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Need advice from experienced live bassists

#21
IMO.....First gig with that setup I would DEFINITELY take an amp. If you don't know about your PA set up you will be at the mercy of whatever is available. If there's not a dedicated foldback wedge for you you may not be able to hear yourself and no amount of tone tweaking on a pedal will fix that.

I recently did a similar gig - was interstate and was invited to sit in on a 3 set covers gig. I had my bass but no amp. I was basically playing off what I could hear from FoH and would have killed for even a small combo.
 
#22
Munjibunga said:
We have PRX 512Ms for monitors. Because it's an acoustic gig in small to medium venues, it's hard to justify dragging a sub to the gig (I have a couple PRX 118S subs). That's why I use my little rig sometimes - it's small and light. We get a pretty decent sound, and none of the songs are bass heavy.
Click to expand...


In an acoustic setting I would imagine those 612Ms work beautifully. Those speakers are top shelf no doubt.
 
#23
For the first gig, id carry my amp IMHO.

You don't know how it's going to sound running through the unknown FOH, and you don't know what your monitor situation is going to be. That's a bad scenario to plan on just walking in and plugging into the board. 33% chance it will sound fantastic, 33% chance it will sound okay enough to get by, and 34% chance it will not only sound terrible but you wont even be able to hear yourself playing.

If the board only deal works out, then ill add a plus whatever on the sansamp.
 
#29
I had similar experience - and recommend nothing except your guitar and tuner for first gig.

You could need some sound coloring (Sansamp works great) or light compression (checkout ovnilab web site for reviews), maybe better monitoring (get some small combo or just ask for your monitor) - but maybe you won't need any of those. Depends on many things... try and you will know.

I started with amp and cab, than only preamp section of my amp, than Sansamp, than Rocktron BlueThunder, than just compressor, and couple of times - just bass guitar. My fav was Sansamp for passive bass guitar. If I had active at that moment, I might not needed Sansamp.
 
#30
#33
Radial Bassbone is one answer. You have two channels with separate tone controls/volume & boost. Controls the tone to the front of house and to an amp(if you should ever obtain one).
 
#34
When my sound guy brings the high quality gear (QSC + subs + 15" 2 way drivers) I can get a great reproduction DI through with pretty flat tone controls.... BUT when he plays with the new deck and the new factory preset compression we're gonna battle and I'll just turn up my rigs.

You don't need a bunch of gear, just a high quality system and an open minded sound guy.... you have to go out front and hear it for yourself.

Trust me, if you're playing bars, etc. a DI only setup that requires heavy subs, power and cabling is not the efficient set up, as it takes us 90-120 minutes to set it up.

Own gear + vocal speakers on sticks and a couple of monitors is a 30-45 minute setup and tear down.
 

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