Amp or Ampless. That is the Question!

[BassmanPaul]

Further to my earlier post, I feel that part of my job is to get my bass out to the audience. Historically that has meant bringing an amp. Still today decent PA systems at a venue are a rarity. There may be a PA but usually if there is, it is barely able to handle the vocals.

What would you do if you arrived at a gig with your bass and perhaps a pedal board and there is no PA? What happens if the PA breaks down? The basic tenet of our business is that "The show must go on!"

 

[worshiprocker]

I have subscribed to the idea of my tone coming from my MXR M80 sending it to the FOH and using an amp for monitor and to look cool. But I am downsizing my cabs so they aren't soo hard to move around

 

[TheBogart]

So, you get the FX out for yourself, right? How do you listen to that? With an amp? IEM? Perhaps I missed that part of your post?

No. I was talking about using a stage monitor. But i understand that most people prefer to use a amp & cab thing.

I know that with a class D amp and a neo cab you can get a good tone, but you need the aid of a stage monitor to spread your bass to the audience and to your band mates.

This pol was about knowing what fellow TB'rs thoght about going ampless.

 

[TheBogart]

I have subscribed to the idea of my tone coming from my MXR M80 sending it to the FOH and using an amp for monitor and to look cool. But I am downsizing my cabs so they aren't soo hard to move around

+1

This was my idea. We can use a small but powerfull combo (200-300w) to use as monitor, but let The FOH handle the rest.

 

[JimmyM]

I've never liked my sound running direct or going into a monitor. Most monitors suck for bass, and the ones that don't are as big as a medium size bass cab. Then add DI to it and it sounds like a banjo. You can run an emulator pedal or mic to soften it up a little, but if never sounds as good as a mic'ed bass cab to my ears.

 

[pudgychef]

Further to my earlier post, I feel that part of my job is to get my bass out to the audience. Historically that has meant bringing an amp. Still today decent PA systems at a venue are a rarity. There may be a PA but usually if there is, it is barely able to handle the vocals.

What would you do if you arrived at a gig with your bass and perhaps a pedal board and there is no PA? What happens if the PA breaks down? The basic tenet of our business is that "The show must go on!"

I guess use whatever the vocalist is using?

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have done both; in an ideal world I'd just as soon use my LA-610 Mk II into the PA, so long as the monitor I get is up to the task, otherwise, I use an amp.

 

[dog1]

And that is precisely the way that I feel. My amp and speakers are as much a part of my instrument as the bass itself. Through the PA it comes out as a generic bass tone that doesn't sound like me.

I couldn't agree more. I use light neo set-ups, but will not play without my own amp. While I have no control over what the sound guys do with my signal, when it comes out of my amp, it is exactly what I want. Sound guys are not bass players, and even if they were, opinions on what is the ideal tone, vary. So, I give it to them the way I like it, and then they probably butcher it.

 

[klokker]

At our gig last night, the house PA wasn't working right, so I had to cover the bass on my own. Without an amp I'd be SOL.

There's too many variables that I deal with to just trust house sound. The sound guy isn't really around, or I can't hear myself or whatever.

I use the light neo stuff, and have a DI on my Sansamp etc., but for me, its a no brainer. I gotta have an amp. To trust the house is too big of a gamble.

 

[BurningSkies]

I guess the 21st Century way is to show up and not be able to hear yourself on stage or otherwise.

 

[Korladis]

An old argument.

For some people, DI is fine. For others, it's not.


I'm one of the latter. My amp and my cab are part of my instrument, period. I don't care if other bassists are just fine with a DI. I'm not.

As well, there are practical considerations. Very few of my most active gigging band's shows have a PA for more than just vocals, and even fewer have monitors that are worth a damn. For most gigs, if I didn't have an amp, it would mean that essentially I'd be playing unplugged.

 

[BurningSkies]

An old argument.

For some people, DI is fine. For others, it's not.


