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SIZE!!!! Does it matter?

#21
1 stupidly loud drummer + 2 half stacks (1 of which has alot of bass added to it) = the need for a very large bass amp.

If I played quieter music with smaller guitar amps to fight with then I'd probably be fine with a 1x15. But in my band the Berg I got a few weeks ago is just enough for the depth I need to out-bass one of my guitarists, I reckon I'm probably gonna need a 2x10 on top of that to get the definition I'm gonna need to be properly heard in more techy bits.

So yeah if you play loud music you need a big loud amp to get the projection and volume you need. I'd love to play in a Jazz or Blues band and use an old Ampeg 1x15 stack or something, but I don't which is a shame.
 
#22
I'm a BIG supporter of the big rig. I play through a 1000W amp into an 810 now and I seriously don't know how I survived without it. I mean I can understand the small combo thing for jazz gigs or other gigs of more subdued volume, but all three bands I'm in now would drown me out completely without a fridge to back me up.
 
#23
Where I play, 6 tens is hardly considered a small cabinet.

The fact of the matter is that ever since modeling, DI, and solid FOH systems became de rigeur for pretty much any venue larger that 200 seats having more than a couple hundred watts into speaker or two is hardly ever a necessity. You could always bring an enormous bass backline and leave it muted, but that seems like a whole lot of work for an aesthetic. You might be better off using the extra carrying capacity for other set pieces. Or saving the time. Are you at the point where you have an army of roadies to do your bidding?

The way I have always figured it the less gear I have to schlep, the sooner I get to kick back and schmooze with the fans. It's not 1975, I think the audience is pretty comfortable seeing a cleaner backline. Do yourself a favor and embrace technological progress.
 
#26
mjolnir said:
What kind of places do you play?... 'Cause I swear, places with acceptable FOH are hard to find 'round here... Well, FOH with a soundman who doesn't like to drown out everything but guitar and lead vocals...
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The trouble is that it seems like a mediocre mix going DI through the FOH is generally superior to the bass (or guitar) backline being turned up balls-out loud by a player who has no FOH reference whatsoever. The key is really to get something that allows you to hear yourself comfortably on stage without stepping on the FOH mix or the other monitor mixes. I'm thinking that an 8x10 is probably not the best tool for this unless it is in the hands of an extremely tasteful bassist.
 
#27
Yeah, the FOH system around here sounds nothing like I want my band to sound like. I just don't get it. Most of them are nice systems, they even have little bubble lights around them, and a whole mess of records or CD's already inside them.

Yeah... jukeboxes are the norm around here.... so when I hear people talking about playing a "dive" with a piss poor FOH, I just want to pass out cookies to the poor sheltered kids.

There are reasons for having amps, and I have been to a few good examples of why big amps can be necessary and not just aesthetic.
 
#28
Nothing beats the feeling of having a huge rig behind you. I mean, just look at the ******** grin on my face.
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#29
Lelander said:
The trouble is that it seems like a mediocre mix going DI through the FOH is generally superior to the bass (or guitar) backline being turned up balls-out loud by a player who has no FOH reference whatsoever. The key is really to get something that allows you to hear yourself comfortably on stage without stepping on the FOH mix or the other monitor mixes. I'm thinking that an 8x10 is probably not the best tool for this unless it is in the hands of an extremely tasteful bassist.
Click to expand...
I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one. With proper adjustment beforehand I think a backline generally sounds better, especially at some of the places around here. Any Houstonian who's played Fitz (especially downstairs) knows exactly what I'm talking about. It's like the bass isn't even going through FOH at all, so why not provide the low end yourself.

I do agree however that such a large rig must be handled tastefully by the player or it will sound like ass.
 
#33
I am on the side of the crowd that says there is no such thing as overkill (unless of course you are in a trio playing a small lounge). I play in a heavy/hard rock band and I use a 410 and a 115. 20 years ago I could not afford big rigs and great gear. Now I can, music is my number 1 hobby so I choose to indulge. I play with twin guitars and a loud drummer but I know I could probably get away with 1 cab. But I always get pumped looking back at my rig! :)
 
#36
anderbass said:
I'm 6'-6" tall and have absolutely no trouble hearing my Berg NV610.
At least with my amps, my Berg somehow radiates its sound in nearly every direction. I can always hear myself perfectly over loud densely-distorted guitars whether I'm standing anywhere out in front of it or even the other side of the stage. (without playing to loudly) I've owned quite a few nice cabs but have honestly never experienced anything that worked like this before. The NV610 is definitely a big-rig caliber cab. When my bands playing a lower volume-level gig and everyone's using smaller low profile amps, I just flop it over on its side and call it my mini rig.
Click to expand...
Dang it, I'm 6'5", now I have another reason for wanting an NV610.:D
 
#37
I think the situation dictates. I use more cabinet with the T.O.P. type band than I use on other things. One rock band I play with I use the neoX212 on the floor with the Uber410 on top. For that gig it's perfect sized. It's about mass air movement not volume. When running more speakers and much less volume the sound is more effortless than 1 cabinet cranked.
 
#38
attackbass said:
This is mainly aimed at guys in rock or metal bands i guess.. but do you feel like you need that big stack behind you when your playing live-- either a 8x10 or a 4x10 and 1x15 stack?

It's a weird thing but when i play for a solo artist where i only need one cab i find it odd.. almost slightly uncomfortable knowing i dont have that big bad rock stack behind me!

I hearda a demo of a bergantino 6x10 i loved the sound of but im jsut worried i'd miss the height that m used to for onstage sound.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about it, if you like the sound your getting out of the one cab that is find. I think the reason is why you see those big stacks is because either they want to get the full output of there amp or to allow a more spread sound. ;)
 
#39
Years ago I played in a Led Zep cover band. I used a pair of 410's for a while. I loved it because it just sort of hummed right a long without laboring. The band then asked me to only use a single 410 and drive it. They liked the sound of one cab being driven hard, I like the pair because it reacted faster. It really wasn't a volume thing but more of a feel thing.
 
#40
Well... them venues I play, small. my 18"plus 2x10" at 600W is WAAYYYY too big. the damn head is at... like.. 3 or 4 outta 10. The soundman usually EQ:s everything under 500hz away from the stage... usually some concrete corner at a club.

At rehealsals.. different story. That 5x5meter room is swolling as my gear, drummer and two 100W tube-halfstacks blast at full tilt!!..
Weird to plug your ears and play loud at rehealsals, then cut it half at a gig and play without the plugs.:ninja:
 

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