Bass live rig

Bridgehouse

A few gigs in with new band and I'm looking to firm up and refine my live rig.

The EICH T1000 head is superb, and through the 2x10 Vanderkley cab is delivering plenty of power and volume (it's running 1000w into a 1200w cab at 4ohms)

So far, I am happy and I want to stick to a simple setup for ease. 

I am considering a fairly simple rack set up to house the T1000 and probably a 1u tuner. 

Here's the question - is it worthwhile going 4u and having a 1u space to put a preamp/effects or whatever in?

If the T1000 misses anything it's a bit of valve drive or something giving a bit of dirt. 

Thoughts on whether it's a good idea and if so what to put in would be appreciated - or just go 3u and leave it as the head and tuner?

John_P

Might be worth a bit of thought about what fx you might want first.  It would be a shame to buy a 4u and then discover a 2u effects box.    I keep my big rig simple - bass and amp, so I couldn't tell you what will give the grit you want but perhaps a small pedal board is an option that might be more flexible.

ICBM

If you haven't bought the tuner yet, do you want a rack one or would you like one of these?

https://static.roland.com/assets/images/products/gallery/tu_1000_angle_1_gal.jpg

All the advantages of a rack tuner with the big bright display, but at your feet where it's easier to use and mutes the signal.

By a strange coincidence I have one for sale…

(Not because it's no good, but because it won't fit on my pedalboard!)

If you really do want a rack tuner, get a 4U case. You're bound to want some other gadget sooner or later.

Bridgehouse

@ICBM - I'm trying to cut down on stuff that I have to take/carry - I'd only end up forgetting the floor mounted tuner at some point or other, hence the idea of a rack mounted tuner!

And I guess effect wise, I'm only after a bit of drive and grit - my initial thought was the 1u Tech 21 Sansamp RBI or something like that.. 

I am turning into a really trad player - no wacky effects. Just think my sound lacks some drive now and again...

Bridgehouse

Well I've done some more research. I think a preamp of some sort is in order.

The EICH T1000 has a power amp in, and a useful line level control on the front. This means I can pop a preamp in the rack with some dirt/valve or somesuch and then blend this into the clean from the t1000. This certainly seems possible with the sansamp as it has an unaffected through output.

One of the older Ampeg valve preamps would be great as an alternative, but I'm not sure they have an unaffected through output. 

More research needed. Any advice welcomed!

professorben

SansAmp?

How about the Boss BD-1x? 

Darkglass if you are feeling flush? 

Bridgehouse

professorben said:

SansAmp?

How about the Boss BD-1x? 

Darkglass if you are feeling flush? 

One of the Sansamp range is winning at the moment I think.

The dark glass is great, but it effectively replaces the head as well and I like the cleans and would love to blend them. The Sansamp, having unaffected through means I can blend. 

olafgarten

You can store the tuner in a drawer on the rack. 

Bridgehouse

olafgarten said:

You can store the tuner in a drawer on the rack. 

Interesting idea - do you just buy a rack drawer then?

fretmeister

DG M900 head 

Can blend clean and drive 

olafgarten

Bridgehouse said:

olafgarten said:

You can store the tuner in a drawer on the rack. 

Interesting idea - do you just buy a rack drawer then?

Yes, you can get something like this:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/thon_rackschublade_1he.htm

I use one in the same rack I have my Networking equipment and I use it to store my USB keys.

Bridgehouse

fretmeister said:

DG M900 head 

Can blend clean and drive 

Many pounds for some extra drive tho

And that would make the EICH a bit surplus tho wouldn't it?

olafgarten said:

Bridgehouse said:

olafgarten said:

You can store the tuner in a drawer on the rack. 

Interesting idea - do you just buy a rack drawer then?

Yes, you can get something like this:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/thon_rackschublade_1he.htm

I use one in the same rack I have my Networking equipment and I use it to store my USB keys.

Thanks for that - worth looking into

fretmeister

I ve got my Puma and the M900

Im not sure there can be a surplus of amps!

Bridgehouse

fretmeister said:

I ve got my Puma and the M900

Im not sure there can be a surplus of amps!

Lol, but in the same rack??

Bridgehouse

fretmeister said:

I ve got my Puma and the M900

Im not sure there can be a surplus of amps!

Out of interest - what cab are you feeding them in to?

fretmeister

A pair of Barefaced Retro One10 cabs.

Very happy with them. The retro series is more old fashioned than the regular line, which I find too middy.

TimmyO

ICBM said:

If you haven't bought the tuner yet, do you want a rack one or would you like one of these?

https://static.roland.com/assets/images/products/gallery/tu_1000_angle_1_gal.jpg

All the advantages of a rack tuner with the big bright display, but at your feet where it's easier to use and mutes the signal.

By a strange coincidence I have one for sale…

(Not because it's no good, but because it won't fit on my pedalboard!)

If you really do want a rack tuner, get a 4U case. You're bound to want some other gadget sooner or later.

ah, you're the one who bought one. 

(as in, 'the one person' rather than 'the person from this forum' :-) ) 

ICBM

TimmyO said:

ah, you're the one who bought one. 

(as in, 'the one person' rather than 'the person from this forum' :-) ) 

There must be at least two others, because I didn't buy it new and I know someone else with one!

It is absolutely brilliant as a tuner, and I really like the huge illuminated Boss logo on the back which is like a giant two-fingered salute to boutique pedal snobbery .

But it's so big I can't fit two rows of pedals in front of it on my board, which is a serious restriction - and it draws 350mA, which means it needs its own separate power supply since my normal one is only rated for 450mA total...

sgosden

I'll have a rack tuner, and sliding 1u drawer in the classifieds when I can be bothered to list them...

Musicman20

I'd opt for a Sansamp, maybe the BDDI V2 with the new mids control, or a VT Pedal. They both offer very nice dirt options.

I personally don't like the Darkglass take on dirt. But that is me.

hywelg

Never mind, didn't read your OP properly, thought you were looking for a new rig...