Best Wireless System

[Rick05]

Hi All, 

 

im looking at a wireless system to use live and practise going forward and wondered what you all recommend.

 

The Shure GLXD16 seems to be the gold standard and a great package but expensive. 

 

The line 6 systems seem good for the price but Iv been told to steer clear of them if you have an active bass.

Iv seen this new system by NUX that has a tuner and charging station as part of the package which seems cool but very few reviews yet.

 

https://www.nuxaudio.com/b8.html

 

If anyone has any recommendations or advice please let me know 

 

Thanks

 

Rick

 

[Lozz196]

To minimise the amount of kit I carry about I use a Nux system which is just two bugs, one for bass & one for amp. Works on 5.8 too, so no taxis or pizzas interference.

[BassAdder60]

2 hours ago, Rick05 said:

Hi All, 

 

im looking at a wireless system to use live and practise going forward and wondered what you all recommend.

 

The Shure GLXD16 seems to be the gold standard and a great package but expensive. 

 

The line 6 systems seem good for the price but Iv been told to steer clear of them if you have an active bass.

Iv seen this new system by NUX that has a tuner and charging station as part of the package which seems cool but very few reviews yet.

 

https://www.nuxaudio.com/b8.html

 

If anyone has any recommendations or advice please let me know 

 

Thanks

 

Rick

 

I’m selling my Shure GLXD16+ on here 

 

Best system ever but I need the funds !! 
 

House move pending 

[Al Krow]

 

On 13/03/2024 at 12:34, Lozz196 said:

To minimise the amount of kit I carry about I use a Nux system which is just two bugs, one for bass & one for amp. Works on 5.8 too, so no taxis or pizzas interference.

 

+1^^

 

In case you've not seen - this is quite a comprehensive thread: Which wireless? - Accessories and Misc - Basschat

Edited April 27 by Al Krow

[tauzero]

4 hours ago, Rick05 said:

The line 6 systems seem good for the price but Iv been told to steer clear of them if you have an active bass.

 

Who by, and why? I only have active basses and I use a Line 6 G50 (among others) with no problems. In fact, I don't have problems with any of my wirelesses - Line 6 G50, Smoothhound, Lekato WS-50, Harley Benton Airborne Pro. Of these, the first two use the 2.4GHz band and the second two the 5.8GHz band. If you're just going into an amp or using a single pedal, a rechargeable bug type is more convenient as you don't have to set up a power supply for the receiver. If you're using a pedalboard, a base unit receiver with power supply is more convenient as you don't have to recharge it.

[javi_bassist]

I have used my Line 6 G30 for ten years. It's true that I am lately looking to buy another wireless because the other day was having dropouts. It was just that day and since I changed to RF1, no problem. 

[Rick05]

1 hour ago, Al Krow said:

 

 

+1^^

 

In case you've not seen - this is was quite a comprehensive thread: Which wireless? - Accessories and Misc - Basschat

Thanks, I’ll take a look at this 

[Rick05]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

 

Who by, and why? I only have active basses and I use a Line 6 G50 (among others) with no problems. In fact, I don't have problems with any of my wirelesses - Line 6 G50, Smoothhound, Lekato WS-50, Harley Benton Airborne Pro. Of these, the first two use the 2.4GHz band and the second two the 5.8GHz band. If you're just going into an amp or using a single pedal, a rechargeable bug type is more convenient as you don't have to set up a power supply for the receiver. If you're using a pedalboard, a base unit receiver with power supply is more convenient as you don't have to recharge it.

I found this site saying that a few from boss and line 6 had issues with active pickups.

 

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/best-guitar-wireless-systems#section-best-for-pedalboards

[tauzero]

23 hours ago, Rick05 said:

I found this site saying that a few from boss and line 6 had issues with active pickups.

