Help me build a portable gig rig!

  • Thread starter Thread starter romanianreaper
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romanianreaper

romanianreaper

Well-known member
Since a lot of you guys gig and have gigged, I wanted to get your help. Im struggling to find a portable, great sounding, reasonably priced, portable rig.

I want something either solid state or modelling and just want to be able to grab a cab and have something small that I plug in. Would be great to have power and tone in one product.

Here is what im looking at:
- Hughes and Kettner Black Spirit 200 Floor
- Seymour Duncan Powerstage 200 with Helix, HXStomp, FM3, Boss Gx100 or GT1000, or others
- Amped 3
-Orange Gain or Dual Baby (had to send both due to popping with pedals but are great sounding and might go back)

These are what I've tried and didnt work for me:
- Bluguitar
- Boss Katana Combo (was getting squeal feedback)

If you guys gig with something else, would be great to hear about it. The Quad Cortex would be nice but a bit high for me. Im willing to hear about it though. One thing is id like to not have to do a ton of tweaking stuff. I don't need a ton of tones. Thanks!!
 
Heres a simple rig i use sometimes cause its small:
Peavey transtube I converted to a head.
Mesa thiele cab.
Guitar.
Openhaus distortion.
tuner pedal.
Eq pedal.
 
Friedman IR-D > Seymour Duncan Powerstage 200 > cab of your choice or DI to PA (or both at same time). Two pedals, done, sounds great. Throw a tuner in there too
 
* velcro-fly * said:
Friedman IR-D > Seymour Duncan Powerstage 200 > cab of your choice or DI to PA (or both at same time). Two pedals, done, sounds great. Throw a tuner in there too
Click to expand...
I had a Friedman IR-X and ir was ok but didn't completely love it but I didnt have a good power amp at the time. I need to look the IR-D up.
 
* velcro-fly * said:
Friedman IR-D > Seymour Duncan Powerstage 200 > cab of your choice or DI to PA (or both at same time). Two pedals, done, sounds great. Throw a tuner in there too
Click to expand...
Hey just curious, why the IR-D and not the other ones?
 
I went Kemper Stage with an FRFR cab in 2023. Switched to the Quad Cortex about a month ago. While I love my EVH 5150 III half stack, the modeling route has just become the norm for tribute bands in the Houston area. I do miss to raw power of a half stack behind me but getting my entire rig in and out of the venue in one trip is very nice. If I were to do another original band, I might consider bringing the big rig again, but for now, this just works.

Some of the venues we play actually prefer modelers to actual amps.
 
SFW said:
I went Kemper Stage with an FRFR cab in 2023. Switched to the Quad Cortex about a month ago. While I love my EVH 5150 III half stack, the modeling route has just become the norm for tribute bands in the Houston area. I do miss to raw power of a half stack behind me but getting my entire rig in and out of the venue in one trip is very nice. If I were to do another original band, I might consider bringing the big rig again, but for now, this just works.

Some of the venues we play actually prefer modelers to actual amps.
Click to expand...
Yeah i like using a cab and then having the option to go directly if needed.
 
romanianreaper said:
Since a lot of you guys gig and have gigged, I wanted to get your help. Im struggling to find a portable, great sounding, reasonably priced, portable rig.

I want something either solid state or modelling and just want to be able to grab a cab and have something small that I plug in. Would be great to have power and tone in one product.

Here is what im looking at:
- Hughes and Kettner Black Spirit 200 Floor
- Seymour Duncan Powerstage 200 with Helix, HXStomp, FM3, Boss Gx100 or GT1000, or others
- Amped 3
-Orange Gain or Dual Baby (had to send both due to popping with pedals but are great sounding and might go back)

These are what I've tried and didnt work for me:
- Bluguitar
- Boss Katana Combo (was getting squeal feedback)

If you guys gig with something else, would be great to hear about it. The Quad Cortex would be nice but a bit high for me. Im willing to hear about it though. One thing is id like to not have to do a ton of tweaking stuff. I don't need a ton of tones. Thanks!!
Click to expand...
I know you tried the Katana combo but if you're able to use a separate cab, the head is a really great sounding option. It's pretty easy to get usable tones out of it without plugging into the computer and tweaking. Plus it has an effects loop if you want to run any external effects. The squeal issue may be easily solved by adding in the internal noise gate. Having the foot switch for it enhances the flexibility as well.
 
I've been gigging for years with an FM3 split to FOH with IR and PS170 to Scumback loaded 2x12 for some stage volume.

Sounds great and 100% consistent in my IEM's, I'll never go back to using an amp live.
 
jski59 said:
I've been gigging for years with an FM3 split to FOH with IR and PS170 to Scumback loaded 2x12 for some stage volume.

Sounds great and 100% consistent in my IEM's, I'll never go back to using an amp live.
Click to expand...
Good to hear! I used to have an Axefx
 
Powered Kemper is an awesome form factor imho if you find some profiles that work.

But if you add the floor controller, then you might as well consider any of the floor modelers (FM9, Quad Cortex, Nano, ToneX, etc) and a power amp since it works out to the same number of gear pieces as a powered Kemper and floor board.
 
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