wireless on my bass - line 6 g50 or g90

Mr. BassmanPT · #1 09-17-2011, 10:14 AM

i am not sure if this topic fits this forum... will post it anyway.

i am reading a lot about the wireless systems from line 6 (still not decided if should buy or not), one of my main concerns is the loss of frequencies from my bass. from what i read, both on this forum and on the line 6 site, is that these relay systems do not alter the bass tone at all. it is listed it can go from 10 Hz up so if this is in fact true, no 5 string bass will be affected.

can you confirm the fidelity of the bass frequencies when using the wireless g50 or g90?

i am very picky on my tone. if tone is altered in any way, will keep using my cable.

another issue is the use rechargeable batteries on the transmitter. some people say the rechargeable batteries do not fit the transmitter slots. has line 6 done anything to address this problem?

another thing that worries me is that some say the cable that goes from the instrument to the transmitter is very weak and can cause signal loss. some are replacing this cable with a better quality cable from other manufacturers. is this still true or has line 6 solved this? if the cable is not good, which one is recommended?

regards,

cm

seanm · #2 09-17-2011, 12:20 PM

The g50 is actually cleaner than a cable. They have a built in emulator to emulate the losses of a cable. So as long as you use the emulator (I don't), it will sound just like a cable with the normal tone loss associated with a cable.

I do not use rechargeable batteries, they do not have the output of a normal battery. But I just checked, and some rechargeable batteries I have fit just fine.

I believe the cable problem was with the X2, not the G50. I wanted to buy the G30 just because it can use a normal 1/4" cable. Getting the correct cable with a 90 degree end on it was a PITA in Canada.

robd · #3 09-17-2011, 12:35 PM

I use an xds95 and dont notice and freq loss in live playing situations - can pick up in the classisfed for around $100 used

lowfreq33 · #4 09-17-2011, 01:11 PM

Rechargeable batteries fit just fine on my g30.

Gearhead17 · #5 09-17-2011, 01:39 PM

I was hearing the Line 6 cables are cheap junk - I replaced mine and have not looked back. G50 unit is excellent sounding and does not have the low end roll off of a greater than 10' 1/4" instrument cable.

I do not notice signal loss at all. Sounds better than a cable in many ways. I set my amp the same with a cable and the G50, no adjustments necessary.

Soulpirate · #6 09-17-2011, 01:56 PM

I change from the Shure SLX system to the Line 6 G50 and was totally floored. I found my tone brighter than usual if I didn't use the emulator, but could get the same tone as cables by adjusting the cord emulator. The SLX lost a lot of bottom end but not so with the G50, very thick and rich, very impressive.

The cable is the same as the SLX and I've had to re-solder the transmitter end of that cable once, so I'm thinking that the same may happen to the Line 6. I'm still carrying my cables as back up for the wireless in case something goes wrong.

I looked at the G30 as well for the 1/4" cable option but went with the G50 as it's metal construction seemed more durable than the plastic construction of the G30. The G50 is a bit of overkill for my situation but haven't regretted the purchase at all. I am however considering picking up a couple of spare cords for the transmitter, possibly custom built from eBay, since as seanm put it and rightly so... "Getting the correct cable..., was a PITA in Canada". Several of the stores that I check with when my SLX cable went down didn't even know what it was or how to get it even though they are Shure dealers, go figure...

As for the battery concern, I use regular batteries as I feel I can rely on them more than rechargables. Fresh batteries for the show and they last for many practices afterwards. Haven't tried it, but I feel confident enough that I could get a couple of shows out of a set as well as the rehearsals in between.

Check out a rental if you can, I think you'll be impressed. Anyways, awesome unit, love it, after this buy, I now know what it's like not to have GAS for a change... Now what to do... I think I need another bass or maybe some pedals...

Mr. BassmanPT · #7 09-17-2011, 02:41 PM

many thanks for the information, i appreciate it.

i am still not decided on which model though. between the g50 and g90....

Gearhead17 · #8 09-17-2011, 02:49 PM

The big difference between the units is the range of site and if you want rackmount gear. The G50 is fine for nearly anything out there.

G50 - 200' for wireless play. G90 - 300' for wireless play and you get rackmount gear.

Unless you are Mick Jagger or Bono, the G50 is fine.

Mr. BassmanPT · #9 09-17-2011, 03:22 PM

the distance is not the deciding factor for me, it is exactly the rack or not hardware. i can still put the g50 inside my rack though.will probably go that route.

