Your Rig's Too Big!

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

I like to gig with my full rig. I like the way it sounds, the way it looks, the way it's tall enough to hang my Bass off, the way I don't need to turn it up above half and only ever have to dig in for tone, not volume.

So what's going on in the head of someone who looks at me askance and says, irritably, "it's too much, you don't need it!" He's definitely sure I'm a wanker on that particular question.

If you, too, are deeply disturbed by what I'll freely agree is overkill, explain it to me so that I may soothe the old git before he has a heart attack.

My rig's nothing spectacular, I just bring both cabs where clearly one or the other would be more than enough.

I get that from people when I show up with my Ampeg B25B/B25B rig. It's 55 watts.

 

[Wandering Bass]

Since he stacks the cabs, the second cab doesn't add to the amount of stage space he uses...

Simply not true. The stacked cab takes up the same floor space, but it takes up more stage space. With a 4x10 and a head a guy wearing a bass or guitar can easily move around in that space, but not with the stack. If the stage is small, the two cabs stacked crowd the stage, and since it's not necessary for sound, bringing it is simply silly. Being in a band means fitting the role, and the OP seems more concerned with causing conflict.

 

[Thuddy Waters]

You are like the Benjy Bronk of Talkbass. Unable to directly answer a question...christ we are in the Benjy Vortex on talkbass.....ahhhhhh!

Uhhhhhhhhhhhh, look here man. I am the Riley Martin of Talkbass, so you better listen to what I have to say before the Skreed and the Biaviians come for you!

 

[Ox Boris]

Simply not true. The stacked cab takes up the same floor space, but it takes up more stage space. With a 4x10 and a head a guy wearing a bass or guitar can easily move around in that space, but not with the stack. If the stage is small, the two cabs stacked crowd the stage, and since it's not necessary for sound, bringing it is simply silly. Being in a band means fitting the role, and the OP seems more concerned with causing conflict.

Only if "coz I say so" passes for argument. Your entire point rests upon your fabrication of space issues. There is none.

 

[JimmyM]

I like to gig with my full rig. I like the way it sounds, the way it looks, the way it's tall enough to hang my Bass off, the way I don't need to turn it up above half and only ever have to dig in for tone, not volume.

So what's going on in the head of someone who looks at me askance and says, irritably, "it's too much, you don't need it!" He's definitely sure I'm a wanker on that particular question.

If you, too, are deeply disturbed by what I'll freely agree is overkill, explain it to me so that I may soothe the old git before he has a heart attack.

My rig's nothing spectacular, I just bring both cabs where clearly one or the other would be more than enough.

If it's someone writing your check, I'd use one cab. If he's not, I'd ignore it.

 

[Meghans Dad]

I like to gig with my full rig. I like the way it sounds, the way it looks, the way it's tall enough to hang my Bass off, the way I don't need to turn it up above half and only ever have to dig in for tone, not volume.

So what's going on in the head of someone who looks at me askance and says, irritably, "it's too much, you don't need it!" He's definitely sure I'm a wanker on that particular question.

If you, too, are deeply disturbed by what I'll freely agree is overkill, explain it to me so that I may soothe the old git before he has a heart attack.

My rig's nothing spectacular, I just bring both cabs where clearly one or the other would be more than enough.

Unless the comment is coming from your BL or the venue owner, why let it bother you? Has this guy got some great wealth of experience and expertise that makes his opinion matter. What's more important to you should be if the girl next to him likes how your band sounds.

 

[BAG]

I just played a gig at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta. Load in for the band is up a steep outdoor fire escape. Seriously.

Now do this at night, in the snow or rain...

Here's a video of what it looks like...

Reminds me of some load-in's back in my roadie days in the late 80's..... and we'd have a full semi-trailer to load in.

 

[BigNotes]

People with long wands don't say that.

And don't need to!

 

[FingerDub]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhh, look here man. I am the Riley Martin of Talkbass, so you better listen to what I have to say before the Skreed and the Biaviians come for you!

