Rant: Mandatory use of provided backlines.

[RockStarNick]

So, my band (as well as Jaded Fath's band) are in the Semi Final rounds of a NJ Battle of the Bands. Great, right?

Well, we were just informed that ALL bands have to use the provided backline. As is. No substitutions.

For guitar, they have:
- Marshall 30 Watt Artist Head with a 4x12.
- Peavey "multi use" amp with a 12 inch celestion.

I've played thru Marshall Artists. Every piece of shit rehearsal studio has them, and they suck. Probably the tinniest, thinnest, screechiest worst marshalls I've ever heard. And a Peavey "multi use" amp? What other uses? Can I use it as a toilet, because taking a dump into that "12 inch celestion" will probably sound better than attempting to play guitar thru it.

We're still gonna play the show. But this just kinda sucks. I have a beautiful $3K Egnater amp rig, well over $1K in my floorboard, and I have to use an amp that probably couldn't sell for $75 at a pawn shop.



Better go get a nice Boss DS1...

 

[EWSEthan]

I understand they are trying to keep the night moving fast and make the sound guy's job easy and all, but at the very least can we have a backline of gear that anyone has actually heard of? Whether it's cheap, sounds like total garbage or not, I dont even know if these "amps" have 2 channels? High gain? Man, even give me some piece of crap like a JCM 900. At least I know what that IS.

 

[RockStarNick]

Maybe 2 Crate 2x12 combos?

How about some Valvestates?

Maybe something made in the last, oh I dunno, TWENTY YEARS!!!!!

Honestly, I have half a mind to buy some sort of Line6 POD pedalboard and go direct.

 

[blackba]

I hear what you are saying it sucks to have a cool rig you built and know how to get your tones out of and not use it. I am in a similar position of having to use the provided amps, but it also means not hauling as much gear. For me its a line 6 spider (not sure if its 1 or 2).

The Marshall Artist amps are not that bad. I actually like their crunch sound, they clean does leave alot to be desired, but I can think of much worse amps (like the Crate Blue Voodoo). I think its interesting you usually see Marshall artist amps in studios, that is surprising...

 

[EWSEthan]

I hear what you are saying it sucks to have a cool rig you built and know how to get your tones out of and not use it. I am in a similar position of having to use the provided amps, but it also means not hauling as much gear. For me its a line 6 spider (not sure if its 1 or 2).

The Marshall Artist amps are not that bad. I actually like their crunch sound, they clean does leave alot to be desired, but I can think of much worse amps (like the Crate Blue Voodoo). I think its interesting you usually see Marshall artist amps in studios, that is surprising...

Is the artist footswitchable? High Gain channel?

 

[blackba]

I hear what you are saying it sucks to have a cool rig you built and know how to get your tones out of and not use it. I am in a similar position of having to use the provided amps, but it also means not hauling as much gear. For me its a line 6 spider (not sure if its 1 or 2).

The Marshall Artist amps are not that bad. I actually like their crunch sound, they clean does leave alot to be desired, but I can think of much worse amps (like the Crate Blue Voodoo). I think its interesting you usually see Marshall artist amps in studios, that is surprising...

Is the artist footswitchable? High Gain channel?

As I remember it is. Been about 5 or 6 years since I have heard one. I liked the crunch better than the Marshall DSL401 I had at the time, which surprised me. Its not like the DSL401 is that highly thought of though....

 

[SkyhighRocks]

As I remember it is. Been about 5 or 6 years since I have heard one. I liked the crunch better than the Marshall DSL401 I had at the time, which surprised me. Its not like the DSL401 is that highly thought of though....

Yes it is, I had one for a year or so. Great little amp and LOUD for 30 watts. I used it on a ton of gigs and I know Billy Morris used them to tour with Warrant. He got his to sound godly.

 

[glassjaw7]

Try to get your hands on an Axe-FX and buy the sound guy a couple drinks or give him a bit of cash, talk him into running you direct. Don't tell the other bands

No but really, that sucks man. Setup time for the sound guy and crew should take a back seat here to the needs of the bands involved. It's a friggin battle of the bands, not open mic night at a coffee shop!

 

[bds9487]

I've programmed my PODxT just for those kinds of situations. If I'm forced to use some other amp I use the POD into the front or the FX loop of whatever amp is there. Not as good as using my own gear, but workable.

 

[RockStarNick]

It's a friggin battle of the bands, not open mic night at a coffee shop!

Amen, brother.

Well, I still have to figure out what to do with my "Peavey multi use amp."

 

[Mokaccino]

I was in the same position this past saturday, backline amp was a Fender De Ville or sumtin like that... Got a couple of stomp boxes out and played the damn thing. We made it through the finals. The big night is august 1st, 5 bands war battle. Can't wait!

