I've long since gone completely digital in my pedalboard setup, relying on modeling and cab sims for my FoH tones. These days, I'm running a Line6 Helix.
However, I've kept my amp around for "stage sound", and I keep having to set up all my tones to split off a signal without amp and cab modeling so that I can feed my amp just my effects, and send the complete signal to FoH.
So I'm increasingly wondering... why do I bother? I never use my amp for any of my recorded tones, I never bring it to gigs (I either play the backline amp or just go direct), and even in rehearsals I mostly rely on the PA and/or my IEMs for hearing myself. In fact, I'm probably doing myself a disservice by even having my amp in the rehearsal room, because I'm not able to hear my FoH tone by itself in the band mix.
So overall, it seems to me that life would be simpler if I just didn't bother with the amp at all. If I have to move some air and have some stage volume without relying on the monitor mix, I have a 1000W FRFR monitor that I can bring along and run my pedalboard into. It's smaller, lighter, cheaper and more practical in every way than my amp rig, which I can barely fit in my car, and that's only if I remove the child seats.
So who has sold off their amps? Does it feel freeing, or are you regretting your decision? Please discuss.
However, I've kept my amp around for "stage sound", and I keep having to set up all my tones to split off a signal without amp and cab modeling so that I can feed my amp just my effects, and send the complete signal to FoH.
So I'm increasingly wondering... why do I bother? I never use my amp for any of my recorded tones, I never bring it to gigs (I either play the backline amp or just go direct), and even in rehearsals I mostly rely on the PA and/or my IEMs for hearing myself. In fact, I'm probably doing myself a disservice by even having my amp in the rehearsal room, because I'm not able to hear my FoH tone by itself in the band mix.
So overall, it seems to me that life would be simpler if I just didn't bother with the amp at all. If I have to move some air and have some stage volume without relying on the monitor mix, I have a 1000W FRFR monitor that I can bring along and run my pedalboard into. It's smaller, lighter, cheaper and more practical in every way than my amp rig, which I can barely fit in my car, and that's only if I remove the child seats.
So who has sold off their amps? Does it feel freeing, or are you regretting your decision? Please discuss.
