The Virtues of Owning Multiple Rigs

ElMon · #1 05-21-2010, 12:35 AM

Let me start by saying that I am extremely fortunate in ALL my bass gear of late, after a LONG and arduous period of GAS. At a certain point it stopped being about wanting to constantly try the next 'it' gear and needlessly questioning my tone and simply about trying to find the right gear so that all this madness could stop.

Basswise this was easy for me. Roger Sadowsky saved me from the ravages of GAS, except that NOW I only want a roomful of HIS basses. Ditto on BSX EUB's. LOVE my 5 string Allegro. Ampwise though, there's a whole slew of considerations to take into account if you take the utilitarian, 'only hold onto what you're going to gig' approach to owning gear. If you play a variety of genres and venues, there really isn't, IMO/IME, a 'swiss army' rig that can cover low-volume with clarity and STILL be able to produce loud and fatsounding bass tones on command if the gig suddenly gets loud. Not to my liking anyways.

I went through period where all I needed was an Aguilar DB750 and then a GS410. Sounded loud, punchy, and thick and present on any medium-large stage. Only thing was that I started playing in quieter settings where I still wanted to have that thick sonic footprint, albeit in a smaller package. Well if you've ever been spoiled by the DB750 you know that can be a tall order.

Without going thru every single variation I attempted (TOO LONG to list!!!), let's just say that I've been VERY content with the following small-gig rig: Markbass LMII thru Accugroove Tri112L. What's great about this rig is that A) it sounds great with both Electric and Acoustic/EUB basses B) it can EASILY handle a Low B with clarity and power C) it sounds marvelous at low volumes but doesn't crap out if your quiet cocktail gig suddenly gets loud and rowdy. The ONLY thing is that it is quite a large and heavy cab for a 112. Definitely not an easy onehand carry with basses and a head.

Well, recently, I picked up a Markbass CMP 112 combo, wanting an ultralightweight, 'one trip from the car' setup for low volume jazz gigs and rehearsals. Sounds great with upright/EUB, and decent for electric though I do NOT like how the limiter kicks in and cuts off the bass extension on the B string. I brought it to a small gig thinking it would give me a good stage presence while I ran through a PA. Not really, and thank God I had my Tri112L with me to set it on top of. Tonally not my favorite setup, but plenty of stage presence to inspire my bandmates with thick syrupy bass tone. Played the SAME gig tonight and thought to bring along my favorite-sounding small/medium/might get loud rig: DB750 thru Accugroove Tri115L. This is my go-to rig, with an LMII as backup and as a lower volume alternative if the DB750 is too much. Reminds me of an Ampeg B15N, but with more clarity and lowend extension on the 5 string.

So, all in all, I've finally come to terms with the fact that a small 112 combo will NEVER give me the fat bass presence I need at anything more than a low volume situation. If I'm not sure how loud it might get thru the night, I"m much safer with my LMII/Tri112L rig. Tomorrow night, I'll bring just that and be confident it'll cut the mustard. Here's a list of my favorite setups with what I own:

Loud gig where huge 3D bass tone is in order

Aguilar DB750 thru Accugroove Whappo Jr, or else LMII thru Tri115L/Tri112L setup.

Medium volume gig
DB750 thru Tri115L

Small, lightweight rig that MIGHT need to get loud

Markbass LMII thru Tri112L, and if needed add in the Tri115L in case stupid volume is in order

Low volume/Jazz/Rehearsal

Markbass CMP 112 combo

Thank God my Amp GAS is DONE!!! There's not situation I couldn't handle with this gear, and I have backups to every variation.

rodl2005 · #2 05-21-2010, 12:49 AM

I've heard this a LOT!! Specially on TB :-) Good luck & congrats!! Hope it stays that way for ya

capnsandwich · #3 05-21-2010, 01:00 AM

I've got 3 rigs in which I use for different types of gigs. I have my GK 700 RBII rig that's racked with a Sonic Maximizer and compressor and paired with a 410 and 115. Then there's the EA iAmp 350 rig I use at my church, racked and paired with a 210 and 212. Finally, I have my GK MB212, which is my simple yet effective little 500 watt combo unit designed to be an on-the-fly amp when I can't haul either of my other 2 rigs around.

