Typically a split signal, one side being the base involving compression, notch filter, eq, and a touch of OD, the other being an effects signal onto which I might lightly apply chorus, octave, distortion, delay, etc. Strongly considering a shift toward using Berg Super Pre for the base side and a Helix Stomp for the effects side.
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What's your gig rig philosophy?
- Thread starter Trevorus
- Start date
The majority of my gigs are taken care of by a bass of some sort and my Fender TV 12. I have a blues gig in San Francisco once a month where I bring the Mesa D350 or the Aquilar TH350 to play through an Ampeg 6x10. Sometimes I'll need the Genzler 2x10 or the Genz Benz 2x12 but not too often.
I very rarely use effects but when I do it’s one of two mfx - a boss or a zoom. Preferably straight into the pa. One really should bring 2 basses in case of string break or switch or jack fail but I’ve never broken a bass string. And my bass jacks are fine. And my active five string - fresh battery before gig.
Basically less is better for me. Lead into di into pa. Amp if strictly necessary.
Basically less is better for me. Lead into di into pa. Amp if strictly necessary.
Bass & pedalboard. Plus when I go ampless/IEM, I bring my IEM gear, and when I need an amp, I bring an amp.
I run barefaced cabinets and a class D head, so my big rig is my small and portable rig. I can hold my own against almost anything with a single 12" cab, but bring two if necessary.
My small and portable amp setup would be:
Bass (I bring what I want to play, regardless of price) in a gig bag
Pedaltrain Nano (I have one of the old ones that can be fitted to the gig bag like the Mono tick)
Aguilar Tonehammer 500 (in the big pocket of the gig bag)
A case with all my bits and bobs (cables, straps, batteries, tools, strings, IEMs, earplugs etc)
Barefaced Super Mini.
This is a one trip carry. Gig bag on my back, case and cab in my hands.
My big pedal board is absurdly expensive, same as my favorite bass. However, I don't really play dive bars frequented by biker gangs in a shady part of town or other places where I'd have to fear for my life and/or gear. I bring what I want, regardless of price - all those music equipment are tools for me - I bought each and every piece to be used outside, not to be sitting at home.
I run barefaced cabinets and a class D head, so my big rig is my small and portable rig. I can hold my own against almost anything with a single 12" cab, but bring two if necessary.
My small and portable amp setup would be:
Bass (I bring what I want to play, regardless of price) in a gig bag
Pedaltrain Nano (I have one of the old ones that can be fitted to the gig bag like the Mono tick)
Aguilar Tonehammer 500 (in the big pocket of the gig bag)
A case with all my bits and bobs (cables, straps, batteries, tools, strings, IEMs, earplugs etc)
Barefaced Super Mini.
This is a one trip carry. Gig bag on my back, case and cab in my hands.
My big pedal board is absurdly expensive, same as my favorite bass. However, I don't really play dive bars frequented by biker gangs in a shady part of town or other places where I'd have to fear for my life and/or gear. I bring what I want, regardless of price - all those music equipment are tools for me - I bought each and every piece to be used outside, not to be sitting at home.
My philosophy:
Conditions determine everything.
I keep it as simple as possible.
Passive bass
600 w 4ohm amp
Single or double 15" cab
Two tuners: 1 clip on. 1 pedal.
1 of 2 Graphic eq pedals, which more often than not, don't get used.
Conditions determine everything.
I keep it as simple as possible.
Passive bass
600 w 4ohm amp
Single or double 15" cab
Two tuners: 1 clip on. 1 pedal.
1 of 2 Graphic eq pedals, which more often than not, don't get used.
I run different rigs at different gigs depending upon the size of the venue.
For small venues I have an Eden TN-226 (225-watts into 4Ω going into a Eden EX-112 (handles 300-watts rms, uses a Neo speaker and weighs 30-lb.). Cab is super compact because it has a whizzer cone instead of a separate tweeter horn. I carry the amp in its bag over one shoulder, my gig bag over the other shoulder, grab my bass with one hand and the cab by its top back handle in the other and load in or out is all in one trip and as you can see, it all fits nicely within a chair.
