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i hate supplied backlines

#121
Kwesi said:
The most recent was another GK head with a hartke stack which sounded phenomenal! Redeemed GK in my eyes.
Click to expand...

Did a gig in Cancun a few years back. The rig supplied was a really old GK700RB on top of 2 very well used Hartke cabs, 4x10 and 1x15. Sounded amazing! One of the best rigs I've ever played through. Flying home the next day I thought about maybe trying to duplicate the rig back home, but then talked myself out of it thinking "Well, maybe it just sounded so good because it was an outdoor gig" or "Maybe it was just the Tequila!".

Not too long ago I did another gig down there, different venue, same backline provider. I showed up to find the same rig onstage and, once again, it sounded awesome to me. I came home and bought a new 700RB. Really disappointing, nothing like the old one in Cancun. I returned it to Guitar Center.

Someday, (before too long I hope) when I have more time and get a few more dollars ahead, I'd still like to try and duplicate that GK/Hartke rig...

Or maybe it was the Tequila?
 
#122
I hit a new low in supplied back lines last night. I showed up to find an old beat up Hartke HA2500 and an even more beat up Hartke Transporter 410. It may have been the worst rig I ever played through. It had midrange, and nothing else. No bottom, no highs, no tone. If I dug in the least little bit, it farted like a madman (I was not loud at all.....). I played first set with my Stingray Classic, and the next two with my Big Al 5, thinking more tonal options may help. It didn't.

However, at the end of the gig, when I didn't have to tear down, I liked it a little better.
 
#123
Could be worse...I remember a gig I did outside of Philly. The promised 'provided backline' included an ancient Yamaha combo with a 15" speaker, and the bass was not in the PA. All night long I played with my backside nearly against the amp (which I had put up on a chair) and couldn't hear a damn thing. Literally. I kept turning around to see if it was actually on. In between songs, I could hear it's sad injured sea-lion of a cry when there was no other sound on stage, but that was it.
 
#124
The worst experience I ever had was when I showed up to a bar to play and had been told to not worry about bring an amp since it would be supplied. I figured I'd bring my walkabout any ways since it was so easy. Showed up and there was a Behringer 4x10 sitting there, with no head. I talked to the manager and he said just plug your bass into it'll work. Not.

Really thankful I brought a WA just in case, saved the day for me.
 
#125
I have actually had decent luck in this regard considering I greatly prefer all tube amps and that's never what I get. I always take my amp if it's an option, but when I have played in Europe I was always grateful to use anything that worked. I kind of hate GKs and SWR combos, but just pinched my nose and used them.

Best ever was showing up at club in in London with a big Hiwatt stack waiting for me. Come to think of it, my main amp in a Trace V6 that I bought after using one at a festival Toronto- and the rental company gave our guitarist a Hiwatt with "Lifeson" stenciled on the back.
 
#130
i got stuck with one of those twice... the 1x12 ampeg...

we stopped playing sh!tty places though, so i usually get to play through an 8x10 ampeg cab and its usually an svt head or a GK head of some sort..

a couple times though i was given a Marshall rig to play through, no clue what the model was but it had an 8x10 cab as well..

Id settle for a 2x12 though...
 
#131
I did a jazz festival gig last night. Told not to bring my amp as no time between bands to set up etc...
The bass amp there was a Hartke HA3500(which ime, can sound ok) & a alliminum Hartke 115 cab.
Man, did that rig suck-big time! It must've been used & abused no end, as if I dug in, it farted out, if I played normally, it sounded wimpy as all get out!
I had my Mesa WA in my van, but was told, there was no time, the supplied rig was ok etc.....
This isn't even going into the FOH PA having NO FX for the vocals even!
How great do vocals sound in a dead room, with no reverb/delay etc....... :-/
 
#133
Ha ha! Ummmm insurance???

Funny thing, but a hire co. in my town has had a Behringer BXR(or something)3000 amp & a matching Behr. 410-w/the alluminum drivers,(they've had it 4got over 7yrs afaik) that they use as a back up to their SVT's & Ashdown ABM 575 EVO, when all those are already hired out, the Behr.rig gets the go.
&, it gets its fair share of work too.
I've had to use it a cuppla times, once when they stated on the event plans, that a SVT-VR/810 rig will be supplied, only to get there to find the Behr.rig.
Now this Behr 300w (gold front panel) amp, & its matching 410 have been used, abused, thrashed for probly over 7yrs, & it's still going strong :) Amazing really, especially, when you read/hear about all the failures......
I know, personally, the tech that works for this hire co. & he's told me how he's amazed also. It's only needed a regular servicing & had no major faults its whole life.
Altho I'd much rather have the SVT rigs that they supply, but the times I have used the Behr 300w head & 410 cab, it's actually worked pretty well, MUCH better than the Hartke rig I had to use last nite!
I usually used Ampeg SVT II > Bergantino NV610, or Berg HS410, so I knew a good tone.........
& all things considered, the Behr rig handled things pretty well.
That 410 was made outta mdf afaik, it was Heavy SOB, So I was always glad I never had to move it.
 
#134
my first gig in many many years the other month,the support band was a mate of mine,so i said id use there bass rig,as it would be easier,as i had power amp n pre amp at the time n felt embaressed a bit,so set up the rig,plugged in my ricopy and the head kept popping and cutting out,tried my ibanez same,the other guys fender p bass did it as well,turns out the trace head was borrowed from there studio so we whent staight in to the di box felt kinda naked up there not standing in front of cabs,so my next gig,id bought a laney dp150 wich the sound guy was thrilled at! as he ran out of mics and laney has a di port so di"ed me,but my lesson learned was always take ur own gear i think!!
 
#137
Just be as specific as possible. And as vague as possible. I travel with an EA head and ask for a 410 du jour. In Europe sometimes I'll get something like an EBS which is nice. Sometimes I get a GK 419 which is not so nice (for me) Usually Hartke. Don't like 'em but can get them to work. Problem with Hartkes IME is that there is often a blown driver. Which is ok if you're in NYC or DC but not as cool as in Eastern Hungary!
 
#138
I usually bring my amp too, but few times:

Worst: Ashdown perfect ten 30w with no DI, and worst of all sound man didnt have DI either, so they f*cking miced that crap box with wifi vocal mic :D It sucked ass

Hartke kickback 60 or 90w 12" speaker. I've put it near my head and still couldnt hear.

Best: SWR 8x10' stack
 
#139
I also prefer using my stuff when it is possible but I have had a couple of hang-ups.

I have played a gig a long time ago that the venue owner said would provide a backline. We showed up for soundcheck and there was nothing there. He made some calls and finally found a couple of combos and a really small P.A. and I actually played through an acoustic guitar amp with 8'' speakers. This combined with some other reasons made this the worst gig EVAR!!!

There was another time that we were playing an out of town gig and I was promised a backline only to find the soundguy bummed out and telling me to use a D.I. and a couple of monitors just for me. I got in my car, went back home and brought my rig. The gig was delayed for about an hour and the bandleader was pissed at me. But went this happened again to him with their new bassist, he made the mistake to use that setup. The bandleader came up to me and said:''I am sorry for being mad at you back then for that, you were right''

But other than that it's like jimmy said, MAKE IT WORK. I guess a good di is important for that and patience, lots of it.
 

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