Author Topic: Running Direct When Playing Live (Read 243 times)

stout71 · « **on:** July 03, 2013, 06:40:27 AM »

Hey guys. I'm transitioning from playing with a head and cabinet live to connecting direct into the PA via a SansAmp RPM preamp and an Avalon U5 direct box. I generally use in-ears, but will occasionally run into a situation (like a fill-in gig) where the band doesn't have the capability to let me use them. I was considering a wedge for the floor, but thought that the small compact size might not produce enough low-end for it to be valuable.

Does anyone else here use a direct setup for live situations? What would you do in the scenario I outlined? Thanks.

811952 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2013, 07:34:02 AM »

I've done it in a bunch of different situations, usually with my amp behind me but turned completely down (it's there just in case...) and enjoying the wrap-around from the mains. My brother did the wedge thing for years and I've done it with reasonable results. Sometimes it's all there and groovy and other times I've just had to tell myself that even though it sucks on stage it must surely sound good out front. I think it's a matter of just jumping-in and discovering what you're comfortable with, having confidence in your ears and trusting the FOH person knows what they are doing.

One thing to take into consideration is that if the bands you're subbing with are used to hearing a bass amp on stage, they are probably going to want to hear a bass amp on stage as they likely don't have the monitoring capability or experience to accommodate bass guitar in a way that doesn't suck.

Edited to add context that I'm a weekend player for the most part, and considerably low-rent, but I do want my bass to sound great and the gigs to keep coming.

John

(Message edited by 811952 on July 03, 2013)

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2013, 09:40:05 AM »

I use a QSC K-12 1,000 watt (2,000 peak) powered monitor w/horn and 12 driver. Weighs about 40 lbs.

Here's the full rig:

SKB pedalboard from left to right: Sansamp Bass Driver Deluxe, Boss Chorus, Boss Tuner, Ernie Ball Volume Pedal and Dunlop Bass Wah. All cables are George L.

And Music Man Sting Ray Classic 5 (soon to be replaced by EUROPA 5).

The XLR output from the Bass Driver feeds the PA mixer and the 1/4 output feeds the input on the QSC monitor.

OR

If no PA is available to me, I can use the same pedalboard feeding the effects return (power amp input) on a conventional bass amp such as an SWR 750SX with a conventional bass speaker cap.

stout71 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2013, 11:41:45 AM »

This is what I was after, fellas. I like that setup. Mine will largely be rack-mounted, but the signal path will be the same. I like the idea of a powered wedge as well, but the QSC is pretty pricey.

tbrannon · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2013, 12:33:19 PM »

Jerry,

How is the setup on Shamrock coming along?

Sorry for the hijack....

stout71 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2013, 12:45:15 PM »

Comments are pending on that issue. I'm going to wait it out for another couple of months and see how the bass adjusts to the climate.

tmimichael · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2013, 05:04:28 PM »

Jerry, I think if you have a GOOD wedge available, it'll work well, but if you don't have access to like a JBL SRX/STX or similar, then a small amp would be best.

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2013, 08:31:19 PM »

I like my SWR Bass Monitor 12's! Wedge shape, great sound.

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2013, 08:07:33 AM »

+1 on the GOOD wedge comment, Michael.

My QSC has enough power to deliver clean headroom and this keeps everything nice and clear - no fuzziness. The 12 driver sounds full and the horn handles the high end nicely without sounding harsh (probably directly related to clean headroom).

Here's the bonus: I'm also using it with an LR Baggs DI for acoustic guitar gigs and my amplified acoustics have never sounded better.

worldfamousandy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2013, 10:36:50 PM »

JBL SRX712M, with a QSC PLX2402, bridged. Tons of headroom, punchy sound. Those cabs handle tons of power, so you'll never have to worry about distortion or speaker damage.

crgaston · « **Reply #10 on:** June 04, 2014, 06:28:15 AM »

I've run a series bass straight from the ds5 to a K12. It has an XLR out, so there's my DI, and it can take a monitor feed into it's second channel, so there's the monitors as well.

I bet that JBL rig sounds fantastic. Always wanted to try one of those in that configuration, since I've always loved them when I've been somewhere that has them for monitors.