What should I do for practice rooms?

[odub]

Right here's my dilemma; we’ve just found some new practice rooms which are brilliant. But the policy is you have to pay fextra for amps, stating off with really rubbish things, moving all the way through to Orange stacks. Since the rooms are already a bit pricey and given that each is equipped with a massive PA I’ve decided to forgo paying for an amp and instead go straight in to the PA.

My question is, do I get something like the ebs microbass, an alternative preamp (maybe bass buddy?), an effects pedal like the pod live, or should I just cart my mesa boogie down (I live about 10 minutes walk away). Finally, do I just plug my active bass into the desk or use a bog standard d.i. box?

This is a new band and whilst I don’t currently use any effects, it might be nice to have some, like a sub octave/synth/distortion type thing. In general though, I don’t bother with them,
Also, I don’t like to compromise on quality, I have enough trouble sounding good as it is, so it’d be something I’d not really want to upgrade or swap.

[Dubs]

I'd just bring the Mesa; there's nothing like practising with the rig that you're gonna be using live – IME there’s no substitute for practising with your gigging rig because you can get your sound perfect and there’s gonna be so supprises live. I'm not a fan of just going through the PA though. If you don't like to compromise on quality, then don't; bring the Mesa. How easy is it to load/unload into the practice space? Personally I'd not consider the PA as an option, but if the reason you don't want to bring your Mesa is because it's a pain in the arse to move around, then maybe assess the practicality of it? Ever thought of going Neo?

EDIT – I just read that back and it might sound like I’m ranting , but I’m not – it’s genuinely meant as constructive advice/food for thought

Edited February 1, 2009 by benwhiteuk

[odub]

Its a fair point, and I should say becuase I live at Kings Cross I don't have a car, so bringing the mesa would involve lugging it and a bass through 1000's of people. it is doable.

Part 2 of this would be to rely on the same setup for gigs. I always jsut use whatevers there anyway, the pa seemed a better option for consistancy.

[Dubs]

[quote name='odub' post='396719' date='Feb 1 2009, 12:24 PM']Its a fair point, and I should say becuase I live at Kings Cross I don't have a car, so bringing the mesa would involve lugging it and a bass through 1000's of people. it is doable.

Part 2 of this would be to rely on the same setup for gigs. I always jsut use whatevers there anyway, the pa seemed a better option for consistancy.[/quote]

Ah yeah, I suppose that’s a different situation than what I had in mind – a 10 minute stroll through leafy suburbia is a world away from Kings Cross at pretty much any time of the day

Can you store your rig at the practise rooms? If you normally go through the PA for gigs then I’d guess that the EBS microbass would be a great solution for a versatile pre amp in a pedal form. I can't offer much advice on these though, but I've heard they're great.

Edited February 1, 2009 by benwhiteuk

[odub]

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='396727' date='Feb 1 2009, 12:32 PM']Ah yeah, I suppose that’s a different situation than what I had in mind – a 10 minute stroll through leafy suburbia is a world away from Kings Cross at pretty much any time of the day

Can you store your rig at the practise rooms? If you normally go through the PA for gigs then I’d guess that the EBS microbass would be a great solution for a versatile pre amp in a pedal form. I can't offer much advice on these though, but I've heard they're great.[/quote]

You can store amps therre, but then I don't have an amp at home and I'm paying to store it there, so I might as well just pay to use one of theirs. Maybe I just man up and carry the thing, or buy some wheels for it.

[Weird War]

I'm in a similar situation: gigging/rehearsing in London with no car and always on public transport. I have a Microbass II which is great for both scenarios and, as Ben says, it's great to rehearse with your gigging gear - the EBS in my case as 90% of the time I go EBS directly into the PA. Hope this helps.

[alexclaber]

Why not take the head out of the Walkabout and then use that as a preamp into the PA?

Alex

[mike257]

I've kept my gear at the practice room for years now - I never have the need or the opportunity to use it in anger at home, so I don't miss it much, and it's easier for gigging because everyone's gear is in the one place when we're loading the van.

If your rig doesn't get used much at home, I'd think about storing it there, and maybe just treating yourself to a little practice amp for in the house

[Pookus]

Buy a sack barrow. Its so easy to move gear around.

[Stan_da_man]

Behringer BDI21 - £25 sorted. Just as good as a Sansamp.

[Dubs]

[quote name='Stan_da_man' post='398997' date='Feb 3 2009, 02:52 PM']Behringer BDI21 - £25 sorted. Just as good as a Sansamp.[/quote]

[EBS_freak]

MB2... serves as a perfect back up plan at a gig for if your Mesa fails.

[dannybuoy]

I recommend the VT Bass pedal, sounds great through a PA. Or find a cheaper studio - which one are you using?

[odub]

"I recommend the VT Bass pedal, sounds great through a PA. Or find a cheaper studio - which one are you using"

The Joint, don't get me wrong its ace, really, realy good and worth every penny, but, it's not cheap. 10 mintues walk from my house (if that) and the rooms arn't covered in crud and everything works. The toilets even have showers I'm told.
n.b. It's already really hard to book rooms there, so please everyone ignore I said that.


