When the desk can't provide enough wedges/monitor mixes

[Prime_BASS]

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1328947538' post='1535099']
In the days before monitor mixes I used to split the bass and guitar stacks so the guitarist would have one of your 4x10's and you would have one of his 4x12's in your stack, That would enable you to hear each other.
[/quote]

some massive pubs in Somerset?

[crez5150]

For your average 4/5 piece band... 2 mixes is more than adequate IME

[leftybassman392]

So let's see if we've got this right...

You can't hear the mix that you want in your existing setup, and you can't or won't have the kit that appears to provide an obvious solution. IEM would solve the problem from one point of view but will most likely take one of the mixes away from someone else (unless of course you and your guitarist are willing to team up on an IEM system), and in any case doesn't suit everybody. Simple fact: 5 into 4 won't go unless somebody is willing to share a mix. Most bands in your situation would find a solution that works with what's available based on one or more of the suggestions you've been offered so far.

You don't think you're perhaps being a little picky? If you can hear the drums and the vocal properly (and forgive me asking this in a rather pointed way) then what, really, is the problem?