Uhhhhh, okwa tanjin wan....uhhhhhhh

 

[MojoPenguin]

I have to admit, I love my Carvin BC combo, but playing on a full stack with the Band I am jamming with from time to time, is much more "fulfilling" for a lack of a better word. However it would "sxck" having to haul that monster from one place to another... I hear you Man, but don't get annoyed by bogans or trolls if a big amp is your bag and you're ok moving it one place to the next.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Meh I have Ampeg Classic 410he and 15e cabs. I normally just bring the 410 to most shows, especially if we've played there already and I'm confident in the PA. Sometimes I'll use the 15 as just a speaker stand for the 410. And occasionally (mainly outdoor gigs) I'll use them both together. I swaped all the speakers in my cabs. The 410 is now has 4 200w eminence 10s and the 15 has an eminence Lf PA speaker. Powered by a 1500w crown. I like the way they sound but they are insanely loud together. I often get asked by soundguys to lower my stage volume even when I'm only using the 410. So I really only use both together if there is no bass in the PA or if it's an outdoor show. We've played festivals in this stage for example.

Two cabs definetly helps in that situation.

 

[mcnach]

Simply not true. The stacked cab takes up the same floor space, but it takes up more stage space. With a 4x10 and a head a guy wearing a bass or guitar can easily move around in that space, but not with the stack. If the stage is small, the two cabs stacked crowd the stage, and since it's not necessary for sound, bringing it is simply silly. Being in a band means fitting the role, and the OP seems more concerned with causing conflict.

Only you are insisting on space issues. The OP says where they play two vs one cab makes no difference. I think I'll take his word for it since he's, you know, the person who has been there and all...

 

[the yeti]

Only if "coz I say so" passes for argument. Your entire point rests upon your fabrication of space issues. There is none.

no. he brings up a valid point.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Yeah, but if you do, it can get proper pretty.

I'm not sure I've ever chosen a rig based on how it looked when owasn't playing it

Unless the comment is coming from your BL or the venue owner, why let it bother you? Has this guy got some great wealth of experience and expertise that makes his opinion matter. What's more important to you should be if the girl next to him likes how your band sounds.

It's my understanding from Ox's posts in other threads that he only has one or two gigs under his belt. So, in this case, the bandmate probably does have a wealth of experience....relative to the OP.

 

[chadds]

I'm one place we've played we would load in at the end of dinner. The people at the nearest tables would become alarmed when they saw all the black cases. I immediately would go to each table and reassure them that we wouldn't be loud. Everytime they would tell me, "You were right. You weren't loud."
We aren't a lounge act. We blazed with intensity but we weren't loud.

 

[Atshen]

I ask if we are getting paid(seldom the case).

If we aren't getting paid I ask them to make sure we can hear the vocals and ignore other requests. We play heavy metal at heavy metal bars and don't often get pa support outside of kick and vocals. If someone be it promoter, club owner, patron has an issue then they should reflect on their choice to host/attend a heavy metal show.

View attachment 981991

I love it! What are those cabs?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Considering this, I think this is the closest to an answer I've seen so far. I think he objects, generally, to the wasted effort/cartilage/electricity. I'm going to have to use the "it's what i use to hang my Bass" argument that Guy teased out of me. I can thank him for that, at least

OK, how's this? You can do whatever the #$&*% you want, but if it costs you gigs, don't complain. Same way playing a Squier or coffee table bass can cost you gigs, or failing to dress better. Playing nice with others (the hang) is generally considered one of the most important things in picking a band member.

 

[Ox Boris]

no. he brings up a valid point.

No, he makes a BS judgement point, using irrelevant, manufactured yet valid evidence.

 

[Ox Boris]

I'm not sure I've ever chosen a rig based on how it looked when owasn't playing it

Perhaps I wasn't clear before: Link Removed
Have a read, me old fruit, it'll stop you making a Percy of yourself.

 

[Jack Butler]

TB 101 says wearing shorts to a gig is bad form. Think of bringing a big rig to a small gig along the same lines. Dress for the occasion, dress for success.
(MSRP. YMMV. Symptoms may include, itching, mild intestinal discomfort, and restless leg syndrome.)

My drummer wears jorts