Basics of mic'ing bass amp for live show?

[Parallels]

It also depends on where you are playing. If you're playing small floor shows with a $500 pa bought at guitar center then you're probably not going to have the option to mic up.

[JimmyM]

And now for the other side of things...

I've heard the B20 many times, and it's got a lot on the ball for a practice amp. But it is a practice amp. Having said that, my B-15's only have 5 more available watts and I gig with them often, so it's not impossible to gig with it, nor is it impossible to mic up and get a killer PA sound. But you'll need a good mic and not a cheap Nady vocal mic. A Shure SM-58 is a minimum, IMHO. Just put it dead center and you should get a good sound with it.

However, I do agree that in your situation, a DI is your best bet. I'm not a huge fan of DI's, but there are appropriate times to use them, and this is one of them.

If you plan on getting serious with playing out, a bigger and more powerful amp is a necessity. You can find great deals on used stuff that will work, too, and many of them have their own DI built in. And while it's true that you don't "need" an amp if you have a good PA, you'll find that a lot of bands and venues don't have a good enough PA to do it with.

[Chaazums]

Originally Posted by rbonner

That's it Chaaz give em hell. What most of these guys forget is it's tough figuring things out for the first time when you're 12, 13, 53...

But some finally got with the program. Have fun, meet all the hot chicks and get fat, old and gray. (as opposed to Die Young)

BOB