For medium-sized venues I use my DNS-210 cab in 8Ω (handles 700-watts rms) driven by either my DNA-800 or my Eden WT500/800. Medium sized venues and most large size venues I run it with my DNA-800 amp. That only puts out 400-watts into my 8Ω cab but that combination is loud enough for almost all my indoor venues. If the large venue is a particularly long room requiring more power, I'll run my WT500/800 bridged at 800-watts into it. It's a very sensitive cab and really LOUD so I don't often need to do that. My WT500/800 in its rack weighs about 30-lbs compared to my 4.8-lb, class D, DNA-800 amp. This is it with my Eden amp driving it. On stage I put it in a tilt-back amp stand to get it off the floor and hear it more easily.:
For outdoor venues and music festivals, I run my DNS-410 cab (handles 1,400-watts rms) driven by my WT500/800 bridged at 800-watts into it. At wide-open outdoor music festivals I get told to turn down by the sound techs if I run the master on my Eden amp up to 10:30. So, I have no need for an 810 cab, which pleases me immensely because those suckers are awkward to transport and weigh 165-lbs. or more..
Although I don't "need" an 810 cab, I can stack my 210 on top of my 410 and run it either with my big Eden amp or my DNA-800 amp. Since my Eden amp bridges at 800-watts into 8Ω, I have to plug one cab into each of its two power channels, so they get just a little under 600-watts to split. OR, I can just run them together with my DNA-800 amp which will feed 400-watts into each of them. Here's a shot of the one time I've stacked them together back in 2019 before I bought my DNA-800 amp. I ended up only using the 210 on top with my Eden amp bridged at 800-watts into it.
So those are my options and what I use, depending upon the size of the venue.
Oh yeah, if I am forced to use a backline or go straight into a soundboard without an amp. I'll use my WTDI. The WTDI is a DI stompbox with built-in Eden WT preamp. Also used it in 2019 for a 3-hr. recording session at a pro-studio in Seattle, and it recorded so well that both the sound engineer and the owner of the studio came out from behind their board to see what I was using. With my passive Jazz Bass, I run the EQ flat except for the low-mids at 500Hz that I boosted up to 1:30. They said they used my signal exactly as I sent it to them only adjusting the levels and not making any EQ adjustments or adding compression on the raw tapes. It did sound amazing through their headphones! And it weighs in just under 1-lb., so it's always in my gig back in case I need it.
I take whatever is needed for the gig and whatever is going to make the gig enjoyable for me. Using a pro IEM system significantly helps so typically:
2 basses (Spector Euros in E std and Eb)
Pedalboard (Shure GLXD16+, Diamond Bass Comp, Greer Lightspeed, DG VMT, Black Hole Chorus, Radial DI)
If a stage rig is required / desired I have the following to choose from:
Heads: Gentler Kinetix 800, Mesa Subway D800+, Ashdown ABM 500, Ampeg V4B
Cabs: (2) Orange OBC 112’s, Ampeg SV212, Mesa Subway 212, Genzler NuClassic 210
2 basses (Spector Euros in E std and Eb)
Pedalboard (Shure GLXD16+, Diamond Bass Comp, Greer Lightspeed, DG VMT, Black Hole Chorus, Radial DI)
If a stage rig is required / desired I have the following to choose from:
Heads: Gentler Kinetix 800, Mesa Subway D800+, Ashdown ABM 500, Ampeg V4B
Cabs: (2) Orange OBC 112’s, Ampeg SV212, Mesa Subway 212, Genzler NuClassic 210
Tonight's acoustic trio:
Boulder Creek 5 ABG
Markbass CMD 121P
Zoom A3
Cable bag
Mic stand/bass stand.
My personal philosophy?
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you. Hear the Lamentations of their women.
