Experiences with Wet/Dry Rigs? Worth it?

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Hey guys!

My main amp is currently a Boogie Roadster...Love it, and it does all the main tones I need. Sadly, I've come to realize I like the tones it puts out MUCH better when the loop is bypassed....hence, no effects loop.

I'm not a huge effects guy...but I do like to use some delay on my cleans and leads. I might find myself experimenting with more, but at the moment, ALL I use is delay.

So, I'm thinking about running the line out of the Roadster into a smaller SS power amp, and send that signal into two separate cabs, and do a W/D/W setup.

Have you guys found that this is worth it? In my case, would you get a full processor, like a G major, to run many effects, or something simpler like a Timefactor, to cover the effects I KNOW I need.

Is there another, simpler way that you guys see that I could get some delay into my setup? Part of me feels like the wet rig is a big addition for just some delays....

Appreciate your input!

Eric

 

[Shark Diver]

Well my take is that if you are already questioning the "big addition" and you don't really like that many fx it probably won't be worth it to you. It rocks like nothing else, but that doesn't mean it is worth any extra $ or gear hauling to everyone.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

I don't mind hauling the gear....it just seems like a lot to add just to add a little delay...but in the end, I don't see another way or doing it since I don't want to use the loop on my amp.

Any insight would be great

 

[glpg80]

Well my take is that if you are already questioning the "big addition" and you don't really like that many fx it probably won't be worth it to you. It rocks like nothing else, but that doesn't mean it is worth any extra $ or gear hauling to everyone.

well said.

the biggest question is how full of a sound do you want. a 1x12 versus a 4x12 - the 1x12 will be great for micing and low volume/mid volume stuff, where a 4x12 will give you a much fuller and surrounded live tone and more powerful sound overall.

its really an awsome experience you either want to see for yourself and will fork over the investment to do so, or you wont bother at all.

once i experienced W/D/W the power and fullness and headroom was just nothing short of awsome. made playing guitar 3x more fun

 

[Sixstring]

Nothing like a w/d/w rig but the whole stereo thing with the effects is somewhat pointless for a mono PA system so it's more of a you thing. But if that's all it is and you have the extra funds to set it up, I would do it.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

If you guys don't mind, if you believe it would be a good idea, what are the pieces I would be looking for?

My dry tone is the Roadster into 2 Mills 4x12s.

What power amp? Processor? Cabs (PA style, or guitar cabs)?

Appreciate it!

 

[glpg80]

If you guys don't mind, if you believe it would be a good idea, what are the pieces I would be looking for?

My dry tone is the Roadster into 2 Mills 4x12s.

What power amp? Processor? Cabs (PA style, or guitar cabs)?

Appreciate it!

edit: heres a link to the w/d/w topic - its pretty extensive and would be right on topic for you

i went ahead and searched for you - it was a little harder to find than i expected it to be.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=54258&hilit=everything+about+w+d+w

it will answer alot of those questions

i sent you a PM about what i would do. but there are alot of options for setting up W/D/W rigs

 

[prsdiezel]

Eventide Timefactor if you want killer amazing delay. Plus the Mesa sounds better with it also.

The g major does more effects but it sucks/colors some tone out of the amp/loop.

thats IMO

 

[chunktone]

Roadster>THD Hotplate>Mills Cabs.
From Hotplate line out>AxFx or TC 2290>VHT 2150>2 Mills Cabs per side=

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

^The Roadster actually has a built in line out, so no need for the hot plate

 

[Shark Diver]

Roadster>THD Hotplate>Mills Cabs.
From Hotplate line out>AxFx or TC 2290>VHT 2150>2 Mills Cabs per side=

glpg80 - thanks for the kind words bro.

W/D/W - I'd use the Suhr iso line out rather than the Hot plate or amp line out. My experience it sounds better. YMMV (But the above setup would rock.) To me it really depends on whether you are going to run any dry in the wet which would be better HotPlate/Suhr/Amp line out. The more dry in the wet, the more I prefer the Suhr. Lots of guys run about 15% dry. Watch for phasing issues. Play with it.

The VHT would be a big amp for just fx. But if you add a mixer to that, slave the Mesa amp, and run stereo it would sound huge. How much you get from slaving would depend on how much of your tone is from power tube saturation. If its mostly pre, then slaving isn't going to help much.

Something I'm playing with now for saving some space is two 4x12s - (each cab) 2 speakers dry, lower outside corner wet and one speaker missing for a detuned cab. You still get the separation and it keeps your ohms correct, plus the detuned cab sounds great depending on what type of tone you are after.

Million ways to run things - it is up to you what your budget/hauling/space/ease requirements are. My rig last Fri:

 

[King Guitar]

I am a huge gan of w/d/w and my main rig is just that. It is totally worth it imo.

My rig is the following:

Bogner XTC 20th Anniv
Friedman Marsha (inbound)

--> Egnater Head Switcher
--> TC Electronics 2290 Delay
--> TC Electronics G Major 2
--> ISP Decimator Stereo
--> Voodoo Labs GCX
--> Pedal Drawer with Flanger, Phaser, Various Boosts and Overdrives.
--> H&H V800 Stereo Mosfet Power Amp

Cabs --> Currently using 3 Marshall 4x12 HW cabs (Center dry, Left and Right Wet). Have Bogner Cabs Inbound with Scumback M75s.

 

[dfrattaroli]

If you guys don't mind, if you believe it would be a good idea, what are the pieces I would be looking for?

If money is no object: An Axe Ultra for FX only. Slave out of the Roadster to the Axe. Axe stereo outs to a SS power amp and feed those outputs to 2 more 2x12 cabs (if you're using both 4x12s). If you're using only 1 4x12, then a pair of 1x12 cubes would be fine.

If you think about it, you're 3-4 spaces of rack gear and 2 small cabs. Not alot of extra gear.

 

[ttosh]

Nothing like a w/d/w rig but the whole stereo thing with the effects is somewhat pointless for a mono PA system so it's more of a you thing. But if that's all it is and you have the extra funds to set it up, I would do it.

Just to add to this, even with a Mono PA you still get the benefit of your dry tone being unaffected by fx loops i the amp and you get to mic your dry tone as is if that sounds better to you. Stage volume and fullness is the big effect of course, and nothing feels more wide open and huge than a W/D/W behind you!!! IMHO

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I have been looking at the suhr iso box for a while now trying to decide how I will Implement my w/d/w.

Is there any other device like this out there or is the suhr literally the only one?

I have been googling for a week and cant find another that is transformer isolated or doesn't include speaker simulation.

 

[mixohoytian]

for the last year I
ve been getting a wet dry rig together
not even a wet dry wet
and I'm getting scared at the idea of hauling all this gear around

I think I'll prefer a single 2x12, always wet....

truth is, you will need your own mixer and 3 mics
mix your own signal and send the feeds to the house engineer

otherwise you probably will only be offered one or 2 mics from the house engineer

 

[moltenmetalburn]

truth is, you will need your own mixer and 3 mics
mix your own signal and send the feeds to the house engineer

this should be A W/D/W sticky. pretty much goes without saying, i see no way around it unless your HUGE and the soundguy is yours...