I admit I'm a Dinosaur, but I want to feel the power, not only in my ears but all over my body.. I'm not totally against IEM's, but I prefer a nice big bass amp on stage with me. Who's with me. Yea or Nay. 
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Ok Folks, lets have it. IEM's or Backline
- Thread starter dbase
- Start date
Hi,
If you're old and LAZY like me, then you would really appreciate the IEM setup.
I need new earrings anyway.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
If you're old and LAZY like me, then you would really appreciate the IEM setup.
I need new earrings anyway.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
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buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Let's see:
IEMs mean
- controlled volume on stage
- the ability to have a custom mix with everything clear in your ears
- less stuff to carry
- most pros (the ones who have the time and money) choose this option
Amps mean
- the ability to feel you bass tone
IEMs mean
- controlled volume on stage
- the ability to have a custom mix with everything clear in your ears
- less stuff to carry
- most pros (the ones who have the time and money) choose this option
Amps mean
- the ability to feel you bass tone
I prefered having an amp, but my bass sound is more consistent and has improved in the crowd since I ditched the amp (we use a good PA with good subs). I guessed the amp sometimes caused phase cancellation with the PA. Since the overall sound of the band is more important that my comfort (and it is still pretty comfortable with IEMs), I don't regret to have switched.
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I gravitated towards the bass because it's one instrument that one can really FEEL. Ain't nothin like a good pantleg flapping that can rearrange your innards without the ear shrilling pierce of the high notes. Fortunately, for the sake of my hearing and innards, I don't get to do that often 
but I'm voting AMP
but I'm voting AMP
I enjoy feeling the bass as much as anything else, but we're going IEM now. With the venues we're playing this summer there's no way we can take enough rig out to be useful for monitoring and the front of house is only seeing my Sansamp signal anyway so there's no point. Going to take some getting used to but I'll be glad of not lugging more gear out. It's a brave new world!
I use wireless from Bass to PA without my amp with one band. I don't appreciate someone else having control over my tone and volume. Usually the sound guy is not a bass player and doesn't understand my needs on stage.
When I get out to California someday to meet you... you will find out that you are not old. Maybe Lazy, but not old.Hi,
If you're old and LAZY like me, then you would really appreciate the IEM setup.
I need new earrings anyway.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
I like how you think... I can't wait to get to practice tonight... I have a 350 watt Ampeg head sitting on top of a Hartke 8x10 waiting for me..I gravitated towards the bass because it's one instrument that one can really FEEL. Ain't nothin like a good pantleg flapping that can rearrange your innards without the ear shrilling pierce of the high notes. Fortunately, for the sake of my hearing and innards, I don't get to do that often
BTW... enjoy your gig reports Basscliff. Vicarious gratification.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Unless your amp is providing all the bass to FOH, you aren't in control of your tone and volume anyway.
I'm also a dinosaur and like to feel the bass. The 'amp' I use is a 2000 watt powered FRFR. That together with our digital mixer let's me get the perfect mix and rattle some teeth at the same time.
I can't really vote because although I prefer amps, under the right circumstances I'd go with in-ear monitors. If you are playing with adults, volume isn't an issue. I play with a Rockabilly band and we play very quietly.
Voting tiny amp as a personal monitor. Enough to feel the bass and hear it well.
After 30 years of gigging, I’ve only recently gone ampless. I really thought I’d miss it more than I do, but I’ve lucked out and been able to “feel” the subs at every show thus far. And the IEM’s make it seem as though I’m just enjoying music, instead of struggling to hear a certain instrument or a vocal cue. Same mix, every time? Plus, no ringing ears on the drive home? Yes, please.
IEMs all the way. My audience are fellow parishioners that I love like an extended family. Protecting their hearing is just important as protecting my own.
It depends on your needs for the gig. If you need an amp that is interactive to serve the music (feedback effects, buffering fuzz tones, reaching a physical emotional state through sonic immersion, etc etc) than an amp is appropriate. If you don't need any of that, and there is a proper audio system and time to dial in a mix that doesn't kill the interaction and allows for dynamics, then ears all the way. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