 

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/best-guitar-wireless-systems#section-best-for-pedalboards

 

That's because they're simpletons who don't understand how to circumvent the issue (well, it's Guitarworld so what do you expect). Certain wireless units have stereo jack plugs which are how they're charged (not the vast majority of Line 6 devices). Active basses almost always use a stereo jack socket in order to switch them on - the ring and sleeve are connected to ground and battery negative respectively. I think these rechargeable bugs will work with basses which are wired one way round (eg. ground to sleeve and battery negative to earth) but not the other way round.

 

Ah, just found this on the page for the Boss WL-50: "*1 The typical TRS output jack wiring of guitar active circuit is audio to tip, ground to sleeve, and battery ground to ring. In rare cases where ring and sleeve are wired reversely, the guitar active circuit doesn't work properly with the WL-T." - https://www.boss.info/uk/support/by_product/wl-50/support_documents/eade711c-1f5a-4951-988b-e8e863611c64/

 

There are two ways to circumvent this, if you have an active bass which is incompatible with the bug. The first method is simply to switch the wires to the jack socket over. This does require very minor surgery on the bass - anyone who can wield a screwdriver and soldering iron without impaling themselves and suffering third degree burns can manage it. The other is to get a short extension lead, mono jack socket to mono jack plug, plug the wireless into one end and the other end into the bass.

 

[mcnach]

On 13/03/2024 at 10:37, Rick05 said:

 

 

The line 6 systems seem good for the price but Iv been told to steer clear of them if you have an active bass.

 

 

 

Anybody can say whatever they want, and a lot of people talk out of their rear ends.

 

Been using Line6 wireless since 2009 with mostly active basses. I see them in use by a wide range of people playing a wide range of instruments. You'll be fine.

 

[Rick05]

1 hour ago, mcnach said:

 

Anybody can say whatever they want, and a lot of people talk out of their rear ends.

 

Been using Line6 wireless since 2009 with mostly active basses. I see them in use by a wide range of people playing a wide range of instruments. You'll be fine.

 

Thanks. I ended up going for the Shure in the end as I wanted the tuner bass but agree, I would have definitely tried it  to see if the line 6 how it worked and confirm for myself 

[acidbass]

I use the GLX16D+ and have experienced some wifi issues in larger venues (5k+) with lots of wifi around.  A lot of the pros seem to use Shure Axient - I think that's my next move for reliability.

[BassAdder60]

47 minutes ago, acidbass said:

I use the GLX16D+ and have experienced some wifi issues in larger venues (5k+) with lots of wifi around.  A lot of the pros seem to use Shure Axient - I think that's my next move for reliability.

Did you channel scan before performing? 

[acidbass]

2 minutes ago, BassAdder60 said:

Did you channel scan before performing? 

Yes, multiple times.  I blame congested wifi - never had any issues in smaller venues but it's the larger ones where you get the most benefit out of going wireless.  I bought the system as I saw Simon McBride was using the same thing on the Deep Purple tour but just not quite confident in it.

[JPJ]

After my Line6 G50 died i needed a quick replacement and the only thing available immediately was the Line6 G30. Despite being decidedly more plasticy than my old G50, its performed well but recently one of our guitarists (who just happens to be stage left with me) has bought himself the Boss unit and I’ve started to get interference issues, At first I simply moved to another channel and that was fine, but at yesterday’s gig we were in very close proximity and when he turned my way, his transmitter was knocking one of the three bars of reception off on my Line6 and occasionally causing a momentary complete drop in signal. 

So it looks like I’m going to be in the market for a new setup 😤

[tauzero]

39 minutes ago, JPJ said:

After my Line6 G50 died i needed a quick replacement and the only thing available immediately was the Line6 G30. Despite being decidedly more plasticy than my old G50, its performed well but recently one of our guitarists (who just happens to be stage left with me) has bought himself the Boss unit and I’ve started to get interference issues, At first I simply moved to another channel and that was fine, but at yesterday’s gig we were in very close proximity and when he turned my way, his transmitter was knocking one of the three bars of reception off on my Line6 and occasionally causing a momentary complete drop in signal. 

