Going ampless but too sterile

[two fingers]

Thanks for all the suggestions, the trouble isn't my sound thru the IEMs, but the FOH sound. It sounds like a bass plugged directly into the board. I spent years developing a great tone through my rig, now it's back to the beginning. I tried a Hartke Bass Attack (1), and the "shape" feature helps, but, I really, really miss the characters of a cranked GK

Yeah, then you need a Plex.

 

[Ric5]

Weve just gone to iems and I've had my first practice without my GK 400rb. My tone was, well, exactly what I should expect, blah and, well..without character.
I'm thinking about using my head (no cab), at least I'll be able to have the drive characteristics (boost) of my amp.
Does anyone else do this? It'll be like lugging a 30 pound di around.

you need a pedalboard

 

[MDBass]

But yikes! $319 that's twice what paid for my amp! I've heard the sansamp gets muddy in the mix.

It depends entirely on how how the knobs are set, just like any other pedal; the BDDI with the blend around 9 o'clock and everything else around noon actually adds some really killer harmonic richness and depth to the overall sound without any loss of clarity.

 

[Dabndug]

It may be viewed as the work of Beelzebub, but I have had success using an ancient (and very cheap) Line6 Bass Pod and later a Line6 X3 Live on those rare occasions when we have had the luxury to play with a decent FOH and monitoring system. You may not need to spend big bucks to get your tone....

 

[bass.slinger]

I like the amp and speaker sim on my Tech 21 Sansamp VTDI as it gives a more live feel to the FOH sound... I set it to more or less simulate an Ampeg B-15 sound. No idea how close it is but I do know that I like the sound.
View attachment 2777603

Digging the old Boss bass chorus!

 

[Stranger Danger]

But yikes! $319 that's twice what paid for my amp! I've heard the sansamp gets muddy in the mix.

It’s a preamp, DI, tuner, compressor and overdrive all in one and it solves your issue.

 

[jaymelewis]

Weve just gone to iems and I've had my first practice without my GK 400rb. My tone was, well, exactly what I should expect, blah and, well..without character.
I'm thinking about using my head (no cab), at least I'll be able to have the drive characteristics (boost) of my amp.
Does anyone else do this? It'll be like lugging a 30 pound di around.

They make colored DI's as well; things with transformers or tubes or preamps. Check out the A-Designs REDDI, or a lot of people really like the SansAmp bass driver too. Sometimes I like to use a laptop and play through the same amp sims I use in the studio too

 

[basscapes]

I used a Sansamp RBI for many years.

It is a great unit, and might give you that "something" that you are missing.

Haven't tried the G-K Plex, but have used the MXR M81 pre, and am currently using the Ampeg SCR-DI, and have a Tronoraphic Rusty Box in the post (hopefully tomorrow!)

Of all of these units-

1. I've like the Ampeg the best. It (in MY rig) has a thunderous bottom end. the Scrambler adds a ncie bit of grit, but at the sacrifice of that extended bottom

2. MXR is VERY clean. I found the EQ, while good, to be a little TOO subtle to my taste

3. RBI was my go to for many years. While the speaker emulation is very well done, it tended to have a sound that to me was a little "one note"-sounding. No matter where I tried setting the EQ/drive/presence, it just seemed to have an overlying character that "took over" any sound I was trying to get.

4. I have HEARD the Rusty Box, and to me it can have the essence of a G-K being pushed (David Wm. Sims of Jesus Lizard). Really, it's the actual preamp of the Traynor TS-50B amplifier. Search YouTube and you'll see what I mean. Can't wait to try that as well.

As with all the advice, only YOU will be able to find something that fits YOUR playing style.

 

[BassJuju]

I've used a number of things, but recently got a REDDI. I use a few other pedals as well, but they are more effects than pre-amp settings. I can get enough of that from my active bass. I was skeptical of the cash required for a REDDI, but the recommendations were from too may people and too many that I really value as well. I will say that I have received several compliments on my tone since switching. If you can, it's worth it.

I also have a Tech21 SansAmp that I have used for a few years and I like it too. I think I prefer it with passive basses or if I am switching basses during a set. That way I can set the basses flat and have presets on the SA. If I were going to do it all over again, I would buy one of the DarkGlass pre's instead of the T21. I would always buy the REDDI again and again. I am seriously thinking about taking it and a cable to my next worship team practice.

 

[Element Zero]

Make sure your head can be run without a speaker load before you try it.

 

[lbbc]

I am ampless now for 4 years. I use a a Radial Tonebone Bassbone and we run EVERYTHING onto the p.a. (Bose L1 Model II w/B2 bass module) with no guitar amps etc. We get compliments on our sound everywhere we go. BTW, we are busier than ever.

 

[TrevorR]

Digging the old Boss bass chorus!

Lol! "Old" is right. I think I bought that pedal around 1990 or 1991 - still going strong! It's practically vintage now, I guess!

 

[SteveC]

I use a Radial JDI with my Roscoe. I sometimes feel my IEM sound is missing something. I've never liked SansAmps. I tried a REDDI and it was nice, but everyone thought my JDI sounded better in our situation. I currently use a Boss BB-1X with pretty good results. I wanted just a touch of drive and I can get that with this pedal.

