Ive missed using an Amp

[KingPrawn]

I moved to full IEM using Line 6 Helix Stomp DI to the front of the house a number of years back. It's great; I love it and am happy I did. It made me a tighter player and vocalist, so I got rid of my high-end amp and cab. Then a dep gig came up. Nice and easy. I know a few of the players, all good SKA stuff. Brings me straight back to my school days. Fred Perry and Docs. I wrongfully assumed it was a silent stage. No, I need an amp. Managed to get hold of a Fender Rumble V3. Went to gig and was blown away by the experience of using an amp again. As a side note, the Rumble is an incredible amp. As light as a feather, and power and tone beyond many high-end gear I've used. ( if you have not tried one, DO!) Anyway, it was just great to feel an Amp again and feel connected to the room and other players.  I feel like Natalie Imbruglia, "I'm torn" 

[Lozz196]

I’ve played a few gigs with just my bass into preamp/DI into PA, with monitor mix for the band. Works fine but I do prefer having the onstage sound from an amp behind me. Not tried IEM but fairly sure my preference will always be amp on stage.

[Steve Browning]

This has always been the root of my reluctance to ditch the amps. I love the sound of my rig and wouldn't want to go down the route of the alternatives (Eich etc) to recreate the physical effect of having an amp on stage. Note I'm not talking about sheer volume-induced sensation.

 

Your perspective is a welcome addition, and rather better than the IEM sneering that we endured a little while back. I get the idea of IEM, but would just miss the physical aspect of a sound source behind me. Even on a big stage, I like that bit of the stage where it has effect. It's a kind of oasis.

[Marky L]

Apart from lugging the gear about, the feel of the HEFT is worth the grief for me.

[casapete]

1 hour ago, Steve Browning said:

This has always been the root of my reluctance to ditch the amps. I love the sound of my rig and wouldn't want to go down the route of the alternatives (Eich etc) to recreate the physical effect of having an amp on stage. Note I'm not talking about sheer volume-induced sensation.

 

Your perspective is a welcome addition, and rather better than the IEM sneering that we endured a little while back. I get the idea of IEM, but would just miss the physical aspect of a sound source behind me. Even on a big stage, I like that bit of the stage where it has effect. It's a kind of oasis.

That sums it up for me too.

 

Along with this, I also like to know that there is a constant part of what I’m doing that I’m in control of!
Done so many gigs where the engineer / house monitors haven’t been up to scratch, and every time

wish I’d insisted on using my own stuff. I don’t play stupid loud, but just like the authority and familiarity 

that using my own gear brings. I don’t have any problem with others using IEM’s / no amp, it’s purely

a personal choice. Having played in bands for over 50 years and still having pretty good hearing,

I’m unlikely to ditch my amps now though, especially as good kit has become so much lighter and

easier to use than ever! 

[Franticsmurf]

I moved to full IEM after lockdown, partly due to a double hernia and partly because the band I joined had a dedicated sound man who was able to give me a personalised full band mix. In the bands I played with before that I found I couldn't get enough vocal mix in physical monitors and I had started using one earpiece via a Behringer P2 fed from the PA mixer (the PA only carried the vocals). 

 

I love having a good mix in my ears; it's given me the confidence to sing more. I love not having to cart around amps and speakers, set them up, break them down etc and having more room in the bass corner. But I do miss the feel of the sound behind me. I've just started with a new band and while we rehearse with in ears, the plan is to play with just vocal monitoring and have a real backline. Fortunately I didn't get rid of my amp (in fact, before joining the 'IEM band', I had swapped from kit with its own gravity to light weight TE 1x10" cabs and class D amps). The hernias have been fixed (gaffer tape is so useful) and I'm looking forward to gigging with some volume behind me.

[casapete]

Two set ups have changed my playing scenario significantly and meant I could carry on

gigging well into my err….mid 60’s. 

 

First one was getting a BF Compact, one of the early models. I ran this with a GK MB800

and it was a game changer! So portable, loud and great tones. Still got the cab.

