Simplified Live Rig!!

TwilightOdyssey

Darkness on the edge of Tone
I have to actually test this at rehearsal this Friday, but I've come up with a simplified live rig that I'm hoping I can use for the Lynch Mob show on Sunday. If it goes well at rehearsal, I will have a live rig that will fit in my back pack!!

1st off: why even bother with this, when I have three "full sized" rigs? The reason is because I don't have access to a vehicle for this gig, so I'll be taking the subway in for the gig. (Living in NYC, I don't own a car). The thought of bringing a head on a cart thru the subway does not fill me with much happiness ... I've done it before, but by the time I get to the venue, I'm exhausted. So, as they say desperate times call for desperate measures.

So, what is this rig? Simply, it's just my Engl 540 preamp! Engl preamps come with a 1.5W SS power amplifier, so that you can plug directly into a cab for practice situations.

I tested the rig out last night. Here's the way I set it up:
Gtr --> Engl 540 --> FX Loop to Fulltone Full-Drive 2 (for solo boost) --> 4x12 cabinet.

The biq question is: WILL THIS BE LOUD ENOUGH? The short answer is: YES!
Going into the 4x12, the volume is easily loud enough to play a gig like Sunday, where the guitars are being reinforced, the sound man knows what he's doing, and the venue is small.

The downside: The sound is very dark and compressed. Of course, I would expect zero dynamics using 1% of my normal wattage. Plus, without a big power supply sucking up all that current, the sound is going to lack dynamics right off the back.

The upside: A - The rig is portable: 2 boxes, 4 cables, and you're set! B - For this gig we're only playing high energy stuff; no clean guitars, so the restricted dynamics will work in my favour, instead of against it. C - It's very, very quiet! The signal:noise ratio is incredible!!

Playing the rig at home it got plenty loud. I will be testing it at rehearsal tonight, and will post a follow-up!
 
Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

Oh, btw ... this has not converted me from using 100W full stacks! It's just a clever way around this particular problem (I hope it's clever, anyway) ...
 
Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

1.5 watts? Are you sure? I'd hate to show up for "the gig of your life" and have a rig that can't cut it. I'm sure you know what you're doing, but I certainly wouldn't go f**king with a good thing.
 
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Could you rent a cab? I mean, a taxi?

Well buddy, if I were in driving distance, I'd give you a lift. With the back seat folded down we could at least load a half-stack in there.
 
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The club has a back line provided already, so all I have to do is plug into their 4x12.
I would never play a show unless I was 1,000% certain it would work, which is why the trial by fire will be Friday night at rehearsal. If the Engl can't handle it, I'll have to bring a full-sized head to the show.
As for taking a Taxi, Matt -- with the recent fare hike here in NYC, a taxi would run me about $40 to get from my house to the venue, excluding bridge tolls!! I'd rather save the $$ for the ride home ...
 
Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

TwilightOdyssey said:
The club has a back line provided already, so all I have to do is plug into their 4x12.
I would never play a show unless I was 1,000% certain it would work, which is why the trial by fire will be Friday night at rehearsal. If the Engl can't handle it, I'll have to bring a full-sized head to the show.
As for taking a Taxi, Matt -- with the recent fare hike here in NYC, a taxi would run me about $40 to get from my house to the venue, excluding bridge tolls!! I'd rather save the $$ for the ride home ...
Still man its the gig of your life!!! But you have a good point, thats alot of money just to get you there.. Good Luck With The Show and the Rig.. :laugh2:
 
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Hehe, thanx, Steve!
I'll be reporting back after rehearsal and let you all know how it works in the real world! :)
 
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It might work but it's all up to your drummer. If you have a real one (a beast) then he will kill your volume, especially in a small club. If for any miracle 1.5W works, you've just made for yourself a micro-rig :) If you combine it with a 1U-high rackmount power amp (your rig then is just 2U high with the 540) it will definitely work in any situation. If you add a bycicle and 2 1x12" cabs to the rig you don't even have to pay for a subway ticket ;)
 
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i used to have 1x12 cabs and i dont think there is any way you could carry them on a bike. mine were mesa and big and heavy. im curious as to how this turns out.
can a 1.5w amp cut it????
 
Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

I know exactly what your saying. Just humping a small combo & guitar
w/t a backpack gig bag aroung in the NYC subway is a Mother****er.
I did it ever other sunday playing at my cousin's open jam at a place
called Tobacco road in hell's kittchen. I was wondering?? How is the
rest of your band getting it's gear to the gig?? I did a gig downtown
on Hudson st. a few years ago. The band chiped in an rented one of
them Ryder or hertz vans. Bettween 5 guys it was like $25 a man.
And no toll if you take the williamsburg br. :D Justa idea?

BTW, Yeah... parking sucks :smack:
 
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Dude, parking is the WORST in Soho! How did you do with a truck?!!
Drummer and guitarist have cars - but live nowhere near me.
Bass rig is provided.
Tobacco Road is a cool little spot, KMC. Next time you're there, lemme know! I'll throw a few down with ya!!! :D
 
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good luck! unfortunately, my dad cant take me on sunday and i dont have a ride. f*cking licence.


anywho, sounds like an interesting idea.....does it kill your tone at all though?
 
Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

good luck at the practice for me I would rather pay the $40 bucks if I could afford it...
if not I would just go with the pramp in a backpack idea and live with the tone.

my .02 cents
chris
 
Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

xerxes said:
good luck! unfortunately, my dad cant take me on sunday and i dont have a ride. f*cking licence.
anywho, sounds like an interesting idea.....does it kill your tone at all though?
It compresses it, of course, because 1W isn't a lot in the way of dynamics. Other than that, it's a bit gainier than I would normally use.
 
Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

sounds awesome!!

look at you...



,...with your kickass gear!!!!

IM JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!! :yell:

:D
 
Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

I'd personally do whatever it took to get my #1 head to a gig supporting Lynch. Take a deep breath, sit down, and think of all the possible options you have for getting it to the gig. Can you get it to the venue early?
 
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Good luck! That's pretty clever, but are you shure?
If I were you I'd take no risk and bring my own rig into a cab. Shure it costs ya but this is the gig of your life!
Shure it's all for the fun but wouldn't you still try to impress them a little? Can't do that without your own signature tone... ;)
 
Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

Nightburst said:
Can't do that without your own signature tone... ;)
Heh ... I've learned that as long as people can hear you, and you have a decent tone, no one will sweat the details.
 
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Re: Simplified Live Rig!!

George is gonna have 2 stacks, and you have a rig that looks equally good.
Your band has GOT to have at least one friend who will drive'ya. :smack:
Always make friends with homely female fans with SUV's. :laugh2:
 
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