 

[rupe]

It sucks that you have to use their equipment, but I actually like the Artist 3203 a lot...it was my main amp from '86-'88 and I still have it for studio work. The clean tone is much better after snipping off one of the caps (I can't recall which one off the top of my head) and the dirty tones are great...very thick and full. If you think they are "buzzy", you played a bad one or played it through some poor speakers.

Good luck!

 

[RockStarNick]

Maybe the one that I used at the rehearsal studio was broken.

I thought the artist was the ones with the solid state preamp, tube power amp... that's what I played thru. what are those called?

 

[rsm]

Sounds like you need a good modeler assuming your generic PV has a decent clean channel. I've heard good things about the DigiTech 1101. I have a Vox ToneLab LE that I think is very good for my needs and the price (these are going for much less on evilbay these days), then there's the Nova System (which is designed to work in front of an amp, not a PA). The Nova System would be my first low-cost choice for a MFX in front of an amp (though I wish it had a loop to separate pre ad post effects in the chain!)

Not sure how well they work in front of an amp, as I use them direct to my active PA system (Bose L1), but the Tech 21 Character Series pedals sound very close (for pedals) to the "spirit" of the amp brands they imitate. I have the Liverpool (Vox AC30 TB) and British (early Marshall JTM-45, Plexi, even JCM-800). At $150 new, one of these (they have Fender and Mesa versions too) they may be your cheapest option. There are youtube vids using these pedals with various dirt pedals (Tim, Dirty Little Secret,...) and some compressors and delays, etc. so I'd say the Character Series pedals take pedals well. I'm building a small direct board around my Liverpool and British (looking for the right dirt pedal to complete it as I write this)

At least something that can help you shape your tone better, and have a few tone choices.

My $0.02 worth.

Good luck in the BOTB contest!

 

['63-Strat]

It does suck, but on the other hand the other bands all have to use the same stuff too, leaving it more about the playing than the gear. I'd bring an EQ pedal and a boost, if you don't already have those on your pedal board and try to dial them in as well as you can with the time available.

 

[rupe]

Maybe the one that I used at the rehearsal studio was broken.

I thought the artist was the ones with the solid state preamp, tube power amp... that's what I played thru. what are those called?

You got it...that's the Artist Series. 3203 is the head, 4203 is the 1x12 combo.

 

[sebby123]

I was in the same position this past saturday, backline amp was a Fender De Ville or sumtin like that... Got a couple of stomp boxes out and played the damn thing. We made it through the finals. The big night is august 1st, 5 bands war battle. Can't wait!

Fender Devilles are by no means a bad amp, Not your uber tight metal amp but with a nice 4x12 they can sound very very good, I used to use one with my beloved 1970's orange 4x12 my guitarist still owns his

 

[Mokaccino]

I was in the same position this past saturday, backline amp was a Fender De Ville or sumtin like that... Got a couple of stomp boxes out and played the damn thing. We made it through the finals. The big night is august 1st, 5 bands war battle. Can't wait!

Fender Devilles are by no means a bad amp, Not your uber tight metal amp but with a nice 4x12 they can sound very very good, I used to use one with my beloved 1970's orange 4x12 my guitarist still owns his

Oh I'm not saying they are bad amps. At first I thought "shit..." but during soundcheck and slapping my OCD in front, I thought the amp sounded stellar. I'm not the "Uber type" anyways, my main amp being a Traynor YCS90 2 x 12 combo. With that Deville, my OCD and my Hotcake, I nailed anything I wanted with clarity and definition. I truly enjoyed my evening with the Fender. I will be using it again during the finals.

 

[degenaro]

Try to get your hands on an Axe-FX and buy the sound guy a couple drinks or give him a bit of cash, talk him into running you direct. Don't tell the other bands

No but really, that sucks man. Setup time for the sound guy and crew should take a back seat here to the needs of the bands involved. It's a friggin battle of the bands, not open mic night at a coffee shop!

A battle of the band IS the band equivalent to open mic at the coffee house!
That sai as much as using rental backline sucks, might as well get used to it. I've used a redknob Twin on more gigs than I can remember.

 

[Gainiac]

In a battle of the bands sitch I could see how they might want to level the playing field, how can you do 'battle' without your weapons??
Some guys cultivate their tone as much as their technique and that 'comfort factor' playing on your gear, your able to pull 100% of your best stuff from has got to be better than playing at 80% on someone elses burnt out rental crap.
Maybe if enuff bands refuse to play places like this the trend will change... forcing someone to endure strange and crummy gear cause the sound guys too fkn busy to soundck. everyone? what kinda shit is that?