Boulder Creek 5 ABG
Markbass CMD 121P
Zoom A3
Cable bag
Mic stand/bass stand.
My personal philosophy?
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you. Hear the Lamentations of their women.
Whatever the gig requires while still keeping it as small, simple, and light as possible. If serious volume levels are required I’ll let the FOH handle that. Over the last ten years I’ve never needed anything more than a bass, a 350W head, and a 2x10.
I actually wouldn’t mind having everything on a small pedalboard and use an IEM. The practicality of that setup is awfully compelling. And the technology now exists to provide superb stage sound without compromising quality.
I actually wouldn’t mind having everything on a small pedalboard and use an IEM. The practicality of that setup is awfully compelling. And the technology now exists to provide superb stage sound without compromising quality.
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Same exact gig rig here for my primary gig. For my one-off side gigs where IEMs aren't really an option, I'll feed it into a Mesa D800 / Bergantino HT310 for stage monitoring. For those side gigs, my goal is to bring enough rig to comfortably match the stage volume of the rest of the band while the PA covers the room.
Usually two basses, a small pedalboard (Stomp, Finally DI, headphone amp) and a gig bag with cords/IEMs/extra stuff. I keep a plastic fold up music stand in my car and use it to hold set lists and iPad to control my aux mix, and sometimes even music.
Philosophy? Keep it as simple and consistent and light as possible. Get paid. Go home. Repeat.
Philosophy? Keep it as simple and consistent and light as possible. Get paid. Go home. Repeat.
What’s your FRFR monitor?
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JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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SVT, 212av, pedal board, bass, mic, cables
An Alto TS-112. Nothing fancy, but good enough to move some air.
I believe it's technically a PA speaker, but most of the modeler crowd (including the picky guitar players) will use it as an FRFR. It has a lot in common with the Headrush FRFR monitors, although they're not 1:1 identical.
The vast majority of the time for my typical gigs I take a big rig that is capable of handling absolutely anything regardless of the quality of P.A. support or lack thereof (two lightweight Markbass 4x10s and my pre/power rack with 1000+ watts). The reality of the original rock/metal scene (outside of major touring acts) is that IMO you can't avoid occasionally having shows where you need a lot of power for optimal sound for one reason or another. I always take the approach that I would rather be overprepared for a lot of gigs rather than risking an occasional gig where I fall short.
I also take whatever gear I think is best for the gig, regardless of price. If I ever owned a piece of gear I was afraid to take to a gig because of its price I would most likely sell it.
I also take whatever gear I think is best for the gig, regardless of price. If I ever owned a piece of gear I was afraid to take to a gig because of its price I would most likely sell it.
I don’t care what anyone says or thinks about my gigging system. It’s always manageable in size and weight and often features components that many people/players either have never heard of or hold in low esteem.
And another thing: It sounds bitchin’.
I go with my ears, because my eyes are deaf.
And another thing: It sounds bitchin’.
I go with my ears, because my eyes are deaf.
1) Simple. I bought an entire amp so I could stop using a pre-amp.
2) I use the good stuff; unless your main axe is an 1860 Prescott double bass, there's pretty nothing that can't be replaced or repaired adequately. Why not enjoy your best gear when it most matters, in performance?
3) Wheels. I always have a folding two wheeler in the truck.
4) Configurable. This really applies more to the sax jobs - with instruments including piccolo, flute, alto flute, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass saxes, having to take things out of and put them into cases is a good way to end up at the gig missing something important. I have a bag marked "SAX", another bag marked "BASS", another one marked "SIGNAL", and one marked "POWER". Depending on the gig, I grab the instruments needed; the stands needed plus whichever of the four bags, goes into a big duffel, and it all goes in the car. All the little stuff (mouthpieces, reeds, or for bass, picks, instrument cables, earplugs, pencils, tuners) - is in each case. Yes, duplication - no telling how many tuners I've got - but no showing up missing something.
2) I use the good stuff; unless your main axe is an 1860 Prescott double bass, there's pretty nothing that can't be replaced or repaired adequately. Why not enjoy your best gear when it most matters, in performance?
