gpw5150 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Hi All, I was on Basschat ~5 years ago, but dropped off for a bit and dropped out of music for a period - kids, work blah! Anyway, I am back and need some advice. So, I am a converted to bass guitar player, but in my new band I share bass and guitar duties. As such, I don't want to be carrying 2 rigs. The other guitar/bass guy has his own gear, which we can share on smaller gigs. But on larger gigs, I would like my own stuff. Here is the conundrum: When I stopped playing live I sold my lovely Markbass and SWR kit and my basses. I kept hold of my 5watt Panama Conqueror head and a Mes Boogie Thiele cab with EVM12L for 'bedroom guitar' and have recently procured an OLP stingray copy which was fitted with a basslines pickup and a badass bridge! I don't want to buy another louder guitar amp head and a complete bass rig, so this is what I am thinking. **I am a big fan of the ampeg/Stingray sound! Output my 5w Panama tube head via a load box into a Stereo power amp, using 1 side of the power amp to drive the boogie cabinet - This should give me whatever wattage the power amp is into the Boogie. Buy an Ampeg SVT classic pedal or Ampeg DI, output that to the second channel of the power amp and drive a purchased lightweight cabinet - This should give me effectively an ampeg pre amp and load of power to drive the cab and the option to DI I am hoping there will be no crossover within the power amp or any impedence mismatch that I have missed, but it essentially means I only carry; 1 Bass Guitar 1 Guitar 1 guitar amp (or even just my pedal board) 1 Bass pedal 1 power amp 2 small lightweight cabinets Did I miss anything? Or is it easier to just buy a second rig? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbasspecial Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 What about a multi fx unit and a FRFR speaker like the headrush. Should cover both situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Like the above poster says rather than carting all that around you could just use a modelling unit and a powered cab, that's what I'd do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 33 minutes ago, lemmywinks said: Like the above poster says rather than carting all that around you could just use a modelling unit and a powered cab, that's what I'd do. That is what I do. Line6 Helix and an RCF745 FRFR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cattytown Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 If I was splitting like that I'd be with all these guys - decent modeller and FRFR. There are lots of FRFR around - high on my check list would be the QSC K10.2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 5 minutes ago, cattytown said: If I was splitting like that I'd be with all these guys - decent modeller and FRFR. There are lots of FRFR around - high on my check list would be the QSC K10.2. Our guitarist does most of the sound engineering so if he's busy I tune his guitars up for him and set his amp up, last gig I plugged them into my setup (Fishman Pro Platinum EQ > QSC K10.2), switched to guitar eq mode and played it at decent volume - sounded amazing, much better clean sound than his amp. Nice to know if I ever need to play acoustic guitar live I have a fantastic rig ready and waiting! Can imagine it would sound incredible with proper amp modelling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 That's exactlly what I'd be doing. Gone are the days of a Pod and a seperate Bass Pod. The new modellers from Line 6, Kemper, Axe FX, Headrush, etc etc are truly multi purpose. If they're too much money then the new HX Stomp is £400, the Mooer and Valeton stuff is even cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 (edited) EDITED Edited October 18, 2018 by Ghost_Bass wrong quote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 45 minutes ago, BigRedX said: That is what I do. Line6 Helix and an RCF745 FRFR. ^^^ This would be be smallest, lightest, option and my best bet, but responding to the OP, yes your way will also work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpw5150 Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 Wow, wasn't really aware of FRFR, I was always an old school guy 'No tubes=stinky poo sound'. Maybe I need to get out more and try stuff! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpw5150 Posted October 20, 2018 Author Share Posted October 20, 2018 Okay, so i tried some modelling gear on friday and i admit, whilst being a tube junkie, it was very good. But i am loathed to shell out and re rig just now. For cheapness while the band are still building our set; my current guitar rig (5f2 clone head +evm12l loaded boogie) with load box into a crown power amp for live usage. An ampeg pedal/di into crown second channel for bass into a borrowed ampeg cab or i could sell the guitar rig and buy an ampeg svp and just run the ampeg through a power amp into the ampeg cab...use for both bass and guitar i am still a bit old school on tube preamps and simple pedals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 True the modelling gear can be expensive, my current rig, consisting of a Line6 Helix and RCF745 cost £2000 when I bought it new a year ago. However they are pretty much at the top end of the the range, and you now you can get a Helix Stomp and a cheaper FRFR for about half that. I can't recall the last time I did a gig where there bass wasn't DI'd into the PA, and at several gigs I played before I switched to the new set up I had been asked to turn my amp down to such an extent that unless I stood directly in front of it, I could hear myself better though the fold back for the guitarist or the keyboard player! It was at this point that I started looking seriously at FRFR powered cabs. For me it was no brainer - I had spent over £2000 on my last serious bass-only rig and most of that was second hand prices, and with a bit of luck when I sell it along with my guitar rig I will get back what I spent on the Helix and RCF cab. The new set up is a fraction of the size of my old rig and does everything need for guitar as well as bass sounds. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpw5150 Posted October 22, 2018 Author Share Posted October 22, 2018 So, it turns out that my better half bought me an Ampeg SCR-DI for Christmas, I won't go in to detail, but I kinda blew my own surprise..... So, the dual rig will be; Panama Conqueror into channel 1 Crown 300w PA into Boogie Thiele cabinet Ampeg SCR-DI into Channel 2 Crown 300w PA into Ampeg 2 x 10 Classic Series cabinet In terms of weight - the heaviest bit is the borrowed Ampeg Classic Series cab @ 27 kg....but seeing as I am carrying both guitar and bass, I am not so bothered. I guess that the nice thing is that I can play bass on headphones at home.....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpw5150 Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 I can confirm, it all works! Panama Conqueror into channel 1 Crown 300w PA into Boogie Thiele cabinet - Still get the full tube sound, just massively louder! Ampeg SCR-DI into Channel 2 Crown 300w PA into Ashdown 408 cabinet (Courtesy of Sharkfinger) - It is bloody loud and absolutely stonking! I can definitely recommend the Ampeg SCR-DI, it is beautifully built and super rugged. The sound is almost bang on to a vintage ampeg and is super flexible on tone. The Scrambler is a 'nice' addition and gives more bite, but it can get undefined and a bit fuzzy. I have the blend set more towards clean bass and only a slight amount of distortion, almost replicates a preamp tube being pushed on the heavier/louder notes. The Di works well and the phones socket is a definite bonus, I can sit with my headphones on and bother no one! Hoping my wife now buys me something else for Christmas as I already have my pressie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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