 

Then more recently I’ve been using Fender Rumble combos. Use a 100 with my duo / small gigs,

and the 500 with the blues band / bigger stuff. Both are amazing things - everyone who picks the

100 combo up thinks it hasn’t got a speaker inside! I just love the sound these combos kick out,

so easy to dial in ‘my sound’ with no messing around. Bass straight into them, DI out to the PA

where needed, job done. Had these lightweight options not been available, then I honestly don’t 

know if I’d still be gigging. 

[BigRedX]

I can't ever see myself going back to a traditional bass rig. 

 

For the sorts of gigs I have been playing the past 20 years, on the small stages it was mostly too loud and by the time I'd turned down to the point where the FoH was happy it wasn't messing up the PA sound I could hear myself better from the guitarist's wedge on the other side of the stage than I could from my rig immediately behind me. For the bigger stages, the moment I wasn't stood directly in front of my rig it became a big heavy and expensive stage prop that took up too much room in the band van and was cumbersome to get into venues and on to stage. For the few gigs I did where the bass didn't go through the PA I had to be so loud on stage that I could barely hear the rest of the band in order to project properly into the rest of the venue.

 

IME "heft" is mostly myth and if I had been loud enough to properly experience it, I would most likely be even more deaf than I am.

 

These days I go straight from the Helix into the PA. I have an FRFR cab for those few occasions when I need additional on-stage monitoring or FoH projection, and the superior dispersal characteristics mean that I only have to be marginally louder on stage than I would normally be comfortable with in order to get the right mix FoH. It also means that for my current band we get the whole band plus all our gear and merch plus our roadie/merch seller in a single estate car, which makes more gigs economically viable than before.

Edited March 16 by BigRedX

[Steve Browning]

5 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

I can't ever see myself going back to a traditional bass rig. 

 

For the sorts of gigs I have been playing the past 20 years, on the small stages it was mostly too loud and by the time I'd turned down to the point where the FoH was happy it wasn't messing up the PA sound I could hear myself better from the guitarist's wedge on the other side of the stage than I could from my rig immediately behind me. For the bigger stages, the moment I wasn't stood directly in front of my rig it became a big heavy and expensive stage prop that took up too much room in the band van and was cumbersome to get into venues and on to stage. For the few gigs I did where the bass didn't go through the PA I had to be so loud on stage that I could barely hear the rest of the band in order to project properly into the rest of the venue.

 

IME "heft" is mostly myth and if I had been loud enough to properly experience it, I would most likely be even more deaf than I am.

 

These days I go straight from the Helix into the PA. I have an FRFR cab for those few occasions when I need additional on-stage monitoring or FoH projection, and the superior dispersal characteristics mean that I only have to be marginally louder on stage than I would normally be comfortable with in order to get the right mix FoH. It also means that for my current band we get the whole band plus all our gear and merch plus our roadie/merch seller in a single estate car, which makes more gigs economically viable than before.

 

And, of course, that's absolutely fine. We all have our own perspectives/experiences. If what you're doing works for you then you're right and no-one can tell you otherwise.

[bassbiscuits]

I use IEMs in two of my bands but also always use my bass rig onstage. The IEMs are great for getting a decent mix of everything else on stage (including any clicks, tracks etc) but for me there’s no substitute for the feel of real live bass onstage either. 

[la bam]

For me, it's IEMs (or silent stage so I can hear the PA) if the gig is for others enjoyment (ie wedding band, function band, tribute) and full backline if I'm doing it for fun / my own pleasure, so I can physically enjoy it - the feel and power, rather than enjoy the crowd reaction etc. 

[Linus27]

I tried IEM for the first time last week and I was half expecting to hate them but it was ok. I think I got lucky with my choice of headphones as I went for the KZ ones that were rated highly on here through the Behringer P2. I gave them a quick test on about 4 songs and it all worked well and was passable. However, I did miss the ambient sound that you get on stage and the energy that you get from a backline and the other instruments, especially from the bass. What I did like was the much lower volume, that was nice as I am a strong advocate for low volumes on stage so you can play with dynamics better. 

 

As for the Fender Rumble combo's, I used the 500 a few times at a gig and I have loved it. Every time I've had a superb sound through it. I would really like one but I am worried that if there's an issue with the head then you are buggered. I currently use a MarkBass LM IV and Barefaced Two10 but take with me a 300w Gnome just in case the MB goes down. Either way, the Rumble combo has sounded amazing the three or so times I've used one.

