Best/Worst Backline rigs...

[j-raj]

So this last Saturday, 2 out of 3 of my gigs were backlined ( ), which was very helpful for my packed day... Both of which were decent set ups, 1st) Ampeg SVT head and 810 & 2nd) SWR Goliath & 750X... but, I have had some real crappy backlines in the past...


What are some of the praise or horror stories that y'all have experienced with regard to Backline rigs?

[Tony G]

The worst house amp I every played out of was some old beatup ampeg head on top of a yamaha 1x15 PA speaker. It was a joke, and I'm never playing that bar again.

[j-raj]

there's a place here in ATL called Fat Matt's Rib Shack (BBQ blues joint) and they have this rig w/a homemade sealed 12 cab and an 80's Peavey Mark 3... Oddly enough it totally does the trick, but man it is so hideous.

[Rattman]

Originally Posted by j-raj

there's a place here in ATL called Fat Matt's Rib Shack (BBQ blues joint) and they have this rig w/a homemade sealed 12 cab and an 80's Peavey Mark 3... Oddly enough it totally does the trick, but man it is so hideous.

I know its probably asking too much.. but any chance of a (future) pic of that hybred submitted to this thread?

[Jerry J]

I was told that the backline was provided. So I get there with my bass and there's no amp. I ask about it and was told that I could plug directly into the PA. HUH! Ya right! Well I finally conceded and it sucked. I couldn't hear myself and the singer kept telling the guy controlling the PA (sound man?) to turn down the bass in the monitor . It was only one set at least.

I went out and bought an Avalon U5 which I take with my when I'm told that the backline is provided.

[captainmuscular]

I showed up to a pub in Toronto to do a showcase and our "backline" consisted of a V-Kit (roland electronic drums) a pod for the guitar and a D.I. for the bass... Eek!

[knarleybass]

One time at the Ballard Fire House in Seattle the guy who rented the backline to the promoter so we could play asked me if I could not play the bass amp so loud, for fear that I would damage the speakers or amp. I have a feeling he went and emptied out his band's rehersal studio without their knowing... Needless to say I was only testing out at an extreemly low volume before the sound check. It was an SWR amp, while it's not the worst amp out there (but far from the best), it was my worst experience with backline.
Other memories include the typical Gallien Kruger 800RB and those Hartke metal speaker cabinets that has bean beaten from hell and back... It's great if you don't like good tone.

[j-raj]

Originally Posted by Rattman

I know its probably asking too much.. but any chance of a (future) pic of that hybred submitted to this thread?

you can 'kinda' see it in this pic:

[gafbass02]

Its funny cause in fifteen years gigging here in the UK ive never come across a non-backline gig, it seems to be very much a US thing. However this thread reminds me of the time i played the cavern in Liverpool, made famous by the Beatles. Well i called in advence to see if there was backline provided as we were travelling light and my rig at the time was a HUGE trace elliot stack with an AH400smx head, two 4x10 cabs and a bright box.
I was assured they had an amazing 400w stack that would do the job so i left my Trace at home.
When i got there i was presented with a battered old Peavey head that was so old i reckon McCartney himself had proabably left it there! The stack was a blown 15 stacked on top of something else i forget what now but i think it was like a 1x12 old box. It exploded at sound check so they wheeled out an even older tiny little combo of some description, which just barely managed to peep out a wuffly, distorted fart for a short while before dieing too so i had to go to the monitors only for the rest of the night before being handed twenty quid for our troubles and starting the 200 mil journery home!

[meev991]

Originally Posted by gafbass02

It exploded at sound check so they wheeled out an even older tiny little combo of some description, which just barely managed to peep out a wuffly, distorted fart for a short while before dieing too so i had to go to the monitors only for the rest of the night before being handed twenty quid for our troubles and starting the 200 mil journery home!

20 quid for all that trouble? I hope that never happens to me >_>

[bassman1185]

I have actually never had a gig where the backline was provided, and I'm not entirely sure that I would leave my rig at home even if there was supposed to be a backline. I'm ok with hauling a couple of hundred pounds of gear around as long as I know I'll sound decent.

[Rattman]

Originally Posted by j-raj

you can 'kinda' see it in this pic:

Thats you? Kool... I do see it(amp) behind your stool there. thanks for honoring my request. Neat backdrop too.

[MrRumble]

Did a 45 min gig, all on another bands equipment. Bass rig was a Behringer ULtrabass and 2 Sonic cabs. What a pile of crap!
No volume and all fart!

[jdupell]

best: Full Eden Bass stack, 4x10 and a 15 w/ Tube head

worst: old Peavy combo amp!

[j-raj]

Originally Posted by Rattman

Thats you? Kool... I do see it(amp) behind your stool there. thanks for honoring my request. Neat backdrop too.

No man, that's not me... I just went to Fat Matt's site and tried to find a pic with their house rig in the picture. There are blues band in FM's 7 day a week, so I'm not sure who that is... the 'Mount Rushmore of Blues' (backdrop) was painted there a few years ago...

Oh & BTW this is me:

[Drucocu]

in switzerland usually you just have to bring your top to the gigs, the cabs are provided.
the worst was...well, also a peavey COMBO 50W (!!!), so i couldt use my TOP, man, I was so pissed....
that was the reason, that I always play on my own stuff.

[marcopalla]

funny story, few months ago jazz/fusion gig:

owner: "you can't bring your stuff 'cose we have everything pro and in the exact measure of the stage, this is the temple of jazz!"

bass amp: a roland II war multichannal imput 80 watt, never seen around, everything lower than B (on 4 strings) was farting. a nightmere. Also the drum was a noname ****.

The "temple" was an horror music pub in province...
I was payed in advance otherwise I has gone away, but 50Eur and free drinks instead of 200 we discussed by phone, noone seems to be the one I spoked to the phone.

Couriously I enjoyed a lot and i drunked 2 bottle of vive cliquot champagne I stealed behind the bar.

peace,
m.

[Rick Brienzo]

Worst- Peavey Firebass head into an old blown out Sun 118 PA cabinet. The head was fine but the cab sounded like a broken tuba.

Best- SVT/810

[meev991]

Originally Posted by Rick Brienzo

Worst- Peavey Firebass head into an old blown out Sun 118 PA cabinet. The head was fine but the cab sounded like a broken tuba.

Best- SVT/810

I'm starting to think I should always bring my own rig, even if its in like, 4 heavy pieces

[BassJunkie730]

Worst backline ever.

Kenny's Castaway's - No bass head provided (I had a T-funk at the time) and some shoddy no name bass cabinet

That.....didn't work.

Cut out in the middle of the first song - luckily I had a few Bag Ends kicking around in the van we rented to go down to DC the next day.

Had it not been for the next gig - I would have been SOL - cause playing in my band with a DI only sucks.


Best Backline:

Rehearsal Space: - UltraSound hands down - two epifani 4x10 powered by a LabGruppen amp and an Aggie D680 - uhh yeah!

Gig - Nothing really sticks out in my mind - though

PLugging into the 8x10 at a place like Sin-e was always fun (I say was because the club is closed AGAIN! )

But another little amp that should be garbage but sounds good for the room is the full stack (two 410s) and an OLD peavey head at the Delancey.

That's all folks for new york at least.