The chapel is a small space that can hold maybe 200 - 250. We never crack the 30 mark though, except C&E, and they like to spread out.
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MDBass
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- Nov 7, 2012
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- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
I have a church gig myself, and a great DI with great in-ears is certainly the choice I'd suggest, especially considering the drummer will most likely be playing behind shields.
I actually just did a DI shootout between the REDDI, the Jule Monique and an Aguilar DB750 if you're interested in checking that out:
I'll be doing another round to include a Radial JDI, Countryman 85 & Darkglass B7K Ultra after the NAMM show
I use a J48, play to about the same size congregation and will be switching from a 2 x 12 Ampeg Portabass cab to a Aguilar DB112 powered by an Ampeg PB800 head.
That Noble is on my list. I have a REDDI now but if I can score a Noble someday, I will.
I may run the Noble into my PF-20T then to the house, if I need a little overdrive
Wow guys so much feed back. I greatly appreciate it. I love reading everyone's thoughts. So this begs another question....REDDI or Noble?
I do have a Sansamp VT Bass DI as well on my board now so I could use this of course as a Pre amp before the Reddi or what have you.
I do have a Sansamp VT Bass DI as well on my board now so I could use this of course as a Pre amp before the Reddi or what have you.
slobake
resident ... something
Most people don't believe the small Ampeg BA I use as my backline. It goes into the house and I have been using it off and on for years. When our drummer went for electronic drums back to acoustic it was a problem for a while I had to drive the amp harder than usual. For a while I went with a larger Fender Rumble and that worked out okay. I think the Rumble was 40 watts. We built a little house around the drummer and I am back to the smaller Ampeg.
I had 200 Watt an GK MB115 but had a hard time dialing in the sound. It seemed to get lost in the ...mix? ... building? It seems like the smaller speakers work out better for me. Could be something else though.
I would love to have a nicer amp but for now I am working with what I can afford.
(edit) I play in a small church of about 100-150 people. We have keyboards, drums, acoustic guitars, sometimes electric guitar, sometimes grand piano and 2-4 singers. We play a lot of Hillsong, Jesus Culture and other music of that style.
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Interesting ... I play, regularily, for three worship teams, most Sundays. One team is rather subdued (no drummer). The other two are quite loud, both with drummers. The church will sit about 175 and we normally have 100 to 140 attending.
I supply my own gear and own several small heads (Streamliner 600, Shuttle 6.2 and a Tonehammer 350). I have used them all at the church. I also own a Bergantino AE112, Crazy88 and Thunderchild TC115.
For the past couple of years, I have been using, exclusively, for regular services, a little GK MB110 as a stage monitor, running from its own DI to the PA. Yeah, I prefer the bigger stuff with more bottom end but we have a small stage and the little MB110 combo works just fine.
For special events at our church or at a larger church, with perhaps 300 - 350 people I will use the TC115 with one of my larger heads. Prior to the TC115 I was using a pair of AE112s.
Would love to give IEMs a try but I really don't think that will happen in the near future.
I supply my own gear and own several small heads (Streamliner 600, Shuttle 6.2 and a Tonehammer 350). I have used them all at the church. I also own a Bergantino AE112, Crazy88 and Thunderchild TC115.
For the past couple of years, I have been using, exclusively, for regular services, a little GK MB110 as a stage monitor, running from its own DI to the PA. Yeah, I prefer the bigger stuff with more bottom end but we have a small stage and the little MB110 combo works just fine.
For special events at our church or at a larger church, with perhaps 300 - 350 people I will use the TC115 with one of my larger heads. Prior to the TC115 I was using a pair of AE112s.
Would love to give IEMs a try but I really don't think that will happen in the near future.
I personally don't care for IEM's... and tend to agree with @Mastermold that they can be damaging to one's ears. It is just too tempting to turn them up too loud that close to your eardrums.
If it were me, I'd go with a decent smallish amp - the new Genzler 350 "combo" maybe? - and out via the DI on the head to the FOH.
FWIW, basically all of the new class D heads can run without a load and so can work as a preamp/DI for you. Then add a cab if that feels helpful.
I play in a small church with PA support but play a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 head through a Genzler BA12-3 cab. To the point made by @Wfrance3 , we use electronic drums and they work quite well for us. In a small room at a relatively low volume (according to my meter, most Sundays we run about 80 db's on the stage), acoustic drums would be difficult. The drummer has a dedicated monitor to hear himself. You'd have to ask him what he thinks of the rig.
If it were me, I'd go with a decent smallish amp - the new Genzler 350 "combo" maybe? - and out via the DI on the head to the FOH.
FWIW, basically all of the new class D heads can run without a load and so can work as a preamp/DI for you. Then add a cab if that feels helpful.
I play in a small church with PA support but play a Genz Benz Shuttle 9.0 head through a Genzler BA12-3 cab. To the point made by @Wfrance3 , we use electronic drums and they work quite well for us. In a small room at a relatively low volume (according to my meter, most Sundays we run about 80 db's on the stage), acoustic drums would be difficult. The drummer has a dedicated monitor to hear himself. You'd have to ask him what he thinks of the rig.