All 3 of these rigs are different and serve a different purpose. The only thing I could ever want amp-wise would be maybe a set of Berg cabinets but even then my cabs probably wouldn't sound much worse. They sound really nice paired up with the heads I'm using now.

Basses, however, that's a whole different issue. I'd get another full time job just to afford more of them if my body would let me.

tallboybass · #4 05-21-2010, 01:02 AM

Congrats Luke!! I'm in a similar position....my amp GAS was squelched by a GK MB212!! Who knew this little combo would knock out a Bergie AE410+Shuttle 6.0??

Hey, have you ever been to Norman Music Center and had a bass 'PLEKed'?

phatbass · #5 05-21-2010, 01:26 AM

All I do is run more speakers.

For most gigs, a Markbass SA450 head into either an Eden D210XLT or a Black Widow 15 (for a bit more trad sound). When a bit more volume is needed, I'll use both boxes.

If even more volume is needed, they can get another Bassist...

rodl2005 · #6 05-21-2010, 01:29 AM

Nah I've never had a bass PLEK'd none here in my state that do it, tho I think there is one or two in Sydney or Melbourne.

I aint saying Luke is wrong or anything..... just that I hope he stays happy with what he's got.

I've got a LMII & Bergantino AE112 & VERY recently a Mesa WA scout combo for small-ish gigs

Same amps with an extra cab- the AE112 or Mark Bass HR151STD added to the Mesa WA Scout or LMII . For a bit more ooomph

A Traynor YBA200 > Berg NV215 for most of my gigs

Or my Ampeg SVTII > Berg NV610 &/or NV215 for the Real big ones

Sten · #7 05-21-2010, 01:56 AM

Congrats on your rig! I think the key to a universal rigs setup is finding the amp you like and getting a modular set of cabinets.

Me? I could use Tech21 bassdriver+peavey IPR1600+two any decent 2x10" cabs (lightweight would be nice, but costs more) and cover everything.

If money would not really be an issue, I'd get Mesa BB750, two PH210 cabs and a gym year pass

If the amp you really like is a full tube, then I agree that probably at least a second head is needed for some gigs, but that sounds like a shortcut soundwise to me already. On the other hand, I'm lucky that my sonic goals can be fulfilled with the two rig possibilities mentioned above which contain no power tubes

Sten · #8 05-21-2010, 01:59 AM

Ah, yes. I'm on the same boat for bass GAS. All I want is more Stingrays, just in various colours

ElMon · #9 05-21-2010, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tallboybass

Congrats Luke!! I'm in a similar position....my amp GAS was squelched by a GK MB212!! Who knew this little combo would knock out a Bergie AE410+Shuttle 6.0??

Hey, have you ever been to Norman Music Center and had a bass 'PLEKed'?

I haven't gotten it done, and probably wouldn't unless I had a vintage bass with wonky frets. As it is my Sadowsky has immaculate frets, and I use flats, so I doubt I'll need it. Heard good things from others though. Sounds like everyone here is on the same page as far as multiple rigs. If my DB750 weren't such a heavy and awkward bastard I might just bring it all the time and just switch out cabs, but thankfully the LMII can get fairly close at a fraction of the weight.

I'm dying to try out one of those GKMB212s. Heard nothing but great things about them, and I also gather that you can literally play toss with them.

KJung · #10 05-21-2010, 07:25 AM

I've always found having two rigs, optimized for larger versus small gigs, works much better for me than the 'modular' approach of 2 x 112 or 2 x 210. So, +1.

jnewmark · #11 05-21-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

I've always found having two rigs, optimized for larger versus small gigs, works much better for me than the 'modular' approach of 2 x 112 or 2 x 210. So, +1.

Been doing this for years and it seems to be the best approach to my gig situation. A Roland DB 700 combo for small gigs, and an F1, Neox 212T for larger ones, although that will change soon when LDS builds my new 215/tweet cab !

MooseKnuckle · #12 05-21-2010, 07:42 AM

I think as bassists, we are the more sensible band member. Just like having multiple basses for different jobs, I think owning a variety of rigs is just as important, especially to stay busy. But that's only if one can afford'em too.

nysbob · #13 05-21-2010, 07:50 AM

I manage to keep my sound consistent for different gig parameters through judicious use of ampeg tube amps.