"Why not take the head out of the Walkabout and then use that as a preamp into the PA?"

Ah - now can I do this? Can I run it without a speaker load? the di level is linked to the volume knob, so It's not possible to have everything going out to di only.


Also, thanks for the advice everyone, I'm going to check out everything mentioned.

[skankdelvar]

[quote name='odub' post='399689' date='Feb 4 2009, 08:51 AM']"Why not take the head out of the Walkabout and then use that as a preamp into the PA?"

Ah - now can I do this? Can I run it without a speaker load? the di level is linked to the volume knob, so It's not possible to have everything going out to di only.[/quote]

If you want to go this route, you may want something like a DI box with a dummy load and a speaker sim, e.g the H&K red Box - here's a review which kinda explains it and some of the issues -

[url="http://www.houstonmusicreviews.com/GearReview/redbox/hughesandkettnerredbox.htm"]http://www.houstonmusicreviews.com/GearRev...ttnerredbox.htm[/url]

Maybe not the best example as it's said to be for guitar and the speaker cab sim is a 4x12 IIRC - I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can point you at a bass-relevant model somewhere

Edited February 4, 2009 by skankdelvar

[alexclaber]

[quote name='odub' post='399689' date='Feb 4 2009, 08:51 AM']"Why not take the head out of the Walkabout and then use that as a preamp into the PA?"

Ah - now can I do this? Can I run it without a speaker load? the di level is linked to the volume knob, so It's not possible to have everything going out to di only.[/quote]

Yes, absolutely, no additional equipment required. The only heads that cannot run without a speaker load are those with valve power sections (i.e. damn big and heavy heads) or with output transformers on s/s power sections (solely the Jonas Hellborg sig models). Plug bass in as usual, adjust EQ and gains/master as usual but then just connect the DI or line out to the PA system. Sorted!

Alex

[odub]

[quote name='alexclaber' post='399823' date='Feb 4 2009, 11:46 AM']Yes, absolutely, no additional equipment required. The only heads that cannot run without a speaker load are those with valve power sections (i.e. damn big and heavy heads) or with output transformers on s/s power sections (solely the Jonas Hellborg sig models). Plug bass in as usual, adjust EQ and gains/master as usual but then just connect the DI or line out to the PA system. Sorted!

Alex[/quote]


SOLD!

[lateralus462]

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='399814' date='Feb 4 2009, 11:33 AM']If you want to go this route, you may want something like a DI box with a dummy load and a speaker sim, e.g the H&K red Box - here's a review which kinda explains it and some of the issues -

[url="http://www.houstonmusicreviews.com/GearReview/redbox/hughesandkettnerredbox.htm"]http://www.houstonmusicreviews.com/GearRev...ttnerredbox.htm[/url]

Maybe not the best example as it's said to be for guitar and the speaker cab sim is a 4x12 IIRC - I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can point you at a bass-relevant model somewhere[/quote]

Surely you could hire just a cab from the rehearshal room and just take the head from your walkabout along - should be a bit cheaper. That way you can keep your combo at home and it shouldn't be as expensive as hiring a whole amp and also you don't have to buy any new gear.

Actually I just checked the Joint's hire prices and you can hire an Ampeg 8 x 10 for 1 pound an hour!! that seems super reasonable to me. [url="http://www.thejoint.org.uk/equipment_pa_hire.asp"]http://www.thejoint.org.uk/equipment_pa_hire.asp[/url] (I assume this is the place you're using?)

Edited February 4, 2009 by lateralus462

[odub]

[quote name='lateralus462' post='399833' date='Feb 4 2009, 11:56 AM']Surely you could hire just a cab from the rehearshal room and just take the head from your walkabout along - should be a bit cheaper. That way you can keep your combo at home and it shouldn't be as expensive as hiring a whole amp and also you don't have to buy any new gear.

Actually I just checked the Joint's hire prices and you can hire an Ampeg 8 x 10 for 1 pound an hour!! that seems super reasonable to me. [url="http://www.thejoint.org.uk/equipment_pa_hire.asp"]http://www.thejoint.org.uk/equipment_pa_hire.asp[/url] (I assume this is the place you're using?)[/quote]

This is a very fair point, I porbably should have checked the cost of just a cab.

Y'know, basschat advice amounting to keep your money in your pocket - what are the chances?

He's me plan

Plan A - Lug the amp down first time, see if I can move my arms afterwards.
Plan B - Lug the Head down, rent a cab, the biggest one I can get for a pound.
Plan C - Look into the Di/preamp thing with the suggestions above.

[dannybuoy]

I wouldn't bother with putting a DI across the speaker outputs unless you're trying to capture the sound of power tubes. As far as I know, the Walkabout has a solid state power section, so the post-EQ DI output should sound the same as if you'd hooked up a DI to the speaker outputs. Also, if you ever try doing that, make sure you have a cab in paralell with the DI to soak up the power, or will fry it.

[dannybuoy]

Also, get a folding luggage cart, it'll make your life a lot easier!