Ok Folks, lets have it. IEM's or Backline

[fishdreams]

Amp. I usually play low-volume, smaller listening spaces nowadays. Can't recall the last time I went through a 'real' PA.

EDIT: come to think of it, that was actually 3 years ago. Sonically, IEM would probably have been better (Roulette in Brooklyn, quite a boomy sounding theatre). However, in this festival-like situation without soundchecks where somewhat impromptu acts played a set each, I can't imagine how IEM could have worked for the quick stage changes required. (This was basically running onto stage when it was our turn, and confiscate an amp that looked it could do the trick).

 

[micguy]

An amp might work ok in a little club, but on the stages I play, nothing is better than the combo of good, clear, non piercing sound in my ears, and a big PA with good subs shaking the stage. IEMs all the way for me.

 

[socialleper]

This is kinda like three questions in one. IEMs have to do with monitoring, while a "backline" is house gear over your own personal gear.
Personally I don't like house gear because it is usually beat. I have my tone. At the very least I use my head and their cab.
As to the question of IEMs, as great of an idea as they are, they require too many planets to align perfectly. Some venues I play only have a limited PA that is for the vocals only. Then there is the fact that I don't trust the sound engineers not to blow out my hears, or just give me a crappy mix. Then, at my last show, at a major venue might I add, the sound engineer told all the bands that he would not be running anyone's IEMs to the board. Every band got a line check before playing, no requests could be made for the monitors, and you had to use an amp with their cab. No exceptions.

Being able to hear everything properly on stage has been a constant struggle for me. I really just have to lock on to the drums and hold on for dear life. Sometimes I can't hear myself, or one of the guitars. I can probably hear the vocals, but I don't pay any attention to them.

 

[BAG]

play with adults that know how to control their volume.

The trio I've recently joined is fantastic to play with. They came to see me play in my family trio (acoustic guitars and cajon drum) before offering me the position and before the first jam told me to just bring my little Schertler 10" combo (it is rated at 300w but still only a little combo). I thought there was no way it would be loud enough and didn't want to risk running it too hard so I took my 15" combo along just in case. I didn't need to worry at all as the guitarist/singer knows how to keep his volume down and amp pointed at his ears and the drummer doesn't feel the need to beat the hell out of his kit. I'm not sure what i'll need for our first gig but will most likely take the little combo.

It's nice to finish a two hour jam with no extra ringing in the ears...... yes, unicorns do exist.

 

[fauxtoe]

Mixture of both..but with a twist. If I'm going full IEM's I stand on my Eich Bass Board so I get my feel back. Heck, I use that thing even with a cab. I also now have total control over the volume for my ears by piping my DI signal and the house monitor signal through a Rolls PM50se. I can even pull it from a speaker cable by using the Rolls PM52 and a custom connection I integrated into my pedal board. Either way, I'm trying to go full ears as much as possible. Everyone (not just me) likes a bass cab on stage, but it's not always practical.

 

[40Hz]

My rule of thumb is: backline if you can - IEMs if you must.

 

[BassIsBoss]

Bell bottoms blowin' all the way....

 

[Chad Michael]

Can anyone recommend a good IEM instructional video for beginners?

Currently watching this

 

[Chad Michael]

FWIW - my (next?) gig in Sept. will be without p.a. My brother has electronic drums (not the cheap ones, the high end ones from Roland) and he will be playing through a powered Mackie speaker. Guitarist / vocalist goes through one of those speakers that looks like a fence post. I will be bringing an actual bass rig.

 

[glocke1]

Amp (alternatively both).

Bass is something needs to be heard and FELT.

As for "all the pros are doing it", I'd be interested in knowing how many pro bass players have entirely ditched a stage amp in favor of IEM's only.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You are not limited to either a silent stage or IEMs. One band I play with uses regular drums (screen in front). Both guitarists use small miced amps. I use an amp, DIed to the board. All amps are pretty low volume.

 

[DirtDog]

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

+ 1.0 x 10^63

 

[CryingBass]

And depending on the IEMs they might help protect your hearing.

That is of course only if your personal mix level is not 11.

 

[Hambone70]

IEMs here. I like everyone being able to customize their personal mixes and volumes from their phones. There's plenty of bass goodness coming from the subs for me (and everyone else) to feel. And the silent stage makes for a much cleaner and better experience for the crowd.

The ambient mic is a great idea to help avoid feeling isolated. It's also useful for piping a bit of crowd noise into the mix when recording.

 

[Ekulati]

- most pros (the ones who have the time and money) choose this option

Yeah this is a complicated topic. After reading enough posts here on TB that I'm convinced that all "the REAL pros" are all on IEMs, then I see pics of bands at those levels with big ole amps onstage. Recent was last week, apparently Billy Joel's old band, touring under some guise (don't know the name, never was big into him) but bottom line, their stage setup at a smallish theater that I had played and bass player has two stacked Hartke 4x10s. Utter overkill for that room. And everyone else had amps. Biguns...

Why? Why, despite what we hear, dont all the pros use IEMs?

 

[Hambone70]

Yeah this is a complicated topic. After reading enough posts here on TB that I'm convinced that all "the REAL pros" are all on IEMs, then I see pics of bands at those levels with big ole amps onstage. Recent was last week, apparently Billy Joel's old band, touring under some guise (don't know the name, never was big into him) but bottom line, their stage setup at a smallish theater that I had played and bass player has two stacked Hartke 4x10s. Utter overkill for that room. And everyone else had amps. Biguns...

Why? Why, despite what we hear, dont all the pros use IEMs?

Pros can live in the past, too...

Kidding aside, IEMs aren't for everyone, and don't make sense in certain situations.

 

[Flog]

BOTH! A small amp to retain a more even stage sound, matching with guitar amp and drums. Makes for a much better experience for people in the front row and dancing. Also, in case the IEMs have problems (soundperson didn't hook them up correctly) You can still play the gig.

In Ears to save hearing and to monitor the way you want to hear everything.

Bass amps are getting very small and light, there is no excuse not to have one behind you. I can bring my entire rig and bass in one trip!

 

[Hundred proof]

I've been properly schooled on this site that IEM is the only way to go, and I understand it in the situations where volume is a big issue, it's not for what we do. When the guitar amp is usually a 22 watt 1x12 Fender Deluxe on maybe 3, acoustic drums played at a reasonable volume and a 70 watt bass amp, hearing on stage is not an issue. Still for those that want and need the control IEMs provide more power to you, go with what works for you.

 

[Budro00]

There's nothing like standing in front of a great 810 with a big tube head rattling my insides. I LOVE IT. Love playing Loud with a great, loud band. Brings me joy.
However, with IEMs I can hear everyone else a lot better, lock in better, and therefore end up being a better team player, making the group sound better, and that's without getting into stage volume and being easier to mix. I also get joy from knowing I did a great job.
So ultimately I guess my vote is both.

 

[Rabidhamster]

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.

This is something interesting to me. I haven't tried in ear monitors because I imagine them being a nightmare. Like listening to a live mixed album with earbuds in while trying to hear over a loud PA. But if you're saying you can hear the bass clearly in these little buds, and its actually quieter and your eardrums aren't at the whim of a drunken sound monkey - maybe I'd consider trying them. I want something with a limiter I'm in charge of.



I always like shows better when its live amps and live everything. In Ear monitors as an audience member, often makes me feel like I'm watching a hard-of-hearing dance contest in a high school. But for all I know, I've seen tons of shows where I didn't even know they had in ears.