Anybody out there JUST use monitor's instead of Amp?

[Bobbo 77"]

Órale,
Does anybody out there just use wedge monitor's instead of lugging/ bringing their amp to the gig's? I just got finished doing a 5 night Casino gig where we HAD to use the house system, 8X8 stage (3 piece band), and because of the room, I just sent my bass through the monitor's, which sounded great using a Modeling pedal. I've grown up through the year's using a amp, but because of volume constraints and venues, the monitor's are working great too! Chime in, Pro's and Con's!
Bobbo 77'

[Lorenzini]

An idea is using some sort of EQable DI, Sansamp or otherwise to really get a great tone.

I like doing this too, when I get a chance. Why bring an amp & cab if you don't have to, and can still sound good?

[Bobbo 77"]

Órale Lorenzini!
Yes, I agree, but I'm still 'Old School' , growing up with using a Amp as a on-stage monitor. But a good pre-amp such as a Sansamp or Sadowsky and GOOD monitor's and mix make's life and strain on our back's easier, with the important age old 'Stage volume' fight a moot point! I'll use the amp when warranted.
Bobbo 77'

[AveryHorton]

We just played the Tucson Music Melee a couple of weeks ago. The bass players all used the same bass amp. We sound checked first and I asked for bass in my monitor. Everyone thought I was crazy. Good thing I did because the last player who used the amp pushed in the MUTE button. I didn't notice it until after we had played a song and a half LIVE!!!

Another time, I was using my new Ampeg B2 amp and the bass through the monitor was louder than my amp! Huge room!!

Fact is the soundman is usually going to insist on taking a signal out of the DI box rather than out of the back of your amp so... your amp doesn't matter.

[Charm Bracelet]

All the more reason for a POD!

[KeithPas]

I played in a large casino a while back and used my SWR head as a preamp and had my signal sent to a large side fill monitor that was right where my amp would have gone. It was the best tone I have had live, hands down and I did'nt have to haul my speaker cabinets around.

[ehque]

the sound system where i play is set up by a fellow bassist and everyone is on monitor. There are no stage amps and it sounds great cos everyone can get his OWN mix of whatever he wants. My own monitor is (i think) a 15" cone + tweeter.

The foh bass is powerful too, with 2 1x18s filling it out. Blows away our old amp+monitor setup, cos last time everyone got the same monitor mix.

[Bobbo 77"]

Originally Posted by Charm Bracelet

All the more reason for a POD!

'Nuff Said! Órale!
Bobbo 77'

[Sounbwoy]

I'll be doing that in a couple weeks at a festival I have to play at. To save space for the trip, I'm leaving my rig at home. As long as I can hear something, I can work with it.

[Kael]

In a couple of the acts that I play with I just use a SABDDI and go through the wedges. It quite frankly does NOT sound as good as my rig, but it gets the job done and is a whole lot easier than schlepping a rig.

[mattq]

Originally Posted by Charm Bracelet

All the more reason for a POD!

BLASHPEMY!!!!!!

seriously though, i hate not having my amp with me. i kind of don't even like it when i use my small rig (2x10) instead of my big one (in the sig). even when i was recording a couple weeks ago i just felt weird and like i didn't play as well going straight into the board and using a plugin. probably just a reflection of my poor playing and unprofessionalism....

[JimmyM]

I've done it before, but I seem to be the only one who enjoys it. Everyone else hates having to listen to me through their monitors.

[PilbaraBass]

our church has 4 separate monitors...each monitor can be set differently...but, as we share the same monitor with the geektarists and as I alternate with another bassist two-on/two-off...it's hard to say what is happening with the monitor setup. So, I rely on my 60W laney combo amp to give me a sound when the monitors aren't

I have a simple setup .... I run my bass into a Zoom B2.1u....I DI from the zoom to the house....i line out from the zoom to my amp...my amp is in front of me, facing me, next to the monitor...

I only run my amp loud enough so that I can comfortably hear what I'm playing....I always start with the amp volume way down, as I try to let the sound man get his sound...

[SteveC]

I do it at church all the time. DI to mixer and my own monitor mix. It's the best sound I have.

If I knew I'd have the same monitor situation at any venue, I'd dump my rig in a heartbeat. I actually tried to dump my rig, but SR gear is different at every venue. I decided I need to have a rig that can carry medium venues.

I wish venues that have SR gear would put as much into the monitor situation as they do FOH. Monitors always seem to be an after thought. They don't understand that a good monitor system will help make everything sound better.

[Lorenzini]

The gigs I played recently allowed me to go post-EQ thru my GK's DI, and he put me through the monitors. I truly got the best of both worlds.

[bassbrad]

I play in 2 band situations where there are no amps, we all plug into a board and monitor thru the PA, monitors or sometimes headphones or in ear monitors. It works for 2 reasons [1] both sound men are former bass players and want to hear what I play [2] both bands also use electronic drum kits.

[ROGI]

what about using only preamp and in-ear monitoring?

[Bass_Xtremist89]

on a much bigger scale....Geddy lee doesn't use bass amps in his gigs. Instead, he DI's to the FOH mixer and has in-ear monitoring. Smart guy!

[ROGI]

John Myung too,
but has anyone of you tried that option?

[Christopher]

On the rare occasions I've done it, the tone's been trebly and super-harsh, but audible. That's probably more the fault of the soundmen controlling the board than the concept of using a monitor in place of an amp - if EQed properly, I think it's fine.