Another great video Scott! 6:00 Quick story… when I told a friend of mine that I'd switched to a Helix a few years ago, he said, "Oh man, that's a shame, since I loved your tube amp sound for a long time!" when I told him that I hadn't used tube amps for over two decades, he had to admit that he'd never noticed.
Absolutely spot on! Even amps need to be DI capable these days…the Tone Masters are phenomenal split of the difference for us full time gigging musicians.
Love this - I use just my Mac and MainStage with Izotope's Amplitude, added a bluetooth pedal and can tweak and customize my sound any way I want. I use a small behringer interface, for in/out. I am a full time audio engineer and the these are the sounds we use for recordings as well - MOST players will have a hard time matching the tone you can get through these plugins - whether in-studio or live.
My band decided to go with the Captor X for live gigs, using real amps and cabs. At first we wanted less stage volume to hear better in our IEM,s. But, we noticed at smaller shows the volume from our gear had a better FOH sound then rather depending on small local venues with Smaller PA’s. So for our metal band having a real amp with a DI signal thru our IEM system, we mix our own FOH with our rig sending a L/R/SUB to FOH This works for us well and is manageable with minimal amount of issues. Bringing the gear on a road could be a lot easier but at the same time the stage presence of cabinets let’s the crowd know this band is going to fun. Every band has to decide what works for them - We do have a sound guy that travels with us Thanks for the content as always - good stuff
Oh nice! That’s a good way to do it. I’ll have to look into that Captor X. I haven’t heard of that. Thanks for the info. And you are 100% right, every band will figure out what works best for them, and that’s the important part 🤘
Totally agree. I run an Epiphone ES-335 through a Hughs and Kettner pedal amp with a built-in DI out. I never bring a cab any more and I haven't put the H&K through a venue backline for about a year. I get exactly the sound I want. Monitoring can be a little tricky in venues that don't have good monitors, but as I tend to run around with a wireless headset mic and wireless guitar setup, I can usually hear myself in the FOH mix anyway. I play fairly basic punk rhythm guitar live (over my own original backing tracks), so I only have a tuner and an acoustic pedal on my pedalboard. Very simple setup. I love it. I can carry everything (iPad with backing tracks, synced backup iPad, mic rig, pedalbag) in a rucksack.
I like effeciency and have done 100% the same! I see no reason to carry around heavy amps and dealing with microphones. A modeler with XLR cable to the PA is everything the audience needs to hear what I do :)
Such an amazing combo! I know there is a guy who was able to make a wireless adapter from the CME Pro widi master in order to wireless have the helix change tuning/tones on the variax. He then also had a wireless guitar system for audio, so his variax was completely wireless 🤯
Great amp modeling is not even that recent ("last 10 years"). I tried the latest and greatest but _always_ gravitate back to my Digitech GNX4. I now have _six_ of them for a total outlay of
Well said Scott, I was the same and now using a fractal Axe III set up and thinking of going with the new fractal smaller paddle setups they have out now. When you're gigging often and don't have help, you need to make it work, especially with all the new toys out there today that sound amazing.
The system you referred to is from Synergy Amps, there's lots of different amp modules for them. I'm right there with you on modelling rigs. Might be nice to have an FRFR for live tones. Just going through Indianapolis now. Hopefully NAMM has some fun new gear
@@ScottUhlMusic Too late for me, already spending it all. I am seriously considering selling my amps too though. I've got an apartment and I'm trying to find bands to join in Europe so you know...travel + big heavy gear = not very smart
I can guarantee that even people listening for the sound, including an individual instrument, cannot hear the difference in a live setting. I know people who have their own studio full of pedals and amps and say, “I just don’t like the sound I get from my HX Stomp,” spend more time doing A/B comparisons than playing music and don’t play live.
100% and that’s an excellent point! And yeah there is nothing wrong with playing at home for sure, but once you start playing live you start to value ease of setup even IF you lose 5% of your tone (which again I don’t think these do). Very good point!
