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How do I run my combo to FOH?

K

Kalglodril

Guest
Jul 13, 2014
22
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29
#1
My amp that I'm using at gigs is a Behringer BXL900A Ultrabass combo and I love it (I know a lot of people have different opinions, but I'm not wanting this to become a topic here), and I will soon need a way to connect it to a PA. The obvious solution is a DI, but I want to be able to use the effects on my amp, and a bass>DI>amp setup won't allow that (Will it?).
So either I need a way to run a DI post-amp with no effects loop or XLR output from the amp, or mic myself up.
SO 1) Is there a way to run a DI after my amp?
and 2) What mics are recommended (for under about £50)?
 
#5
#8
Yeah, I know what's on it, but I can't think of a way to set it up with my amp so that I have the effects on FOH without going through the headphone input which stops any output through the speaker of my amp, which means I don't have the on-stage dynamics I need
 
#9
Kalglodril said:
Yeah, I know what's on it, but I can't think of a way to set it up with my amp
Click to expand...
1) turn everything off. I shouldn't need to say this, but I have learned to never assume...
2) get some wire; frankly, lamp cord would be fine. Connect some insulated alligator clips to the conductors on one end. Get a 1/4" plug. Connect the other end conductors to the terminals on the plug.
3) Clip the alligator clips to the speaker terminals; yes, you're going to have to open the box somehow.
4) Plug the 1/4" into the speaker-level DI input.
5) configure appropriately (set switches for speaker level, as required)
6) turn on, rock out.
 
#11
ArtechnikA said:
1) turn everything off. I shouldn't need to say this, but I have learned to never assume...
2) get some wire; frankly, lamp cord would be fine. Connect some insulated alligator clips to the conductors on one end. Get a 1/4" plug. Connect the other end conductors to the terminals on the plug.
3) Clip the alligator clips to the speaker terminals; yes, you're going to have to open the box somehow.
4) Plug the 1/4" into the speaker-level DI input.
5) configure appropriately (set switches for speaker level, as required)
6) turn on, rock out.
Click to expand...

Well that's a way to do it. Not how I would go about it though.

OP, If you're determined to use this particular amp I would seriously just mic it. But if you really want to go direct I would permanently install a new 1/4" parallel speaker jack (as though you were going to use an extension cab) and connect a short speaker cable from that jack to the speaker level DI.
 
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#12
tkonbass said:
...I would permanently install a new 1/4" parallel speaker jack (as though you were going to use an extension cab) and connect a speaker cable from that jack to the speaker level DI.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's how I would do it too.
But the only difference between this and the original suggestion is an additional jack and plug...
When you get down to it, you need to connect to the speaker, and get that signal to the DI; the rest is plumbing details.

I'd mike it too.
You're not going to get best results with an <$85 mike, but best results was already not in the picture...
 
#18
Kalglodril said:
Yeah, but if I use the headphone to connect to the DI directly then I'll have no sound from my amp and my balance with the drummer and guitarists on stage would be shot
Click to expand...
There seems to be a lot of detail missing from this scenario...

You're going to FOH but the guitarists are not.
You need your amp as an onstage monitor because your FOH has no monitor speakers.
The FOH that hasn't got a microphone for you.
Is the FOH just for the bass?

We're trying to help you but the pieces aren't fitting; how about we get the whole picture of what you're doing or trying to accomplish?

I think you're going the long way to avoid admitting that the amp you love is the wrong choice for this application...
I get that you love the Behringer for some reason; I also see that the next model up has both effects loop and DI out. Might be time to upgrade... One reason smaller amps with integrated effects don't have DI's is that the integrated effects just don't sound good loud, in a mix, or both. Not saying that's the case here, but I think you may be trying to do too much with too little.
 
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#19
I'm in a young, small band that's looking to start some of our own gigs, and we've done a festival show out of the back of a truck. The guitarists would be going to FOH as well, but on stage I need my amp to be loud to keep up with the cabs the guitarists have. Our FOH will have no monitor speakers, we're soon buying two passive FOH speakers for the front of the stage. Nobody in the band has a mic, and the FOH is for all, but I need a way to get through to the PA system. The amp sounds perfect as it is and I wouldn't risk a change, simple as that, I've read articles and reviews about what affect going to the BXL1800A will do, and I'd rather stick with the one I know and trust, just need to find a decent cheap mic considering my only income is refereeing football games, or find another option with a DI.
 
#20
Well, good luck with that.
What part of the world are you in? Hard to make more specific recommendations without knowing what might be available to you locally... For example - I'd guess you do not have Radio Shack as a local source...

How are the guitars getting into the PA?
You have no vocals?
 

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