P or J.. where would you start with settings for on your VT for a clean yet slightly amped tone... I was thinking of running my VT for my IEMs...Thanks

Kirk, my tastes with the VT run along the lines of bass at 12:15-12:30, mids and character slightly past 12:00, treble between 9:00 and 10:00 depending on how trebly I feel like being, and drive around 9:00, set level to taste. That may not be your favorite setting of all time, and the level of drive you have may affect your other settings, but I find it a pretty good ballpark to start with for that sound, which I use a lot.

svtb15 · #16 07-11-2011, 02:20 AM

Well Jimmy.. that is a good starting point for me... Thank you for your help..... Im not a good knob tweaker...

georgestrings · #17 07-11-2011, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Active monitors???? BLECCCCHHHHH!!!

OK, I overreacted a little, but I can't hang with monitors. Not only do the vast majority of them suck for bass (unless you pay top dollar...you think SVT's are hard to get? Try getting top notch monitors sometime), I hate having anything else come out of my monitor that isn't my voice.

Agreed 100%...

- georgestrings

lloydcole · #18 07-11-2011, 09:38 AM

I do not allow my band to have their instruments in their monitors with the exception of acoustic guitar, and I'm not having any acoustic guitar next time out. It's hard enough to get monitors to sound OK for the voice...

Medford Bassman · #19 07-11-2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Kirk, my tastes with the VT run along the lines of bass at 12:15-12:30, mids and character slightly past 12:00, treble between 9:00 and 10:00 depending on how trebly I feel like being, and drive around 9:00, set level to taste. That may not be your favorite setting of all time, and the level of drive you have may affect your other settings, but I find it a pretty good ballpark to start with for that sound, which I use a lot.

Thanks Jimmy, I'm going to try this setting as well!

Medford

southpawpa · #20 07-11-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lloydcole

I do not allow my band to have their instruments in their monitors with the exception of acoustic guitar, and I'm not having any acoustic guitar next time out. It's hard enough to get monitors to sound OK for the voice...

Out of curiosity, unless you're talking about very small stages or some band members using IEMs, how do you intend for band members to be able hear each other if they are not permitted to have their instrument in the monitors?

For example, I could see a keyboardist bringing an amp as a personal monitor, but the musicians on the other side of the drums probably aren't going to hear it.