I’ve been ampless for years now. I plop a my (small) pedalboard down and wire it and my IEM transmitter up to the PA and I’m good to go. I have every app for every digital mixer on my phone so I can control my own IEM mix wherever I go. No regrets whatsoever.
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Cab-less, anyone?
- Thread starter ctbass
- Start date
I'd love to leave the amp at home. I use IEMs whenever humanly possible, so the amp is usually just a stage monitor for other people in the band.
My 7pc R&B gig uses IEMs but a couple of people in the band only use them for vocals, with one bud out.
I've got a new trio project getting started, the other two guys (drums and guitar) both sing and are all IEM. I'm looking forward to not having an amp for that.
My 7pc R&B gig uses IEMs but a couple of people in the band only use them for vocals, with one bud out.
I've got a new trio project getting started, the other two guys (drums and guitar) both sing and are all IEM. I'm looking forward to not having an amp for that.
Just joined a 4 piece country/classic rock band, that had moved to ampless setups and IEM's. The handful of times I subbed in with them before joining....I'd bring my amp/cab and wedge. They have a really nice PA, fancy digital mixers and such. After my little class D amp died a year or so ago, and knowing that I'd be with these guys, I've crossed the bridge to an ampless set up and IEMS. I have a MBP115 that I'll take out if I need ever need a cab, but otherwise I run a VT Bass DI straight into the FOH if we're just doing a short set somewhere where a quick changeover is needed, and for full shows/gigs use an RBI/DBX loaded rack that also holds my wireless RX and TX boxes. Do I miss a cab behind me?----maybe...but the PA subs throw a lot of "feel" out there, and, really, even "entry level" IEM's sound pretty darned good. The ability to control the amount and mix of noise going into my ears adds SO much...and being to actually hear what I need to hear BETTER helps SO much too. So far so good. Advice-----if you go with wireless IEM's always have spare batteries....those RX boxes devour them!!
You'll have no control at all over your stage volume. And you may have your own monitor, but will you have your own monitor mix? Depending on the band, number of musicians, stage volumes etc. I'd be very reticent to go ampless without IEMs or at least a guarantee of my own monitor mix.
Interestingly, I have a BB800 it's one of the reasons I'm leaning towards going ampless. It sounds great and plenty of power but the DI is the one thing I really don't like about it. Both the Gain the Main volume knobs affect the signal to the DI. When using a cabinet, there's no way to turn up your stage volume without increasing the level being sent to the FOH. I wouldn't have bought it had I known that.
??? That's terrible design. Really? That's definitely a deal breaker.
We've been using IEM and silent stage for a few years. If you are getting a good sound in your IEM's congratulations, you're fitting them properly. A good seal around the ear canal is paramount for good bottom end.
We don't have the luxury of a sound guy so I set it up for FOH by doing a bit of a walk around during soundcheck and I have one channel on my IEM mixer that I can solo for FOH balance check during the night. Our keys guy took a little time to adjust but once I explained how to keep his patches at even levels it's been really good.
We get great feedback from audience and other musicians as to the sound out front, it seems to be working but then the guys are all very professional about keeping levels balanced.
It really works if everyone is going to use it, everyone gets their own mix and they are in control of that via iPad, tablet or smart phone so it's a win-win.
We don't have the luxury of a sound guy so I set it up for FOH by doing a bit of a walk around during soundcheck and I have one channel on my IEM mixer that I can solo for FOH balance check during the night. Our keys guy took a little time to adjust but once I explained how to keep his patches at even levels it's been really good.
We get great feedback from audience and other musicians as to the sound out front, it seems to be working but then the guys are all very professional about keeping levels balanced.
It really works if everyone is going to use it, everyone gets their own mix and they are in control of that via iPad, tablet or smart phone so it's a win-win.
This is a little dangerous depending on the volume on stage generally. If they have one earpiece out the level of the other needs to compete with the stage sound and that can hurt their hearing at those levels.
I recommend using both earpieces so the level can be set at a safe volume.
I've done it, not a huge fan, but I'll do it again if the money's right and they don't make me spend any money on it. On loud gigs, our amps act as quiet monitors, our vocal monitors aren't loud enough to feed back, and the PA can handle things. On quiet gigs, we use our amps to feed the house instead of the PA. I love it...makes for a very cool 3d spatial audio effect that is even better than PA for the instruments.
Dedicated bass rigs are an anachronism. They're fun, but wholly unnecessary and too expensive in the long run with no discernable advantage over available alternatives. I get far better monitoring on stage and much more consistent FOH tone with a modeler going into the board with IEMs for monitors. My preference is a Kemper, but there are others that work well.
Moving air is part of the craft, so if there’s an acoustic kit, I’m using an amp. That way I can be part of the acoustic dynamic. It’s part of the pleasure and magic of making live music.
15 years ago I toured with IEM only. It was part of the deal for a good paying gig. However, I was standing behind a multi-million dollar line array PA in big venues. I ran the ears low enough to enjoy the spill. That helped!
The gig always chooses my rig. But IEM for small stuff is out for me.
15 years ago I toured with IEM only. It was part of the deal for a good paying gig. However, I was standing behind a multi-million dollar line array PA in big venues. I ran the ears low enough to enjoy the spill. That helped!
The gig always chooses my rig. But IEM for small stuff is out for me.
In my last band for the last 2 years or so we were all IEM, I loved it. Very easy load in/out.
Ampless? I tried that twice. Not for me. Nothing can replace a real rig behind me.
This is an important point, IMO.
One of the reasons I bring my amp to IEM gigs is that I want to have control over my stage volume and sound readily available. I don't want to do it via cell phone - I just think it looks terrible when musicians look at their cell phones during a gig.
I start with my volume fairly low and if I feel that I need to adjust it after several songs I can do it in a sec by reaching to the amp. I send signal to FOH pre-EQ so my adjustment does not ruin the mix for anybody.
You can't generally do this with monitors.
Plus I try to place my little cab as close to the drummer as possible. IME, it helps to lock in with the drums. No drummer ever complained as I am very reasonable with my volume.
Makes sense to me!
If I knew I could get a good bass monitor everywhere I play, I would not use amp/cabs at all. I like how they sound but I get a very good sound when plugging my board direct (I use a cab sim DI). Unfortunately that's not the case, and I seem to be the only one willing to go IEM, so I still use amp/cabs regularly.
None of these replies make any sense (to me) if you don’t outline your gigging scenario. Just a thought.
