Wireless for Bass

[Michael Riehle]

First of all, I prefer digital systems. My results with them have generally been excellent.

But...

My X-Wire got stolen years ago and I replaced it with a clearly inferior Sennheiser system. The Sennheiser works and doesn't suck.

But...

It's getting old and I'm starting to not like having it rack mounted. I want to stop taking a rack with me to gigs. Basically, too much stuff to carry. I have a need for a few effects pedals (overdrive, chorus, volume pedal) and it's occurred to me that having the wireless receiver as part of my other pedals would be way more convenient.

So, I'm looking at the Line 6 stuff.

*OUCH*

Okay, yes, it's expensive. No, I'm not actually surprised.

The G10 looks like a POS, honestly. I seriously doubt it would work out for long at all.

The G70 is just stupid expensive. But I like the 300' range.

So I'm really down to the G30 or the G50. I like the price of the G30, but I'm concerned it may not hold up. Or may not perform. Especially with my 5-string instruments.

My Sennheiser system still works, it's just becoming a PITA. I want to start gathering information and maybe get a replacement before the thing fails and I'm rushing to make a decision. Rushing to make a decision always ends badly.

 

[walterw]

So I'm really down to the G30 or the G50.

the G50 will be fine, especially a newer one with the metal jack on the beltpack.

i retired mine for the G75 and much prefer the upgrade, but the G50 will do well. at this point you could probably find a used one fairly cheap.

 

[Jebberz]

G30 works well, even with low B. However, it is all plastic and quite fragile (the door of my unit does not stay closed anymore, I fixed it with rubber band, and the belt holder is broken too, so I keep the unit in a camera pouch). G50 is more sturdy, so you may want to go this way.

 

[JGbassman]

Shure GLxd. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Best club system I’ve used.

Metal transmitter, rechargeable batteries with 16 hour runtime, tuner, sits nicely on a pedal board

 

[Dave W]

I've used a G50 for hundreds of gigs without a single problem. It's a great unit.

 

[MoeTown1986]

I have a G50. It’s played over 1000 3 hour gigs. It’s been dropped, thrown, beat up, had god knows how much beer and whiskey spilled on it, played in 100°+ humid heat, still works gig after gig. Spend the money.

 

[Spent]

I’ve used a G30 for well over 100 gigs. Yes, the battery door is famous for not staying closed, but easily remedied with an elastic band. I like it because is works flawlessly, has no extraneous noise, fits on my Pedaltrain Nano board and it uses a standard 1/4” patch cable. I keep mine in a neoprene pouch I picked up on amazon (it’s actually listed a frequently bought together).

 

[Ryan L.]

S

Shure GLxd. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Best club system I’ve used.

Metal transmitter, rechargeable batteries with 16 hour runtime, tuner, sits nicely on a pedal board

This. I have two of them-the pedal model and the amp top model. They are worth every penny, and the money you save in buying batteries pays for the extra you’ll spend on buying one.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

First of all, I prefer digital systems. My results with them have generally been excellent.

But...

My X-Wire got stolen years ago and I replaced it with a clearly inferior Sennheiser system. The Sennheiser works and doesn't suck.

But...

It's getting old and I'm starting to not like having it rack mounted. I want to stop taking a rack with me to gigs. Basically, too much stuff to carry. I have a need for a few effects pedals (overdrive, chorus, volume pedal) and it's occurred to me that having the wireless receiver as part of my other pedals would be way more convenient.

So, I'm looking at the Line 6 stuff.

*OUCH*

Okay, yes, it's expensive. No, I'm not actually surprised.

The G10 looks like a POS, honestly. I seriously doubt it would work out for long at all.

The G70 is just stupid expensive. But I like the 300' range.

So I'm really down to the G30 or the G50. I like the price of the G30, but I'm concerned it may not hold up. Or may not perform. Especially with my 5-string instruments.

My Sennheiser system still works, it's just becoming a PITA. I want to start gathering information and maybe get a replacement before the thing fails and I'm rushing to make a decision. Rushing to make a decision always ends badly.

Just an FYI about X ft of range claims.
They can be a lot like amplifier power claims.
Not to be trusted for the sole deciding factor because there are many variables that affect range, and you don't know the test conditions under which range of operation was determined. YMMV, by large degrees.
In actual operation there can be many factors affecting operational range that you can't control, but that are tightly controlled in a test lab.
You would be better off to compare transmitter output power AND receiver full quieting noise figures.

