Anyone else NOT into lightweight mini rigs?

[MordBass]

I have played several thousand gigs during my time as a working bassist(on pace to do 135 this year, in fact) - in settings from small bars to huge outdoor concerts... IME, a rock band with a loud drummer and backline to match most definitely can be heard from the stage - in addition to the PA... Now, this also depends on where a person stands - fairly close to the stage, they'll certainly be able to hear the backline a bit - whereas, further away it's probably all PA... None of that requires a person "playing too loud", as you inferred - it's just varying circumstances...

Yes, circumstances. Like I said, it depends greatly on the size of the venue or bar. If youre letting a bunch of volume off the stage that the soundguy has no control over.... you arent doing him any favors. So unless the bar is small and the PA isnt very adequate it shouldnt be a large difference to the crowd. Certainly not enough impact for somebody 20 feet back at a bar to hear the smaller portion of bass that is coming from the cab and think to themselves that it sounds like a Class D.
Thats the whole context of this thread. The talk of Class D making a difference or not. So I was simply pointing out that in many scenarios, from the perspective of the crowd, more of your sound is coming from the PA than your cab.
I like Class D...and I like my giant old school amps as well.

 

[Bad azz tone]

Actually I like this trend, many guys go digital a there is a lot of interesting "heavy" gear for sale

I know,and it seems in the long run, after a while, they come to their senses, and go tube again. I see it often, even a couple of my long time friends have gone back. Although they go as small as they can and still get the sound they want.

 

[MordBass]

I know,and it seems in the long run, after a while, they come to their senses, and go tube again. I see it often, even a couple of my long time friends have gone back. Although they go as small as they can and still get the sound they want.

Its funny you guys mention this because just thursday I had a cab crap out on me at my drummers place. I went online to look for a basic used cab as a replacement and couldnt believe how cheap the big stuff is. My guitarist said its the same on his end... the trend with a lot of rock/metal guitarists seems to be a flight case that holds a head and a 2x12... so many 412's are goin cheap lately.

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Everyone would like to play through a massive SVT rig, no doubt. But my reasons for not owning one, as much as I'd love to are pretty much the same reasons I don't play through a JCM800 half stack like ai did when I was younger. Things have changed since then. Priorities have changed, don't have the space for one, the places I play simply don't demand a rig like that (but that still doesn't seem to stop plenty of other players from showing up with a rig like that) and simply just have zero desire to lug that thing around! I'm very happy having the Fender Rumble combo in one hand and bass in a poly-foam gig bag on my back, and a Pedaltrain Nano in the other hand. Yep, it's not a massive SVT rig, but for a bar band and what not it sounds great and gets the job done. Also don't have to deal with servicing an SVT which can get stupid expensive.

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Seems like convenience is the lowest common denominator anymore

It's a big factor for me, but times are different now. Smaller and lightweight rigs can sound great these days. Huge SVT rig nice, no, but way better than what was going on years ago.

Also, my reasons for not going with a huge rig are just practical. I don't get supper into or geek out massively like so many do here. Not knocking it, just saying. A massive, expensive rig and a couple super high end, boutique basses ain't going to make a darn bit of difference in the band I play with. For others it may, or having that kid of gear is just their thing. As long as your having fun, have a strong back and it works for you, go for it.

Dare I say it, but it also seems like a macho, masculine thing. Kind of like the guy who has the crazy lifted truck he's sunk a ton of money, but it's never is dirty and has never been taken off road. I have to laugh and chuckle when I see a local bar band that does crappy cover songs but the bass player plays these insane boutique basses and this crazy expensive, massive rig. Almost seems like he's making up for something...lack of talent perhaps?!

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Yes, I am NOT into them.
View attachment 2834197

Was this at the last coffee shop gig?

 

[Bad azz tone]

For me,it's not the volume. I can bring my volume down and still punch through the mix. It sarts by EQing my rig to the room,remove any annoying frequency,boom or other problems. For this I use my 31 band eq and compressor. That's what they're for. I also use a small drop of verb in small rooms, it makes the bass sound bigger and you can run at lower volumes and still stand out in the mix. Being really loud defeats the whole purpose of a mix. I may not be loud ,but I'm felt!!!

 

[Bad azz tone]

Everyone would like to play through a massive SVT rig, no doubt. But my reasons for not owning one, as much as I'd love to are pretty much the same reasons I don't play through a JCM800 half stack like ai did when I was younger. Things have changed since then. Priorities have changed, don't have the space for one, the places I play simply don't demand a rig like that (but that still doesn't seem to stop plenty of other players from showing up with a rig like that) and simply just have zero desire to lug that thing around! I'm very happy having the Fender Rumble combo in one hand and bass in a poly-foam gig bag on my back, and a Pedaltrain Nano in the other hand. Yep, it's not a massive SVT rig, but for a bar band and what not it sounds great and gets the job done. Also don't have to deal with servicing an SVT which can get stupid expensive.

I've done it all my life so I don't know any better!

 

[Bad azz tone]

Unless I'm playing outside or concert stage, I use theSVT AND 1 4X10 HLN. I really don't consider that a massive rig,although it gets massive loud. Big stage,2 4x10 HLN' S. The cabs are not hard to deal with being 1/2 a fridge. The SVT HAS A road case with wheels, easy to deal with. Most drummers love my sound and don't mind giving me a hand if I need it. I'm so used to moving gear it's really a non issue. Soooo!What do you do to stay in shape? I'm 64 and in good shape,it comes from humping gear!

 

[chadds]

Eleven days later and I’m still not into lightweight mini rigs.

(I am into what sounds best for that band/group/performance/venue.)

 

[Bad azz tone]

Eleven days later and I’m still not into lightweight mini rigs.

(I am into what sounds best for that band/group/performance/venue.)

