Gig Rig and Practice Rig: Are they the same?

[lfmn16]

It's always been my thought that you should simulate live conditions as much as possible. I practice and rehearse on the equipment I'm going to play live as much as possible. Right now my SVT is at my house so I'm practicing through that.

 

[Rogatien022]

I only have an A rig and I don't mind lugging it. More simple for me that way. Small Markbass head, portable 4x10 and that's it. While I think some 8x10 looks and sounds cool on a stage, I wonder how theses guys do it when it's time to go home (talking on a non-pro level, of course).

 

[BrianVengeance]

Just now starting up on a new project, but the routine so far has been to carry the FSB300 with and use the guitarist's pair of 410HEs at his place for the louder practices, and use the NV115s at my place for the quieter ones.

Still haven't sorted out live rig, but I'd imagine that I'll try the Bergs first if for no reason other than the weight alone. May have to adjust that when the time comes, since I'll likely be up against 3 full stacks and a crazy loud drummer.

I'll do a lot of my dexterity stuff unplugged - lets me spend some time upstairs with the wife instead of running off to the basement. In the market for a MB150 for upstairs and some grab'n'go stuff, and I'm sure I'll use the Mojotone and OBC115 at home when they get here!

 

[hintz]

I've come to find all the clubs here have a backline provided (amps), so no unfortunately

I prefer using my own stuff but I only use my rig at home as most venues(and practice space) want you to go through *their* rig

 

[socialleper]

I guess it depends how you define "practice".
When I'm at home practicing my live rig is just too damn loud to use in the house. It projects differently no matter how low I go with the volume, so I use an Ampeg BA115HP for that. That little amp isn't powerful enough for full band practice at a rehearsal studio, so I use my live rig then. That also helps me dial in my tone properly for live shows at volume. Bands only get 15 minutes to tear down/set up at the shows I play and there is rarely a full on sound check, so you need to have everything ready to go before you hit the venue. You can tweak things a little because every stage/room is different, but that isn't the time to go screwing around with new ideas.
I view "practice" as not only a time to tighten the set but to try out new tones and pedals.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Huh. My practice rig is Garageband on my iMac, through headphones. If I have to lug an amp to rehearsal, I take one 2x10 and the Shuttle 6.0 I use for everything.

 

[Bodeanly]

I keep cheap-o 410 cabs (Hartke Transporters) at my rehearsal spaces. The Transporter series receives quite a bit of hate around here, but I gigged with them exclusively for years. There are days when I take my gigging rig to rehearsal, but, most of the time, I use the cabs out of convenience.

 

[delta7fred]

When we rehearse I DI into the PA (via a Zoom B1X-on) because :-
a) Very small rehearsal space (drummer's dinning room),
b) We rehearse at pretty low volume.
c) I'm old and tired/lazy and the less I schlep the happier I am.

I realise this wouldn't work for everyone but it does for me. All I carry to rehearsals is my bass, B1X-on, mic and Tascam DR-40 recorder.

Edit - See below for gig rig.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Same for me. That's why they have volume knobs on the amps and basses.

 

[mellowinman]

I am currently using my gig rig for rehearsals and practice, so that I might get some consistency in my tone and playing style. It's not for everyone, but it works for me. I have to lug the cab around from place to place, but I used to lug a whole PA system, so this is not actually that bad.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I used to use my PF500 head for both performance (w/SWR GoLight 4x10) and practice (without the cab) but now I use a Vox headphone thing for practice, as it's significantly smaller, lighter, and quieter.

 

[pbassjbass]

I've always had a seperate practice rig, just for convenience, I'd leave it setup in the space. It didn't occur to me to carry a spare head for gigs, but I'm from the era of 30lb heads. Speaking of which, you should be able to get a real good deal on an old peavy head, which you could use for rehearsals, and would be a backup if your main amp went down.

 

[hsech]

I gig with a Markbass CMD 121P combo and sometimes with an extension cab. I leave a practice rig in our practice space. It's a GK MB Fusion 500 with a GK 1x15 cab. We always through the GK MB head in with the PA gear as a backup. I can either DI out to the PA with it, or use it to power my Markbass cabs.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I keep my gig rig at our practice space and my old rig is at my house, used for playing at home. Ampeg svt7 and 810 classic for gigging, Ampeg B2 combo with 210 cab at home.

 

[Shoteiro]

For rehearsal and gig I use the same half stack, a GK 700RB + GK Neo 410...I keep them on the rehearsal studio on the vocalist home...For my home practice I'm using a 15 years old Fender Frontman B15 or something like that...it still sounds, is only for my hearing on practicing.

 

[StudioGC]

GK MB212ii. 500 watts. I've hemmed and hawed on other amps, but came back to the GK because it's so light and powerful and I can add a powered cab in needed.

Also, im a big believer in practicing with what you gig with.

 

[tubatodd]

I would imagine that the type of group and rehearsal room logistics would play into your decision greatly

For me, I can't get a decent tone in my big band's rehearsal space no matter what I use. So, why bring anything other than the minimum to rehearse? So I bring my Hartke Kickback 110 and it makes for a very portable situation.

 

[HolmeBass]

I usually have separate rigs for rehearsal and performance. More to the point, I always have a backup amp. It has saved a gig twice in the last 10 years. I use an old Eden WTX-260 as m backup for the most part. For a really big gig I will bring something bigger. I just picked up a used Little Mark III for $350 at GC and it is beast of an amp. It would be great for reggae.

 

[honestjohnny]

Live in an apartment with kids, so definitely have 2 rigs.

Practice is a Zoom B3>>headphone splitter w/ 1/4" adapter>>Panasonic over ear headphones and Dayton Audio DTA-1 and Puck tactile transducer screwed into the bottom of a footstool. Dead silent, tons of thump.
Live is Zoom B3>>Stereo 1/4" splitter>>Carvin LSx1503A with Eminence 3015HO and PA. If I'm not in PA, I don't use splitter and the cab is backline. If I have PA, I move the cab in front of me on it's side w/a Markbass wedge to tilt back.
If I ever need more than this, I'll be in the big leagues and have a Geddy Lee Chicken Roaster backline and use a better version of my home practice rig

Cheers!

 

[chaosMK]

I love to practice on the full stack and usually gig with my 1x12. Right now I am not in a br00tal band.