Who HAS NOT Gone Ampless?

[beans-on-toast]

Still amp"ing" it
View attachment 916382

I like your tractor seat.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I use a lot of mostly tube amps: Ampeg, Fender, Mesa, Peavey PA, tube and SS preamps, and more. They tend to accumulate over the years.

Going ampless would be like showing up on stage without any cloths and only two strings. Amps are an extension of my tone that I interact with, they also contribute to the show.

Whenever I watch a band perform, I take in more than just the music. The visuals are an equally important part, they allow you to dream.

 

[CRich0205]

I go IEM at church but miss having an amp. I'm trying to put together a band now and it will not be ampless, something is just missing.

 

[Phillip B]

I go IEM at church but miss having an amp. I'm trying to put together a band now and it will not be ampless, something is just missing.

Has anyone tried building a platform with a Bass Shaker or ButtKicker to help restore that feeling? I remember an article about a tour that had the bass "area" equipped like that, and I bought a few units - but never got around to actually completing the project.

 

[bucephylus]

Bergantino cabs, Bergantino and Demeter amps. Aren't great bass rigs wonderful!?!?

That said, the amp-less thing can also be great if three conditions are met:

1) great sound person
2) great FOH
3) great IEM system

You need all three of those boxes to be checked to have a great experience with it. If any one of them isn't happening, then major malfunction occurs. I enjoy amp-less when the boxes are checked; but, I can't rely on it most of the time. Ergo, having a great rig and knowing how to use it is required. YMMV

 

[bmax]

I started playing bass with a "no joke" kind of rig--as I started out as a guitar player, and already had some gigs lined up by the time I first picked up a bass. SVT-4pro and a 610... and then an 810.Then I had a couple weird trades that left me with a less powerful amp/cab combo, so I'm trying to build that big live sound back up. I have a Super Bassman and four 12" drivers that are currently waiting for a cab to be built (when I finally run power to my table saw in the garage...)

I've played ampless gigs before...I understand why people do it. It's obviously ridiculously convenient and has the scarce potential to sound very convincing... But I don't love it. I don't have great fitted IEMs or a full time sound guy doing monitors, and it's never been big enough sounding for me. Feel free to call me a Luddite, but when I'm making music I want it to exist outside of my head, in real space.

 

[shawshank72]

Tried it, didn't like it.
Will always have an amp setup.

 

[kbakerde]

I'd done the ampless thing for church. The way they ran the live sound though, it was a big tough for me to hear myself, I wasn't in love with it.

I only play small clubs, really small so we almost only ever use PA's for vocals, and maybe kick.

My rig is a vintage Bassman 135 and my custom 2x15 (I've got a build thread in the amp section).

Before I had my 2x15, I used the head with a Neo Avatar B212. But my plan is to have an alt rig of GK stuff.

 

[RickyTee]

I call it rolling thunder Trace ah350 putting out 425 watts a 15/10 top and 18/18 bottom. Can use either cabinet by them self also. Sounds awesome with my FBass bn6

 

[strictlybass_ic]

I hate going ampless. Running direct to PA always seems to leave me playing blind (or deaf i guess) and getting mediocre tone out to the audience. It's convenient and sound guys really like when you do but i find I'm almost always dissatisfied with the results.

Give me my Orange Terror Bass 1000 and my fEARful 12/12/6 anyday.

 

[FunkySpoo]

Some pretty impressive rigs here. Most of which I wouldn't want to schlep on a regular basis but impressive none the less. I have not gone ampless. Here's mine. Though I'm totally gassing for a Genzler 12-3 cuz I'm tired of lugging my NV215 around.

 

[Razman]

Man this thread is full of all the goodness I love!!! Trace, a Henry, Mesa, yahoo!! Ugh - where's the GAS-X??

I always like to have something behind me that makes solid bass sounds for whatever is on the menu for the day, but I'll do what the situation/venue requires. I usually use headphones in the studio, but always feel like I'm missing something without an amp so I can feel and hear the sound.

My amps are Mesa Carbines [M3, M6 and M9], Walkabout, and D-800), GK MB's (200, 500 and 800), Aguilar TH500 and an SWR SM400S. Cab choices include Mesa (PH410, two PH212's, Subway 115, Subway 112), Bergantino CN212, two GK Neo 112 II's and an Eden EX110.

My only combo and a great, convenient on-stage monitor is a Mesa Walkabout 12. The Subway 112/115 stack with the D-800 and the CN212 with a Walkabout, TH500 or MB800 are also great on-stage monitors.