Well said brother!!!!!

 

[edervjo]

I have played thru the Mesa Subway, rated at 800w, then thru my Crest CA9, rated at 900w/channel
Absolutely no comparison. The class D crapped out at half the volume thru the same 4 ohm load cab.
Of course the Crest is rated at 900w at .01% thd, as opposed to the 800w unknown ?? THD from Mesa.

And as for the Eminence Kappa lites? Hardly an efficient speaker, only 93db at 1w/1m whereas my EV's are closer to 100db 1w/1m. That means over 4 times the amount of power to achieve the same SPL. The only thing the Eminence's have over my EV's is a slightly lower freq response, but only if you have the extra wattage to use it.

And that is the thing, while the Class D amps are light, and put out what seems like a lot of power, it's a wash because while the lightweight cabs have a better overall sound, but they NEED all that power. So those lightweight rigs do sound great, until you push them. That's when you go go from being surrounded by a warm fuzzy blanket, to being naked and cold in the dark.
But then more guys are running thru the PA or FOH, so that def helps and is the best argument against the need for big iron, provided you have a sound guy that can twist knobs correctly..

 

[Bad azz tone]

I would say, if you ask the gentlemen on stage,I bet they would rather feel the pulse of bass and rythem section, than have a really loud bass and rythem section. IT'S all about the MIX! WHY fight the guitarists volume,when you can come into the mix in a frequency he cant touch. Of course loud is acceptable if the mix is where it should be. Go on line,call up a bunch of live videos of the top bands in the last 50 years , most are playing through SVT's! Gee, I wonder why? If it' good enough for them, it' good enough for me!

 

[agedhorse]

I know,and it seems in the long run, after a while, they come to their senses, and go tube again. I see it often, even a couple of my long time friends have gone back. Although they go as small as they can and still get the sound they want.

I don't think this is the case in general. Some may, but they are a small percentage from what I have seen. The world is awash in large, heavy bass gear that's being offered for a fraction of its original cost. The same is true in the PA world, which tends to lead the bass market by between 5-10 years.

 

[Manticore]

Dare I say it, but it also seems like a macho, masculine thing. Kind of like the guy who has the crazy lifted truck he's sunk a ton of money, but it's never is dirty and has never been taken off road. I have to laugh and chuckle when I see a local bar band that does crappy cover songs but the bass player plays these insane boutique basses and this crazy expensive, massive rig. Almost seems like he's making up for something...lack of talent perhaps?!

I had to laugh when I saw this! I've been thinking since the inception of this thread that giant bass rigs are the monster trucks of the music world; you sir, had the fortitude to say it!

 

[MordBass]

I had to laugh when I saw this! I've been thinking since the inception of this thread that giant bass rigs are the monster trucks of the music world; you sir, had the fortitude to say it!

Its certainly possible but also fair to say that some of those comments are just a window to the insecurity of the person saying them. If you can afford a Ritter and wanna jam it loud at a local bar.... go for it. I find that far less douchy than the amount of corvette owners that chose an automatic and never exceed 60mph or the amount of Wrangler owners that will never see anything but asphalt.

 

[Manticore]

I don't think this is the case in general. Some may, but they are a small percentage from what I have seen. The world is awash in large, heavy bass gear that's being offered for a fraction of its original cost. The same is true in the PA world, which tends to lead the bass market by between 5-10 years.

I see it the same way. I have a closet filled with compressors and filters from PA gear I no longer need. I also have a number of large bass cabs and amps I no longer use. The world has moved on and we can consistently achieve a high quality sound without massive gear, and I for one am grateful for it.

 

[Manticore]

Its certainly possible but also fair to say that some of those comments are just a window to the insecurity of the person saying them. If you can afford a Ritter and wanna jam it loud at a local bar.... go for it. I find that far less douchy than the amount of corvette owners that chose an automatic and never exceed 60mph or the amount of Wrangler owners that will never see anything but asphalt.

Agreed. I've said it before here, it's a matter of preference. I really enjoy standing in front of a large rig from time to time; it's fun. I don't however, make a regular practice of it as it really isn't practical given high quality options. As for the instruments? Guilty as charged. I bring at least one Alembic to every gig. I also have a number of the more workman-like basses that can easily cover the gig, but I rarely use them. It's a matter of preference that leads me to bring an Alembic when my P will do just fine. Certainly no disrespect was intended.

 

[MordBass]

Agreed. I've said it before here, it's a matter of preference. I really enjoy standing in front of a large rig from time to time; it's fun. I don't however, make a regular practice of it as it really isn't practical given high quality options. As for the instruments? Guilty as charged. I bring at least one Alembic to every gig. I also have a number of the more workman-like basses that can easily cover the gig, but I rarely use them. It's a matter of preference that leads me to bring an Alembic when my P will do just fine. Certainly no disrespect was intended.

Oh i agree hahahaha Im the same way. The only time I run the lower end basses is when my black metal band is playing. Bullet belts, spiked gauntlets etc.... the finish on the basses gets destroyed quickly.

 

[agedhorse]

I see it the same way. I have a closet filled with compressors and filters from PA gear I no longer need. I also have a number of large bass cabs and amps I no longer use. The world has moved on and we can consistently achieve a high quality sound without massive gear, and I for one am grateful for it.

That said, I still prefer the user interface of a large format console, something about controls being in exactly the same place, doing exactly the same thing under the heat of battle. The tradeoff is cost, size, weight, processing power and a type of convenience. If I grew up on a digital console, I might not miss the user interface so much, but there's something confidence inspiring about Yamaha PM (or Soundcraft, or whatever) style hardware. I still have a couple of 5 figure consoles that I can barely give away... very sad actually from my perspective but other folks say good riddance to those good 'ol days.