• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Wireless = necessary, or silly indulgence?

#21
bassmeknik said:
I bought a G50 last spring and I was having second thoughts due to the price and most of my venues are small. I agree with every post about finding more reasons to have it. I now have freedom to go out front and critique the guitarists FOH mix, don't get tangled in one of the 2 guitarists cables, can run all over the club and involve customers... It is now a no brainer for me even in small clubs, the more guitarists you have the more you need one just to un-clutter the stage and prevent tangling. If you are a tree on stage and never move you don't need it but if you aren't a tree then I highly recommend it... :D
Click to expand...

Exactly - I mostly play in a 2 guitar band with a dedicated front man - we're all wireless, which allows us the freedom to move around at will without worrying about getting tangled up...


- georgestrings
 
#25
AndyLES said:
Before I begin, lemme state that this isn't a "what kind of wireless should I get, OMG!!!!111!!!" thread.

I'm toying with the idea of a wireless mainly for romantic, "rock star" reasons - running around stage, jumping into the audience, etc.

But the punk covers band I play in doesn't play big venues. Also, I sing backup on a lot of songs and kick in a fuzzbox here and there, necessitating that I stay close to my mic/pedals.

So, what's your take? Stick with cable or spend $400 on a G50 or other quality wireless? Again, I'm not asking for brand suggestions, but advice as to whether or not I'd just be throwing money away.
Click to expand...

If you're going to engage in that silly behavior, I'd say the wireless is pretty much necessary. You can plug the receiver's output into the head of your effects chain.

I have a G50 and use it when we're outdoors or on big stages. On small stages and small venues I use a wire.
 
#27
Only issues these days seems to be the budget for batteries or rechargeable cells, as well as making sure to scan for clean frequencies. I tour with sennheiser iem systems and have to scan most shows, not to mention making sure there are no other bands using the same frequency when more wireless are in use.
 
#28
D.A.R.K. said:
Only issues these days seems to be the budget for batteries or rechargeable cells, as well as making sure to scan for clean frequencies. I tour with sennheiser iem systems and have to scan most shows, not to mention making sure there are no other bands using the same frequency when more wireless are in use.
Click to expand...
Funny you should say that. I did gig a couple years ago at a venue that had their own wireless system. I set up my rig and test everything and all is well. I then shut my receiver off (my transmitter was still on) and proceed to do some scales and I'm hearing my bass through the system. I'm freaking out trying figure out what's wrong. Come to find out, they had the exact same system brand and model number on the same exact frequency.
 
#29
I play an open mike situation and I find myself having to walk across the stage to get chords and changes. So, you can imagine with two guitarists and their effects boxes all the cables running on the stage. A wireless is a blessing, especially when a guitarist starts playing way too loud...I can just leave the stage. I use the Relay G90 and it's absolutely amazing (not offering product advice).
 
#30
I go back and forth on this issue.

I recently had to retire an upper-end Nady analog system because of new FCC regulation and channel useage. I had six transmitters with this thing, it was beautiful, got me through a couple of decades of gigging.

Got myself a couple of long cables and got used to that.

Now I'm back in the digital era with a really nice little Sennheiser unit. This thing is amazing.

But now I have to re-train myself to the added mobility on stage.
 
#31
DWBass said:
I prefer to use my wireless because I hate stepping on cords! I always seem to yank mine out at least once every gig! Sick of it. So I use my wireless. It also frees me up to roam the stage if I please! Mine uses AA batteries and I can get 2-3 gigs out of a set. If I use Lithium batteries, I can get 5-6 gigs.
Click to expand...

This.

I stepped on my cords and yanked them out 3 times at one gig (small place with no floor space). Even though I dont run around a whole lot, its nice to not have to worry about cords.
 
#32
i run sound when i play, so the G50 relay was a godsend. i don't even give a second thought to the "tone", it sounds like a cable to me.

now i don't leave home without it. i'm not a goof who dives into the crowd or runs on the bar, but i do like to move around. even on small stages it's just more comfortable to not have to herd that cable all night.

i put my G50 on a pedaltrain nano along with a AA recharger to power the beltpack, so it's always self-contained and ready to go. (i do different gigs with different instruments, so mounting it on my pedalboard was out.)
 
#33
I do a lot of hopping around and stuntwork, so a wireless is necessary on most of my gigs. There are times it's not necessary, though, and when I don't need one, I don't use one because I'm too cheap to buy batteries if I don't need them ;)

If you don't think you need one, don't bother with it.
 
#36
Why, my little thread has legs!

Thanks for all the advice. I'm leaning towards yes, but a part of me feel some reservation. On the side, I do a lot of roadie/FOH/AV/LD work; I've seen nearly every single brand of wireless, from $1000+ Lectrosonics to $75 used AKG "bug" style systems, go down in some fashion (batteries dying midshow despite being changed right before, a connection or connector going band somehow, or coming loose mid-stagedive, etc.). In eleven years, though, I've yet to see a cable **** the bed.

I also use some pretty snug right angled female to 1/4" male plug couplers, so yanking a cable loose isn't really a danger.

I know I'm fairly stationary b/c of my backup singing duties, but....damn, part of me is thinking that running around would probably be a lot more fun...hmmmm *scratches head*
 
#38
AndyLES said:
Why, my little thread has legs!

Thanks for all the advice. I'm leaning towards yes, but a part of me feel some reservation. On the side, I do a lot of roadie/FOH/AV/LD work; I've seen nearly every single brand of wireless, from $1000+ Lectrosonics to $75 used AKG "bug" style systems, go down in some fashion (batteries dying midshow despite being changed right before, a connection or connector going band somehow, or coming loose mid-stagedive, etc.). In eleven years, though, I've yet to see a cable **** the bed.

I also use some pretty snug right angled female to 1/4" male plug couplers, so yanking a cable loose isn't really a danger.

I know I'm fairly stationary b/c of my backup singing duties, but....damn, part of me is thinking that running around would probably be a lot more fun...hmmmm *scratches head*
Click to expand...

My XDS used to die quite often. I connect the wireless RX to the amp with a full length 20' cable so I can switch very quickly during a song.
 
#39
The way I see it, we only use cables because we need to link point A (instrument) to point B (amplifier) in order to get an amplified sound. If we have a reliable way of eliminating the cable (and, of course, have the $$$), why not do it? Remember when all telephones were corded?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back