@ScottUhlMusic Just found your awesome channel yesterday 👍 Already watched a bunch of your videos. Have a question. I'm 100% interested in minimizing my gear for convenience but I'm totally new to midi and anything programmable like ( hotone ampero II) which I just bought. In this video you mentioned how you automatically turn effects on and off in certain parts of the song based on what the original guitar parts are using. Can you guide me to which videos I should be watching to learn about that? Thanks
Great content Scott- Im going thru this exact dilemma now, downsizing and figuring out how to get my sound direct. I'm a bass player and am starting to hate lugging 2-50lb bass cabinets. The "swappable" amp system you mentioned sounds like the Synergy amp (synergyamps), where you can snap in various preamp modules from builders like; Friedman, Bogner, Engl, Diesel, etc into a host amp.
Yup! It is the Synergy, that’s definitely what I was. I knew my subscribers would know what it was. I couldn’t even figure out how to google that lol. But yeah, especially for bass amps, it’s really tough to bring those again and again when you can pull it off with a direct rig. Bass does feel weird the first few times not having the sound waves blasting from behind you, but you do get used to it 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusic Finneas uses a gaming vibrating vest to get that bass feel in lieu of amps. The P!nk bass player stands on a platform, underneath which reside a battery of ass kickers normally used on drum thrones. Now ... Neither of these are going to be particularly viable at a local bar gig but sometimes, like Formula 1, the technology trickles down to the rest of us over time. And ... You know ... Tech is just good :)
Best advice I can give is - go with an ultralight bass cab. I use a GK Ultralight 2-10 combo (33 lbs) for most of my gigs. Our PA is usually compact, so I don't subject it to a direct feed. but the amp has one if needed. I have a 1-15 bottom cab if I need to stack up for a large room or an outdoor gig. Signal chain went from a Boss ME-50B (for rock with The Window Panes) or just a tuner (classic country with the Mission Road duo). If i have room to move around, I will use one of three inexpensive wireless units (thanks Scott!) and I can ham it up.
Well…I’ve had my Stomp for a year and half and now have an FM9. And I’m about to sell all but a few of my pedals And two amps. That’s a big deal for me. I love my gear. And these are some great pedals. But yeah: the modelers are really THAT good. I’m blown away.
My band moved to amp/cab sims in the last year. The biggest benefit is the load in and out. We used pedal platform amps anyway so we switched out for 3x Behringer GDI21 and 1x BDI21, all set to clean, total budget £150. Never looked back. Great channel, great video, as ever! Thanks.
Funny how it's always the guys with the least experience who pretentiously stick to their guns with old analogue gear. All the super experienced pros I've met are open to whatever tech will help. Love your videos Scott, you perfectly embody the humble, open minded spirit of all the best ppl I've worked with!
I came back to revisit this after watching your video on iPads on stage. Gave me things to think about and a perspective I didn't consider before. I am trying to sell my amps, but lots of people are not buying. I can't sell my Laney I am to attached to it. LOL . I run my Helix all the time. Almost every-show, for my acoustic solo shows I have a different modeling pedal. The convenience of moving it in and out are just to good. I get almost the exact sound. Only other guitar guys hate on it. I love I have all these different amps at my fingertips and can just cycle through them and mess around all day if I want. I got 1 or 2 I always use for my shows and I stick with that. Bottom line I love it, makes my work life easier.
great arguments :) I'm 17 right now and I think I just have to get through a few years of lugging way too heavy amps around before I not only see but feel the upsides of such rigs. I just love feeling the air moved and feeling the pressure in your body a bit too much right now. Also I wanted to add that especially in todays world with the given possibilities it can be quite nice to have a finite amount of options to choose from and not always be overloaded by what tones you can get so I really like the process of finding the analog gear that does what I want it to and leave it at that- not constantly stressing about getting my tones one extra bit nicer and trying the 20 amp sims I haven't tried yet.
I fully understand your decision Scott, I purchased a ENGL FB25 just for the real amp feel and it does sound great but since I've bought it I still find my self on my Helix most of the time and that's not a convenience decision just a simple sound and clarity of effects and so on , it's hard to beat a good modeler if it's setup correctly
Great video @Scott Uhl. I would only add that going direct doesn’t have to be an all-digital experience. Some of the amp in box solutions like the Quilter Superblock and the DSM Simplifier amps sound great with just a couple of pedals added.
I had the Simplifier and got rid of it for Superblocks as the Quilters are actually amplifiers not just a sim. Also the ability to run a Superblock off a pedalboard PSU at 1watt is fantastic.
