Author Topic: Small bass monitor (Read 577 times)

mavnet · « **on:** January 21, 2016, 09:02:45 AM »

Hi. I'm looking for a small version of something like the philjonesbass topper - a box with small speakers that can sit on top of my smaller rig and aim some of what I'm playing to my head, without annoying the rest of the band or mucking up the audience mix. I'm imagining it'd be an angled thing with a few 5 speakers, or something like that.

I'd love to hear your suggestions and experiences. Thanks!
Mark

jazzyvee · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2016, 09:40:08 AM »

Me too I would find that useful. I have read that mixing brands of speakers is not a good idea due to potential phase differences but still I'd like to read what recommendations you get.

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2016, 10:33:02 AM »

http://bassearz.com/

mavnet · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2016, 10:49:28 AM »

Thought about in-ear, but they don't work for me. I know there's way more control, etc but i need my ears for the band and vocal mix and I just don't play as well when i feel sonically isolated. Good to know that someone's thought about bass players with in-ear, though. Thanks!

JimmyJ · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2016, 03:57:37 PM »

This also has a lot to do with the size of the venue and the volume of the band, right?

In-ears can be very helpful if you're in a giant or particularly echoey room - and if you have a good monitor operator or a self-mixing setup. Also in those cases the less bass rumbling around onstage the cleaner it will sound in the PA (the BIG amp).

But in-ears are not for everybody and don't make sense in a small venue or lower volume situation.

One idea; instead of searching for another bass cabinet and getting caught up in what amp, EQ, comp, etc, just for that, maybe you could dial a bit of bass into your monitor wedge? That might give you the presence you're missing by not hearing your amp cabinets straight on. Don't have monitors? Look into getting a small self-powered wedge to run off your rig just to hear yourself better. But watch that overall stage volume, don't hurt yourself!

Just a thought.
Jimmy J

rustyg61 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2016, 04:13:04 PM »

AccuGroove makes floor monitor wedge cabinets that face backwards away from the band & audience. I have the Wedgie that is a 3 way cabinet with a 12/6/dual tweeter setup & it sounds amazing! I can actually play softer & still hear what I'm playing because the cabinet reproduces the entire spectrum of sound Alembics are capable of. It is plenty loud & handles my low B easily. They just came out with a smaller version that has a 8/6/dual tweeter setup. I'm sure it sounds amazing too. So if you're looking for something to supplement your existing rig that is directional & will focus the sound to your ears, the new Mini Wedge might be the ticket. If you want a stand alone box that will handle anything you put through it, I highly recommend the Wedgie!

http://www.accugroovellc.com/#!basskeyboards/c1d11

JuancarlinBass · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2016, 06:01:00 PM »

+1 on Jimmy's comment. One of the BEST bass sounds I've had was playing at a somewhat small theater venue, was told to keep my rig small, so I brought my ol' trusty 80s GK MB200 combo, my Epic and a BOSS GT6B. There I ran the bass directly to the GT6B, DI via XLR to the board, and a local feed to the GK amp, angle tilted on the floor towards me at one side, and the monitor wedge at the other side (Music stand at front, GT6B right below it). The monitor guy then added just the right amount of bass on the wedge, and I balanced the signal on the GK so it could be at level with the wedge. I was surrounded by bass, loud enough and clean, and still could hear the band and the director's directions. This will probably not work on loud shows at all (this was a somewhat-of-a-crooner show, with highs and lows, but overall a fairly calm show with all musicians sitting on stalls -except for the keyboard player-), but then I like to use in-ears (and honestly, I have not spent that much on my earphones, just find good ones I like to hear music with, and use those same ones for IEM being very cautious with the volume, I rather use them in a low volume setting) with a well balanced mix, and then have (whatever the backline puts in there) and the side-fill monitors to give that extra ooomphhh. Truth is, I haven't had a single chance in YEARS to move any amp bigger than 200w outta home. It has been either small venues where not much wattage is necessary, or big enough shows as to have them provide backline, in which case it is either the GT6B or a 4spc rack with preamp, comp, DDL (for chorus), and sometimes a rack SansAmp (for extra gritty whenever necessary )

mavnet · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2016, 06:03:10 PM »

jimmyj - can't rely on having monitors, which is why I was thinking of something i could aim at my head... The accugroove MiniWedge looks like it could work for me. Can't seem to find a price for the MiniWedge anywhere, though. I'll shoot them an email. Thanks for the pointer on that, rusty!

rustyg61 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2016, 07:46:06 PM »

You're welcome Mark! Email Mark Wright at AccuGroove & he will give you the price on the Mini Wedge. He just unveiled it at NAMM today, so it is brand new! Accugroove cabinets aren't cheap, but they are the most amazing sounding cabinets I have ever heard! I replaced my Eden stack that had a 410 & 115 cabinet with my Wedgie & the Wedgie not only sounds much better, but takes up much less room on stage & only weighs 29 pounds!

mavnet · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2016, 01:36:49 PM »

Mark from AccuGroove got right back to me. Their stuff looks great and I've only heard great things about the sound, but you're right - not cheap. Out of my price range for now.

edwin · « **Reply #10 on:** January 24, 2016, 11:53:58 PM »

Apparently the Fearless cabs are pretty great at this as well. The do the wedge thing as well as the standard bass cab thing.

Ed Friedland is all about them.

http://www.bassplayer.com/gear/1164/greenboy-audio-fearless-f112-cabinet-reviewed/48331

benson_murrensun · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2016, 08:01:39 AM »

I still have a couple SWR Bass Monitor 12s from back in the day. They don't produce low lows, but they do have a very pleasing sound to my ears. The last two times my band played out and had soundboard recordings made, the bass was way too low in the mix. I'm thinking that's because the stage volume of the bass amp was too loud for the sound man to put much bass guitar in the house mix. We may be moving toward a smaller bass amp set-up, and putting more bass in the P.A. system, and the SWRs may be coming back into service in this application.

gtrguy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2016, 11:24:14 AM »

I use an SWR Workingman 12 combo with (usually) a Stingray for most small club gigs, and the two are made for each other. The SWR has an extension line out for another cab, and I have a 2x10 SWR Goliath cab to add to it that will be loud for most outdoor gigs we do in the cover band I am in. The SWR stuff has a built in direct out for a line to a soundboard.

I like the 10, 12, and 15 SWR line of Workingman's combos, but NOT any of the other SWR small stuff at all. I also use a SWR 550X with big cabs for really large venues.

I am looking for a Workingman's 10 combo, for even less weight! I used one a lot with a band I was in that had it in a practice space.

lidon2001 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 25, 2016, 12:09:04 PM »

Maybe this? Kustom Monitor $70. If you don't like it, return it.

keith_h · « **Reply #14 on:** January 25, 2016, 12:18:19 PM »

What are you using for your rig?

When I need something small I use one of my 2X10's and set it on a small table to get it up closer to ear level. An angled amp stand would work too but you would have to set the amp/rack off to the side.

Keith