TGEvans Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 On sunday I saw an amazing punk / rock show in the Anson rooms Bristol. All four bands had problems with their wireless setups. Every time I have used one it always went down too. Anybody else not trust them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Me. No wires = witchcraft as far as I'm concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I use the Samson bass specifc bug and never had a problem tbh. If I use it at home in headphones I can hear hiss but it's fine in a more usual live situation. I'd like a more expensive unt but I love the practicality of the receiver sitting on my pedal board. Just one lead running back to my amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 CaBlEz RuLz! But seriously, I've heard great wireless systems. I've never wanted to use one - we all remember Spinal Tap - but our very own LukeWard used one to great effect when I saw him live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Depends on several factors....... Are they cheap far eastern units?? how much RF loss is there going to be in the venue.... Are the batteries in good check? Has the system been set up correctly....? I use wireless 90% of the time and rarely have issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Ditto. I have never had a serious wireless problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I used one on a tour...Sennheiser I think. Was fine for two shows, then it started playing up, dropping out etc on the 3rd show. One failure means back to cables in my book, can't afford to have unnecessary issues like that. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 cables FTW unless you're playing stupid big stages with ramps and you've spent £2k on the wireless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protium Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 How do your playing dynamics transfer through the system? I play with a lot of attack to get "my tone", but I can't see that coming through a wireless the same as a cable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I've been using wireless systems for the last 20-odd years. First was a cheap 'n' nasty single diversity thing from JHS. But not having that trailing lead around my feet really appealed to me, plus I like to move around the stage when and where possible. This led to my then purchasing a NADY 201 system which served me with no real problems for the next 15 years or so. I'm currently using a db system -- cheaper than the Nady but, again, works fine for me - apart from when I was doing a function in a large hotel and another party taking place in another suite complained my bass was coming through their DJ's speakers! Not entirely sure, but we suspected it might have been the hotel's own wireless Tannoy system switched on in both suites picking up my frequency. Who knew? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 never had any probs. I was in a 5 piece for 2 years and we were all using RF's (cept the drummer of course) and noone ever had probs with crosstalk or interference, and we never even bothered to check which channel numbers we were using or anything (must have just been lucky with that one though ). I always take a cable and stick it on the amp in case of emergencies, but i'd never go back to playing wired. It's much more fun to run about like a loon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tee Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Punk bands....Wireless systems. Hmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I had a Nady 201, great unit but the transmitter clip was awful, never stayed on, so gaffered up it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 what's wrong with cables? i've never tripped over one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 (edited) Without the luxury of a soundperson, I use wireless to listen to us during soundchecks from the back of the room and have never had a problem with interfer...."Lloyd, could you pick up Mrs Smith from Inkerman Street?" Edited October 13, 2009 by yorks5stringer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Good quality OBBM cables are the best option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whimsy23 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I've got an older Shure one, always worked fine. BUT, there's so little room on most of the stages I ever played on, I never really needed it and it wasn't worth setting it up when it takes seconds to plug a cable in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Wouldn't be without my Samson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3V17C Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I use an AKG wireless all the time - it has switchable frequencies so on the very rare chance of interference from something else a quick flick of a switch sorts it out. I move about alot on stage and it really does free you up - just a pity the guitarists in the band won't go wireless too! Some units do affect your sound, but my doesn't seem to have any issues like that at all. Like others have mentioned I always have a cable handy just in case but have never had to use it... (oh and i've got a OBBM cable from transmitter to bass!!) peace c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilb Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I still have an old nady 201 from about 15-20 yrs ago. Are they still legal to use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 [quote name='nash' post='625396' date='Oct 13 2009, 07:42 PM']what's wrong with cables? i've never tripped over one.[/quote] There's nothing wrong with cables at all. I use them sometimes but I prefer using the wireless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monz Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I have an AKG bug wireless system and it hasn't let me down yet and it's played lots of gigs, just waiting on my X2 being delivered as they are supposed to be even better/less colouration although to be honest I havent noticed that much with the AKG. I always have cables but if I leave the singer to do the soundcheck I am always too quiet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Started using a Samson plug in bug transmitter when I got into using midi bass pedals in a couple of bands, the normal lead always seemed to be getting stuck under a pedal and generally in the way. Never had any problems with the Samson unit except once at a works do when it mysteriously picked up the University's home grown radio station that must have been transmitting on a very odd frequency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Wireless for 20 years too.. Currently I use a Sennheiser EW172. Thousands of different frequencies available (most of them illegal now) and no drop off of signal or quality. The OP bands were probably all using legal licence free systems. (hey, I'm more punk than them ) We have 4 Sennheiser cheapo vocal mics and a bug guitar system that use those frequencies too. We can't use all 5 at once as the legal frequency band is so narrow something always messes with something else.... Why use them at all? Well we mix with the audience, I sound check and deliver our trademark Jelly Baby awards to the punters and I go walk about on the stage for off mic chats with the other front man ... even on small stages ... He;s down in teh punters a lot with his instruments and vocal mic .. We just couldn't do it the same way if we all had to stay on the stage.... It takes no time to set up as it's in my rack and all wired in anyway. In fact using a cable is more time consuming cos I have to remember how to do it and then to plug into my foot pedal string. And it gets under my feet, and I go walking off stage an take my rig with me ... Dave (OBBM) makes the finest short cables for bass to transmitter though Having said all that in my upright gig I use a wonderful and nostalgic Vox curly lead cos I do none of the above, I just stand there and play Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stingray5 Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 [quote name='neilb' post='625539' date='Oct 13 2009, 10:11 PM']I still have an old nady 201 from about 15-20 yrs ago. Are they still legal to use?[/quote] When my battery pack for my 201 broke some years ago, I went to see about getting it fixed and was informed that both the 201 and 101 were illegal. On a different note, another reason for going wireless is the extra safety of not being physically connected to my gear thus reducing (or even eliminating) the chance of electric shock etc. I've had one or two discussions with other muso types as to the validity of this argument and wondered if someone here could shed some definitive light on this. I've never had to (and would rather not) test the theory first hand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.