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Go big or go small for gigs
- Thread starter wyleeboxer
- Start date
I run a stereo rig with two amps and two cabs. It's not that big but just in case it looks too big, I also have a volume control on the amps....
It's the sound people that don't like me because I need two channels on the board... (four if I mic the cabs) ...... that would really make them happy...
edit for: FIVE channels if I bring my Moog Taurus pedals....
It's the sound people that don't like me because I need two channels on the board... (four if I mic the cabs) ...... that would really make them happy...
edit for: FIVE channels if I bring my Moog Taurus pedals....
Last edited:
Thought of that, and that is an option. 80% of time we do small to medium bar gigs with no FOH, and when I did bring the 2 112 cabs I’m usually told to turn down.. cool no problem but I felt the tone got sterile and a bit lifeless sounding at lower volume levels. I’m going to try again for the next dozen or so gigs and really try to make it work with both cabs. Next step might be looking into a Revsound 210 or maybe AK Hathor 1203 as a one cab for most gigs option.
Ps. I don’t really mind making 2 trips to the car btw
My cabs are 440 Live cabs with B&C drivers that are very similar to the MB NYC 121 cabs, so a bit small but are impressive for their size. But most 112 cabs probably put out a bit more lows.
I play with a 4ohm Avatar SB126 (Pictured in my Avatar). It really pumps out the lows, but it is a bigger and heavier 12 inch cab.
The band I’m in right now supplies a Hartke KB15 500w Kickback with DI out. I wasn’t much of a Hartke fan historically but this is so easy to load in/out and provides good onstage sound as well as FOH. Right now my Mesa D800+ and two Ultralight cabs (12, 15) are resting at home. My biggest/heaviest gear has been resting even longer.
By necessity, my rigs have gotten smaller. Even at low volumes, I find that bigger always sounds better for bass, and if a small cab sounds good, two of them will sound twice as good. But due to stage room and sightline issues and me not getting any younger, I have learned to love smaller rigs, and it can actually sound quite good and full despite not coming out of a wall of doom. I do gigs sometimes using a BA112 without going into the PA, and it's always sounded terrific and carried the audience with very respectable results in smaller places. The 810 would have sounded better, but toting one aboard a small casino day cruise or into a restaurant's patio bar isn't the most fun thing in the world, especially if it's raining.
I too prefer a single 1x12" (Aguilar), which works very well for my reg jazz gig, but, it does seem, when I do a full band rocking blues gig, 1x12" just doesn't move enough air. ... My last amp was a EA 350 1x12" that could pull the weight of 2x12" under pressure, but age and unpredictable load-ins won out in the end.
I used to use one or two Greenboy F112’s—one for small rooms, two for medium/large/outdoors (virtually never have FOH support). Usually ran 700 watts to a single F112, 1000 watts to the pair. Got rid of them and went over to vintage EA cabs, but recently decided that the one/two F112 setup gave me the best live sound I’ve ever had. So I’m going back to that.
I always wince when I see open bottles or glasses on top of any gear.
I usually use either a Berg 112 or 210, rarely both. I have three OD pedals for growl, A DG Vintage Microtubes, a Southampton Fifth Gear and a Valvecaster. I don't like using my amp for growl. I like keeping it clean and sending the growl into it.
I use my Fender 500 combo for the smaller stuff and I add my BFM simplex 15 with it on the bigger stuff.