[police squad]

at the moment, I used bass amp + cab and IEMs

The bass always goes into the desk, so I could ditch the bass amp

I can't play without ear protection now, loud is too painful. I cant stand next to acoustic drums, so always have my moulded earplugs

 

The gig I did on saturday, the DJ was SSSOOOOOOO LOUD.

My IEM mix was dreadful. They gave us 30 minutes to set up and do a line check

FOH sounded great. My bass sound in my ears was dreadful, couldnt hear the keys very well etc

but got through it ok

 

what I really like with the IEM, is that I can hear my bass so well, sounding wonderful and I don't hit the strings so hard, so I play better

 

The drummer in my Police trib was IEM but he's stopped atm, which means I can't go ampless yet

[Russ]

IEMs are good for vocals. But I really can't abide the sound of either guitar or bass through them. It's thin and doesn't exactly encourage you to "feel" the music.

 

It's even more discombobulating when you have live drums - a big drum sound coming from behind you, but this tinny, disconnected sound in your ears on top of it. So, unless your drummer is playing an e-kit, there's really no such thing as a silent stage. 

[police squad]

9 hours ago, Russ said:

IEMs are good for vocals. But I really can't abide the sound of either guitar or bass through them. It's thin and doesn't exactly encourage you to "feel" the music.

 

It's even more discombobulating when you have live drums - a big drum sound coming from behind you, but this tinny, disconnected sound in your ears on top of it. So, unless your drummer is playing an e-kit, there's really no such thing as a silent stage. 

really? you dont get a good bass sound. What IEMs are you using?

I get a fab sound thru my KZs (both sets)

we mic up everything so can get a good mix in the ears

[Russ]

11 hours ago, police squad said:

really? you dont get a good bass sound. What IEMs are you using?

I get a fab sound thru my KZs (both sets)

we mic up everything so can get a good mix in the ears

Shures. Can't remember the model number, but they were supposed to be good for bass. But it's like wearing earbuds. Nicer-than-average and quite expensive earbuds, but still. It's not the visceral experience you get from an amp. 

[markbunney]

On 16/03/2025 at 11:09, BigRedX said:

 

These days I go straight from the Helix into the PA. I have an FRFR cab for those few occasions when I need additional on-stage monitoring or FoH projection, and the superior dispersal characteristics mean that I only have to be marginally louder on stage than I would normally be comfortable with in order to get the right mix FoH.

What FRFR can are you using?
 

One  of my bands puts everything through the PA and I’m considering getting the Headrush 112 for on stage monitoring and not taking an amp & cab anymore.  The guitarist has the 108 version for his monitor.

[police squad]

11 hours ago, Russ said:

Shures. Can't remember the model number, but they were supposed to be good for bass. But it's like wearing earbuds. Nicer-than-average and quite expensive earbuds, but still. It's not the visceral experience you get from an amp. 

I would suggest you try some KZs. There only about 50 quid. get some comply foam tips too

they really have changed my life. Without them, I would have to stop gigging

[BigRedX]

19 minutes ago, markbunney said:

What FRFR can are you using?
 

One  of my bands puts everything through the PA and I’m considering getting the Headrush 112 for on stage monitoring and not taking an amp & cab anymore.  The guitarist has the 108 version for his monitor.

 

I've got an RCF745 and TBH it's been complete overkill for what I need most of the time.

 

In the 7 years that I have owned it, I've needed it twice to supply bass to the audience when the PA has been vocals only and in this respect it has preformed far better than my previous traditional bass rigs. However, the rest of the time, for rehearsals and smaller gigs with PA support, I could have definitely got away with something smaller, lighter and cheaper. 

 

I personally wouldn't go for the Headrest as IMO it's overpriced for what it is. Have a look at the FRFR thread in the amps section for other options. I think you get better VfM when looking at PA type cabs. It will depend what you want from a personal monitor. For me all I need is to be able to hear that I am in time and in tune with the rest of the band. I don't need "heft" or a perfect representation of my bass tone on stage in order to play well, I'm happy to assume that that is being taken care of FoH by the PA for the audience who are far more important.