What's the smallest rig you've gigged with?

alfaBAT9 · #1 12-14-2010, 10:30 AM

This is something I've always been curious about.

Having played many shows where the sound guy slaps a mic in front of my cab or sticks a DI box in the chain (or both), I'd always think to myself "Hmm, I could probably get away with playing my 10" 30w Peavey combo instead of hauling around this Mesa uber-rig and just get bass fed into my wedge. I've always liked the way my Peavey sounds pushed anyway." I've never tried it but I'm sure it could be done, right?

So what's the smallest rig in terms of wattage or size that you've played a live show with? And how did you find gigging with a small set up?

Dr. Love · #2 12-14-2010, 10:39 AM

I did many gigs with a 75 watt line 6 lowdown 1x10 combo before I got my main Markbass rig, and still use it from time to time now. We have pretty low stage volume so it works fine. Small gigs I just use the amp alone, larger shows I've used the line out into a PA.

I like a smaller rig: easier to load, easier to position on small stages, etc.

billiam5billion · #3 12-14-2010, 10:40 AM

Crate 60W 112. It sounded fine miked. I've never hauled more than 200 watts, I'm not exactly playing Madison Square...

MNAirHead · #4 12-14-2010, 10:42 AM

IEM = zero amps

OR....

Have played a ton with a 1-10 kickback... play a ton with a 1-10 cabinet... play all the time with a 100 watt 15 kickback...

About once per year I take out my huge biamp rig.. I have huge thud boxes.. the reality is they get in the way.

**MiJaKo** · #5 12-14-2010, 10:44 AM

Ampeg B-100R, but only because it's what I had at the time. I never am comfortable when I have to rely on getting a feed in my monitor to hear myself with the rest of the band. Even when the sound guy's good, I'm gone when I move away from the wedge.

zachoff · #6 12-14-2010, 10:46 AM

Crate B15 mic'd through the PA. Without PA support, it'd be a SWR Workingman's 15.

meatwad · #7 12-14-2010, 10:51 AM

On a regular basis, a GK 400RB and 4x10 cabinet. I have gigged once through a Park 10w guitar amp with an 8" speaker. I've also been known to just plug straight into the mixer.

ledyard · #8 12-14-2010, 10:52 AM

I used the line 6 lowdown. The 300watt 15" version. I used it for the second leg of a tour back in 07 because I was tired of hauling my huge cab and heavy head around. I was amazed at how loud it was, how good it sounded and how much i could actually hear it. Even on a large loud stage. I played a 3k, 5k, and 10k person venue with it and it was fine. I felt a little lesser for not having a huge rig. But the two hoser guitards were using line 6 floor pods and through house monitors only. (more out of being "rockstars" and not wanting to carry anything as opposed to sounding good

)

JTE · #9 12-14-2010, 10:53 AM

Hmm... There was the benefit gig I did with a provided Peavey TKO-65, the first version that had a graphic EQ. Actually the only Peavey combo amp I ever liked (the EQ centers were different than most other Peavey bass amps, and the Scorpion speaker is a lot better voiced to the mids I want to hear than the BW). It was the right amp for the gig- no stage, smallish room, and we weren't too loud.

The other small one, that I used regularly was my Eden WT-400 driving a single E/A VL-208. Not a real efficient speaker cabinet and at 8 ohms I only had about 230 WRMS, but it was fine for the gigs I used it at- generally weddings in smaller rooms where we didn't mic anything into the PA except the acoustic guitar. With the head in the Eden bag, a bass in a gig bag, and the one cabinet, it was a "one-trip" rig.

For really big gigs I started using that rig with an additional VL-208. I'd stack them behind the PA stack on my side of stage, aimed back at me and the drummer. DI to the FOH, and the sound guy loved it. The drummer and I could hear me just fine, my stage sound didn't compete with the FOH sound, and I could always hear myself great witout being too loud out front.

John

rpsands · #10 12-14-2010, 10:55 AM

Played with just a DI box a buncha times.

alembicguy · #11 12-14-2010, 10:55 AM

Just a JDI or a J48 a bass and a cable.

I<34080 · #12 12-14-2010, 10:57 AM

In the seventh grade talent show I used a 20 watt ibanez 1x10

I routinely use a Hartke Kickback 12", which is 120 watts, at coffee shops.

doctorpunch · #13 12-14-2010, 10:58 AM

Ampeg BA115T combo.

ThudThudThud · #14 12-14-2010, 11:01 AM

ABG>SABDDI>Fender Princeton.
AMAZING sound.
Mind you, this was an acoustic gig with a lady singer/songwriter. Didn't need anything bigger.

I gigged a lot in the 90s with just a Peavey TKO115. Worked fine.

KsToaDangr · #15 12-14-2010, 11:04 AM

i played a bunch of shows with a rogue 120w combo amp, but i've played 2 shows with smaller. one was a coffee house gig with a singer playing an acoustic. i took my 15w 1x8 combo amp. the other one was an impromtu show at a halloween party i went to with my old guitarist. the band that had gotten hired to play for 2 hours only had about an hour worth of material, so willie and i borrowed the gear and played some of our stuff. iirc, it was a 30w 1x10

EdMerc · #16 12-14-2010, 11:07 AM

I use a Line 6 Lowdown 15 into the PA. Don't need anything more for my situation.

BigOldHarry · #17 12-14-2010, 11:08 AM

I was with a band that did many coffee house gigs... So I'd use a single Bagend 12" and a old GK400RB. Worked great - and was *cheap*!

**BassIsFun17** · #18 12-14-2010, 11:11 AM

i have used my fender rumble 100 before...that was a pretty awful experience

now the smallest i go with is my GK mb500 2x10 combo. its killer! i plan on getting the 15 inch bottom for it.

CTbass613 · #19 12-14-2010, 11:11 AM

I kid you not...i was playing a fill in gig up in Utica NY with an original band, i think they covered my gas to get there because they were friends and were in a pinch. I live in Hartford area CT, so its a solid 3.5 to 4 hour trip, got there, got into the venue realized it was a dump and got frustrated...they are a 5 piece pop band, and had a fill in drummer also...he had a double kick drum set...again very annoyed...sound guy who was by no means using high end gear, asked me if i want to plug in direct and just go through the subs (i had my aggie rig with me) So i obliged to avoid having to haul extra gear into the place...asked him where the monitor was, and where the DI was...he said no just plug into the snake i will get you loud enough through the mains to hear yourself...i again obliged (THIS IS AGAINST EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER SAID OR DONE IN THE PAST!) it was fine, sounded good enough to get through the gig, so technically i did that gig with a cable and my bass...

Bassdirty · #20 12-14-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTbass613

I live in Hartford area CT,

Me too.

I just gigged friday with nothin but an EQ pedal, and a DI.
New place, we were the first band they ever had, and they were NOT setup for an actual band.
Therefore, my 410 just wouldnt fit.At first I was kinda pi$$ed, cuz the singer plays on a coupla songs (not many)..and he was able to bring in his gay amp (really small tho).

I've never done that before, But always go thru the PA and monitors...so it wasnt a super stretch.
The sound was good...but still. Really good sound guy so I trusted him..but I guess its the fact of the matter...the "you're just the bassist" attitude.
Nobody said it, but they didn't have to.
Next time I will bring a small combo for these little gigs.
The bright side is..I still got paid, AND didnt have to lug my head and 410 cab.

I am starting to wonder if I should maybe get the VT Deluxe...