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Restaurant Rigs and Gigs

#61
static0verdrive said:
You're right, it is full-range. I'm OK with that because, as discussed in another thread, I like sounding the same as I would through the FOH (if/when applicable) because it helps me correct my technique. You can always turn your tone knob down and/or EQ down the treble on your amp when using any full-range cab if needed, too... In this case it's simply the size & weight that blows me away with those little guys! Definitely enough sound to cover OP's needs.
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Yes, I use a pair of Crazy8s as mains in my home studio PA system. Had a pole mount built into the bottom of each. They also work well at a small gig. You could put the whole band through a pair of these (ideally, plus a sub) and it would be fine for a restaurant gig!
 
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#62
I don't do restaurants at this point, but wouldn't turn down a BBQ joint gig if it were offered... I do tend to play in some very small spaces though. And I have played restaurants in the past. Percussion beyond Congas / Bongos seems almost impossible, drum kits are just too large for most of the local venues.

The approach I have taken is as I have said before.

My rig, Fender Rumble V3 500 combo. A bit loud, but there is a volume knob and I know how to use it. Small format mixer. Behringer XENYX 1202fx. Powered PA speakers. Alto Professional TS115a. If the house provides PA, even better. The TS115a is kind of big for small venues. Again we know how to work volume...
2 guitars, 2 smallish guitar combo amps. 1 of them my Behringer GTX60 because 1 of my guitarists is broke. The other is some label fell off a long time ago, but it looks like a Fender 30 watts is what is left of the name plate says, 1x12 that the other guitarist refuses to upgrade, mostly due to funds... 3 mics, and synth percussion brought in via my laptop.

When I can't set up a dedicated "Sound Control Table" I use a set of Rockler Bench Cookies to give me clearance for the top handle, and then a cut to size chunk of plywood to hold my laptop and mixer on top of the Rumble.

I find it challenging to play in a small space as I am not a small person, but then again, I can make it work. Just takes determination...

FWIW, our long term goal is to pick up a pair of Alto TS110a powered speakers, or similar as monitors for larger shows, or mains / vocals for small restaurant gigs.
 
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#63
Extremely versatile and clean Puma 900, a Smoothie compressor adds fatness without adding volume, a F-deck series 3 in the effects loop, and a Thunderchild 112. Spectacular for any small to medium gig. Some large gigs too...
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#64
For those we use BOSE stuff and an MXR 10 band pedal EQ is on top of 2 BOSE "bass" bins so the room can be somewhat dealt with. The current "house gig" place has crap acoustics and a very big resonance on any "G" note, esp. the one on the E string of a bass.
 
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#66
kohanmike said:
I've been using a Phil Jones Double Four and battery with my acoustic bass uke for rehearsal in a large multipurpose room, a small seniors rec-room and any other small gig that comes along, with from 20 to 40 ukulele players and a light weight percussionist, our leader amplified through a Fishman Loudbox Mini. But I'm prepared for larger louder gigs with a Carvin MB15 combo, and if necessary an additional Carvin 115MBE extension box.

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Kohanmike,

I'm with you. Similar setup as you list above. For small venues I use the PJB Bass Cub for Upright or BG and for anything bigger, I pull out the Barefaced 12 and Orange T1000 - but then the Acoustic Upright get's put away and it's BG fretted and fretless only.

I've often thought that I may need another cabinet for the Bass Cub, but so far I've not needed more out of the little system.

John
 
#69
Johnny Crab said:
For those we use BOSE stuff and an MXR 10 band pedal EQ is on top of 2 BOSE "bass" bins so the room can be somewhat dealt with. The current "house gig" place has crap acoustics and a very big resonance on any "G" note, esp. the one on the E string of a bass.
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Have you noticed that a whole lot of rooms have a very wide G? Maybe because that frequency is a sub harmonic of the resonant frequency of human DNA...
 
#72
smaller speakers aimed properly ... play some music thru things and walk around and give a listen ... tiny subs ?? .. closed back amps facing you instead of at the nearest people ... ? i played dinner clubs/lounges in a duo for a decade or so ... never fails that the people who wanna talk and don't wanna hear any music , sit right in front of you ... !!!?!

i always kept a db meter handy in case the manager thought things where the wrong volume ... !?
 
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#74
In my 40+ years of professional bass playing I've earned a reputation as NOT being one of the greatest players in the area (I am competent and fit in most mixes), but I'm the guy that they acknowledge locally as one of the players having a great bass sound/tone. I use older EA and Ashdown gear, neither are BIG/KNOWN (at all) in my area which is sad. In fact if you went looking for either brand in my area, they're none to buy. We have a Guitar Center and a couple of "sheep herder" dealers here, I like and recommend one in spite of the fact that they don't understand bass, but decent folks.

If you're looking for a great bass sound and have limited cash, look behind you........... it's there.

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#75
I turn 50 soon and is also fortunate enough to have gone from bigger rock gigs to smaller restaurant style gigs with all the perks the OP describes - no late nights/early mornings, no backbreaking PA subs etc. Nowadays I mostly play in a bass-and-guitar duo for 50-200 people with a broad repertoire ranging from soft latino jazz and Vegas stuff to 60's/70's pop/rock hits, singer/songwriter tunes and semiacoustic arrangements of more modern stuff, its great fun. When we need to step it up a notch we have a friend on cajun drum.

My rig is a small pedalboard (5ish pedals with a VT for occasional colouring), a Tonehammer 500 and one or two 1x12 lightweight cabs from excellent swedish builder TKS. It sounds great and weights next to nothing. The basses are mostly passive jazz four strings.

The guitar and song we run through a Bose L1m2 pillar with a B2 bass cab, it sounds fantastic and is also easy on the backs.

We can fit ourselves and all the stuff in a midsize combo car, which is a bonus, no need to get a trailer or a bigger van/bus.

All in all this is a setup that is doable well into retirement!
 
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#76
Interceptor said:
Alright you fellow restaurant, winery and small function players - let's open up about our needs!
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This world has mostly been my oyster for the last dozen years or so, although even that is more than I care to do very much any more. I've found the gear end to be pretty nearly irrelevant in my playing situations, beyond having stuff that can physically fit into the allotted areas and with a "friendly, low key" look and sound about it. EUB tends to work really well that way for me, and given your listed gear I would probably be using that Barker bass the vast majority of the time. But of course restaurants and wineries come in many flavors, and yours may be much different than mine were. Hope you enjoy the ride!
 
#80
One of my steady gigs is a duo dinner show, for that it's a Puma 900 with a Bergie CN112. I also do a lot of fly dates with the duo and sometimes end up with a SVT as a backline, it always cracks me up but I never complain, I don't have to move it.;)
 

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