How does one go 'ampless'?

[micguy]

Using a monitor instead of an "amp" isn't really "ampless" - it's a different amp, not the lack of one. The reasons to go ampless (meaning you're not making noise on stage) are:

1) Reduce (or eliminate) stage wash, which gives FOH a fighting chance to make you sound good, without deafening the audience in the process.
2) Eliminate volume wars on stage (which helps with the stage wash thing, and saves your ears).
3) Once you figure out IEM's and how to mix for them, you get a much better mix, so you can do your job better.
4) One trip load in, one trip load out (assuming the venue has a PA).

I've done somewhere between 700 and 800 ampless gigs at this point. Once you're past a learning curve (work things out at rehearsal(s) before you do a gig that way), it really is the only way to fly.

 

[robertusf]

Shure Wirless into
HX Stomp into
DI send to Board
I’m using IEMs

 

[Ric5]

How does one go 'ampless'?

get rid of your bass amp and trade it in for a high priced PA

 

[Bright Midnight]

Thanks for all your input! Reading all of this I think I will stick to the stuff I know, which is heads and cabs.

 

[H K]

I find the idea appealing that you just have that active monitor, your bass and effects.

What do you feel like the difference is between having an active monitor, your bass and effecs, VS having a good combo amp, your bass and effects?

 

[Mastermold]

Using a monitor instead of an "amp" isn't really "ampless" - it's a different amp, not the lack of one. The reasons to go ampless (meaning you're not making noise on stage) are:

1) Reduce (or eliminate) stage wash, which gives FOH a fighting chance to make you sound good, without deafening the audience in the process.
2) Eliminate volume wars on stage (which helps with the stage wash thing, and saves your ears).
3) Once you figure out IEM's and how to mix for them, you get a much better mix, so you can do your job better.
4) One trip load in, one trip load out (assuming the venue has a PA).

I've done somewhere between 700 and 800 ampless gigs at this point. Once you're past a learning curve (work things out at rehearsal(s) before you do a gig that way), it really is the only way to fly.

My only regular experience with ampless is the church band I play in, the guitar players who are ampless end up soundless too. But we’re mixing amps on stage too. Bass amp is an Aguilar TH. I’m always good with stage volume.

 

[JazznFunk]

If you do, don't cheap out with the setup. Get a quality preamp/modeler (Aguilar Tone Hammer, SansAmp VT Bass, and a quality separate DI like a Countryman or Radial JDI), and maybe some sort of compressor if needed. I've come to really like the Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor pedal. Warm, easy to use, and it's hard to make it sound bad. I also like the old MarkBass Compressore (original design) but they're out of production and hard to find now. The key is delivering a tone that doesn't sound totally 'dry', and is going to be punchy and present in monitors and out front. Once you get it dialed in and don't have to carry a rig on stage anymore.... it's awesome.

 

[drumvsbass]

Truly cool players these days get a (insert modelling platform here) a powered wedge monitor, and a set of in-ears.

 

[Corevalay]

I'd highly recommend a Line 6 HX Stomp. There's some really nice bass sounds which you can run direct. Also, can't go wrong with a tried and true Sans Amp BDDI. Going ampless with a bass is pretty easy and still sounds great as long as there's a good PA and FOH system.

 

[MrLenny1]

I use a Bass Fly Rig, Tech 21 into the PA monitors.
Sound s a bit odd hearing the bass out front but saves
time lugging amps & cabs.

 

[waveman]

I play "ampless" quite a bit, but mostly for rehearsal and practice. In all cases I am running a pedal board DI to the PA and we i get my sound back through monitors. Monitors are usually real PA monitors or in-ear. I have two pedal boards and do not rely on modeling for preamp: One is a Zoom MS-60B -> MXR M81 Bass Preamp, the other is MXR Bass OD -> Zoom MS60-B -> Sansamp BDDI. The Zoom works as a tuner and limiter mostly, but I have several settings I can use for many situations if need be.

Lately, I have been using a Hybrid approach at one of the places I jam, where I run the pedal board into the amp, and use the amp DI, but no speaker volume. I am doing this basically because I do use my own 2x10 vertical stack live with this setup and we can have the DI settings ready to go at the gig. And this helps keep rehearsal volume down when not cranking the volume.

 

[Bonecat]

I’ve been ampless for several years now. We use IEMs. I use an HX Stomp into a Pinstripe MISO and then XLR to FOH. Works very well. I will still use my Bergantino rig on large stages/outdoor gigs, but for small/medium bar gigs its been great.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

Ampless is super easy these days. I go with a modular pedal board to easily switch between preamps for different flavors.

Here is what I use for IEM.
KZ ZS10 Pro, Linsoul 4BA+1DD 5 Driver in-Ear HiFi Metal ... https://a.co/d/hJhHNRB
Xvive U4 Wireless in-Ear Monitor System Professional IEM... https://a.co/d/6Y7OaSE

And depending if I want an Ampeg or Fender tone I go between these two set ups.

I own 7 amps and 8 cabs. Love them all but don’t miss them on stage one bit.
YMMV

 

[Freight Train]

If you're talking about for stage, start with a soy-based diet for a few months.

 

[Hummergeist]

Hey,

I'm on the market for a new amp and cab, yet also been thinking of just getting say a Boss GT1000 Core and use it as a preamp. Am I right in thinking I can hook up the GT Core to a set of active monitors and in that way erase the need for a power amp?

So it would just be my bass going into the GT and then straight out to the active monitors. Would that work?

The Core will work as you say. I had one of those things for a while and it rewards digging deep. if you plug it in, and it doesn't sound good, don't panic, there are many options to be explored within before throwing money at alternatives. It's a great box.

 

[mellobud]

How does one go 'ampless'?

get rid of your bass amp and trade it in for a high priced PA

This is where I am at currently. (For gigs…IEM, 2x qsc 12” , 1x jbl 18”)

I still bring an amp to band practice.

 

[dlb1001]

Ugly divorce. Maybe bass-less too.

Sounds like a guy I saw at a local guitar shop. He was talking to the manager but he had brought in a number of vintage Fender amps (a Twin Reverb, two Princetons, etc.) and a number of guitars. I didn't hang around but after I came back to register to pay for my stuff, I asked the manager about the cool gear that the guy had dropped off...he said that the guitar player was selling a lot of his gear to pay off his ex! The manager said that the guy had been at the shop a few weeks previously and sold about $20K of gear but the check went to his ex!

 

[Lowfader]

My ampless rig has been a BDDIV2 into a CabZoneX. IEM’s are a MiPro 5.8 to Sensaphonics 3DME. My problem has been hearing my bass when I’m singing. I think my vocals are clashing with the BDDIV2. I did some experimenting this week and found my Demeter VTBP201 to work a little better. Wondering if this is tube harmonics? Also, my 3DME has a cross switch in the app where I can move the stereo image from my bad ear to the good one. We’re going out post snow storm this weekend so I’m going to take the Demeter since it’s racked up and I won’t have to worry about it getting wet. We’ll see.