A lot of changes by the FCC are soon to kick in. Those can have a large impact on how your system works two or three years from now. Ask the manufacturer how your proposed system is protected against these changes. They should provide, or point you to, some good information on the subject. If not walk away.

 

[Michael Riehle]

Yeah, I know about range predictions. They are useful guidelines, but there are too many things that can affect the actual range for them to be 100% accurate. I'm okay with that, really. I see it as "on average, the one rated at 300' will go three times farther than the one rated at 100'".

Do you have links to information about the upcoming FCC changes? The last time they did this it was, well, a *problem* for a lot of people. Not so much for me, but it did create confusion.

 

[Johnny Crab]

I have a G50. It’s played over 1000 3 hour gigs. It’s been dropped, thrown, beat up, had god knows how much beer and whiskey spilled on it, played in 100°+ humid heat, still works gig after gig. Spend the money.

Almost the same experience here. The floor receiver LED's are nice too:digital signal, audio signal, and battery level.
Battery level blinks and then turns red when your transmitter AA's have about 5 minutes life left(been there, done that).

PS: Eneloop rechargeable AA's work fine for these.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Yeah, I know about range predictions. They are useful guidelines, but there are too many things that can affect the actual range for them to be 100% accurate. I'm okay with that, really. I see it as "on average, the one rated at 300' will go three times farther than the one rated at 100'".

Do you have links to information about the upcoming FCC changes? The last time they did this it was, well, a *problem* for a lot of people. Not so much for me, but it did create confusion.

I don't have any links at hand. But this change will be a lot like the last one. Basically, a large chunk of the spectrum where wireless mics, IFB, IEM, instrument systems live, are being shuffled. Search for phrases like, FCC white space. Or, Changes to 600 MHz wireless. The reason I suggested getting info from the manufacturers of interest are that they can address the issue more specifically in relation to their gear.

I think the biggest part of this is not so much a loss of spectrum as it will be the unregulated, or quasi-regulated equipment that may inundate the band and cause more interference. Stuff that works fine during sound checks could go off the rails during a performance.

 

[Smacky the Frog]

I personally use a PRA WIC wireless when I play guitar but I bet it would work fine on bass. Super small, super light units powered by lithium ion batteries and accept 1/4" jack input. My only gripe is that my signal is a smidge quieter than it is when I use a cable, but that's why my amp's volume knob also goes up.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I personally use a PRA WIC wireless when I play guitar but I bet it would work fine on bass. Super small, super light units powered by lithium ion batteries and accept 1/4" jack input. My only gripe is that my signal is a smidge quieter than it is when I use a cable, but that's why my amp's volume knob also goes up.

Yup, should be fine for bass.
The receiver on most wireless systems has a way to adjust the output audio level.
If yours does you should be able to get it up to the same level as with cable.
But your noise might come up too.

Maybe check with your manufacturer about getting levels optimized for a little more output but optimize the signal to noise. There may be transmitter modulation level adjustments, but I wouldn't recommend that as a DIY tweak.

 

[ReviveBass]

What's wrong with the G10?

 

[LowActionHero]

I use a G30, pretty happy with it. More range than I would use. Pretty compact

 

[JimmyM]

What's wrong with the G10?

I know a couple guys who are happy with it, but I also know a couple who immediately returned it after experiencing dropouts at close range. Same with the G30. Me, I went G70 because I liked that it could run two separate transmitters and footswitch in between them, it has the lowest latency of any digital wireless on the market except the Shure Axient (which is $5000), and in 10 months of having one, I haven't had a single dropout at any time on a gig, even when purposely trying to make it drop out.

 

[KohanMike]

I have a Sony DWZ B30GB. The transmitter and receiver are battery operated, receiver can be a/c as well, and it has settings for longer distance from each other. It also has an XLR DI out that I used recently at an outdoor gig and didn't have to lug my amp across the dirt and grass to the stage.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

S


This. I have two of them-the pedal model and the amp top model. They are worth every penny, and the money you save in buying batteries pays for the extra you’ll spend on buying one.

I also have the Shure and it rules.

 

[Aidenn7]

Industry standard is shure.. Or 20ft cable