Using equipment because you have it, not because you need it

[Robb Fesig]

(Mods, I wasn't sure if this was the right forum or not, I'm a little drunk, so feel free to move it)

I'm having an existential equipment crisis.

I've got the following for my bass rig:
Spector Legend 5 string -> Samson Synth 7 wireless -> Korg Pitchblack tuner -> Rocktron Blue Thunder -> BBE 462 Sonic Maximizer -> GK MB500 (to GK CS410) & GK MB115 + MBP115.
I thought getting the sound I liked depended on using all this equipment...

On a lark today I plugged direct into the High-Z input on my XAir 18, turned on the compression/eq/gate, and BAM!, the sound I like came out of my PA. Yes, it was a little different, but it was definitely close enough for rock 'n' roll.

It was then that I realized I was using all that equipment, not because I needed it, but because I have it. So, I started looking at my IEM/Vocal rig. Shure Beta 58 -> TC Helicon VoiceLive 3 -> Behringer MX882 mixer (Splits off stereo to XAir 18) -> Alesis 31 band EQ -> Alesis compressor -> Audio 2000s Wireless Transmitter -> ME Electronics Pro 60 IEMs.

I can probably dump everything but the wireless and tuner in my bass rig and my vocal rig if I just run two Aux sends into my IEM transmitter. Sure would make things easier to set up...

TL;DR My GAS has come full circle and now I'm having a music equipment mid-life crisis!

 

[mmbongo]

I've trimmed a lot of the fat recently (on equipment, not from me!) and although I still use a full pedalboard, I can bypass the whole thing and still get my sound.

I think the most important aspect to my sound is my choice of basses. My Roscoe Century is my sound, but I can also get my sound from any of my basses...which is why I still have these, and don't have all the ones I got rid of. My sound is a deep, focused bottom end with lots of burpy mids and not much high end. My Roscoe has dual soapbars, everything else I have is J/MM config.

I would say that the player is the most important thing to getting your sound, but I can't get my sound with a Jazz (too thin), P (too muddy), or Stingray (too clanky).

My Mesa Subway amp is very important to my tone also. It is full and rich and not ganky or harsh. I can get my tone from my GK, Carvin, and TC amps as well, but only when I use the Mesa Subway DI pedal into them.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

"No, my sound is what it is because of what I use"

And how I use it.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Tuner & Fdeck HPF for bass.
Mic straight into mixer.

 

[Scoops]

Fretless Bass > Low capacitance cable > good high power amp/good speaker

This is all I need

Thank you

 

[Korladis]

I don't like the sound of DI'd bass, generally. Same with DI guitar.

The biggest factor in my sound (besides me being the one playing, obviously), is actually my cab.