Mr. BassmanPT · #10 09-17-2011, 07:03 PM

been reading some more and have another question. for some of you, the g30 1/4" to 1/4" is better than the 1/4" to ta4f connector that both the g50 and g90 have.

why?

Slowgypsy · #11 09-17-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmaranhao

been reading some more and have another question. for some of you, the g30 1/4" to 1/4" is better than the 1/4" to ta4f connector that both the g50 and g90 have.

why?

I don't know if "better" is the right word, but most folks feel that the 1/4" input to the transmitter on the G30 is sturdier than the smaller 1/8" input on the G50 & G90. I've used my G30 now for almost a year and had zero issues with it. Can't speak for the G50 or G90 but I can recommend the G30.

vince a · #12 09-17-2011, 08:14 PM

+1 . . . G30

lowfreq33 · #13 09-17-2011, 08:46 PM

FWIW I've taken my G30 out of the building and across the street and was told the signal never dropped out. I can only imagine the G50 performs just as well. I chose the G30 because it fit nicely on my pedalboard, and really, 100 feet is a looooong way if you measure it.

If the rack mounting is the main question then it's simple. Add the cost of the G50 and a rack shelf. If it's less than the G90 there's your answer.

musicon197 · #14 09-17-2011, 10:53 PM

My guitar player did a ton of research before buying a G30 and I tried it out at practice which is in a basement with narrow halls and exits to the side of a bricked house. I moved throughout the basement, then out into the yard and found it worked great using a fender passive j bass 4, an active Warwick 5 and a passive NS Design 5. I was mostly curious whether the low Bs would come through clearly and they did.

He replaced the cord and only uses 9v batteries, which I would do too because I'm too anal worrying about whether a rechargeable was holding, though I'm sure they're fine if you're comfortable using them.

Were I to buy one, I'd probably go with the G50 for longer distance, but even that would probably be overkill.

Good luck...

Rocksolid · #15 09-18-2011, 01:28 AM

I have the rack mount X2 version and the XDS plus. I can't here a difference between them. The xds resides on the pedal board and the rack mount is in my rack for bigger gigs. If I can't hear the difference the common pleb in the crowd definitely won't be able to. Rack gear is awesome but lacks flexibility - the G50 like the xds plus can do all things. It is no big deal to sit it on top of your rack and run a lead into your amp.

dongas · #16 09-18-2011, 02:01 AM

i have the g50. no problems. dont realy like the straight 1/4 on cable (working on a new one with 90) but no problems. like the metal of the 50 better but thats just me. my friend has a 30 and no problems for him with his---except when we both tried to play with both recievers on the same channel,>

wont work well

. 2 different models wont work on same channel , go figure

. when i changed channel on mine we played together fine, no cross talk. if you use a pedal board and have room 50 is way to go (less money)

.

Akami · #17 09-18-2011, 02:27 AM

I have two different models of the XDS wireless and just picked up a G50 last winter and out of the three the only one I had any problems with was the cheaper XDS95. The G50 is built like a bomb and the receiver fits right in the case so I can grab my ax and go to a jam or whatever without having to worry about my cord getting in anyones way or having a large receiver to carry.

Mr. BassmanPT · #18 09-18-2011, 02:51 PM

can anyone tell me the exterior dimensions of the G50 receiver? does it fit inside a 1U rack space? i have one left, if it fits inside that space will go with the g50!

regards

Akami · #19 09-18-2011, 04:53 PM

The G50 receiver will fit in the rack easily - a little too easily. You'd have to figure out something to hold it in place, but on the way to the gig you can carry it in your front pocket. Small enough to fit on a pedal board.

Bassorama57 · #20 09-19-2011, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmaranhao

can anyone tell me the exterior dimensions of the G50 receiver? does it fit inside a 1U rack space? i have one left, if it fits inside that space will go with the g50!

regards

The G50 is the stomp box/pedal board model; the G90 fits a 1RU space just perfectly; same form factor as the older X2 (which I still have as..it still works!). The G50 and G90 use the same transmitter, so if you have two different setups and eventually wind up with both, you have a 'spare transmitter.'
You could go to the Line 6 website, but it's 1RU - just note that (a) the power supply has a 'wall wart' transformer on the plug end, and (b) you have to mount it flush to the front (or back) to allow for antenna clearnance. Here's the manual: http://www.americanmusical.com/ItemF...G90_Manual.pdf