 

[Scottkarch]

It may be viewed as the work of Beelzebub, but I have had success using an ancient (and very cheap) Line6 Bass Pod and later a Line6 X3 Live on those rare occasions when we have had the luxury to play with a decent FOH and monitoring system. You may not need to spend big bucks to get your tone....

I picked up a X3 live recently when I bought my Variax bass. The live has a XLR out for the board. I'm trying to set it up for variax bass model selections and amp/tone modeling for my electric bases.

My guitar player will be ordering a Helix and I can't wait to see if it sounds any better. I've heard that the amp modeling is noticeably better.

 

[s0c9]

Wow..
This has turned into another of those "which DI" threads... so...
I have been ampless since last Oct (tho that is likely to change with my new band as it looks like I'll have to go back to my old rig for a while).
I was using a pedalboard on which I can interchange the DI pedal. I have a Darkglass B7K, Ampeg SCRDI and a Tech21 VT Bass Deluxe to choose from. XLR out on all direct to console/FOH.
Those are all by a Senn D1 wireless, a Korg tuner, an MXR M87 comp and a TC Corona Chorus. I did have a Boss OC3 in there, but I never really liked it, so I got rid of it.

But.. looks like I'll be going back to my SVT7pro and 2x10 cab for a while, and use the Markbass CMD121P for rehearsals.

 

[J Gold]

I’ve recently been brave enough to go amp less, through my sadowsky pre/DI pedal. I’ve been using IEM for a while but was always worried the PA would fail or something weird would happen on stage, but once my guitarist started using a Helix, i figured I might as well stop lugging a cab and head.
So now we’re IEM, no amp Guitar and bass, and electronic drums. It sounds great, is easy to set up and when the drunks complain it’s too loud, we just pull down one main fader but we’re rocking in our own individual mixes.

And now I don’t have a cabinet that absorbs enough cigarette smoke to make my car stink for 5 days.

 

[Scottkarch]

Wow..
This has turned into another of those "which DI" threads... so...
I have been ampless since last Oct (tho that is likely to change with my new band as it looks like I'll have to go back to my old rig for a while).
I was using a pedalboard on which I can interchange the DI pedal. I have a Darkglass B7K, Ampeg SCRDI and a Tech21 VT Bass Deluxe to choose from. XLR out on all direct to console/FOH.
Those are all by a Senn D1 wireless, a Korg tuner, an MXR M87 comp and a TC Corona Chorus. I did have a Boss OC3 in there, but I never really liked it, so I got rid of it.

But.. looks like I'll be going back to my SVT7pro and 2x10 cab for a while, and use the Markbass CMD121P for rehearsals.

It makes sense... ( where the thread went, not that we assumed you went back to an amp ) Once you've done ampless/IEM you'll realize how much of your tone you've crafted comes from your signal chain and amp and how much of that tone is lost when going direct. You'll hear what a lot of sound guys are taking if they want a DI before your amp.. or the DI from your amp compared to what you hear out of the speaker. It's my opinion that, unless you have sound guys that are willing to mic your amp you probably don't have your tone coming out the FOH.

Getting your tone from your pedals/preamp etc before handing off the DI seems to me like the most reliable way to easily give them the signal you want and can expect that tone to be coming out the PA as well. Fewer variables and less work. The better you like your IEM tone this way, then the more likely that the PA will sound the same way. Your IEMs should be uncolored and the PA should be uncolored... so they should be similar.

I'd experiment with your GK head as your DI feed not plugged into any speaker ( its SS so that should be fine ). Try as many preamps/DIs as you can THROUGH the IEMs you play with or high quality headphones.. get speaker/cab/other amp coloration out of the mix.

 

[Scottkarch]

I’ve recently been brave enough to go amp less, through my sadowsky pre/DI pedal. I’ve been using IEM for a while but was always worried the PA would fail or something weird would happen on stage, but once my guitarist started using a Helix, i figured I might as well stop lugging a cab and head.
So now we’re IEM, no amp Guitar and bass, and electronic drums. It sounds great, is easy to set up and when the drunks complain it’s too loud, we just pull down one main fader but we’re rocking in our own individual mixes.

And now I don’t have a cabinet that absorbs enough cigarette smoke to make my car stink for 5 days.

This 10x over
If the PA dies, no guitar or drums or vocals.. Unless you're prepared to do a 3hr bass solo for the night... I think your nights over anyway.

 

[mc900ftj]

I've heard the sansamp gets muddy in the mix.

This has NOT been my experience.

 

[Scottkarch]

This has NOT been my experience.

I'm guessing this was someone dialing in heavy "bedroom tone".. works great when playing alone, then they brought it to a gig and they find out why scooped mids are rarely used in a band.

I highly recommend change as few variables as possible between practicing, rehearsal and gigs. If you use the same hardware and setup at your rehearsal space as you do when playing live, you will likely encounter your issues before you hit the stage.