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Anybody here miked a practice amp at a gig?

fourstringbliss

fourstringbliss

Supporting Member
Oct 5, 2003
12,442
6,016
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Puyallup, WA
#1
I have a heavy amp and sciatica - time for something lighter. I'd love to have one of the new Carvin light combos or a Markbass combo but I don't have the money.

What about miking a good sounding practice amp?

Guitarists mic their amps all the time - would it work for bass?

I play at my church and have great FOH support. I rarely play out where I would need the power of my amp.
 
#2
Mic'ing a very small amp to the front of house would not be a problem at all. However, unless you have your own monitor mix and a good monitor system with decent bass response, you could have trouble with hearing yourself or putting down a nice low end for the band on stage.

And... if you do have your own monitor mix and front of house support, then.. why bring an amp at all.

So, unless you are using your amp as a significant part of your tone (distortion, whatever), in your situation it probably makes more sense to get a good preamp and go right into the board. If you don't have a decent monitor system with your own mix, you are stuck using your larger amp until you can afford something lighter IMO.
 
#3
KJung said:
Mic'ing a very small amp to the front of house would not be a problem at all. However, unless you have your own monitor mix and a good monitor system with decent bass response, you could have trouble with hearing yourself or putting down a nice low end for the band on stage.

And... if you do have your own monitor mix and front of house support, then.. why bring an amp at all.

So, unless you are using your amp as a significant part of your tone (distortion, whatever), in your situation it probably makes more sense to get a good preamp and go right into the board. If you don't have a decent monitor system with your own mix, you are stuck using your larger amp until you can afford something lighter IMO.
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We use an Aviom system so we have our own personal monitor system. I usually just go direct from my Sansamp and bring the amp to fill out the stage sound for the drummer or in case there's a problem with the Aviom. I'm really just keeping the amp for the off chance that I might play out with others or get in a band type situation, but I work full time and have a family with young kids - I'm not sure if a band or music project is in my immediate future.
 
#4
fourstringbliss said:
We use an Aviom system so we have our own personal monitor system. I usually just go direct from my Sansamp and bring the amp to fill out the stage sound for the drummer or in case there's a problem with the Aviom. I'm really just keeping the amp for the off chance that I might play out with others or get in a band type situation, but I work full time and have a family with young kids - I'm not sure if a band or music project is in my immediate future.
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In that case, I don't see how mic'ing a little practice amp would help with the stage sound at all.
 
#6
I think it all depends on the amp itself. If it sounds really good, mic it. If it sounds a little light in the loafers, DI it and use the amp as a monitor. Either way, I think you're set.
 
#7
Bassman7PM said:
I miked an Avatar 210/GK Backline 600 during an outdoor concert. The soundman was a bassplayer and he made my lightweight practice rig sound huge.
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That is a bit different than a practice amp. Mic'ing backline can make sense. Mic'ing a small practice amp (like a little 1 x 8" 20 watt amp or whatever) also would work fine, but you would need a separate monitor mix for stage sound.

Apples and oranges!
 
#9
Ask Jesus to turn your pocket lint into gold pieces then buy a MarkBass amp. The front control panel has an XLR input for a mic or a monitor signal from the desk. Now you have a bass amp and a monitor.

If you bump into Jesus can you ask him which country my dad's old accountant disappeared to.
 

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