| Author | Message | ||
| mavnet
Member Username: mavnet Post Number: 73 Registered: 2-2003 |
Hi. I'm looking for a small version of something like the philjonesbass topper - a box with small speakers that can sit on top of my smaller rig and aim some of what I'm playing to my head, without annoying the rest of the band or mucking up the audience mix. I'm imagining it'd be an angled thing with a few 5" speakers, or something like that. I'd love to hear your suggestions and experiences. Thanks! Mark | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4876 Registered: 6-2002 |
Me too I would find that useful. I have read that mixing brands of speakers is not a good idea due to potential phase differences but still I'd like to read what recommendations you get. | ||
| ed_zeppelin
Advanced Member Username: ed_zeppelin Post Number: 237 Registered: 2-2010 |
http://bassearz.com/ | ||
| mavnet
Member Username: mavnet Post Number: 74 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thought about in-ear, but they don't work for me. I know there's way more control, etc but i need my ears for the band and vocal mix and I just don't play as well when i feel sonically isolated. Good to know that someone's thought about bass players with in-ear, though. Thanks! | ||
| jimmyj
Senior Member Username: jimmyj Post Number: 621 Registered: 8-2008 |
This also has a lot to do with the size of the venue and the volume of the band, right? In-ears can be very helpful if you're in a giant or particularly echoey room - and if you have a good monitor operator or a self-mixing setup. Also in those cases the less bass rumbling around onstage the cleaner it will sound in the PA (the BIG amp). But in-ears are not for everybody and don't make sense in a small venue or lower volume situation. One idea; instead of searching for another bass cabinet and getting caught up in what amp, EQ, comp, etc, just for that, maybe you could dial a bit of bass into your monitor wedge? That might give you the presence you're missing by not hearing your amp cabinets straight on. Don't have monitors? Look into getting a small self-powered wedge to run off your rig just to hear yourself better. But watch that overall stage volume, don't hurt yourself! Just a thought. Jimmy J | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1783 Registered: 2-2011 |
AccuGroove makes floor monitor wedge cabinets that face backwards away from the band & audience. I have the "Wedgie" that is a 3 way cabinet with a 12/6/dual tweeter setup & it sounds amazing! I can actually play softer & still hear what I'm playing because the cabinet reproduces the entire spectrum of sound Alembics are capable of. It is plenty loud & handles my low B easily. They just came out with a smaller version that has a 8/6/dual tweeter setup. I'm sure it sounds amazing too. So if you're looking for something to supplement your existing rig that is directional & will focus the sound to your ears, the new Mini Wedge might be the ticket. If you want a stand alone box that will handle anything you put through it, I highly recommend the Wedgie! http://www.accugroovellc.com/#!basskeyboards/c1d11  | ||
| jcdlc72
Senior Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 466 Registered: 11-2009 |
+1 on Jimmy's comment. One of the BEST bass sounds I've had was playing at a somewhat small theater venue, was told to keep my rig small, so I brought my ol' trusty 80s GK MB200 combo, my Epic and a BOSS GT6B. There I ran the bass directly to the GT6B, DI via XLR to the board, and a "local" feed to the GK amp, angle tilted on the floor towards me at one side, and the monitor wedge at the other side (Music stand at front, GT6B right below it). The monitor guy then added just the right amount of bass on the wedge, and I balanced the signal on the GK so it could be at level with the wedge. I was surrounded by bass, loud enough and clean, and still could hear the band and the director's directions. This will probably not work on loud shows at all (this was a somewhat-of-a-crooner show, with highs and lows, but overall a fairly calm show with all musicians sitting on stalls -except for the keyboard player-), but then I like to use in-ears (and honestly, I have not spent that much on my earphones, just find good ones I like to hear music with, and use those same ones for IEM being very cautious with the volume, I rather use them in a low volume setting) with a well balanced mix, and then have (whatever the backline puts in there) and the side-fill monitors to give that extra "ooomphhh". Truth is, I haven't had a single chance in YEARS to move any amp bigger than 200w outta home. It has been either small venues where not much wattage is necessary, or big enough shows as to have them provide backline, in which case it is either the GT6B or a 4spc rack with preamp, comp, DDL (for chorus), and sometimes a rack SansAmp (for extra gritty whenever necessary  ) | ||
| mavnet
Member Username: mavnet Post Number: 75 Registered: 2-2003 |
jimmyj - can't rely on having monitors, which is why I was thinking of something i could aim at my head... The accugroove MiniWedge looks like it could work for me. Can't seem to find a price for the MiniWedge anywhere, though. I'll shoot them an email. Thanks for the pointer on that, rusty! | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1784 Registered: 2-2011 |