I'm one of the latter. My amp and my cab are part of my instrument, period. I don't care if other bassists are just fine with a DI. I'm not.

As well, there are practical considerations. Very few of my most active gigging band's shows have a PA for more than just vocals, and even fewer have monitors that are worth a damn. For most gigs, if I didn't have an amp, it would mean that essentially I'd be playing unplugged.

I would go a step further and say that back in the bad ol' 20th century, there were MORE clubs with full PA systems and much less need for bringing a big rig. Around here the clubs with serious PAs have gone out or been replaced with DJs rather than live music, and most places with live music have figured out its way more cost effective to pay the band the same amount and require them to do their own PA work.

 

[chadds]

I would go a step further and say that back in the bad ol' 20th century, there were MORE clubs with full PA systems and much less need for bringing a big rig. Around here the clubs with serious PAs have gone out or been replaced with DJs rather than live music, and most places with live music have figured out its way more cost effective to pay the band the same amount and require them to do their own PA work.

Uh Huh!!!

 

[chadds]

I've never liked my sound running direct or going into a monitor. Most monitors suck for bass, and the ones that don't are as big as a medium size bass cab. Then add DI to it and it sounds like a banjo. You can run an emulator pedal or mic to soften it up a little, but if never sounds as good as a mic'ed bass cab to my ears.

"...sounds like a banjo" LOL!!!!!

 

[chadds]

I guess the 21st Century way is to show up and not be able to hear yourself on stage or otherwise.

You guys are killing me!!! LOL

 

[MNAirHead]

There are some great replies.

====

Overall... with a well thought out plan, there's no reason to need a full amp.

There are tons of quality kickback with ground lifting useable DI that are out there...

Design a pedal board with options and have an option to plug into a monitor amp.

As we mature, we commonly play nicer venues that really don't want to see my SVT coming through the door...

I can't remember the last time I needed more than 100 watts of solid state... monitoring.

PM me if you'd like to banter IEM, DI and other junk,

 

[rtslinger]

Ampless for me after years of SVT and the two 8*10 cabs, an injury (fell off a cliff) made me change or quit playing so I am ampless just a bass driver modeler pedal set to SVT direct to the PA (Bose L1) out into two sub woofers and I haven't been happier with my tone. that is what worked for me. In answer to what if the PA board goes down we have our own pa system rarely will you find a club in NJ with a PA secondly we have a backup Full Pa that we have in case something goes wrong with our Bose system it is always in the truck waiting on us if something goes wrong. It is a must for us because non of the band uses an amp on stage everyone is going direct.

 

[Duke21]

Hmmm getting to be a question these days. If you own and control the PA you can build in the FOH and stage monitor and get enjoyment from the sound produced.

Having the bass go through some 12" mains not designed for low end use and a 5" personal stage monitor would not let me enjoy my playing much.

In the days of sub 5lb amps and sub 50lb cabs, I'll continue to supply my stage volume and fill the house if necessary.

+1 to that

I play ampless, have only my Sansamps (or my iPad with Amplitube) with me when I'm playing with my band. I obtain sound I'm happy with, but I think with an amp in addition the control over stage sound is much better. As said, the new bread of class D amps an light cabs gives you the best option.

 

[blackba]

I have difficulty understanding why people think an 8x10 takes up too much room on a stage as the footprint of an 8x10 is no bigger than a 4x10 and usually smaller than a combo capable of handling a gig.

I think its the perception of people with the 810. If you show up to a small bar with an 810 and the bar owner is worried about volume, than its hard to convince them that your amp has a volume knob. I experienced that a few years back where we brought big PA speakers, the bar owner freaked out when he saw the subs and the mains. That is what we had and they sounded and worked well, they just 'looked' big.

Add me to the list who doesn't like IEM. In most cases they can't handle the bass very well, and I have to dial them in so the headphones or ear pieces don't fart out.

 

[klejst]

Amp. You never know when you may need it or want it.