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Can you go direct to a PA using just an instrument cable?

SmokinJoe992

SmokinJoe992

Sep 3, 2016
834
1,422
Chattanooga,TN
#1
Dumb question of the day. Can you plug directly into a PA using just an instrument cable? I have a friend that does a solo acoustic show and has asked me to sit in with him using my electric bass on occasion. I have a Fender Rumble 500 amp head that I play through a Peavey Headliner 410 cab. This would take up to much space and be severe overkill. His PA has an input for an instrument cable. Can I just plug my bass straight into the PA with instrument cable? or Can I use my amp like a DI and use an instrument cable and xlr? Which would you do and why?
 
#2
No, you would need something to boost the signal, like a D.I. You can use your amp to input your bass which will allow you some tonal control. Your amp can run without the cab so you can just use your head but you will likely want a monitor too. Depending on your setup, you may be able to get by just by listening to the P.A. I'm guessing since this is a show you will have subs and monitors with your P.A. but, based on what I read here, most American venues tend to be sans P.A so this might be a minimal setup hauled in by the guitar player.
 
#5
DiabolusInMusic said:
No, you would need something to boost the signal, like a D.I. You can use your amp to input your bass which will allow you some tonal control. Your amp can run without the cab so you can just use your head but you will likely want a monitor too. Depending on your setup, you may be able to get by just by listening to the P.A. I'm guessing since this is a show you will have subs and monitors with your P.A. but, based on what I read here, most American venues tend to be sans P.A so this might be a minimal setup hauled in by the guitar player.
Click to expand...

Yes, It is the guitarists PA. He has one of those Portable Bose PA's that has the built in 4 channel mixer Low volume restaurant/coffee house type gigs. I don't think he uses a monitor.
 
#6
I've done that many times. and, depending on the style of music being played,
it works fine. You may not want to do that for loud, heavy rock though where you really need an amp pushing air and creating tone.
the only service a DI provides it to convert your signal chain from 1/4 unbalanced
to XLR balanced and allow the mixer to input your signal via a mic level input. But you can connect directly to the line input on a PA mixer an it will work. You won't get the amp'd sound your amp provides but you'll get a good clean bass signal that is mix friendly for many types of music...along with FOH, just send the signal to your monitors for stage monitoring.
 
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#7
Biggbass said:
I've done that many times. and, depending on the style of music being played,
it works fine. You may not want to do that for loud, heavy rock though where you really need an amp pushing air and creating tone.
the only service a DI provides it to convert your signal chain from 1/4 unbalanced
to XLR balanced and allow the mixer to input your signal via a mic level input. But you can connect directly to the line input on a PA mixer an it will work. You won't get the amp'd sound your amp provides but you'll get a good clean bass signal that is mix friendly for many types of music...along with FOH, just send the signal to your monitors for stage monitoring.
Click to expand...

Sounds good. I appreciate it.
 
#9
DiabolusInMusic said:
No, you would need something to boost the signal, like a D.I. You can use your amp to input your bass which will allow you some tonal control. Your amp can run without the cab so you can just use your head but you will likely want a monitor too. Depending on your setup, you may be able to get by just by listening to the P.A. I'm guessing since this is a show you will have subs and monitors with your P.A. but, based on what I read here, most American venues tend to be sans P.A so this might be a minimal setup hauled in by the guitar player.
Click to expand...
Where to begin. First. IGNORE the above advice.
If the PA has an input for a 1/4" connector from an instrument, and if it is a REAL PA (likely) then it should have the gain in the input stage to pass your instrument signal WITHOUT a "boost". IF you choose to use your amp for some (additional) tone control, you need to make absolutely sure that you are not connecting the speaker output from your amp to the PA input. That's a great way to fry the PA input. I thought the whole idea was to NOT bring the cabinet and/or head, so don't stress about not having a "monitor". (Some amps have different ways of connecting to PA's via low-level/DI send, aux output, slave output, low-z output etc. What amp are you using?)
And "subs and monitors with your P.A"-for an acoustic act? Really? For this gig, just bring a guitar cable that is less than 20' long so you don't have to worry about hi-frequency attenuation (google is your friend), plug in to the appropriate input channel, set up a sound that works with the guitar and vocals, grab a beverage or your choice and have fun.
 
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#10
If it is the classic Bose tower (L1 ?) don't bother unless he has one or two of the bass module. The tower sound like gah... without the modules. They aren't adequate for me Tone wise even with but they are at least workable. Snag something like a GK mb-112 any you will be a ton happier.
 
#11
Depends:

1. Does the mixer offer an instrument-level input? (Not all 1/4" or combo jacks are instrument level, so check the documentation.)
2. Is the cable run from instrument to mixer shorter than 20-30 ft? If not, you'll lose more top end the longer the cable run.

If either of those conditions is a problem, use a DI box
 

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