You're welcome Mark! Email Mark Wright at AccuGroove & he will give you the price on the Mini Wedge. He just unveiled it at NAMM today, so it is brand new! Accugroove cabinets aren't cheap, but they are the most amazing sounding cabinets I have ever heard! I replaced my Eden stack that had a 410 & 115 cabinet with my Wedgie & the Wedgie not only sounds much better, but takes up much less room on stage & only weighs 29 pounds! | ||
| mavnet
Member Username: mavnet Post Number: 76 Registered: 2-2003 |
Mark from AccuGroove got right back to me. Their stuff looks great and I've only heard great things about the sound, but you're right - not cheap. Out of my price range for now. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 2177 Registered: 5-2002 |
Apparently the Fearless cabs are pretty great at this as well. The do the wedge thing as well as the standard bass cab thing. Ed Friedland is all about them. http://www.bassplayer.com/gear/1164/greenboy-audio-fearless-f112-cabinet-reviewed/48331 | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 653 Registered: 5-2007 |
I still have a couple SWR Bass Monitor 12s from back in the day. They don't produce low lows, but they do have a very pleasing sound to my ears. The last two times my band played out and had soundboard recordings made, the bass was way too low in the mix. I'm thinking that's because the stage volume of the bass amp was too loud for the sound man to put much bass guitar in the house mix. We may be moving toward a smaller bass amp set-up, and putting more bass in the P.A. system, and the SWRs may be coming back into service in this application. | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 986 Registered: 9-2004 |
I use an SWR Workingman 12 combo with (usually) a Stingray for most small club gigs, and the two are made for each other. The SWR has an extension line out for another cab, and I have a 2x10 SWR Goliath cab to add to it that will be loud for most outdoor gigs we do in the cover band I am in. The SWR stuff has a built in direct out for a line to a soundboard. I like the 10, 12, and 15 SWR line of Workingman's combos, but NOT any of the other SWR small stuff at all. I also use a SWR 550X with big cabs for really large venues. I am looking for a Workingman's 10" combo, for even less weight! I used one a lot with a band I was in that had it in a practice space. | ||
| lidon2001
Senior Member Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 564 Registered: 4-2005 |
Maybe this? Kustom Monitor $70. If you don't like it, return it. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 2352 Registered: 2-2005 |
What are you using for your rig? When I need something small I use one of my 2X10's and set it on a small table to get it up closer to ear level. An angled amp stand would work too but you would have to set the amp/rack off to the side. Keith | ||
| rv_bass
Intermediate Member Username: rv_bass Post Number: 177 Registered: 8-2014 |
I use the Accugroove Wedgie, small, light, and has a clear flat response. I got rid of my other cabs after hearing the Accugroove. But Keith has a good point, if you already have a cab that you like, try to come up with a way to direct the sound at your head. I once made a light weight angled cab stand out of PVC pipe and a foam wedge, it worked well. | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1788 Registered: 2-2011 |
I have played through a Fearless & it had tons of bottom end, but it did not have the range or flat response the AccuGrooves do. Before I got my Wedgie I used a Fender Rumble combo on a tilt back stand, so you might try that if you are happy with your existing cabinet. I made a platform to sit on top of the Rumble that had wood strips on top so I could sit my rack on it tilted back without it sliding off.  Now with my Wedgie I use a work platform I got from Home Depot. It is the perfect size & height for my racks & it folds up flat for easy transportation. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-X-Workhorse-Workbench-17185155/202021304  The AccuGrooves are expensive, but very much worth the price if you can afford them! I will never buy another brand. | ||
| rv_bass
New Username: rv_bass Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2016 |
Victor Wooten has a simple solution to angling the cabs. You could easily build a wooden flat cart and screw a two-by-four on the front edge to create the same effect.  | ||
| mavnet
Member Username: mavnet Post Number: 77 Registered: 2-2003 |
That's definitely simple My next gig I'm going to try angling a spare 2 by 10 cabinet I have and just see. I'm continuing to look for somethign even smaller so it won't affect anyone else on stage, and my cabs will still aim at the audience. Might end up building something, but probably not too soon. | ||
| mavnet
Member Username: mavnet Post Number: 78 Registered: 2-2003 |
Just to add some closure to the thread, I ended up getting a small Phil Jones Bass combo amp - two 5" speakers - that'll sit on top of my rig and angle up towards my head. I'll play out with it this weekend, but in rehearsal it's been nice to have the definition of the notes and not just the rumble. Also, a cute little living room or vocal rehearsal amp! http://philjonesbass.com/store/bass/bass-cub-bg-100/ | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1796 Registered: 2-2011 |
Glad you got what you wanted! Enjoy! |
