2 reasons why a large guitar rig doesn't bother you

[markD]

I have a Marshall 112 or a Mesa 212 that are my 'gig rig' cabinets.

i no longer own any 4X12 cabs. late last year i decided all i REALLY needed was a 2X12 cab on stage. i still have a pair of 1X12 rivera cabs and the good 'ol 2X10 cab (LOVE IT), but i gig the 2X12.

[jgcable]

i no longer own any 4X12 cabs. late last year i decided all i REALLY needed was a 2X12 cab on stage. i still have a pair of 1X12 rivera cabs and the good 'ol 2X10 cab (LOVE IT), but i gig the 2X12.

The only reason I use a 4 x 12 is because of the tight thump I get out of it. It also has casters and it doesn't take up anymore floor space than my 2 x 12 does.
My show rig consists of...
Mesa Single Recto head
Peavey 5150 4 x 12 cab
Boss GT8 on the floor in the loop of the Mesa for volume boost, channel switching for the Mesa, tuner and effects only
Morley wah

I can set it up in about 10 minutes and it always sounds great.

I have been using the GT8 instead of a traditional pedal board for about a year now. Couldn't be happier. Totally transparent and the amp control channel switching feature on it is very useful.

[jgcable]

i no longer own any 4X12 cabs. late last year i decided all i REALLY needed was a 2X12 cab on stage. i still have a pair of 1X12 rivera cabs and the good 'ol 2X10 cab (LOVE IT), but i gig the 2X12.

The only reason I use a 4 x 12 is because of the tight thump I get out of it. It also has casters and it doesn't take up anymore floor space than my 2 x 12 does.
My show rig consists of...
Mesa Single Recto head
Peavey 5150 4 x 12 cab
Boss GT8 on the floor in the loop of the Mesa for volume boost, channel switching for the Mesa, tuner and effects only
Morley wah

I can set it up in about 10 minutes and it always sounds great.

I have been using the GT8 instead of a traditional pedal board for about a year now. Couldn't be happier. Totally transparent and the amp control channel switching feature on it is very useful.

[sambencuda]

My typical rig is not much different from John's. Engl Fireball 60 through a Marshall 1960AV with a G-Major in the loop for channel switching and boost and some delay. I have a small pedal board with the typical stuff. This rig suites me fine. I've actually removed the G-major recently to send back for a repair and to tell you the truth, I may leave it out. I did 3 gigs two weeks ago without it and I'm kinda digging it. the fireball has 2 master volumes and I just used the Z4 to switch. From time to time I consider going to a 2x12, but nothing sounds as good as the 4 V30's in that cab. I can set up and tear down quickly and it all fits in my jeep so why bother changing. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Thanatopsis]

#1. You rarely if ever play live so carting it isn't an issue

#2. You have roadies.

#3 Give a friend a little weed to carry your shit for you

[AdRock]

Did everyone forget about PUTTING ON A SHOW? That's part of the deal. A 1x12 combo may sound great, but man...boring!

Umm, do you sit and watch the guys amp all night?

I've always thought the show came from the musicians, not the gear sitting behind them.If it's a band that I like and want to see thne they could play in front of a blank Black backdrop and I would enjoy it just as much as some huge stage set.

[walshula]

Umm, do you sit and watch the guys amp all night?

.

If you're gear whore like me you do. Checking out other musicians equipment gets me off like a good porn

[ZL1hawk]

Ya know, to be honest I don't remember much about the musicians I saw live. I was keeping an eye out for security so me and my friends could smoke weed, chase girls, get in to fights, dodge flying chairs, hit the pit, and so on. In fact I don't think I've ever seen a musician in all my life. I did, and still do, have a lot of gear though but I always liked doing shows and I had fun in bands so I never cared.

[Shawn Lutz]

I'd gig with 2 half stacks if I had the room on stage and basic effects for clean stuff, every thing else is straight in. I couldnt run through a million pieces of gear when I don't need a million different tones. Just chorus, delay, harmonizer on cleans and variance in levels of gain on the rhythm / lead channels...doesnt get simpler than that. Dunno how I could deal with 5-6 rows of buttons to dance on...

[jgcable]

I am not even using the GT-8 anymore. Just my Single Recto, 4 x 12 5150 cab, and on the floor I have the 2 button Mesa footswitch, a chorus, flange and wah pedal out in front of the amp. I have a nice little Rocktron Cybog Digital delay in the loop sitting on top of the amp for just a splash of delay. That's my entire rig. I am not using the GT-8 anymore because at a recent gig it got weird on me and I couldn't figure out what happened until I got home and discovered that some how one of the global settings got changed. For smaller shows I use an original 60w Peavey Triple X 1 x 12 combo with the exact same set up plugged into it. That's a fantastic little combo btw....

[veemagic]

Well, at least I learned what John thinks is NOT a large rig! Seriously though, when this thread started I didn't expect you to be playing what you are playing. I know you say on the smaller shows you are playing the 1x12 combo, but hell your playing half stack with some pedals. To me thats a normal set-up. Not to big, not to small. My other guitar player thinks thats nuts, and only will play through a combo. Figures he'll let the PA do all the work. He just doesn't get it. I honestly thought this thread would be the same type of opinion. But you know John, all you have to do is get an Axe Fx and a FRFR and you could downsize a ton!

[slo100]

I still drag out a 4x12 and 100W head even though it really is not necessary and as mentioned above...most don't care. If I'm going to make the effort to learn songs, rehearse with the band, go through the logistics of booking gigs, and then load/travel/setup/play/teardown/travel/unload I'm going to use the tools that make me happy and at the end of the day...things I've invested $ in that I don't care to have hanging in the basement permanently. There are some rooms that are not the best for 1/2 stacks so I'll take the combo out for those.

[chrisolson]

If you're gear whore like me you do. Checking out other musicians equipment gets me off like a good porn

Yep. Rig is part of the show.

[roodyrocker]

4x12 vs 2x12 vs combo is not an issue of how big or small the club is. For me it depends on stage space. If we're playing a small club but there is enough stage space for a 4x12, that's what I bring. Most of the time we are running the amps through Palmer DI boxes to the PA and master volume ends up on about 1. Depending on the venue we've pointed the guitar cabs across stage instead of at the audience or, in some instances against the back wall. Whatever it takes to get the right mix for us on stage and out front through the PA.

[AdRock]

Depending on the venue we've pointed the guitar cabs across stage instead of at the audience or, in some instances against the back wall. Whatever it takes to get the right mix for us on stage and out front through the PA.

See, you are unfortunately a rare breed of guitar player. I'm the same with my rig. It's about what it takes to get the sound great out front for the people who paid to see the show.

I've been running sound for about 15 years and I've had plenty of tough nights with guys that bring a 412 and 100w head ( or more), points it right at the audience, and is mad because I won't let them leave it set at fuckin' 9. They have no idea the shit storm they're making they're band sound like, BUT, you know sure as hell that they'd bitch about going to a show for a band they liked and not being able to hear anything but drums if they were too loud.