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Going without an amp/cabs.

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philthygeezer

Supporting Member
May 22, 2002
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#1
What about showing up with just a wireless unit and a bass and plop it straight on the board? Couldn't you just play through the PA and monitors?

Do you need a preamp or is the sound guy just gonna change your sound anyway?

No cords, no amp, no speakers!

Good idea?
 
#4
You don't need a preamp in this situation but a DI box might be a good idea for impedance matching. You don't actually need one but it would be a good idea.

I used to run naked like this and it worked very well. The mains and monitors need to be up to the task. Unfortunately most consumer level monitors don't like bass. They weren't designed for it. In a case like this the soundman should take everything below about 100hz out of the monitors. It will sound fine if the PA has adequite subs.

Basically it is much easier for you but you are at the mercy of the sound provider for your stage mix.
 
#7
philthygeezer said:
What about showing up with just a wireless unit and a bass and plop it straight on the board? Couldn't you just play through the PA and monitors?

Do you need a preamp or is the sound guy just gonna change your sound anyway?

No cords, no amp, no speakers!

Good idea?
Click to expand...

There was an extensive thread on this a while back. If, and only if, you are sure that you will have a PA with multiple monitor mixes and monitors with good low end extension, it would work fine, and you are describing what many touring pro's who play large venues do.

In my experience, I can count on one hand over a 30 year period the number of times I've had front of house support and monitors that sounded good enough and with adequate sub mix capability so that I didn't miss backline sound.
 
#8
We did a gig at a venue before sting this summer , and Sitting backstage listening to Sting i noticed he just uses a Rack with a few preamps and effects, than out to the monitor system.
Looks really clean , and sounded pretty nice to.
 
#10
KJung said:
There was an extensive thread on this a while back. If, and only if, you are sure that you will have a PA with multiple monitor mixes and monitors with good low end extension, it would work fine, and you are describing what many touring pro's who play large venues do.

In my experience, I can count on one hand over a 30 year period the number of times I've had front of house support and monitors that sounded good enough and with adequate sub mix capability so that I didn't miss backline sound.
Click to expand...


My name is Burning Skies, and I endorse Ken's post.

I've done this once, and it was only because my Cab fried the 3rd song in to 3 hours of playing. It worked out fine, but I wouldn't want to gamble every time I showed up to play. I prefer to feel like I'm in my 'comfort zone' when I hit the stage...I like to know my bass, my rig and have my fingers warmed up. I don't want to be wondering if I'll be able to hear myself or if my tone through the monitors is going to distract me from playing and listening.

Were I still in a band that played across the Northeast and Midwest and booked into unfamiliar rooms...I'd like this even less. I've had to depend upon provided backline or 'shared' amps from other bands before and without fail it's a nightmare. Again, I don't want to spend all my pre-show time trying to get MY sound out of foreign gear.
 
#11
Being played with both set ups, with and without amp. I dont want to play without my amp again cause most of the times I couldnt hear my self and I was screaming half of the set up to the mindless soundman to turn up my monitor. With my amp on stage not only I could hear my self and could turn up or down whenever I wanted to, but I was hearing my own sound, feeling through my body the frenquencies I wanted to feel and I didnt worried about anyone messing around with my EQ or my volume.
 
#13
I run a very similar set up. I'm running my wireless into a tuner,
and then into a compressor, and finally to an EQ. My EQ is also
a DI, so it works out well. We run our own sound, so I always
know what I'm going to get, and my monitor is just fine for bass.

I just put all four of my pedals on a little board and raise it off the
floor so my wireless gets better signal. I've enjoyed the set up and
tear down a lot more since going to this rig. It sounds great out
front, and plenty of bass on stage for everyone.

It depends if you are using different PA systems, or have one that
you are plugged into consistently. If you aren't switching all the time,
I'd say go for it. Why not make your life easier?
 

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