Ultimate live rig..

[D.A.R.K.]

Whatever it takes. Many use an amp to shape their sound...
for example, if you play music that requires interactive sound reinforcement (feedback, distortion) just going direct isn't going to cut it. But, if you only need a clean, straight representation of the instrument, you are probably better off without an amp.
One thing i've always experienced about just using floor wedges, you turn them up loud enough to compete with a hitting drummer and the audience just gets mud from the stage which you have to overcome in the house. In ear monitors are probably the best way to go in that situation.
ymmv

 

[Rocksolid]

Well between reading this and my quest to sort out my IEM I have decided to go with this for my gigs this weekend. In my 4RU skb case there is:

Bass > XDS Plus > Rack Tuner > Channel one of dbx266xl > Rolls PM351. Rolls PM351 > to Channel 2 of dbx 266xl with 31 band eq in side chain > IEM

Mains mix and my mic will be going thru the Rolls PM351 also. I will also be running a line to a Yamaha MSR400 Powered 12" horn cab from the 2nd out of channel 1 of the dbx266xl as a bass monitor for 2 reasons:

Not everyone in my band runs IEM and they will need to hear me,

I have never played a full noise gig without a rig before so I will feel more comfortable if it doesn't work out the way I intend...

The Yamaha MSR400 is an amazing powered 12" horn cab. It is half the price of a Mackie SRM450 but 90% as good. The front port is amazing for carrying bass and after running it from my bass thru the channel of the dbx266xl I am amazed at the tone and transparency of it.

Highly recommend it as a powered monitor for bass applications.

 

[stingraysvt]

Last night I saw a bassist friend of mine playing live with just his Jazz Bass, Shure Wireless for his bass and AKG wireless IEM. Sounded excellent.

Make me think about doing like him.

This was basically my rig for quite a while. I was running my active bass>> wireless>> sans amp (just for amp character) then one night I just went xlr right out of my wireless and instantly loved the tone! It seriously rocked in my IEM's. Took me 5 mins to put my bass in the case and my IEM's and wireless in my gig bag.

If the teardown time doesn't get you excited, nothing will.

Side note: my sound guy buddy stopped me afterwords and said EVERYBODY should run the way I did, plus me being a sound guy, I would have to say I agree!

Never ran any passive instruments through the wireless. Didn't have a passive five string that would rock the gig. But I got me one of the radial dragsters incase I ever do this with a Jazz or whatnot.

Typically I would not do this rig with just anyone, but I had played with this band every weekend going on 2-3 years so needless to say, I knew the show by heart...

 

[Lync]

It's technology. Active electronics/tone boxes and powerful affordable PA systems make it possible to do this. Lately I have been thinking about ditching my amp for a nice 15" monitor which will carry all vocals and my bass.

 

[cableguy]

I always liked going with just my sansamp BDDI when going ampless. Most places I play though do not have good monitors (for bass) so I play through my fEARful 12/6. Another problem with going direct is you are at the mercy of the soundguy. Good soundguy, no worries. Bad soundguy, big problems.

 

[project43]

Not totally ampless, but small, and effcient. And on the stand, pointed right at the back of my head.

 

[Doctor Dirt]

2 JBL's// (I think). 4699B cabs (might have the model numbers wrong) 18x10x1'" horn// changed to 2"/// 1970 Soundcraftsmen Power Amp 2,000///Erie 31 band graphic/// Syn.421 mic.////
Today this would be a pain in the .............back to load around each cab was 159lbs. BUT.....these two cabs kicked ass!!! E-series JBL's in these tight cabaret cabinets moved some air even with JBL's out of phase push. The old Soundcraftesmen out hustled every amp we put up next to it for clean low end pump and it never lost one contest. The old erie (JBL) specs. kept breaking (joints) and I kept fixin it. It was the best eq ever in my opinion, a truck but everything was big then hahaha!!! I know it's not conventional but any bassman who played out of that combo was floored by it. Love to do a few nights with it now, big punch, BIG! Doc

 

[pbass62]

For me at my weekly church services we have a large PA that handles my bass nicely. We have 2 very competent sound techs. I have been using my Roscoe 5 into a Older Boss GT6B multi board using the DI out of it into the PA. We utilize AVIOMS which I absolutely have come to love IEM systems.
Sometimes I will bring in the Genz Rig I have but it is very rarely!

Im spoiled

 

[BeSharp]

I've been completely ampless for about a year now and I'll never go back. The key is having a great monitor mix and a killer set of molded IEM's. I had been using stock Shure E5's and they were OK. But I recently go a set of custom Quad drivers with 2 low end drivers per ear. They sound better than any amp could ever sound and the isolation of the in ears makes the low end really pop. Plus I can completely control my own volume. It's literally saved my hearing.

 

[Marko 1]

I recently went amp/cab-less. DI to the board, and from DI box to a little Rolls headphone amp to Shure in-ears. I run a headphone extension cable with my instrument cable.

So there’s nothing in my earphones but my bass, and they also act as earplugs to lessen the stage volume, and if i want more stage volume, I can nudge one halfway or all the way out.

Not the ideal situation, but it works okay for now.

The stage gets my bass through the drummer’s 15” wedge as we use those little HotSpot personal monitors on mic stands up front.

Btw, we have our own full PA and use it every gig, so no surprises.

 

[stingraysvt]

I've been completely ampless for about a year now and I'll never go back. The key is having a great monitor mix and a killer set of molded IEM's. I had been using stock Shure E5's and they were OK. But I recently go a set of custom Quad drivers with 2 low end drivers per ear. They sound better than any amp could ever sound and the isolation of the in ears makes the low end really pop. Plus I can completely control my own volume. It's literally saved my hearing.

Word to the saving your hearing! Some nights I just like to put just "me" (vox and bass) in my ears and turn down low enough it mixes with the stage volume bleed I'm hearing from everyone else's wedges and rigs. It's so quiet in my little world, I can enjoy my tone, and continue practicing my craft...

B#...
What quad drivers are you using?