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Bar Rigs---> Let's see em!!

Hevy T

Hevy T

Jan 11, 2011
4,293
4,017
56
Lethbridge, AB Canada
#1
I am wanting to piece together a rig for bar gigs and private functions. Guessing 200 to 600 people, sized places. I am having a delima as to what to buy. I currently have a Traynor SB112 that has amazing sound especially when used with my pedals, namely a Sans Amp, Ampeg SCR DI and a B3 for all the effects. However I don't think it is enough.

So pls post pics of your rigs that you use for these style of gigs, and any suggestions would be appreciated.

It would have to keep up with 2 guitars, and a power drummer. We will be doing mainly classic rock, blues and pop country.
 
#3
To answer your question directly I would want 2 4x10s and 1000 watts at the minimum. Otherwise see my first reply. Otherwise I'm out. Wait, I'm still out if you need all that to keep up. I like the in ears and a good sound guy like Jeb said. Wait...
 
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#4
The first pic is my Main head (Mesa D800) and backup (Fender Rumble 500 V3)
Small room Subway 112 only, 112/115 stack for the larger.

1452326826298-jpg.jpg

20151107_203010.jpg
 
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#5
Jeb said:
If you have pa support, anything that lets you hear yourself will work. If you have a good sound guy bring a good di and he'll have a monitor for you. If you have in ear monitors and a good sound guy, all you need is your bass. Otherwise you'll need a big bad bass rig.
Click to expand...
My guitarist does the sound apparently, and though he likes to DI to the FOH, he told me he don't like running the bass through the monitors, because he said it is too much.

I will admit I don't have that much stage experience with PA's. I have only ever DI'ed once before. Most of the time I just play at jams and all I have to do is plug in to their amp and play.

For the longest while I have never even owned an amp because of only playing at jams, and when I practice at home I use headphones. I just picked up the SB112 for practice at the singers house, now we are starting to get more serious, so I guess it's amp time. The last time I ever owned a giggable amp was back in the mid 80's, even then it was a 20 year old solid state GBX junker that I bought.
 
#14
600 patrons is a big bar gig. The bands that get that kind of work around here are running serious PA and not relying on stage rigs.

Realistic bar band rig for hanging with an unmic'd drummer is a head in the 500 Watt range into a 2x15 or a 410 or a 2x12. Lots of popular ways to get there. Stick with mainstream products for your first gigging rig. Do yourself a big favor and buy enough cabinet from the start. trying to get too small of cabinet up to full rock volume is a recipe for unhappiness.
 
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#17
That 212 mbe v1 cab was a great score for players loading themselves in and out evey night. Too bad that Bob and co doesnt make that one anymore. I'll be rockin my 4 ohm 212 mbe cab under a GB shuttle this weekend. Been done a time or two with great results. Thats a good cab. But there will be a very capable sound guy who will dictate my sound beyond what I can control. Be nice to your sound guy.
 
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#18
I have been very happy with two 1x12 cabs and 500W. This is good enough to handle up to 250 people with no PA support... indoors and out.

Not sure a 4x10 would handle the larger venues or outdoors without PA support. If you always have PA support, it should be enough.

For 600 people you should have serious PA support, so your rig will just be a monitor on stage.
 
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