Hey ya’ll!

It’s been awhile, I know.  I apologize for the lack of blogging.

This blog is all about my new rig.  I am a total gear head, and I am so excited to be making some serious updates to my pedalboard and live-performance gear. I’m starting off with the essentials that will help me achieve the sound and tone I’m looking for, and that will make life a little easier for our sound engineers. So, without further ado, I’ll explain the additions to my rig and why I’m choosing to add them.

Boss Chromatic Tuner:

A good tuner is one of the most essential elements to a rig. After all, being in tune with everyone else on stage is really important. I chose Boss, because they are a brand that I trust that doesn’t break the bank.  I played with a tuner for awhile that wouldn’t mute me; I love that the Boss Chromatic tuner offers the muting option so I won’t be heard tuning in between songs or when the artist is speaking. The construction of the pedal is solid and will withstand a lot of use and abuse. This pedal is crucial to any rig. Price: $100

Boss LMB-3 Bass Compressor/Enhancer:

I love what I do and what I play; and I’m not afraid to say that I get a little too excited sometimes.  Thus, I sometimes pull or hit a string a little too hard, which produces a really dissatisfying pop and grumble that is not attractive to the ears… not to mention the Front-of-House speakers. Having a compressor in my rig makes my sound more consistent and stops my bass from reaching a level that might distort (or worse yet, blow) a speaker.  I chose Boss, again, because it’s a brand that I trust. This compressor has a Level knob, an enhance knob, a ratio knob, and a threshold knob… all the basics.  I rarely use the Enhance Knob (I believe it’s designed to give back some of the highs and lows that may be squashed with the compression), but the rest of the design is simple and easy to use.  This great little compressor works exactly the way I need it to, and the difference in my sound is clearly noticeable.  Price: $80

Tech 21 SansAmp:

I’ve had a few shows recently where the venue didn’t want the stage volume to be too loud, so the sound engineer removed my bass cabinet and amp and took my signal directly from  a Tech 21 SansAmp (a preamp DI box with a bass driver, EQ controls, and tube amp emulation).  I liked the SansAmp instantly, because it’s a lot smaller and easier on my back to carry around than my big, bulky bass amp.  The sound man loved it, because he didn’t have to contend with my stage volume interfering with the mix (and let’s face it… a happy sound man is a happy band).  My regular bass amp does have a direct-out, and for shows where they take my signal from that, I only use my amp as a stage monitor.  But, when I use IEM’s (In-Ear Monitors) or have a good wedge monitor system available, it’s just as easy to get a good monitor mix and hear myself through them – and removes the need for an additional amp onstage, which just takes up valuable stage real estate. The SansAmp has: level, blend, bass, and drive knobs. Now, I can make my bass sound exactly the way I want it without lugging around my big amp, and make the sound man happy too – PERFECT WORLD!  Price: $200

Carvin UX16-BP UHF Wireless Receiver and Body Pack Transmitter:

Okay, Okay.  This isn’t REALLY necessary.  However… I WANT a wireless system! I’m tired of tripping on my cable when I’m trying to jam out with the band, and I want to be able to move freely on stage. Our sound man loves this idea, because it’s less cable on stage.  The OCD person inside me loves this, because less cable = prettier stage.  I looked into Carvin on a recommendation, and read nothing but great things about them online.  Carvin definitely seems to be a trusted brand and I like that. This system is probably a little more expensive than others, but I need something reliable, that I’m going to be able to use for many, many years. Price: $250

In conclusion, yes, some of these products are expensive.  That’s why I’m still without most of them.  I just bought an upright bass, so I need to save before doing much more with my rig. But, as a professional, it’s always a good idea to invest in your sound and have the tools necessary to create the tone you want.  Also, these are all NEW prices; I can definitely look into slightly used products or refurbished models.

If you have any recommendations or questions, please comment below.  As always, thank you for reading and have a lovely day!