Ultimate live rig..

[cheesypita]

**Im fairly certain that I am going to get flames for this thread.. But I stand by my words/experiences.

I have played and experimented with many different live rigs over the years, but I am a simple man and have always ended up coming back to Ampeg.

HOWEVER. I've been off tour for the past 5 or so months and have been keeping myself busy as a hired gun around chicago with several different bands. Because my main rig is in LA, I haven't even bothered using my practice amp for the chicago gigs..

INSTEAD. I have adopted a new rig and it's my favorite yet! You may have heard of it.. It's called NOTHING! that's right. I've been using my G&L sb-2 (with the tone blend mod) and just going DI. guitar>PA.

Now keep in mind I play fairly decent sized venues that have plenty of monitors and decent DI Boxes. And I must say. I've never been happier. No broken back from lugging the fridge around.. Just pure beautiful tone. I feel like I've reached bassist nirvana..salvation, or whatever u wanna call it. I have a 2 month tour starting late June and I am planning on this being my main rig. Needless to say I am feeling super stoked!

Before the flames keep in mind:

I will still bring my regular rig in case we pick up a private party or god forbid a venue with an awful PA. I also bring my own DI BOX and my own monitor just on case we do play a smaller venue and the monitors are limited. That way all my tracks are covered. I honestly can't believe that this isn't a more popular thing. TOTAL CONVENIENCE.. just the way I like it

Ps- this was an iPhone post so I apologize I'd there are spelling errors all over the place

[TimmyP]

Save one time (a MarkBass that had no extreme low end but was otherwise very nice), all the best tones I've heard were from bassists who were using no amp, or one so small it could barely be heard at FOH even when no one else was playing. Kudos to you.

[F-Clef-Jef]

Welcome to the "light" side! I haven't used an amp in 5 years and have no intention of ever using one again.

Warmoth Jazz > BassPod XtLive (used as a pre and tuner, don't really use fx much) > PA, used with IEM's, mixed in stereo.

I get a feed of the main mix, and add a little more me.

Bass heaven.

[WayneP]

Originally Posted by cheesypita

INSTEAD. I have adopted a new rig and it's my favorite yet! You may have heard of it.. It's called NOTHING! that's right. I've been using my G&L sb-2 (with the tone blend mod) and just going DI. guitar>PA.

Nice! I’m not quite that simple, but I ditched the refrigerator I think nearly 10 years ago for a rack with a few pieces in it. I’m currently using a little 1-12” Aguilar cabinet as a stage monitor (or to cover the house at gigs where there aren’t any subs in the PA system). I’m thinking about paring down even more and building a small cabinet with an 8” speaker that I could just sit on top of my rack, which would be ear level.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt



Administrator, Tobias Club
Administrator, Pedulla Club #45
Big Cabs Club #23
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly

[oldbasses]

You are in good company. Geddy Lee has been without an on-stage amp since 2002. (wikipedia)

[lowfreqgeek]

As long as the PA is adequate, I LOVE going DI. Unfortunately, the PA isn't always up to snuff, so everything suffers because the speakers can't handle the low end and everything else get's kinda wonky. But when the PA is good, with sufficient monitoring, I'd rather just go direct - though I may use a preamp (like a VT Bass, or onboard) to give me a little control over the tone.

[fokof]

I really really like to play ampless.
I do that as often as possible.

I also like you , bring a monitor just in case.

[MikeBass]

My "rig" for a while was a Grooves Tubes Ditto Box tube DI, or Demeter tube DI with a Demeter Compulator in front.

It's awesome!

[Jazzdogg]

If I were to carry only my bass, DI, and a monitor, which monitors do y'all recommend?

[allexcosta]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

If I were to carry only my bass, DI, and a monitor, which monitors do y'all recommend?

Any good 15" powered monitor (JBL, Yorkville, QSC, etc...)

[bluesdogblues]

Kudos for you all who do 'ampless'

Me too would like to do that someday.
Actually the one who likely will complain if I ever do ampless thing onstage is my guitarist.

[bluesdogblues]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

If I were to carry only my bass, DI, and a monitor, which monitors do y'all recommend?

IEM?

[KingRazor]

Ideally my rig would look like this:

-Behringer Bass V-AMP Pro (already got)

-Crown XLS1000 Power Amp (for powering floor monitors, bass cabs, other speakers, whatever) (still need to get)

-Pair of IEMs or a good floor monitor (still need to get, could be a while)

[BartmanPDX]

For me, it's my Summit TD-100 into a Bergantino IP310. The 310 is loud enough to use as a monitor on a big stage, and is small and easy to roll around to where I need it.

The Summit just plain kicks butt as a studio-grade DI. Through a good PA, it gives me stellar tone.

I could just go with the Summit alone but the IP sounds really wonderful with it and it's fun to have that kind of power and tone around if the monitors aren't great.

[walterw]

if you're dragging around a floor monitor and a power amp, that's not "ampless" at all, that's just an oddball bass rig. might as well bring a regular bass amp at that point, it'll sound better.

(to the OP) i would only suggest an active DI, since that bass is passive (unless you're using a buffered pedal like say, a boss TU tuner). the buffer (or the active DI) will prevent any loss between the bass and the board.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by walterw

if you're dragging around a floor monitor and a power amp, that's not "ampless" at all, that's just an oddball bass rig. might as well bring a regular bass amp at that point, it'll sound better.

(to the OP) i would only suggest an active DI, since that bass is passive (unless you're using a buffered pedal like say, a boss TU tuner). the buffer (or the active DI) will prevent any loss between the bass and the board.

Advantages to having a floor monitor instead of a bass cab:

-Can sit in front of you, pointed up at your head. Your ears aren't attached to the backs of your legs!

-If you get a good one with quality compression drivers, you'll get a better idea of how you sound out in the audience, because the tone you hear from the monitor will sound much more like what is coming from the PA.

[bluesdogblues]

Last night I saw a bassist friend of mine playing live with just his Jazz Bass, Shure Wireless for his bass and AKG wireless IEM. Sounded excellent.

Make me think about doing like him.

[JdoubleH]

Originally Posted by oldbasses

You are in good company. Geddy Lee has been without an on-stage amp since 2002. (wikipedia)

Besides, rotisserie ovens are way cooler

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by JdoubleH

Besides, rotisserie ovens are way cooler

Dryers. They have a warm, dry tone.

[jtc_hunter]

I have gone the whole gamut from a 2-212 stack with a 700rbII, all the way down to what I use now. An MXR D.I. w/ my jazz bass . If we are playing for more than 300 people, on a larger stage, I bring my MB112 on an amp stand, off to my right
side, just for a little addition to my wedge floor monitor. But usually my yamaha BR12m is plenty. We let all 5 of our stage monitors have a little bass so all band members can hear me. Its all in the EQ'ing. And I tune to Bb, Eb,Ab,Db on my jazz and theres no farting on our 12" monitors. We are a classic rock, 80's and newer, band and have learned to keep the stage volume under control and moderately healthy. Let the mains do the work. My setup is much quicker and my back is in better shape now. The majority of your fans could care less if there is an amp behind you. Getty has proven that.