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Amp or Ampless. That is the Question!

Amp or Ampless - That is the Question

  • Total voters
    96
#41
I think IEM's are great if the board (plenty of sends) and PA (self explanatory) can handle it. The last band I was in was starting to use a PreSonus board, a MacBook Pro and an Airport Express to do FOH and monitors. Everyone uses an iPad and with a free app and access to the wireless network you can pull up and set your own IEM mix. Actually, you could run FOH as well. Very cool.

If something like that isn't available, I like to have a small amp. I use a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T combo with a 110 Shuttle extension cab. Plenty of stage/house volume for my gigs. If I need more, there's a PA. I still set my amp up just t be sure I can hear. It's like 30 pounds divided into a couple 12" square boxes. Even my declining back can handle it.

I have also started working out again - one of those balance balls. It really helps.
 
#43
In my new band we don't even use a PA, so if I don't bring my rig nobody hears me...not me, not the other band members nor the audience...AT ALL.

In a way we are going "old school" in the sense that our stage sound IS our sound.

But as mentioned many times, there is no one right way. About the only 100% correct answer is, "It depends."
 
#44
Sundogue said:
In my new band we don't even use a PA, so if I don't bring my rig nobody hears me...not me, not the other band members nor the audience...AT ALL.

In a way we are going "old school" in the sense that our stage sound IS our sound.

But as mentioned many times, there is no one right way. About the only 100% correct answer is, "It depends."
Click to expand...

just curious - is it instrumental? If no, what does the vocalist run through?
 
#45
RickenBoogie said:
This topic has been debated numerous times, and the answer is always the same. It works in some situations, and not in others. There is no blanket answer that will cover everyone, and it's not "old school" vs "21st century" either, as bassists have been recorded direct for decades, as well as going direct on stage. It's simply a matter of what works for a particular bassist, in a particular situation. Period.
Click to expand...

From page one. I don't understand how or why these threads go on page after page.
 
#46
I have to say that while there is a time and a place for just running direct through a good DI (done it plenty), for me 9 times out of 10 I want my amp. Nothing crazy, just a 300 watt head through a 115 or 210 cab suits me just fine for monitoring myself on stage. As long as you keep the volume fairly low, then the sound guys usually don't complain.

I also send everything direct to the FOH from the Direct out on my amp post-EQ unless I'm specifically asked to go pre-EQ. You get the best of both worlds that way, I can hear myself, I know my tone is getting delivered to the board, and if the FOH mix is screwed, it ain't on me.
 
#47
pudgychef said:
just curious - is it instrumental? If no, what does the vocalist run through?
Click to expand...

No, the singer uses a Line 6 guitar amp (with effects) which feeds another monitor. It's all just stage sound. We can get quite loud, but this setup is kind of like "MTV Unplugged" but plugged in. LOL. Very intimate stage setting doing kind of an eclectic mix of progressive blues/rock/jazz, but we are definitely not a quiet little jazz quartet in a lounge. But we're also not a deafeningly loud rock band either.
 
#48
I voted amp, but truthfully most of the time it's just my glorified stage monitor. Most all the places I play have decent PA support, but monitor mixes are pretty dicey when you only have a short sound check. I prefer the security of knowing I can hear myself on stage and being able to turn up/down as necessary. I wouldn't mind playing ampless in a couple of the better places, but I would have to really trust the sound guy (a rarity for me).
 
#49
Even if it's a 'glorified stage monitor' it still is a needed piece of gear. Even those gigs where you show up and they have decent wedges, many soundmen don't want to push a lot of bass in them, nor do they sound very good when they do. Smaller clubs may only have room for a couple compact monitors and it may not be anywhere near me...and if a place only has one or two monitor mixes, I guarantee that someone won't want the amount of bass I'll be asking for.
 
#50
For NYE I played a club with no wedges - IEM only. I'm already the only one in the band without them, and I just used a set the club provided. After 3 songs I realized my amp was still on standby! That was an eye opener for me. And, it made me realize that even my bandmates don't really hear my on-stage tone (because they're using IEM). It's time for me to start sculpting my IEM tone.

If I have good PA support, I'm open the to ampless. In-ears are in my future, and when that happens I'm eager to try going ampless whenever possible. Clearly though, many situations won't allow that, so I'll always have rigs to choose from.
 
