Help...here's the scoop!!

[Bass2Live]

Ok fellas, here's the scoop. After being out of the music scene for the better part of a decade, I am now back to playing on a regular basis. I have purchased one (1) five string Yamaha bass and...well, that's all!! There lies my problem. I'm unsure of the direction to take with my gear. I do not want to spend hard earned cash without thoroughly checking my options...Here's the facts:

 

(1) I'm playing on a weekly basis at a worship service in a Chapel that holds 100-150 people.

(2) We play Christian rock/Alternative Christian...very upbeat and lively.

(3) Playing other Churches as needed so some local moving/traveling is involved.

 

So far I have been going through a direct box to the PA and have little to no control of my sound beyond the sound check.

 

I would like to get some equipment that could be used for Home studio/private practice. Possibly with headphones combined with some sort of backing track.

 

Soooo,

 

(1) Would a preamp set up before my direct box to the PA help control my sound??...should I have a full amp setup and mike it to the PA...

(2) If I have active electronics do I even need a PreamP??

(3) been looking at a little box called a Dr Rhythm (Boss, i think) and wondered if that may be cool for home rehearsal/recording??

(4) wondering what other rack mount and/or effects boxes may be useful??

 

In case is isn't obvious, I am just starting over and wonder what equipment will be necessary/useful for gigging and possible future home recordings...and above all, I'm a father of three and on a fairly tight budget!! HELP

[Mr. Phil]

WELCOME TO THE LOWDOWN, Bass2Live!!!

 

Answers/opinons to your questions:

 

1) It couldn't hurt to have a preamp

2) It couldnt't hurt to have an additional preamp

3) I've never used that Dr. Rhythm ting so i dunno.

4) Try stuff out, see what you like, then ask yourself if you really need it.

[HiRoller]

1) I'd recommend getting an amp with a good sounding direct out for the P.A and maybe a headphone out for practicing. There are lots of combo's (preamp, power amp, speaker/s in one) out there that would do nicely, like a 200W or more amp with 2X10's or 1X15" speaker.

2)You mean going from the bass straight into a power amp? I dunno...

3) Drum machines are cool.

4) Personally I'd forget about effects and put as much money as possible towards a nice amp.

Good luck!

[SteveC]

Welcome. a couple more questions for you.

 

Do you have some kind of monitor to hear yourself on stage when you go DI

 

Do you need the amp to be a monitor for you on stage?

 

i think a preamp is always good - even if you have an active bass with a nice preamp.

 

I agree with the others. I think a nice little 2X10 or 1X15 combo with 200 - 300 watts would do nicely. I like SWR. Otheres may give you their preferance. What you need to do is take your bass and go play through as many as you can, find what you like and buy it.

 

Asking advice is good, and you'll get good advice here. But in the end, you need to live with whatever you get so you better like it - no matter what anyone else says.

[Bass2Live]

Originally posted by SteveC:

Do you have some kind of monitor to hear yourself on stage when you go DI

 

Do you need the amp to be a monitor for you on stage?

 

i think a preamp is always good - even if you have an active bass with a nice preamp.

Yes, I have a monitor and can here myself well, but the problem is...when i want to change my playing style (say from low synth sound to maybe funk slap/pop) I can't because I have no control over the PA...you know??

 

Thanks for the welcome...

[MattC]

Rack mount SansAmp, perhaps?

 

I'd recommend staying modest with your amp in that setting- the majority of the sound should be taken care of through the PA and micing would only create headaches.

[getz out]

If you want to keep it cheap, just buy a Tech 21 NYC Sansamp Bass Driver DI .

 

http://www.bassnw.com/New%20Effects%20Units/tech21_sansamp_bass_driver_di.htm

 

Under $200, built like a tank, and it records great. You can use it to hook up to your computer if you want to rehearse at home. Oh, and it's relatively portable. It's a great little preamp.

[rotosound45]

With or without a seperate monitor, I wouldn't use less than 4x10's and 200 watts, especially if I was going to use a mic. Using a direct out from the amp that is post-EQ gives you control out front, but a good soundman should take care of that, anyway.

If you can get any volume on stage, I'd suggest an AKG-D112 kick drum mic. These do a great job with 10's cranked. The main thing is getting the soundman a clean, fundamental tone to work with. From there, he should translate your sound from the PA to the audience.

[Dm711]

Welcome back, man!