Dude, how is the M6/M9 atop the two PH212's? I had a M6 Carbine Combo and that rig sounded sick. Some day I'd like a MAS something-or-other cab under a 400/400+, but I know the Carbines are equally awesome and the Powerhouse 12's are as well.

I have suggested the idea with the band a few times, but it just aint going to happen.
A loud as heck drummer who refuses to toy with the idea of electronic drums.
Guitarist uses a modeller into a small tube VOX amp.
Singer is open to the idea as the current situation is the stage volume affects his vocal foldback.

I sometimes use IEM's and you lose that connect with the band, but I can live with that.

so...I guess I'm not going to leave this rig at home

There is a Marshall MB450 local to me, how do you like that head? It's with a Marshall 410 but not the matching one; I'll have to check the model. The cab looks like a 'normal' Marshall cab, with a single port in the back.

View attachment 916415
Both! Henry and the house system.

I had a fond experience with a Henry in the past, great cab!!

Raz

 

[quickervicar]

Depends on the gig and what I'm playing. Some I know I can trust the monitors and just bring my REDDI. Others I will bring an Eden WT-400 & D210XST at minimum. I concur that playing fretless through the monitor mix is often asking for intonation trouble.

 

[bebass]

I use a lot of mostly tube amps: Ampeg, Fender, Mesa, Peavey PA, tube and SS preamps, and more. They tend to accumulate over the years.

Going ampless would be like showing up on stage without any cloths and only two strings. Amps are an extension of my tone that I interact with, they also contribute to the show.

Whenever I watch a band perform, I take in more than just the music. The visuals are an equally important part, they allow you to dream.

I agree with this big time! I have tried the ampless route and while it is in most ways easier, and I think can be a better mix going to the audience, there is that something missing that, as you say, is part of the show. Also the FEEL for me isn't there. I guess if I were a more technical player and less of a FEEL player it would be easier to go ampless. But since I am not, I won't play without one on stage.

 

[socialleper]

I have not because the whole thing seems like voodoo.
1.) I can't trust the venues I'm playing to have a PA for more than vocals.
2.) I can't trust the sound engineers at the venues I'm playing at to know what they are doing.
3.) How would I practice with the band every week?
4.) I can barely hear myself in most of the FOH mixes and have enough trouble hearing myself using my cabs as monitors. How the heck am I supposed to use a PA to hear myself?

My current live rig:
Shuttle 9.0
2x112 GK Neo cabs.

 

[mark beem]

Still amped. My rigs:

Markbass CMD 151P Jeff Berlin & NYC 151 extension cab

Racked BBE BMAx pre + Crown XLS1000 power amp (also pictured is my Greenboy Audio fEARless F112 cab)

SansAmp VT Bass pre + Carvin DCM1000L power amp

The small rig: Carvin BX500 + Eden EX112 & Earcandy Soverign 1X12

Not pcitured: Carvin BX1600 & Carvin BX250

 

[Slevage]

I have not, because the PA (monitors) that we use 95% of the time does not support the bass well.

Also--- I do gigs where I am the only instrument using amplification---- acoustic piano and drums.

 

[Marial]

Just can't imagine being ampless....

I currently have an Aguilar TH500 and an AudioKinesis TC112v3. The Aggy has to go, it's a fine amp, but it's not my thing. As soon as I have the balance for a Mesa D800 it's going up for sale.

 

[Razman]

Damn Son. Respect.

My pastor is an old-school rock-n-roller who also played bass. The PA in our theater is even more obscene; when we do shows/performances he wants the audience 'wearing' the sound! Hauling it to another location is work, but we always have a lot of help. Schlepping sixteen 18" Mackie powered subs and stacking them on their racks makes setting up the bass rig look easy.

Yes, I wear earplugs, and would like to use in-ears but only for the ability to walk around unimpeded with my wireless unit to eliminate the delays caused by getting out away from the drums a bit. Not really a problem in our theater but for one outdoor event we did it was an issue.

Raz

 

[Double E]

I have done a few rehearsals in studio with headphones...hated it. Felt isolated from the other band members and the sound was sterile. I can't imagine doing this at a live gig.

My current gig rig is a Mesa M6 Carbine head and two Aguilar GS112 cabs. For rehearsal I have a Markbass CMP121p.

As soon as it becomes the norm to play without an amp, wearing earbuds to hear myself and the band, I am out.