#51
It really comes down to who's controlling the PA. If I was going gig to gig using house PAs, I'd always bring an amp.
In my band, we bring our own FOH and I run it. 2 out of 4 band mates use IEM. It's at the point now, I bring either my BDDI, VT, or BP355 into the FOH system. I looked at IEMs but I usually go out in the audience checking sound throughout the gig. So, I use a powered monitor where I control how much goes to it. I always make sure the bass is loud and clear for me.

So, I voted ampless. Honestly though, if it wasn't our PA and I didn't run it, I'd go with an amp.
 
#52
I like both options, depending on the gig.

We play a venue a couple of times a year that is in an old ballroom on the 2nd floor of a historical building. Carrying any gear up the stair case is just a beating...makes 3 turns. So when we play there I take a Bass Pod and DI it. (venue has a great sound system) The first time I did that I was pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded so that has become the norm for that venue for me.

I also used the POD at a music festival last year where we were told we had a 45 min window to set up, play and get off stage. The backline amp was crap so I used the POD, which I'd taken just in case I needed it. It sounded great.

So that's my standard routine now. If I know the situation will be right for it, I use the POD. Otherwise I haul my own rig. But both of my rigs are not back breakers...although I wouldn't want to carry either of them up a funky old 3 turn staircase.
 
#53
I think amps and cabinets add a cool factor to the overall setup too. A stage is pretty boring with no back line or cool amps to look at. I always get bummed if I go somewhere and everyone is running DI, I am always curious to what everyone is running. I always run an amp and cabinet live but just recently one of the churches I play at went to DI for "better mix" or "less stage clutter" I was told. I have struggled along with other musicians due to all the factors involved from sound guy not getting the IEM correct or the DI in my case not made for bass and get a crappy sound. I am sure with the right factors DI and IEM sounds real good. I am just not their yet, I like the old ringing ears after a show.
 
#54
jdubbass38 said:
I think amps and cabinets add a cool factor to the overall setup too. A stage is pretty boring with no back line or cool amps to look at. I always get bummed if I go somewhere and everyone is running DI, I am always curious to what everyone is running. I always run an amp and cabinet live but just recently one of the churches I play at went to DI for "better mix" or "less stage clutter" I was told. I have struggled along with other musicians due to all the factors involved from sound guy not getting the IEM correct or the DI in my case not made for bass and get a crappy sound. I am sure with the right factors DI and IEM sounds real good. I am just not their yet, I like the old ringing ears after a show.
Click to expand...

i agree with this :) we use IEM and DI at church. Our SOund tech is pretty good tho. I have started using my own bass di and it really made a difference.
 
#55
Ampless for me (PodxtL > in-ears). But I have (and usually mix) our own PA. It hasn't saved me any heavy lifting really, since I own, store and haul the PA...

Still have a combo amp somewhere... basement maybe? I should really find it, shouldn't I?

If I were not using my own pa, the amp would be with me, although I much prefer the sound of the Pod>in-ears over the amp.
 
#56
B-string said:
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.
Click to expand...

this is pretty much exactly what I was thinking. I guess I am old, but also old school enough to still want my cab and head. I want to have some control over what little stage volume I get anyways...

plus it is gear...toys man! More shiny things to be distracted by
 
#57
i played a couple of show recently where i was using both my upright and my fretless electric. the venue had a single Bose soundstick PA system with two of the powered subs. and even tho i brought a small amp, i decided not to use it. i just left it in the trunk of my hatchback. instead, i used a samson airline wireless with a pedal type receiver that i plugged directly into my Irig for my Iphone 4. i used the line out of the Irig and plugged that directly into the Bose PA. i used the ampeg svt emulator with a single 15 cab. a little bit of compression and some slight chorus on some of the tunes. i was actually very pleased with the result. i'm not gonna say it sounded "incredible", there was definitely a few shortcomings here and there, but nothing major. and even tho it wasn't the best sound i've ever had, once the whole band was playing, everything was just fine. in a live setting, you couldn't tell the difference. but the really great part of it all was that i found i could function adequately with a few small gadgets that easily fit into the pocket of my gig back. next time, i'm gonna leave the upright and the amp at home and walk into the date with only a gig bag and a big ole smile.
 

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