What's your gig rig philosophy?

[Trevorus]

I've been putting together my live rig, and since PA support is good at my current gig, it provides a really easy, and cheap load out.

My rig is currently a Sterling Sub 5 HH (just procured), and a Rogue fretless 4 that I've been modding. GK MB115 neo is the amp, and that's pretty much it. No pedals, sometimes a wireless.

We've got wireless IEMs we run as well, so having my own mix makes things very easy.

My expensive gear is staying home now. I've got stuff I couldn't possibly replace, and risking it at gigs didn't seem like a great idea.

What kind of gear do you tend to grab for your gigs?

 

[Nuisance]

I go as simple as possible.

No effects. I've found 90% of bass effects gets lost in the mix.

Bass into wireless, into Tech 21 GED 2112, straight into mixer. Done.

 

[retslock]

I keep it pretty simple. Light compression always on, HPF always on and SansAmp BDDI always on with send to PA. Rumble 500 watt head into a lightweight custom 2x12" cabinet.

 

[Neon Blues]

I only play venues with a backline or PA. I often take a DI, not always the same one and that's it.

 

[Killing Floor]

Louder = Better but I will sadly let the venue dictate. Very small pedal board, mostly comp and tuner and preamp I like with dirt and modulation.

I don't get leaving your "expensive gear" at home. Why have it? What good is a hammer you won't hit a nail with?

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I try to bring the least amount of gear as possible. Usually just one bass, a tuner, cables, amp and cab.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Take only what is needed.

Sometimes amp and cab, sometimes just pedal board.

 

[Trevorus]

Louder = Better but I will sadly let the venue dictate. Very small pedal board, mostly comp and tuner and preamp I like with dirt and modulation.

I don't get leaving your "expensive gear" at home. Why have it? What good is a hammer you won't hit a nail with?

Oh, it's getting played at the church gigs and such. It's just traveling, new places I'm not familiar with, I tend to want to go cheap. Easier to replace and it hurts less if something does happen. Plus, if it's getting the tone I need, it's does the job!

 

[Killing Floor]

Oh, it's getting played at the church gigs and such. It's just traveling, new places I'm not familiar with, I tend to want to go cheap. Easier to replace and it hurts less if something does happen. Plus, if it's getting the tone I need, it's does the job!

Your gear, your choice. I suppose it depends on what you hope to gain from gigs. But play what you please.

 

[Parzival]

Lazy Parzival just wants to bring a monitor speaker and board. It really is tempting.

But, bass god wannabe Parzival wants that full rig.

Internal struggle always.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Bass of choice (flavor) these days usually a passive 4, Ric 4003W, G&L Frankenstein LB100, Meteora,Walnut PJ, Aerodyne Pj, etc…Kramer “the Duke” always as spare.
Wireless to Wampler comp.
If PA is sufficient, Two notes Torpedo M.
If amp is needed:
WD800 into a PJB C8
Bigger? SVT anniversary into LabSeries L4 Kappalite loaded 2x15

 

[pfschim]

I always go with the least gear to do the gig, but always enough rig for the gig. I do gigs from quite small/quiet to festival stages with full on FOH and dedicated techs.

For small/quiet, I generally use one bass => VT Deluxe => WD800 => Berg CN112. I DI out of the WD800 if there is enough PA to balance the sound.
For intermediate/louder its: one bass (maybe 2 depending) => VT Deluxe => WD800 => Berg CN212 (or Berg NV212t) and DI from WD800
For festival stage: one bass (maybe 2 depending) pedal board Cali76=>VT=>Noble and DI from the Noble to FOH and monitors.

For some of the intermediate and festival stages I have also started to use a wired IEM system with a Coda Headphone amp on my small board and KZ IEMS. Thats been working pretty great for me. I'm happy to go ampless as long as the FOH is solid.

 

[SteveC]

I go as simple as possible.

No effects. I've found 90% of bass effects gets lost in the mix.

Bass into wireless, into Tech 21 GED 2112, straight into mixer. Done.

I agree. Shure GLXD+ to HXStomp to Radial Pro DI. Bass and bass synth presets on the Stomp. Wireless IEM. 5 string bass.

The Stomp isn’t so much for lots of effects but for simplicity and it eliminates my need to bring a synth to gigs for 4-5 songs and it sounds great.

When I do use an amp it’s a Genzler MG350 Combo.

The smaller and lighter the better.

 

[pingvuiini]

I like to be able to hand carry everything in one trip. It used to be a uke bass in a Pelican case, Quilter BB800 head in a bag and a GR Bass 212 Slim cabinet (see photo). Nowadays its the uke bass in a Mono gig bag/backpack, a GR Bass 212 Slim combo and a small roller suitcase for my onstage attire. If there's a backline then naturally I can ditch the combo.

 

[Trevorus]

Your gear, your choice. I suppose it depends on what you hope to gain from gigs. But play what you please.

I hope to have some fun, make a little money. That's the largest part of it.

 

[WG Plum]

Berg Forte HP/NXT212, pedalboard on folding dolly, backpack w/cables etc.

1 trip if playing electric, 2 if playing upright.

 

[gtirard]

I can choose between 3 lightweight heads (including a 4.2 kg full tube amp) and 3 lightweight cabs (2 barefaced and 1 GR Bass), depending on the show. I almost always take the public transports so I take the cab in one hand, the amp on the shoulder and the bass in a gigbag. Between 0 to 2 pedals. I recently added a PJB Double 4 for smaller gigs, but I haven't tried it live yet.

 

[Shenron]

I haven't gigged yet with bass, but a long time ago when I was playing guitar my "philosophy" was just not to carry my amp around: my gig rig was guitar+pedalboard, plus accessories in the bags pockets (tuner, spare strings, spare picks, spare slide, spare cables). I did however only ever gigged in festivals or venues where we were never the only band, so we could always assume there was a FOH system.

If I ever gig with the bass, I will follow the same idea and also won't have a pedalboard to worry about. Maybe I will have a DI and IEM to add to my bag.

 

[Naigewron]

Just a board and bass for me, plus a simple in-ear rig and wireless system. I can run this completely standalone straight to FoH, or combine it with an amp if one is provided (which it usually is in venues around here). I also have a 1000W FRFR monitor that I can bring for personal stage volume if I want.

Two gigbags hold my entire load-out, and it's glorious.

 

[Wasnex]

Depends on the gig. My last touring rig was rack based. QSC stereo power amp, Ashley MX508 rack mixer, rack tuner, rack power strip with lights, rack drawer. The rack was something like 16sp with nice casters....it was big and heavy.

My cabs were Eden D210XLT and D410XLT. These were packed in nice flight cases with casters. Most of the time I only used the 210.

The reason I used this rig is because I switched between bass guitar, upright, and electric upright.

We toured with a cargo truck that had a lift gate. So usually the rack and cabs were rolled out at stage level. I took the lids of the rack, unpacked the cab, and most of of my cables and accessories were in the rack drawer. Usually I stacked the 210 vertically on top of the rack and wedged a spare DI under the front edge, so it tilted back to aim at my ears.

We always had full PA support so the rack rig was pretty much my personal monitor and not expected to carry the room.

For a local gigs where I packed my gear in a car or pickup, the rack rig was totally impractical. I used a GK 700RB/112 combo with extension cab. I had a canvas duffle bag for cables and accessories. I used a Boss TU-2 tuner. This rig was often expected to carry the room. I would set the extension cab up behind me on the floor. The combo was kicked back in front of me, to aim at my face. I usually did not switch instruments with this rig, but IMHO the GK sounded better with upright than bass guitar.