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Switching quickly between multiple basses live with wired IEM's

SteveC

SteveC

Supporting Member
Nov 12, 2004
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#1
So, I have this for my current DI/IEM rig.

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The red cable is special made for me. It takes my IEM feed from the "Phones" out on my Rolls, up to my strap button, where I plug in my ear buds. The other part of the cable is the 1/4" out from my bass to the Tuner. It's a slick way to have wired IEM's and bass in one cable.

I would like to use multiple basses (2 for sure, maybe even 3) for live shows. Mostly a passive 4 string P with flats and an active 5 string.

Right now, I have it so my cable is "attached" to my strap. I mute my bass, unplug it, undo my straplocks, kind of hunch over so my strap stays on my shoulder, put the bass on a stand, grab the other bass, do the straplocks, plug it in and unmute it. I can do it fairly quickly, but it is a process.

Anyone have any ideas? The IEM's are where it's cumbersome.I know that wireless IEM's would make it easy. Just toss off one bass and grab the other. Use an A/B pedal. Just wondering if there's anything I haven't thought of other than that.
 
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#2
I would suggest terminating your IEM feed to some kind of belt clip rather than to your guitar strap. Then get separate straps for each instrument so you don't have to swap basses to the same strap. I hate swapping instruments to a single strap. Of course, I am happy with $9 nylon web straps and rubber washers for locks. I have about 12 basses and each one has its own strap. Grab and go.

(edit) I gig with not more than 2 basses and one of the guitarists plays bass on a couple of songs where I switch to accordion (???). I use a 3 button passive combiner footswitch to connect the basses to the amp. Each bass is always plugged in. All I have to do is turn instruments on and off with the switch.

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#3
bwildt said:
I would suggest terminating your IEM feed to some kind of belt clip rather than to your guitar strap. Then get separate straps for each instrument so you don't have to swap basses to the same strap. I hate swapping instruments to a single strap. Of course, I am happy with $9 nylon web straps and rubber washers for locks. I have about 12 basses and each one has its own strap. Grab and go.
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My bass cable would have to clip at the same point as they are one in the same, but I get what you're saying. I like running my cable thru my strap so I don't step on it though and I still have to unplug my bass.
 
#6
bwildt said:
I edited my post to include a combiner switch that I use. I understand the benefits of your iem and bass cords being routed together. Just find something that works best for you.
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Thanks for your suggestions. I have thought about a switcher like that as well.
I need to figure out my IEM's. I hate the thought of 2 cables hanging but I don't see any other way without going wireless IEMs. I had a wireless IEM system (and wireless bass) a while back and decided it was a pain to have the transmitters and receivers on my strap and I'd just use one bass but I have all these nice basses I'd like to use.
 
#7
#8
WayneP said:
So you've rigged up a cable that carries both your guitar signal and the IEM signal? There's been talk of that here in the past, but I've never seen anyone actually do it.
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It's not at all difficult to do - one guitar cable, one headphone cable, and a bunch of cable ties. Mine has 2 colors of cable ties - black ones near the bass for a few feet, and green ones for the rest of the run. The green ones glow under UV light - a few of the stages I play have UV overhead lights, so you can see spike marks, and the green cable ties show me where my cable is on the floor in the dark, so I don't step all over it.
 
#9
#12
Interesting discussion, great suggestions as always.

I was considering getting us all IEMs, but I can't fathom why anyone would want to go with wired ones except for cost. It just seems that you're trading one problem for another. But maybe it's just because I've been wireless on bass forever.
 
#13
OogieWaWa said:
Interesting discussion, great suggestions as always.

I was considering getting us all IEMs, but I can't fathom why anyone would want to go with wired ones except for cost. It just seems that you're trading one problem for another. But maybe it's just because I've been wireless on bass forever.
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Well, I used to be all wireless - bass and IEM's - but I don't move that much and I usually don't have much room so I figured the batteries and hassle wasn't worth it. Now I wish I had the wireless IEM's back as that would make this a little easier.
 
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#15
@SteveC ,
Seems like you could...
1) Attach the cable to your belt/belt loop where the cable splits between bass and IEMs.
2) Have a strap on each bass.
3) Pass the bass cable between the strap and bass before plugging it into the bass. This seems like a quite normal way of doing it.

Then changing basses is simply unplug bass, put it down, pick up the other one, pass cable through, plug in.
 
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#17
I always ran IEM wires under my shirt and down my back, to a belt or clip around the hip pocket area.

I'm more curious about your plan for cable failure on either the 3.5mm IEM cable or the 1/4 instrument cable. While I might keep a single instrument for years... the cables I gigged with definitely had a shelf life and usually developed a short at the most inconvenient time possible. can't imagine having a good cable tied to a bad and trying to swap out quickly.
 
#19
Hasty said:
I always ran IEM wires under my shirt and down my back, to a belt or clip around the hip pocket area.

I'm more curious about your plan for cable failure on either the 3.5mm IEM cable or the 1/4 instrument cable. While I might keep a single instrument for years... the cables I gigged with definitely had a shelf life and usually developed a short at the most inconvenient time possible. can't imagine having a good cable tied to a bad and trying to swap out quickly.
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I have a backup. The first one he made me.
 
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