What do I really need for an outdoor gig?

[WilliamSandoval]

Yeah! Mopar! Woo! Colorado! Yeah! Woo-hoo!

 

[MOTORHEADBANGER]

If I were in your shoes, I would get a decent sized speaker setup (a 4x10 minimum) for onstage to use for stage volume, but I think you should really focus on the PA. That's the important factor for large outdoor venues. Try to get a soundcheck if you can and have someone out front help you out. That being said, make sure you bring an ample rig for stage use, because nothing is worse than not hearing what you are playing.

 

[RedLeg]

If I were in your shoes, I would get a decent sized speaker setup (a 4x10 minimum) for onstage to use for stage volume, but I think you should really focus on the PA. That's the important factor for large outdoor venues. Try to get a soundcheck if you can and have someone out front help you out. That being said, make sure you bring an ample rig for stage use, because nothing is worse than not hearing what you are playing.

ding ding ding. 4x10 or 2x12 is all you need. make the PA and the sound guy earn his keep.

 

[s_mcsleazy]

none of the above

you need carrots

 

[bigeyejim]

A good PA............really.

I'm all about having watts and headroom and modular setups with a choice of how many cabs to bring if you can do it, but at a certain point the PA should be doing the work, not your amp.

I recently played my first outside gig, and the PA was king. I play w/Carvin BX500 and Avatar 153. Direct in to the PA. The drummer used his PA with brand new JBL Subs and power to spare, and man it made a difference. Dialed it all in and away we went.

My ears weren't ringing after 3 hours of playing. Nice.

 

[staindbass]

ding ding ding. 4x10 or 2x12 is all you need. make the PA and the sound guy earn his keep.

the original post says he has a 2x10, and 1x15. its not working for him. how would a 2x12 be all he needs? if you try to make the sound guys do anything, you made an enemy. he gets paid by the promoter, not the band. when you actually hire the soundcrew, then you can tell them what you need. tread lightly

what was kind of ambiguous in the OP (IIRC) is if the rig wasn't working for the OP in terms of him being able to hear it, or in terms of the crowd being able to hear it. This info would help - but i still vote for good PA.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

I always thought 500 watts would be enough for everything.

Watts mean nothing, decibels mean everything. To get the same perceived volume outdoors as indoors you need twice the cab/driver count, which will give you 6dB more output.

 

[rad bassman]

So to be better prepared for the next outdoor gig, what do I really need? ...............................

A big overcoat, in case it rains

 

[Ric5]

A good PA............really.

+1

A good pa and a medium sized stage amp will do fine.

 

[Horny Toad]

So to be better prepared for the next outdoor gig, what do I really need?

 

[Blankandson]

Agree on PA. I heard great bass at a Florida blues festival a few years ago and just had to go and see what was being used. It was the Phil Jones Suitcase going through a really fine PA. Really, it sounded great.

 

[Blankandson]

Just looked at the wall of sound photo again and noticed how flimsy the scaffolding looks. Scarry.

 

[Jim Carr]

Yes, PA. However, something like 1k watts and 610's is what I use when outdoors with a loud band. I know I am not going to carry the show, but I also know my bandmates think over-driving big tube amps is how it is done outside. Rarely can stage monitors do the bass in a reasonable way, so I am IT in such situations.

Don't get me wrong, I hate LOUD, but for some gigs ($$$), you need to maintain an audible presence in what may be a chaotic and even out of control stage mix.

If you are on an actual (ACTUAL) tour with pro sound that is the same crew each night, it is totally different. Your rig can be smaller (212, 410, 210).

 

[mouthmw]

You don't need an 810. A 412 will also do!
Seriously though, a 410 should suffice too for stage. Rest goes through PA, yea?

 

[Wes Whitmore]

If the PA is right, then those subs will shake the stage and you will feel it in your feet more than a normal bass rig would give you. Trying to supply bass that the whole band can hear across a 50' wide stage isn't optimum. To me, that's asking way to much for a single point source outside. It's like sharing a single monitor for vocals, and no one would do that on purpose. You have to get some bass in the monitors, even if the bottom end needs to be rolled off. The subs should more than make up for it. It will just sound different. It's going to sound different to you being outside anyhow. Just get something that works.

Another problem with outdoor gigs is that all of the amps are generally put way back towards the rear of the stage (for looks I guess), some 15' - 20' feet away from the front line where you stand. Try to get it closer to you, as high as you can. The closer you get it, the smaller the rig can be. I bring in a 10" cab and put it up by me to use as a personal monitor. Your 2x10 should be a great personal monitor, and not take up to much room up in the corner of the stage by you. If you can tilt it or get it up in the air, that would be even better.

I am betting that every guitar amp on stage was turned up louder just because you were outside, and no one wanted to lean on the monitors to make up for the lost volume compared to indoors. Try them, and the subs, and you should be good. If they don't work to your liking, then you can always augment it by turning up the guitar amps just a little until you are happy.

Or, go IEM and be done with it!
Wes

 

[tgriley62]

Get a Peavey Max 700. Hook up 4 8ohm 4x10's to get a 2ohm load and rock on.

 

[treekiller]

God bless the Dead!!!

 

[Joe Louvar]

Tip - never tick off the sound man!!!