Quiet recording or acoustic gigs: Ampeg SB-12
Slightly louder: V4B > 1 15"
A little louder: V4B > 2 15"s
Louder yet: SVT > 2 15"s
Full kill: SVT > 2 15"s + marshall > 2 12"s

It's nice to be able to match up the right rig to a venue and know it will sound the way I want to.

KJung · #14 05-21-2010, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nysbob

I manage to keep my sound consistent for different gig parameters through judicious use of ampeg tube amps.

Quiet recording or acoustic gigs: Ampeg SB-12
Slightly louder: V4B > 1 15"
A little louder: V4B > 2 15"s
Louder yet: SVT > 2 15"s
Full kill: SVT > 2 15"s + marshall > 2 12"s

It's nice to be able to match up the right rig to a venue and know it will sound the way I want to.

+1 That's the key. My RH450/AE410 and my F1/Schroeder 115L+ can be made to sound virtually identical in a mix, with the primary difference being size, weight, and volume.

Sten · #15 05-21-2010, 08:03 AM

Well, it depends. If you are a busy bass player playing in many different bands and projects, then it might me more justified to have a few separate rigs.

I play only one band and there is only variation on stage size, which could easily be covered by choosing whether to bring one cab or both. And of course, it is had for me to relate to occasions where one 1x12" is enough or where 2x12" is the "big rig"

I also agree, that affording plays a key role in this. If budget is tight, the goal is always for one universal rig. I'd definitely have one universal great-sounding rig with option to choose how many cabs to bring than two rigs of a less quality, even if it would fit the venues better volume-wise.

Zooberwerx · #16 05-21-2010, 08:04 AM

I bought what was available, bargain-priced, and (supposedly) high quality. As a result, I ended up with two nearly identical Acme B-4 rigs. "Rolling" speaker cabs can be a royal PIA so I've made-do for several years now.

Riis

Groover · #17 05-21-2010, 08:07 AM

Great info. I'm currently trying to narrow down my rigs as well.

I already have my Medium-Large gigs covered: SVT + Berganting NV215.

Small to medium is where I'm trying to work on..

Thinking SVT-3PRO with a Bergantino HT112ER to somewhat stay within tonal range as my large rig?

I don't own the HT112ER and after reading this, I wonder if I should look at maybe the Accugroove 112 or 115?

naturalkinds · #18 05-21-2010, 08:21 AM

I am currently going through a small leg of the journey you seem to have gone through, but am thinking that I might reach a slightly different conclusion.

Might one virtue of owning multiple rigs be that you get to experiment with a variety of sounds, all of which could cop the same high-volume gigs, but which decidedly give you different flavours?

I am currently really enjoying having a Glockenklang Heart-Rock and DB 750 to play with. And what strikes me about owning two different amps with quite different characters that essentially fulfill the same power requirements is that they give me a tremendous amount of variation -- both two shades of utter excellence -- that I can play around in given the rehearsal or situation.

Now the schlep is another issue. The Glock and Aguilar are burdensome. But at this point in my life, I'll take that schlep over the Littlemark, Puma or Shuttle that I've owned. I'd rather use backline than bring a smaller rig that kind of does it. I guess a small combo might be handy -- but, honestly, I really haven't liked the high-quality combos I've used that much more than a $200 Roland cube.

I wonder why you don't just have two rigs.

1. DB 750 + the Tri112/115 stack (or the 'modular Whappo').
2. Littlemark II + Tri112.

Save yourself the combo and the Whappo Jr? Is it that you have the heavier non-neo Tri? Because a LMII + Tri112 wouldn't seem to be that much more than the 30 pounder combo.

**IvanMike** · #19 05-21-2010, 08:27 AM

always good when you find what works for you. For me I like the modular approach, but part of that is just finances. I'm not tombowlus!

For a sensible guitar player there are also multiple rigs: small gig - 1x12 20-30 watt tube combo. Big gig, 1x12 20-30 watt tube combo with microphone in front of it.

georgestrings · #20 05-21-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sten

Well, it depends. If you are a busy bass player playing in many different bands and projects, then it might me more justified to have a few separate rigs.

This - because I normally play in several bands at the same time, I like to atleast have 1 decent cab to leave at each rehearsal space, and one for gigging... I also always keep atleast 2 amps, so that I have a backup if I ever need it - although I almost never take more than 1 amp to a gig... I can always DI to get thru the night, if needed...

- georgestrings