Your preferred live setup?

[RumbleMan3]

As the title suggests, this thread is about what works best for you live. Contributing factors could be your bass, your amplifier, size of venue, style of music, what’s equipment is available to you, the sound guy, etc.

If you’d like, please also tell us why you prefer this option.

I personally prefer using my amp, a rumble 100 combo, with the line out to the mixer. It allows me to have a monitor for myself, but also have the extra support that I need. It’s good because it’s such a small light amp, it’s easy to take around but with the added PA support it’s loud enough to cover most medium sized gigs that I do.

The rumble 100 combo, in a live setting, is weak. I struggled to hear myself and for others to here me if it’s just my amp on its own. Got myself an XLR cable and it’s the best thing ever... how have I ever gigged without it? I plug it from the back of my amp and chuck the other end over to the sound guy and he fixes me up. I get the extra boost that I need to be heard and fill out the room, and I still get some of the warmth of the amp too. If something needs tweaking, the sound guy just changes it from his end, and if it’s not enough, I make some additional adjustments from my own amp during breaks, but that’s not often needed.

Thinking about getting a D.I. box to keep in my gigbag just incase I ever need one. Is it something good to have? Is it a common situation where one is needed?

It would be great to here some of your personal experiences with live sound too! Thanks.

 

[BurnOut]

Unless I'm on a backline, which is probably half the time. I run my Yorkville Bassmaster 400, into the cab flavor of the month, DI'd out.
This past year I finally brought out a 212 cab made by a custom builder. I've had it for awhile now, sounds amazing on stage. I honestly don't know why I wasn't using it sooner. I'll be using it from now on.

 

[WayneP]

I’m set up for just about anything. I prefer to line-out from my rack to the PA system, and just use a small monitor speaker for myself, powered by my rack. If it’s a gig with no substantial PA or subs, I have a biamped “big rig” with a Genzler top and EAW subwoofer. Obviously the first option requires less equipment-hauling and quicker set-up time, which is why it’s my preference.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
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My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
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[Hundred proof]

Mostly gigs that my amp will carry, when a DI is needed I’ll use a stand alone Radial JDI with my chosen pedals in front of it. I hate bass in monitors (really bad experiences) I’ll use my amps as a stage monitor thank you.

 

[Bufalo]

DI to the board before the signal goes to a stage amp.

 

[Dave3]

A giant bass amp blasting away!

 

[delta7fred]

We rarely get PA support so I have to carry the house (smallish gigs) but I like to have a bit of power in reserve although I rarely use it. With my current band a GK MB800 into a fEARful 12/6 is all I need.

 

[CallMeAl]

Another Rumble 100 user here! Love that little guy....

I use it for 2 bands: bluegrass/country, no drums; and rock/blues with cajon. Stage volume is low for both, so just depends on venue/situation if we add a PA line.

on occasion, rock/blues band will bring a drumset. Up til now, I’ve used a 2nd 100. But on Saturday we will test just 1. Excited for the possibility, I love my load in!

generally my preference is “whatever is needed for the gig;” but when given the choice I’d rather have a PA line, than add a bigger amp and increase stage volume

 

[Wasnex]

What works best is situational. Normally I run a DI between my bass and amp. The amp serves as my stage monitor and FOH gets the unprocessed sound from my bass. I don't use effects.

The smaller the venue, the more likely I am to rely on just my amp to push the room.

IMHO live audio is generally not about seeking perfection, it's about working out the best compromise. If one person is prioritized and gets exactly what they want, usually everyone else gets screwed.

I am also a fan of ampless IEM systems. I actually built one way back in 1994 or 1995. It worked great and the only complaint we ever got was the band sounded too much like a CD. Since I left that band, I haven't played in IEMs, but I have mixed several bands that used IEMs. Providing the musicians are comfortable in IEMs, and the system is well implemented, everyone can get more of what they want with less compromise. Unfortunately many musicians hate using IEMs and my impression is few systems are well implemented.

Ultimately you have to find out what works for you and pave your own road to success. What worked for me may be totally useless for your needs.

 

[Charlzm]

In a perfect world, I'd plug my bass into my preamp pedal and effects pedals then straight out to the board. I would have IEMs with a custom mix.

In the real world, my last two gigs have been:

1. bass > amp > mic > PA
   
2. bass > preamp > PA (with the second out from the preamp going to an onstage amp for onstage sound)
   

It's usually some kind of thing like that.

 

[sawzalot]

There needs to be an option for bass->preamp/DI->PA plus in-ear monitors (IEMs).

 

[RTL]

All I’ve needed for the past several years is my B|Amp and Reference 322 setup. It’ll push any room I’ve encountered that doesn’t have full PA support, and never seems to run out of headroom. DI is fantastic on this amp as well, so I’ve been happy with even the most dim-witted FOH guy behind the console.

 

[lz4005]

DI to the board before the signal goes to a stage amp.

Exactly what I was about to say.
That way I can change the volume and tone of the EQ to hear myself best without having to try to negotiate a different monitor mix and without changing what the PA gets.

 

[marqueemoon]

Amp + whatever the person running sounds wants to do. A passive DI taken after my pedalboard usually works fine. I run an “always on” compressor.

 

[arbiterusa]

I’d prefer DI to the board (I frankly prefer that tone above any amp) but the chance for that happens rarely. Usually my amp must carry the bass burden for the venue.

And yes, OP, you absolutely should carry a DI of some sort. For passive DI, it’s hard to beat Behringer, although most anything will do the same job. Active DI is a very different story; those can sound quite different.

 

[EMoneySC2]

Bass > pedals > tube preamp > DI to FOH and lime out to power amp

I've got a Greenboy cab behind me for monitoring + near fill for the audience, and then FOH carries the signal for the rest of the venue.

 

[pbass2]

Mostly gigs that my amp will carry, when a DI is needed I’ll use a stand alone Radial JDI with my chosen pedals in front of it. I hate bass in monitors (really bad experiences) I’ll use my amps as a stage monitor thank you.

I hear ya man. I grew up with amps blasting behind me, and no instruments in the monitors ('cause the monitors were usually just a few terrible, farting out wedges..). Some bass in the side fills can be OK, but I'd still rather just have it coming from an amp/cab behind me. In ears are of course a whole different story....

 

[gelinas666]

Reddi Di,to Board,thru to Bass Amp.. Mic cab to Board..

 

[juancaminos]

My PREFERRED live set up is through an amp that makes my clothes move. After that what ever the sound persons wants. Direct from the amp or DI, I don't care but don't mess with my stage sound.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

Bass amp on 11 or DI into house...