So it looks like I’m going to be in the market for a new setup 😤

 

You may want to move away from the 2.4GHz band to 5.8GHz. I'm a cheapskate so the three 5.8GHz wirelesses I have are Lekato WS-50, Harley Benton Airborne Pro, and Lekato WS-90. Both Lekatos are bug type, the Harley Benton has a pedal-type receiver and bug transmitter which can be recharged in a cradle on the receiver between sets so is better suited to a pedalboard. The WS-90 is a bit bigger than the WS-50 but does have channel selection. I haven't had any problems with any of them.

[JPJ]

So I’ve been browsing options and as I want a reliable system, pedalboard mounted, with a proper body pack rather than a dongle so it looks like the Shure GLXD+16 is the only option unless the Basschat collective have any better alternatives?

[Acebassmusic]

2 hours ago, JPJ said:

So I’ve been browsing options and as I want a reliable system, pedalboard mounted, with a proper body pack rather than a dongle so it looks like the Shure GLXD+16 is the only option unless the Basschat collective have any better alternatives?

 

You could use a dongle, but if you dont like the way it can catch your leg you could use the cabled option I sometimes use.....Photos here.

[dudewheresmybass]

I use a longer one of these and pop the transmitter into a back pocket. Works quite well, but only with my back up rigs. 

I've just bought the Shure pedalboard glxd+ rig for my main gigging board, as it does 5.8ghz as well (I  did start getting significant dropouts)

Edited August 15 by dudewheresmybass

[Chienmortbb]

On 13/08/2024 at 00:56, tauzero said:

the Harley Benton has a pedal-type receiver and bug transmitter which can be recharged in a cradle on the receiver between sets so is better suited to a pedalboard.

Although I make and use cables for live playing I use the same Thomann system for soundcheck.It is stated as not suitable for active guitars but my Sire M2 works fine and the fact that it has a built in tuner works well for acoustic guitar on open mic nights.

[sPiKi]

I've been using this for about 2 years - Shure BLX14-K3E Wireless Guitar System with WA302 Cable - https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Shure-BLX14-K3E-Wireless-Guitar-System-with-WA302-Cable/TTW?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=order-confirmation&utm_source=txn-email&utm_content=ord-line

 

I haven't experienced one drop-out in that time and I am gigging every week, usually in small-medium venues ranging from about 100 to 300 people.

 

I changed from a Smooth-hound where I was getting more and more drop-outs at most gigs. Not exactly sure why but may have been overcrowded 2.4ghz channels, caused by in-house wifi networks and the increased number of mobile phones, but the Shure has been a revelation by comparison.

 

I would highly recommend this system. Our guitarist uses the Shure SLXD 14, which is double the price and he rates it highly too. 

Edited August 15 by sPiKi

[Chienmortbb]

On 14/08/2024 at 17:44, dudewheresmybass said:

I use a longer one of these and pop the transmitter into a back pocket. Works quite well, but only with my back up rigs. 

I've just bought the Shure pedalboard glxd+ rig for my main gigging board, as it does 5.8ghz as well (I  did start getting significant dropouts)

I never trust a moulded connector.

[dudewheresmybass]

It’s very straightforward to make your own 😉

[Chienmortbb]

Yes or buy one from me 🤩

[Rick05]

On 13/08/2024 at 00:56, tauzero said:

 

You may want to move away from the 2.4GHz band to 5.8GHz. I'm a cheapskate so the three 5.8GHz wirelesses I have are Lekato WS-50, Harley Benton Airborne Pro, and Lekato WS-90. Both Lekatos are bug type, the Harley Benton has a pedal-type receiver and bug transmitter which can be recharged in a cradle on the receiver between sets so is better suited to a pedalboard. The WS-90 is a bit bigger than the WS-50 but does have channel selection. I haven't had any problems with any of them.

I went for a Shure GLXD+ and no regrets. Bit expensive but it does double as a tuner on the board so saves money there. No issues so far and great piece of kit