Trending? How many of us have gone totally amp-free?

[BigBoneRed]

I still find myself shopping for various bass amps/cabs on a regular basis, and then realize that I really don't have a legit need for any of it..
Could be just a case of GAS, possibly? But do any of us still really NEED a bass "amp" to get the job done..?

 

[blr2]

I need an amp for home practice mostly. I've used amps live in the past, just to reinforce my monitor sound. In the studio, I use a tube preamp nowadays, but the signal is always split, so one channel is a clean DI.

 

[gtirard]

I still use amps, period.

 

[Nuisance]

Have been totally amp free for 7 or 8 years. Yet......I still go amp shopping......

 

[Norwegian_Wood]

I bring an amp and cab to any outdoor gigs we have just because I like the feel and look of it. That being said, 99.9% of my gigs are DI with IEMs. Even on the outdoor gigs I use DI and IEMs the amp is essentially pointless

 

[squish]

Depends on the band. Travel band is 100% IEM and other two bands who are not as busy, I use amps.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I went Amp free way back from 2002 to 2005 when it was fairly new and exciting [Shure system set up for whole band]

I could dial in CD Quality mix for Band; even had Mic facing audience we could turn on when patrons came up to talk to us

But for me it was Amps after up till now [stopped gigging in 2023] was difficult to get Players to all agree on IEM many detested now matter how good it could sound and no amps to try to fit stages and lug around

 

[fdeck]

This topic comes up once in a while. There are still plenty of uses for amps, because not all gigs and venues provide sufficient PA support for the bass, or even any PA at all. Virtually all of the jazz gigs that I play are this way. It doesn't make sense to show up and expect to plug into a well equipped PA system, especially when it's with a different band each time. And I'm not going to chip in to invest in any band's PA, or the time to set it up.

Instead, I show up with my bass and a tiny amp -- GK MB200 and a 1x8 speaker. I'm ready to go in 5 minutes. The keyboardist also brings a small amp, or more frequently these days, an 8" powered PA speaker.

What I do think is that amps will get smaller and smaller, as the big venues and high budget gigs are taken care of by PA.

 

[Kevin Wolfe]

I’m stressing about going amp free right now as a matter of fact. Don’t quite know where or how to start.

 

[Makten]

I only play at home, so I only use an amp and will do so for many years. Can't answer the poll with the given alternatives.

 

[NitroBobby]

I still use amps, period.

^^^^^
this

where is that option on this "poll"?

kgb

 

[RattleSnack]

Went amp-less about three years ago. I had no problem adopting, just set my sound on pedalboard. I don't think it hinders performance or creativity in any way. For me, it's just simpler load-in load-out. I still have amp+cab and did take it to gig couple of times, but to no point.
Even more, for monitoring I use only IEM. Full control over monitor mix tramples any shortcoming of IEM.

 

[bucephylus]

Well…

We play ELECTRIC bass guitars. Amplification occurs.

No doubt, the OP is referring to the “standard” backline bass amp head / passive speaker cab configuration. Those do still work.

My $0.019 is that group / ensemble performance mixes have transitioned from earlier decades; and the most fundamental change is that the primary mix presented to audiences ranging from moderate sized clubs to stadiums is through the PA system. PA systems have become progressively more advanced and capable. It is now standard for even “hobby” bands to be be projecting all of the instrumentation through their PA system.

Which brings into question the purpose of backline rigs. Backline rigs still sound amazing. No question there. But, their purpose has mostly gone from slotting the bass guitar voice into the audience mix to a much more limited role of providing the bass voice for the stage mix. Most stage mixes don’t require massive power for the bass part. Nor is the tailored voicing of a particular back line amp necessarily passed to the PA mix.

In fact, Sound Engineers, when such are involved, increasingly prefer quieter stage mixes, so that vocals can be unaffected.

What is a bass player to do? Our amplifiers were a major part of our sound for so long; really a part of our instrument.

Times change. Musicians play for audiences. Adapt or retire. We aren’t going backwards.

On the good side of things, we have a prolific set of choices for pedal board preamplification. We will never be amp free as long as we play electric instruments. The signal chain changes. Need to embrace the changes.

 

[Michedelic]

Nah. I need to vibrate. And I hate earbuds.

 

[tubedude]

Sorry, my big as analog tube amp is speaking so gracefully I can't hear these noises very well. Did someone mention free amps?

 

[bassicmike]

All our shows are FOH PA supported.

I might bring my Rumble 100 along if I want a little more bass on stage. But I can always find somewhere to stand where I can hear what's going on.

 

[Danny O Danny]

For my main gig I'm amp-free (or, rather, speaker-free), using an SGT-DI preamp or a Fishman Platinum Pro DI preamp (depending on the bass) on my pedalboard into IEMs and FOH. I still have an Ampeg RB112 for jam sessions though. I use a headphone amp for practicing. So I would say 85% speaker-free.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I scroll amps and cabs mostly out of dusty habit. Then I come to my senses and realize I've got what I need and often don't even need what I've got. Plug me into the PA, Scotty!

 

[alexbrownebass]

Depends on the gig. If it's a jazz gig/smaller room, amp all the way. Bigger shows that are PA supported with IEMs and a great sound engineer, no amp needed.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I haven't, but only because our little trio uses a couple of small Bose PA for mains and monitors. If we used a bigger PA setup (and had someone to move it!), then I'd just use my Sans Amp as a DI and not use a stage amp.

I'm old, brittle and lazy, so for me, it's all about trying to minimize the gear we need to haul around. I think any trade I'd make just shifts gear and doesn't reduce it.