Who HAS NOT Gone Ampless?

[bobyoung53]

I've been playing since since 1967 and only went ampless once that I can remember and that was when my new (to me) Ampeg SVT blew up right before the first tune when I threw the standby switch on with a new band at Hampton Beach Casino about 15 years ago. I played almost the whole set by memory until finally the soundman found out I had no amp and blasted the bass through the monitors which were very good. I still use SVT's (have since mid 70's) and them blowing up on a gig is a rarity, this was the only time I can remember that happening, I had just bought it and it had not been kept up and I should have had it checked before I used it on a gig.

 

[bobyoung53]

Um, well, er.......................











Nah, it moves around some.

View attachment 916819
Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2013 All rights reserved.

I made these photos for the pedal maker.

Nice bass Jeffrey, is that your 72 with a new horseshoe in it?

 

[bobyoung53]

March, '73, Bob. No, that is a rebuilt '60s magnetic horseshoe pickup! Sounds great, even though it has the cap bypassed.

IMHO it probably sounds better with the cap bypassed. That is a really classy looking bass.

 

[Deezer Butler]

Sweet rig... What is that on top of the Kilo and how much does the entire rack weigh? I'm guessing 60 lbs.

Thank you....
SKB Roto Rack, Furman PL-8C, Korg Pitchblack Pro and a blank/vented dummy plate. I have not actually weighed it... But, the Kilo is around 45 pounds. So I'm guessing, you may be right about 60 pounds. Cabs are AK410s...

 

[LUCE]

The amp is half of the instrument, so no. Mesa Prodigy into Aguilar SL12's or an SVT rig. Depends on venue and my wild hair.....

 

[PWRL]

Big amp: Markbass LM III into an Ampeg 810. Not sure how old the 810 is, but it does only have a single quarter inch jack. Sounds good to me.
Medium: Ampeg V4-B into Ampeg 212AV
Small: Ampeg B100R

With one of my bands, we don't play out, we just play in a room and do go ampless into a cobbled-together system, but with my main band, I generally use the Markbass/Ampeg 810 setup.

 

[meatwad]

I go ampless often these days, running DI with my B3.

On the rare occasion that I use an amp, it's a GK 1001RB-II through either one or two Ampeg 410HEN cabs, or a Heritage 410HLF.

My old SVT-CL (see profile pic) gave up the magic smoke again, so if I had to rely solely on it right now, I'd be ampless for sure.

 

[bassfootballguy]

Did ampless once and hated it!
My rig now, if I ever get to use it again, is my Mesa D800 Subway head into 2 completely modified Ampeg 15 cabinets that used to be abused (by others) as BA115 combo amps. They have Eminence NEO 15s in them and a horn with crossover in one.

 

[rafitoprtx]

I use MXR M80 with a compressor for in ears in church english service. A Hartke KB12 connected to the pedals mentioned above for spanish service they like it old school.

 

[flam]

The last show I played I couldn't tell my rig was on because I was so loud in the monitor that I thought I was going to puke. Never gone truly ampless, I much prefer having enough rig to not even use the P.A.

 

[Basshappi]

Never have, never will.
Ampeg BA115HP
Peavey VB-2 w/ Genz-Benz 215

At some point I will have an SVT & 810 rig.

 

[Ellery]

I've only done DI to plug into my board and practice with headphones at night, with a MXR M80. Wifey don't appreciate hearing the thump-thump-thump of my amp when she's watching Game Of Thrones in the next room. Onstage I use a GK 1001RB pushing a Mesa Powerhouse 6x10. Rehearsal I use the same head w/ an Ampeg Pro Neo 112. At home I usu. plug into my 1965 Alamo Paragon.

GK 1001RB & Mesa Powerhouse 610

• Ellery
• Jul 28, 2016
• 1001rb

GK 1001RB & Mesa Powerhouse 610

1965 Alamo Paragon II

• Ellery
• Jul 28, 2016

1965 Alamo Paragon II

 

[elkkid2]

This is a good set up. But, I've changed the 210 XST to a 210 XST Monitor Cab, it's slanted and better in smaller places, and just a good on the bigger stages.

 

[chaosMK]

I started out ampless. I had this trick where I'd play while simultaneously touching the butt of the bass and my ear against the wall. The vibration would travel through the wall and I could hear the kind of woody ("transparent") sound of the instrument. Once I switched to amps I never went back. I always plug in even just to practice and usually practice through my 8x10 rig.

 

[elkkid2]

For the Coffee Shop "unplugged" Gigs...!

 

[elkkid2]

--For when you just HAVE to be on top!

 

[staurosjohn]

Won't go ampless unless I can't carry them anymore! I LOVE substantial stage volume!! (tried it a few times... HATE it)

 

[leesbrushes]

Ampless.....whats that?

 

[bebass]

For the Coffee Shop "unplugged" Gigs...!View attachment 916943

I'm just not sure you will be able to hear yourself and suggest you add at least one more cab. You know, they talk loud at those gigs.

 

[mikeswals]

Tried it. Hated it. OK for home practice in an apartment, but felt it sucked the beefy fullness I get onstage from a live rig.

Same here. Ampless sucks...hated it.

And one time the band hired a sub when I was on vacation, he showed up ampless, the band couldn't stop complaining about that when I got back.