Rant: Mandatory use of provided backlines.

[Anonymous]

Sorry guys, but this is a great opportunity and not your typical "battle of the bands" to win 2 hours of studio time. Ours is one of 12 bands hand selected by one of the only rock stations left in the NY/NJ area to compete to open for a legendary band at 15,000 seat amphitheater in August. This is not something you walk away from due to tone snobbery. I was just looking for advice on how to best use the gear they're providing.

Jeez don't be sorry! I understand your motivation I think. Are you getting paid if you win? I mean it just seems like a lot of hoops/headache for something that is most likely rigged. Most of those radio sponsored events are won by payola. At least around here. I wish you guys the best. Good luck.

 

[rsm]

Well, this is just even more motivation to develop a "fly-gig" pedalboard.

Not that I'm *flying* anywhere... but having a pedalboard ready so I can plug into any amp and still sound decent.

Lets see. So far: Korg Pitchbloack > OCD > need a distortion pedal > RC-Booster for solos.

That'll do it for me. Just gotta find a distortion pedal.

Good luck with this! I've posted in another thread here that I'm looking for OD, Dist and Fuzz pedals for my "small" board and the choices are overwhelming IMO! Then there are the dirt pedals that blur the definitions: ya, know OD's that are more Disto, and vice versa, the combo pedals, geez! My head is spinning. At least you got some of this already, with the OCD and RC, please post what Disto pedal you get and why!

 

[eternal_idol]

my suggestion would be call the promoter.

get contacts for two guys. The stage manager, and the sound guy.

talk with them about it.

i doubt you will able to talk you whole rig into the show,
but atleast your amps mabye..

just an idea

Brae

 

[ke2]

my suggestion would be call the promoter.

get contacts for two guys. The stage manager, and the sound guy.

talk with them about it.

i doubt you will able to talk you whole rig into the show,
but atleast your amps mabye..

just an idea

Brae

Yeah! Shouldn`t be too much of a hassle for the sound guy to check the levels of another amp through the same cab.
Takes all of...a minute of master volume tweaking. Screw fine tuning, but at least play through an amp you know.
The combo is worse... You can`t just plug another head into that.

That`s why I bring my Pod XT pro. I can always plug it into the fx return of whatever amp there is, and seldom sound worse than the original provided backline, unless it is a really good amp

 

[EXPcustom]

my suggestion would be call the promoter.

get contacts for two guys. The stage manager, and the sound guy.

talk with them about it.

i doubt you will able to talk you whole rig into the show,
but atleast your amps mabye..

just an idea

Brae

I suggested this as well but they aint going to do shit unless you grease their palm as most of them are sleaze bags and like to do as little work as possible. Look at it as an investment in your future.

 

[Random Hero]

my suggestion would be call the promoter.

get contacts for two guys. The stage manager, and the sound guy.

talk with them about it.

i doubt you will able to talk you whole rig into the show,
but atleast your amps mabye..

just an idea

Brae

Yeah! Shouldn`t be too much of a hassle for the sound guy to check the levels of another amp through the same cab.
Takes all of...a minute of master volume tweaking. Screw fine tuning, but at least play through an amp you know.
The combo is worse... You can`t just plug another head into that.

But then the problem arises that if one gets to do it, every band will want to do it. And that means more minutes tweaking the sound. I say just take some pedals and play through the backline.

 

[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!

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.

I hear ya man. But some battles are quite big events and not at all like coffee shop shows. I'm no pro these days, but over the last 10 years I've played many gigs and actually played and won a battle of the bands.
I keep a simple pedal setup handy for situations like this so give me an amp with a decent clean channel and I'll make it work.

But some people rely heavily on their gear as it is their 'voice'. Imagine if U2 was an up and coming band and the Edge had to ditch his rig. He'd be screwed!

 

[stefvorcide]

That's lame... every band is gonna sound the same. I would not be happy at all !!

 

[vinceh]

my suggestion would be call the promoter.

get contacts for two guys. The stage manager, and the sound guy.

talk with them about it.

i doubt you will able to talk you whole rig into the show,
but atleast your amps mabye..

just an idea

Brae

Yeah! Shouldn`t be too much of a hassle for the sound guy to check the levels of another amp through the same cab.
Takes all of...a minute of master volume tweaking. Screw fine tuning, but at least play through an amp you know.
The combo is worse... You can`t just plug another head into that.