 

I would recommend a full amp, not just a preamp. Personally, I used an SWR Workingman 15 for the past 8 years. It was flexible, affordable, and had a built-in DI. I recently upgraded to a Hartke 3500 and 4x10 cab, but am still trying to figure out that rig. It might be worth getting friendly with your local equipment dealer and taking a few things for a test ride. IMO, it is tough to say what will sound good until you try different things in your particular situation.

 

Peace, good luck, and welcome back to the world of bass!

 

Dm7

[dcr]

Welcome!

 

It sounds like we're in a very similar situation. Here's what I do, fwiw. I have a 200-watt, 1x12 combo (Genz Benz ML200) that tilts back. I set it in front of me & the drummer, tilt it back, & send a line out to the board (PA). That way, I can monitor myself, put effects in the chain, etc., while letting the house carry most of my signal, making it (hopefully!) easier to mix me with the rest of the band. For my setting, I decided to get away from the big rig, which when loud enough for me to hear as I face away from it, is often too loud for the house, forcing the sound man to bring everything else up, & all the usual problems that follow that. You can also set the combo in the "normal" position & turn it around for stage volume. For this kind of application, I'd suggest 12s or 10s, as 15s tend to spread sound radially.

 

Also, do a search on combos, church rigs, Genz Benz, etc. as there were a couple of good threads on this over the summer.

[Bass2Live]

Originally posted by matt C:

Rack mount SansAmp, perhaps?

If I purchased one of these and went direct to the board...what exactly will this do for my sound?? Will I still need some sort of cabinet onstage?? I guess i'm having trouble figuring out what the preamps main function is!

 

And how 'bout the "TECH21 Sansamp Rackmount Modeling Amp PSA-1". Anyone use one?? Is this also something I may be interested in??

 

Thanks for all the help guys...

[getz out]

Originally posted by Bass2Live:

Originally posted by matt C:

Rack mount SansAmp, perhaps?

If I purchased one of these and went direct to the board...what exactly will this do for my sound?? Will I still need some sort of cabinet onstage?? I guess i'm having trouble figuring out what the preamps main function is!

 

And how 'bout the "TECH21 Sansamp Rackmount Modeling Amp PSA-1". Anyone use one?? Is this also something I may be interested in??

 

Thanks for all the help guys...

It seems like you have a monitor on stage and your'e not having issues hearing yourself; if that's the case, getting a preamp will allow you to shape the tone of your bass before it goes to the front of the house. You can add bass, cut the treble, add some gain to get a bit of overdrive, etc. No, you will not need a separate cabinet.

 

If you cannot hear yourself, takes DCR's suggestion and get some type of amp that will allow you to actually hear yourself AND give you a DI that can go to the front of the house.

 

Hope that helps.

[Bass2Live]

Originally posted by getz76:

It seems like you have a monitor on stage and your'e not having issues hearing yourself; if that's the case, getting a preamp will allow you to shape the tone of your bass before it goes to the front of the house. You can add bass, cut the treble, add some gain to get a bit of overdrive, etc. No, you will not need a separate cabinet.

AHHH...I thinking I'm starting to see the light!! The preamp is not necessarily for power but for tone before the power (power amp in this case)...Yes, you are right. I can hear myself very well thru my stage monitor, but I have absolutely no control over my sound once we finish the sound check because I'm just plugged directly into the direct box then to PA.

 

Am I gettin' it???

[_Sweet Willie_]

You're gettin' it.

 

Generally you want the person in charge of sound reinforcement (SR) to handle your sound. The SR person is hopefully hearing how you sound in the audience and making you sound good. If you have the same SR person for all your gigs at your home church, you could work with him/her to handle some tone adjustments for fingerstyle vs. slap, etc.

 

However, you might enjoy either the SansAmp Bass Driver DI stompbox (I have one and love it) or the rackmount version -- the SansAmp RBI. They are relatively inexpensive, show up on the used market even more inexpensively, and tend to be built like tanks. There are nicer preamps/active DIs out there (right, Max? ), but one of these might really work for you in your situation.

 

As far as an amp for rehearsals and such, I think the SWR Workingman's combos are a good place to start. The 1x10 combo is one of my favorites, and even though it's not rated at the 200W others have recommended, it's surprisingly loud for its size and could be couple with a 1x10 or 2x10 extension cab for some additional volume. You should also consider Eden Nemesis combos (light weight, 225W -- 1x12, 1x15, and 2x10 configurations), but I'm not sure what their status is these days since Eden was purchased by US Music Corp. You may even find that some of the Ampeg combos will do you right -- for example, the B100R 1x15 w/ line out (to the house) and line in (to play along w/ CDs, etc.), ro some of the BA series combos.