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Bass Rig Setup - Help & Ideas

mickeyj4j

mickeyj4j

Dec 5, 2006
256
43
#1
Hi all I have Started playing Bass, mainly in Church. I am wanting to know a good stage setup. Here is some further information on this matter.

Home Setup: i was playing my bass guitar through my Line 6 Micro Spider for a few months eq down and volume low so to to stuff speaker as much. I was saving and thought it was time to upgrade so i got a Roland CB20XL Bass Cube 20xl 20W amp (Cube). (Both the Roland CB 60XL 60W and Roland CB120XL 120W where just our of my budget). I was wondering if i could use the Cube on stage as it has great effects.
Church Setup (to follow when i see what gear they use is).
Bass>Amp>DI>Desk
Amp: ???
Di Box: ???

My Setup
Home Setup: i was playing my bass guitar through my Line 6 Micro Spider for a few months eq down and volume low so to to stuff speaker as much
Amp: Roland Cube CB-20XL 20watt Bass Amp. The cube has a direct headphone / Recording out jack (this cuts out the speaker of the amp) The Cube has a good set of features and a real nice tone and response. Here are some Demos.
Bass: Karina YAFLO 400 (Can't find the makers website)
I liked the Karina Bass because it has a great tone and nice response.
DI Box: Behringer V-Tone Acoustic ADI 21
This DI Box I use for my acoustic guitar. it has a setup for bass in manual. The bass sounds nice when played through My amp or direct to mixing desk on stage live. it also has an out put for plugging into an amp as well. so i can run direct to desk and use amp on stage.

Stage Setup
What is the best setup for stage use. I see these options.
Option 1: Bass>Amp>DI>Desk
Option 2: Bass>DI>Desk / Stage Amp
Option 3: Bass>DI>Desk>Foldback.
Option 4: Bass>Mic Amp>DI>Desk. what mic(s) would be good for this. I was thinking of a Bass kick drum mic of some sort. but want something that will capture all tones and frequencies from amp if going this option.
I would like to use my Cube amp at church as it has great effects. Setup options
Option 1: Bass>Cube>Stage Amp>DI>Desk
Option 2: Bass>Cube>DI>Desk / Stage Amp
Option 3: Bass>Cube>DI>Desk>Foldback.
Option 4: Bass>Cube>Mic>DI>Desk
Church Band Setup & Style
The general setup is as follows. one or 2 acoustic guitars, drums, Bass, keyboard, singers. We dont blast like a rock concert / Hillsong band. (dont peak decibel meter or damage hearing) We play moderate volume and easy feel.

After writing this, and pondering things, i feel that options 1, 2 and 3, with or without cube option, are worth trying now. I will talk to the sound tech and band as to what they think as well. I do know that there is nothing like trying different options which may suite the venue, band and my likes better.

Will appreciate any feedback, ideas and opinions on this.
Here is my review of the Roland 20XL Bass Amp
 
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#5
I didn't see an XLR out on the amp, so you do need a DI Box in the mix. Look for a used Radial or Countryman DI Box. I assume you could get the amps signal to the FOH via the recording out jack, then into your DI box, and onto the mixer (Bass --> Amp recording out --> DI --> FOH ; OR Bass --> DI --> Amp / FOH).

Both of those amps are small and won't give you much output when playing with drums and guitars. Save up for a better combo amp. You could pick up an Ampeg BA115 for $250 all day on Craigslist. It'll give you the DI out capability too.

Best of luck.
 
#6
no offense, but you've taken a pretty simple questions and made it very complicated! i'll try and help you with a couple of general tips for playing live: :)

- my guess is that at 20 watts, you will find the Cube amp underpowered for stage use with that many people in the band, unless you're playing at VERY low volumes. (i could be wrong here)

- if you want to use an amp (CUBE or house amp), please bear in mind the usual chain is instrument > DI > amp, with a separate XLR from the DI to front-of-house.

- or simply go instrument > DI > front of house, and use foldback monitors to hear yourself. this depends on the monitors being adequate.

- finally, simply talk to the engineer, he will no doubt be able to guide you :) . personally I would keep the Cube for home use for the reason above, and see what house amp they have.

hope this helps.
 
#8
No wonder you didn't get any response. Way too many words and not enough questions.

Just to be clear, you want to run your Roland Microcube at church as an amp, correct? (<--- one sentence)

Run your bass into the Roland, run a line out of the REC out on the Roland to the mixer (your soundguy might hate this as it is unbalanced), and let the sound guy control your FOH. If the stage is quiet enough you can use the amp as a monitor, otherwise you will need the soundguy to run you a monitor mix.

Just a word of advice, do not fiddle with your amp after soundcheck. Do not change the amp model or crank any effects. By doing so you will change the sound the FOH is getting and ruin his mix.

I am also working under the assumption the REC out on the Roland is post-EQ. I do not know for certain as I do not use it on my amp.
 
#10
DiabolusInMusic said:
Just a word of advice, do not fiddle with your amp after soundcheck. Do not change the amp model or crank any effects. By doing so you will change the sound the FOH is getting and ruin his mix.
Click to expand...
What's the use of effects if you can't use them? No way I'd sacrifice my effects...I'd just make sure they work without the soundguy having to do any fiddling.
 
#12
You can either use the recording lineout on the amp, mic the amp, or use an external DI box.

The little 20 watt amp may not be big enough to hear well on stage so ask them for some bass in your foldback as well.

The little setup may work fine as a "tone generator", but make friends with your soundman as you'll need his help.
 

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