I'm in the same boat, I've tried to get with IEM's and while I haven't use anything better than generic 3 driver Westones, they don't get it for me. I'm the only bass player at church that doesn't use them. BUT we have an amp (Quilter BB800 with a Bergie 112) that one of the players left for a house rig. I can hear the drummer just fine beside the cage, and the lead vocalist with accoustic guitar is loud enough I never have any trouble locking in with out any monitors.
As far as amps, in a room that seats 250 with good FOH provided you don't have a loud drummer something like a Hartke Kickback would do the job. I am with those who say spend your budget on a better DI with a permanent installation. Something like a Reddi, 2DI4 or Evil Twin. If you have money for both, there are lots of great mini heads with 400 watts plus power and plenty of headroom that sound great thru a tilt back 112 or 210 cab.
As fas as IEM's I have a couple of friends who play on big tours and own top of the line IEM's, these guys and the tours they are playing on use nothing but the best. They HATE them, like me, they miss the interaction of a live band playing off each other, they find it hard to hear dynamics, and they are hard to feel the bass in even with kickers.
As far as amps, in a room that seats 250 with good FOH provided you don't have a loud drummer something like a Hartke Kickback would do the job. I am with those who say spend your budget on a better DI with a permanent installation. Something like a Reddi, 2DI4 or Evil Twin. If you have money for both, there are lots of great mini heads with 400 watts plus power and plenty of headroom that sound great thru a tilt back 112 or 210 cab.
As fas as IEM's I have a couple of friends who play on big tours and own top of the line IEM's, these guys and the tours they are playing on use nothing but the best. They HATE them, like me, they miss the interaction of a live band playing off each other, they find it hard to hear dynamics, and they are hard to feel the bass in even with kickers.
We just moved into our new building this past weekend. We run the bass through an Avalon pre that goes to FOH. That patches into our newly purchased TC Electronics RH450 and TC 2X10 cab to help 'move some air' on stage. We run IEM's (almost a must for a 2800 seat auditorium). I don't really care if I have a cab or not but the other bass players like it. It will be a couple weeks until I play in the new facility.
As far as the Reddi, Noble, Monique debate goes. I've owned the Reddi and Monique and used them at church many times. I also had the Noble for a visit from a friend who was selling it.
The Reddi is awesome and I wanted that tone in my stage rig. so I got Monique. It gives me that type of tone and more with more control and the ability to run the line out to an amp. I honestly haven't had anyone play Monique and come up with anything they've like better. I think it sounds better but that is subjective.
I don't think the Noble sounds as good or open as Monique but it does give you some flexibility that the Reddi does not have. And it's a hair splitting difference not miles apart. I suppose the Broughton P15 can be thrown in the mix but I cant speak to it personally. But I do think whoever writes checks at the church may be a bit skeptical of a somewhat underground product.
Among the 3 I feel the cost and options lay it out pretty fairly. I own Monique and love it, if it wasn't in my budget, I'd happily use a Noble and if that was out of the question I wouldnt kick a Reddi off the stage.
If all else fails I can more then get by with a countryman.
If the sound guy needs to be sold the Reddi should most easily make the cut or a U5
The Reddi is awesome and I wanted that tone in my stage rig. so I got Monique. It gives me that type of tone and more with more control and the ability to run the line out to an amp. I honestly haven't had anyone play Monique and come up with anything they've like better. I think it sounds better but that is subjective.
I don't think the Noble sounds as good or open as Monique but it does give you some flexibility that the Reddi does not have. And it's a hair splitting difference not miles apart. I suppose the Broughton P15 can be thrown in the mix but I cant speak to it personally. But I do think whoever writes checks at the church may be a bit skeptical of a somewhat underground product.
Among the 3 I feel the cost and options lay it out pretty fairly. I own Monique and love it, if it wasn't in my budget, I'd happily use a Noble and if that was out of the question I wouldnt kick a Reddi off the stage.
If all else fails I can more then get by with a countryman.
If the sound guy needs to be sold the Reddi should most easily make the cut or a U5
This is what I use at one of my main church gigs. It handles a 200-250 seat church with little to no PA support. This is my Genzler 800 and 3 Genzler Array 12-3 cabinets.
First remember what your role is as a church musician.
If your church is going with a digital mixer and IEMs my recommendation would be to keep things as simple as possible. Bass>DI>Board. If they are going for a silent stage, forget about an amp.
I say stay simple because bottom line, most church sound techs are vastly inexperienced volunteers who only practice their craft when setting behind the console on Sunday mornings. Don't expect to see much improvement by using more expensive gear.
I personally have tried many of the glamorous suggestions made here, brought in expensive preamps, small combos, and huge stacks. My opinion goes back to keeping it simple.
If everyone is using amps, then by all means go with an amp. But don't be the Jethro who insists on being the only amp on stage to get "your" tone.
Thanks for the Ashdown comment. Don't suppose you know whether the CTM 30 is exactly the same reclothed & named?
The knows and switches are all identical so I'm assuming the same amp without the flashy metal face plate.
I use a pedal board that goes:
Tuner-Spark boost-2 Notes Le Bass
The Le Bass has a cabinet simulator that is great imho. You also get tube warmth + 2 channels + EQ.
Tuner-Spark boost-2 Notes Le Bass
The Le Bass has a cabinet simulator that is great imho. You also get tube warmth + 2 channels + EQ.
