Is there realy any need for huge rigs?

[ed99999]

Don't get me wrong i'm as bad as the next bloke when it comes to wanting the biggest, best and toneyest (if that's even a word!) gear but really why would you need anything over say a 2x10 and 1x15/18 rig?

Ive played in a band for a little over a year and gig a couple of times a month and everywhere we've played, bar a couple of places, I've been DI'd through the PA and on the other couple of times ive been DI'd and had a mic on my 18". None of the places have really needed me to have anything bigger than say a decent size combo all i use my amp for is foldback. The bloke who used to own our studios used to sound engineer and he said it realy got on his wires when he'd get bassists turning up with huge setups, is he right or just being a dick?

I'm not trying to start arguements, just trying to reasure myself that there is no need for say 2 8x10 or massive combinations?! other than if you're trying to make yourself heard in a gig without a big front of house system.

Ed

 

[NKUSigEp]

Just because you have it doesn't mean you have to use it. People like seeing lots of stuff behind rock and metal bands so yes, it's necessary as part of the visual aspect of the show.

 

[Nakedfish]

My set-up is 500w into two 1 x 12's at small gigs. For larger venues it's the same set-up plus I go through the PA. I don't need or use anything bigger.

 

[KingOvHell]

I personaly dont need one but of coures i am gonna buy one.

 

[JoeVictim]

As long as it sounds huge.

 

[iriegnome]

NEED??? Well that is the question really. No we logically do not need all that much to play on big venue stages. I saw Phil Lesh play at DeerCreek, IN with only an SWR Redhead combo. I have also seen what Nikki Six Brings on stage. SOund support, Looks, whatever it may be.
I have played on the mainstage at places like Alpine Valley, WI and Detroit Lakes, MN (10,000 Lakes Festival) with nothing more than my SWR Bass 750 and 3-8Ohm cab's (a total of 4x12" speakers).

 

[Baird6869]

I often play a Markbass 500w SS head through a 2x10 and a 1x15 (or 2 2x10s). This is great until I do a large outdoor show without FOH support. Unfortunately it isn't enough for larger gigs.

When I pull out my Ampeg SVT-CL tube amp and attach it to a 4x10, it is loud. When I add a 2x10 or a 1x15 to the mix it is loud enough for any show I play - indoor or outdoor.

I don't think 2 SVTs and 2 8x10's (or even 1 8x10) is prectical for most of us, but many of us weekend hacks have outgrown a head paired with a 2x10 or 1x15.

 

[chicago_mike]

Also you need to consider, the road, and how much room there is for equipment. ANd what the band leader allows you to have onstage.

A 400Watt head and a 410 is normal, average and pretty much what anybody will tell you thats all you need.

 

[lonote]

I used to carry around a 4 X 10" and 1 X 18" along with a high powered head. Now I use an SWR Workingman's 160 and a 4 X 8" Ampeg cab or a silver face Fender Bassman 50 and a 1 X 15" cabinet. In small clubs either rig is fine by itself. For bigger gigs, I use a DI. IMO, huge bass rigs (and Marshall stacks, for that matter) are dinosaurs...remains of a bygone era before sophisticated PA systems.

 

[infinitetoast]

Absolutely, I won't play without a 4x10 and 1x15 stacked behind me. Unless of course I'm playing a gig, I just bring a small 200w combo with a DI. No sense in lugging around more than you have to.

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Just because you have it doesn't mean you have to use it. People like seeing lots of stuff behind rock and metal bands so yes, it's necessary as part of the visual aspect of the show.

+1 One of the things people like about our band is that our guitarists use full stacks, the drummer has big caged kit and I use 4 cabinets. The stage is full of gear and it adds to the visual presentation for a local club band. Obviously my 2001 barely has to work.

 

[Bassman62]

If you grew up in the days when FOH systems didn't exist it's hard not to like the feel of a decent backline.
We mostly play the UK pub circuit where in most cases you can't use a full PA rig and quite frankly you can't be bothered with night after night big rig set ups, by the time our drummer is set up we are ready to sound check (no more playing the big rock stars).
So it's either my two single powered 15s or a powered fifteen and a passive 2 x 10 for me, even on big gigs my backline is my main scource of sound just augmented by the PA.

 

[scottbass]

Of course with DI into FOH all you need is whatever it takes to be heard on stage. But without FOH you need whatever it takes to be heard throughout the venue. Outdoors without FOH needs lots and lots of power and air movement. And yes, there is certainly the "looks great" factor.

When I saw The Who in an 18,000-seat venue, Pino had two SVT's and two 8x10's, but I'm guessing one amp/cab was just backup. The biggest rig I ever saw was Indigenous playing at an outdoor festival. I don't know what amp head(s) the bassist was using, but IIRC he had 4 1x18's, 4 4x10's and four horns on stage - and this was with complete FOH support.

 

[Visirale]

Sure they're not necessary, but how else are you going to make the panties moist?

 

[Bongolation]

I got two G-III cabs just to get the amp up where I could see it. I'm a tall guy with bad eyesight.

In that the usual concept of bass amplification is diametrically opposite to the popular view of guitar amplification, i.e. fairly HiFi reproduction at the back end, there's not much downside to big watt solid-state amps and lots of drivers other than weight and nuisance. You can run them cooler and have them last longer (yes, I do baby my gear). Better to have the watts and not need them than need them and not have them.

If presentation is a factor (and it always should be #1 or #2 for a live act), go big if your stoner audience is impressed with that and expects it.

 

[Bassenstien]

Sure they're not necessary, but how else are you going to make the panties moist?

HA very true.
But to answer, us DOOM metal guys always need our big rigs

 

[Bongolation]

If you grew up in the days when FOH systems didn't exist it's hard not to like the feel of a decent backline.

That's true. I remember when it was unheard of -- even in very big venues -- to run anything through the PA but the singer and maybe the drummer.

 

[scrotimusprime]

Ok, I know this is a serious topic, but I'll give my less than serious answer:

Because big rigs are cool. Really cool.

 

[Lowbrow]

Marshall's Lemmy Signature Stack -- 4x12 on the top, 4x15 on the bottom.
If Lemmy says it's necessary, disagree at your peril.

 

[Bassman62]

That's true. I remember when it was unheard of -- even in very big venues -- to run anything through the PA but the singer and maybe the drummer.

I remember it well; Two 18"s in a wardrobe.