But then the problem arises that if one gets to do it, every band will want to do it. And that means more minutes tweaking the sound. I say just take some pedals and play through the backline.

+1

 

[scottcrud]

Any place I've ever played that had a "backline" always let me(us) use our own heads...

 

[Variable]

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?

Seriously H, why do you think the majority of backline is Fender or Marshall stuff with the occassional Recto? Because that's what rental places have. So, the idea of one cultivating their tone is all nice and good when you cart your own gear to the gig, but what happens when you start doing shit outside of an hour drive time? Or fly gigs...you cultivate your shit so you can make it happen no matter what.

Fk that, Ed, i HAVE no cultivated ANYTHING....i'd sneak the Axefx in an CRUSH ALL!!!!!

Actually, as that is an FX unit, I don't think that counts as "backline". Just say you have to plug it into the FX loop... and proceed to completely bypass the preamp

-Russ

 

[ke2]

my suggestion would be call the promoter.

get contacts for two guys. The stage manager, and the sound guy.

talk with them about it.

i doubt you will able to talk you whole rig into the show,
but atleast your amps mabye..

just an idea

Brae

Yeah! Shouldn`t be too much of a hassle for the sound guy to check the levels of another amp through the same cab.
Takes all of...a minute of master volume tweaking. Screw fine tuning, but at least play through an amp you know.
The combo is worse... You can`t just plug another head into that.

But then the problem arises that if one gets to do it, every band will want to do it. And that means more minutes tweaking the sound. I say just take some pedals and play through the backline.

Possibly, I`ve managed to sneak it in several times. And it`s really just the issue of placing so it`s not too obvious. I actually like the sound of an XT through a tube power amp, and levels are going to be different with differing bands anyway. You use the provided backline, but you`re allowed to tweak it, right? I see no problems for the sound man if all of the bands want to use a pod/vox/axe-fx in the loop return of the amp. Mute the channel and look at the meter. Done in 60 seconds. That type of gig sounds so ankle-biting that a couple of riffs on three presets only heard from the stage shouldn`t hurt anyone.

 

[eternal_idol]

my suggestion would be call the promoter.

get contacts for two guys. The stage manager, and the sound guy.

talk with them about it.

i doubt you will able to talk you whole rig into the show,
but atleast your amps mabye..

just an idea

Brae

Yeah! Shouldn`t be too much of a hassle for the sound guy to check the levels of another amp through the same cab.
Takes all of...a minute of master volume tweaking. Screw fine tuning, but at least play through an amp you know.
The combo is worse... You can`t just plug another head into that.

But then the problem arises that if one gets to do it, every band will want to do it. And that means more minutes tweaking the sound. I say just take some pedals and play through the backline.

then the foh guy is being an idiot.. most foh guys pretty much eq guitar the same, not exactly but withing the same range mic places ment is a big deal tho.


i would rather have my first song or two sound weird then play thru a rig i don't know.

line check is simple.. my crew does all this in festivals in less then 10 mins sometimes only 5...

 

[glpg80]

if there is money involved or your named involved then thats just more stress on the players and moreof the reason to make sure everyone sounds top knotch.

old rule of thumb i was taught many years ago was that if you can sound fucking amazing when plugged into a trashcan first and building from there, then you wont have any problem excelling with pro gear and the sky is the limit.

the thing is to be able to use what you've got and have that basis. if you rely on the effects and amazing tone too much you run into problems like this.

some people adapt their playing, like for instance i usually end up tapping alot more than i normally would when im in the same instances. i never noticed it until someone pointed it out. i just plug in and roll with it.. not alot of money to fork around on a new pedalboard on the fly to make up for the difference.

another thing to do like many others have mentioned is invest more money and build a pedal board that will give you the same tone choice only its in front of an amp and not part of the entire signal chain.

if you think a pedalboard will suit your needs and you have the cash and think its a wise investment, then go for it!

otherwise i would not sweat it and make sure everyone's playing is on top notch and have fun with it. if you are good enough to win it will show in the song structrures and your ability to adapt your songs and solos accordingly. no one should NEED their gear, although it does make things 300% easier on the musicians standpoint because its all about feeling comfortable.. and also investing money in it in the first place.

good luck either way.

-Matt