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Recommendation for a bass rig

G

gatogordo

Sep 3, 2010
24
0
#1
that will be playing with an orchestra. I've been playing guitar for 30 years and playing the bass for the last 3. All I have is a Spector NS-2004. I play in a praise band at church through a roland combo unit. I am going to put together a rack mounted bass rig. Looking for power amp, eq and fx. Looking for any recommendations. 30 piece orchestra. Most of music requires a regular bass guitar sound. There is a double bass song, so I will have to fake it. Any help will appreciated. Budget is 500-750
 
#4
That's the million dollar question. It all comes down to personal preferences. You can get more power with separate amps and preamps, you can change preamps, etc. The bass head is convenient and there may be one that you really like. So, neither is better or worse. Sorry I can't help you on that decision.

Do you already have a cab?
 
#5
No, I don't have a cab, but I thought that can come after the fact. Right now I want something portable. I will direct into the auditoriums PA, and I thought something with headphones for practice and performance. Maybe something with input also.
 
#7
Not sure how specific you want or how specific I can be. 60-75 person choir, 25-30 piece orchestra. Brass, woodwind, strings, keyboard, bass and drums. Don't think there is any monitring, more for choir. I assume I would provide my own monitoring.
 
#10
gatogordo said:
Not sure how specific you want or how specific I can be. 60-75 person choir, 25-30 piece orchestra. Brass, woodwind, strings, keyboard, bass and drums. Don't think there is any monitring, more for choir. I assume I would provide my own monitoring.
Click to expand...

Does that mean the audience will hear you through the PA?
And your rig is basically your monitor?
How will the rest of the orchestra/band hear you?
How much room do you have on stage? Will you be in a pit?
What is the reason you want a rack setup instead of the combo?
 
#11
babebambi said:
Does that mean the audience will hear you through the PA?
And your rig is basically your monitor?
How will the rest of the orchestra/band hear you?
How much room do you have on stage? Will you be in a pit?
What is the reason you want a rack setup instead of the combo?
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. Here are yours as best as I can give.


1. I assume my rig will be my monitor. I want control of my monitor. With that many musicians I feel I can get lost in the monitor mix.
2. I assume some monitors
3. Not sure of room. No pit. LArge stage .
4. Don't need speakers. No much room at my house for another amp. Plus at church I DI through the roland. If I had my own rig it would be nice.

I will be in the Theatres PA
 
#14
With the swing band I rehearse with I use one Acme B2 and one channel of my Carvin BX1500. For the gigs I'll hook a second B2 to the other channel of my amp. The amp is run flat with no effects or compression. Upright charts are played the same as electric. (with great difficulty, but I AM getting better :) ). Playing closer to the neck gets a rounder more bass like tone and favouring the neck pickup aids in this too. Tunes that can benefit, I'll use my fretless.

Paul
 
#15
Assuming you will not have your own separate monitor and you will be DI'd to the PA I recommend in the 500-750 price range maybe the GenzBenz Shuttle 3.0 or 6.0, MarkBass LittleMark, or other similar lightweight, lower priced head.

If you do not have a monitor you will need a cab. Lots of portable, good quality 2x10's out there that should fit in your price range after the head.

OR...if you are provided a monitor or headphone mix get a Tech21 VT Bass Deluxe, Radial BassBone, SansAmp, or older Line6 XT or X3 and call it a day.
 
#16
bassguppy said:
Assuming you will not have your own separate monitor and you will be DI'd to the PA I recommend in the 500-750 price range maybe the GenzBenz Shuttle 3.0 or 6.0, MarkBass LittleMark, or other similar lightweight, lower priced head.

If you do not have a monitor you will need a cab. Lots of portable, good quality 2x10's out there that should fit in your price range after the head.

OR...if you are provided a monitor or headphone mix get a Tech21 VT Bass Deluxe, Radial BassBone, SansAmp, or older Line6 XT or X3 and call it a day.
Click to expand...

+1

Good advice, plus there is plenty of other good advice above, too. If you really want a rack system, shop around. A lot of geezers are ditching their lead sleds for light weight switching amps (not me).

A USED 1200+ watt QSC or Crest power amp ought to go for under $600 used and shipped. Pre-amps can cost anything, but you can find a BBE BMAX or Sansamp RPM or RBI for under $300. A used 3 or 4 space rack ought to run you under $75.

So call it a $1000 rig with no cabs, if you go racked power/pre. A used Shuttle 6.0 (600 watts) will go for under $500.

Really, any good 500+ watt head and good quality 210 will do the job. Read more threads, visit music stores, listen to live bassists, and save up. Visit TB classifieds and Craigslist.

Despite the orchestra, your application is really no different from many others, in that you will be heard through the PA in a medium-large auditorium, and your monitor, and probably the conductor's and ensemble's monitor for the electric bass, will be your amp. :cool:

Are we to assume there is no double bass section in your orchestra? :ninja:
 
#17
Thanks all.


Are we to assume there is no double bass section in your orchestra?


I haven't seen the score, but the I don't hear it in the mix of the CD, but the one song. This is a new Christmas cantata with a choir, orchestra and Ballet Magnificat.
 
#18
You should buy my Mesa Big Block 750 (check sig). Smooth, tube sound and a DI out with pre/post configuration so you're not sending boring straight bass out the DI.

For mimicing double bass visit the effects forum. Off the top of my head I'd play with rounds, towards the neck, neck pickup, cut the mids (active EQ on your bass or via effects), play with fingers (obviously), and put a slight Slow Gear effect on there just enough to kill the initial attack. You could probably kill the attack with a compressor that has attack settings. I personally use a BOSS SE-70 1/2 rack multieffects and it has both of those effects in there and you can in fact use both at the same time. Plus tons of other effects if you want them. The BOSS VF-1 would do the same.
 
#19
I'd personally go with a good (& preferrably used) head vs. a separate pre\power amp. You can get a lot within your price range and with all of the micro options, you can drop the head in your gig bag and go with no muss\fuss. If you're willing to go with 2RU and maybe 20-25 pounds, that opens up the options even further. Most are quiet with good power, decent DI outs and effects loops. Try as many as you can, because tone really comes down to your own personal tastes. The best sounding and easiest amp I've ever used is the Thunderfunk 750A - even used, this would be outside your price range, but I think a 550B would be possible.

As for cabs, I'd highly recommend getting a Bergantino HT112\EX112ER stack. Small & light with a fantastic, sweet tone. You can use one or both depending on your needs (and is a great match with the Thuunderfunk, too...)

Another option would be the Mesa Walkabout - either combo (where you can add another cab if desired) or just the head which would work well with the Bergs also. I'm thinking about getting this rig myself as a backup\smaller alternative to my SVT.
 

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