Travel rig ideas? : Bluguitar Iridium, Kotzen Fly Rig, or Friedman IR-D with a pedal board amp ?

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* velcro-fly *

* velcro-fly *

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Looking for ideas on a travel rig that would / could also serve as an easy emergency backup rig for gigs. Its getting old dragging two heads out to gigs and we have an out of town thing coming up requiring air travel that I need to come up with a solution for. Looking into some simple backline rental too (Minneapolis / St. Paul), so anything with a loop I could run the IR-D into.

Friedman IR-D with say a Duncan PowerStage?
BluGuitar Iridium or Mercury?
Kotzen FlyRig? (would still need power...)
Or?

Appreciate any input from folks who've used the above or any other ideas. Trying to keep things compact. Thanks !
 
Amp1 Mercury for me. I take one as a backup to gigs (travels in the "Tick" attached to my Mono gigbag) and for the odd rehearsal. 4 channels but I only find 2 of them useful ("vintage" and "classic" are great Marshalls ... the "clean" and the "modern", not so much). Sounds great, it's small, loud, has a built-in boost, etc.
 
I like the Nano Cortex, especially if you own tube amps you like. Just capture them and use whatever power section you wanted.

Load up an IR (or capture with a miked up cabinet) and you can use headphones on the road etc.
 
I use pedals into a Two Notes Le Clean. Good option if going full on digital isnt your cup of tea. Fender Cleans and very versatile EQ options.
 
Eazy-ESP said:
Kemper profiler player.
Click to expand...

This. Or an axe fx. If you want the ability to basically do anything with just the effects return of backline amps at gigs, a modeler is the way to go.

if you do one of the IR pedal solutions, you might as well just integrate that into your normal pedalboard, and have it there in case of emergency.
 
Eazy-ESP said:
Kemper profiler player.
Click to expand...
I don't think this allows you to take profiles of your own amp, which maybe the OP wants to do if he really likes the sounds of his tube heads.

fwiw I could not personally make a Kemper profile that sounded right. There was always some stuffy/nasal midrange that I couldn't figure out how to avoid. Probably entirely user error, but even so, the Nano Cortex has been easier to use.
 
DanTravis62 said:
This. Or an axe fx. If you want the ability to basically do anything with just the effects return of backline amps at gigs, a modeler is the way to go.

if you do one of the IR pedal solutions, you might as well just integrate that into your normal pedalboard, and have it there in case of emergency.
Click to expand...
Kinda leaning towards the IR-D / PowerStage setup on a small board with maybe just a tuner on there too. Would be compact and able to use any cabinet I might be able to source or still run it in a loop.
 
I am in this exact situation. I just got the Orange Dual Baby and Iridium. For flying, I'd bring my PodGo or Helix LT and use it 4cm. I want an amp and speaker behind me. can always use a little IR box as well.

So far, the Orange is better than expected: it rocks hard on both channels.

I need to play the Iridium more this weekend, but it's got more features and tweakability, but the tone and simplicity of the Orange is hard to beat. it gets loud and punchy.
 
DanTravis62 said:
This. Or an axe fx. If you want the ability to basically do anything with just the effects return of backline amps at gigs, a modeler is the way to go.

if you do one of the IR pedal solutions, you might as well just integrate that into your normal pedalboard, and have it there in case of emergency.
Click to expand...
In all honesty, I don’t even profile. I just use some nice purchased packs and I’m golden. I really should try it one of these days.
 
Junk Yard Dog said:
I am in this exact situation. I just got the Orange Dual Baby and Iridium. For flying, I'd bring my PodGo or Helix LT and use it 4cm. I want an amp and speaker behind me. can always use a little IR box as well.

So far, the Orange is better than expected: it rocks hard on both channels.

I need to play the Iridium more this weekend, but it's got more features and tweakability, but the tone and simplicity of the Orange is hard to beat. it gets loud and punchy.
Click to expand...
You bastard. I've been trying to keep my G.A.S. at bay for a Gain Baby. I love my Super Crush 100 combos but would dig the extra gain, eq controls, and portability.
 
I have the Quilter Tone Block 202 and is a great, loud solution for pedals, modellers, etc. One i get the Gain Baby, probably won't even need it.
 
Eazy-ESP said:
In all honesty, I don’t even profile. I just use some nice purchased packs and I’m golden. I really should try it one of these days.
Click to expand...

The profiling works great, you should try it

It works especially well if you have some speaker options
 
DanTravis62 said:
The profiling works great, you should try it

It works especially well if you have some speaker options
Click to expand...
I do have a Cornford 4x12 that would be good to profile. It’s not a common cab. A lot of my stuff is common and easily available, so I haven’t bothered. But it would be good to profile some more unique stuff.
 
Eazy-ESP said:
I do have a Cornford 4x12 that would be good to profile. It’s not a common cab. A lot of my stuff is common and easily available, so I haven’t bothered. But it would be good to profile some more unique stuff.
Click to expand...

I have a small handful of super specialized stuff, so I use my own IRs with almost everything I record and for every profile I use live - even if it's a third party amp profile. Between my EV12L cornford 1x12, my early 90s V30s in my 4x12, and my Scumback BM75LD 2x12, I feel like they're all unique enough flavors to warrant it... and judging from the results and comparisons with everyone else's IRs that seems to check out.

I would definitely suggest doing some profiles just to get your feet wet, and get used to the process, so when you have access to something really interesting or special you can profile it and make it worth it.
 
DanTravis62 said:
I have a small handful of super specialized stuff, so I use my own IRs with almost everything I record and for every profile I use live - even if it's a third party amp profile. Between my EV12L cornford 1x12, my early 90s V30s in my 4x12, and my Scumback BM75LD 2x12, I feel like they're all unique enough flavors to warrant it... and judging from the results and comparisons with everyone else's IRs that seems to check out.

I would definitely suggest doing some profiles just to get your feet wet, and get used to the process, so when you have access to something really interesting or special you can profile it and make it worth it.
Click to expand...
Yep. Good thinking. It’s so ridiculous, I work with technology all day, then at home with guitar gear I just turn into a curmudgeon. Time to get into it.

I didn’t even know they made a Cornford 1x12. That’s cool.
 
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