3) Wheels. I always have a folding two wheeler in the truck.
4) Configurable. This really applies more to the sax jobs - with instruments including piccolo, flute, alto flute, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass saxes, having to take things out of and put them into cases is a good way to end up at the gig missing something important. I have a bag marked "SAX", another bag marked "BASS", another one marked "SIGNAL", and one marked "POWER". Depending on the gig, I grab the instruments needed; the stands needed plus whichever of the four bags, goes into a big duffel, and it all goes in the car. All the little stuff (mouthpieces, reeds, or for bass, picks, instrument cables, earplugs, pencils, tuners) - is in each case. Yes, duplication - no telling how many tuners I've got - but no showing up missing something.
FullumMusic
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As a NYer, my gig-rig philosophy is "Carry As Little As Possible".
Riding the subway with a ton of gear sucks.
- Ideally, i just take my bass in a Mono gig bag with a clip-on tuner & cable. (Most places in NYC have back-line.)
- If i need a few selected pedals, i'll pull them off the pedal board and put them & the power supply in the gig bag pocket so i still only have to carry one thing.
- If i need all my pedals, the Mono pedal board has a carry case. The pedal board carry case also will hold my laptop and audio interface if i need it, and the only situation i need all my pedals, i also need my laptop & interface.
- If i need my amp & cabinet (Trickfish Bullhead .5K & Trickfish TF112), i'm taking an Uber to and from the gig, and the gig better pay enough to cover the cab costs or i'm not taking it.
(It makes me laugh at myself. I spent a lot of money on a killer amp & cab, and it's never been turned up more than 1/4 volume because i live in an apartment, and i'm incredibly averse to carrying it anywhere, and almost everywhere in NYC has backline. Yet, here i am, with my killer amp/cab in my studio/office room in my apartment, playing at a reasonable volume for nobody else to hear except on instagram, posting low-audio-quality videos recorded on my iphone's mics.)
Riding the subway with a ton of gear sucks.
- Ideally, i just take my bass in a Mono gig bag with a clip-on tuner & cable. (Most places in NYC have back-line.)
- If i need a few selected pedals, i'll pull them off the pedal board and put them & the power supply in the gig bag pocket so i still only have to carry one thing.
- If i need all my pedals, the Mono pedal board has a carry case. The pedal board carry case also will hold my laptop and audio interface if i need it, and the only situation i need all my pedals, i also need my laptop & interface.
- If i need my amp & cabinet (Trickfish Bullhead .5K & Trickfish TF112), i'm taking an Uber to and from the gig, and the gig better pay enough to cover the cab costs or i'm not taking it.
(It makes me laugh at myself. I spent a lot of money on a killer amp & cab, and it's never been turned up more than 1/4 volume because i live in an apartment, and i'm incredibly averse to carrying it anywhere, and almost everywhere in NYC has backline. Yet, here i am, with my killer amp/cab in my studio/office room in my apartment, playing at a reasonable volume for nobody else to hear except on instagram, posting low-audio-quality videos recorded on my iphone's mics.)
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I tend to take just enough to be more than enough. Ie, wiggle room but not over kill.
Past five years it’s been 500w Markbass head, 112 for small gigs (most gigs) and 212 for the occasional bigger one.
Past five years it’s been 500w Markbass head, 112 for small gigs (most gigs) and 212 for the occasional bigger one.
We all have in ears, so I rarely use an amp anymore as it just makes the sound messy on stage. I am just thinking about getting a fly rig/stomp etc for more control but it really isn’t necessary, so in my world practical or easy load in wins.
We had a festival gig on Monday that had backline, so no IEM’s that night. It was nice to play loud for a change, they had a cool bassman 800 and matching cabinet on stage. Sounded great!
If I need to grab my own amp, I have a GK MB212 that I use with a pre-mix DI feed to the FOH. No effects or anything in the feed.
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