I’m doing all digital and wireless. backing tracks, guitars/ amps, foot peddles, lighting, iem, Only thing I can’t do through Bluetooth is my accordions but they do have software to change the tones of them so that’s nice!
I couldn't live with the spongy response of the Helix on it's own so i added a Marshall DSL1HR head in 4 cable mode with a Two Notes Captor, no speaker, direct to PA and a stage monitor (IEMs coming next!).. Studio One controls channel and fx switching. A midi switch controls channel switching. Adding different preamps gives flexibility but generally i just need 2 channels plus tube screamer, compression, chorus and delay. Works beautifully.
I've been on IEMs for about 2 years now and man I will never go back ton monitors or amps or fills or dealing with rude sound guys. So my story is quite simple, I"m a bass player and I loved my cabs for years. Had the Ampeg SVT7 heads and classics with the 4x10 and the behemoth 8x10, some CRATE amps and speakers, my SWR 6x10 and 1000 watt amp heads. Had me some pedals, not a lot since I was a pretty simple bass player but none the less I still had some. Always had to lug them around and man it was cool back then, but such a pain in the ass always having to borrow my dad's truck or a buddy's jeep. This went on for years until I was over it. The sound at gigs was always competitive instead of enjoyable. So many things that would not make a show pleasant. Sometimes seeing other guys with better gear would kinda bum me out cause I thought you needed that gear to be a good player. FFW a few years and I got my chance to go on a small tour and man that was that an eye opener. Guys playing with minimal stuff to get in and out fast. Unless you had a road crew everyone had fast ways of setting up. Bass players carried combo amps and a good preamp pedal/DI. I was blown away and changed my tactics for my gear. I got me a 12 and a 15 combo amps from Hartke and that's what I use now. 12 for small clubs and the 15 for out door events.Then a few months later I bit the bullet and got some IEMs. Shure PSM300s and well, now I'm looking to get a rumble pack fro my strap so I can feel the bass, because that's the only reason I still have an amp, and a rumble pack would help with that. I could do a motion mat but I move a lot and the mat is way more pricey. Anyway son now I show up to a gig, I have my API DI or my Radial Dual split Preamp box with my Empress compressor, my wireless system and my wireless IEMs, plus my custom IEMs which give me the sound that I want directly in my ear and that is worth all the amps I have ever had in my lifetime and if need be I bring one of the combo amps, but yeah, I still take one cause people still freak out if they don't see an amp. My dream is to show up and only have to hand over two cables to the sound guy or plug into a board, which is possible. I know a lot of people who say it ain't the same and yeah it's not, it's better...haha...I'm with you on this one. 95% of people do not care about your gear, maybe they'll see your instrument and recognize it, but again 95% of people don't know jack about what is producing the sound, they just want to hear their favorite tunes, and I'm there to grove with that. Good stuff man and keep it up.
couldn't agree more. if i had a multifx i would take it any day of the week and go direct compared to my bulky and heavy pedalboard. and it is true that most of your audience would not even care about your tone as long as it is decent
Yup, exactly. The tone has to be really bad for the audience to notice in 99% of the cases. Most of the time it’s just “guitar was too quiet or too loud”
I've gone back and forth between modelers and amps over the past 20 years. My recent modeler is the Helix LT which I love and still have. But I'm one "those guys" who couldn't figure out why something was missing in the feel and tone of the Helix. I'm sure it's mostly in my head. So I purchased the Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40 tube amp. It's a smaller head with built in delay, reverb, and modulation - all MIDI programable. The amp is plugged in to a Two Notes Captor X as my speaker cabinet connected to FOH via XLR. And I control the amp with the Nektar Pacer MIDI foot controller. Not having to lug around a cabinet makes this portable enough for me - I can fit it all in a rolling duffle bag. This setup blends the best of both worlds having a real tube amp, basic effects, and 0 stage volume. Until I got this rig, I've never experience the feel of a tube amp cranked to 10 but controlled at any volume I want. So far I'm really digging it.
Great video, I used to run my 5150. Now I have a boss katana 100watt head which I run direct to front of house. Sounds killer with the foot switch I have programmed 4 channels. No stage sound an with inears we can hear everything crystal clear.
I’m still rocking amps Live I use 2 iso cabs. 1 v30 1 creamback 2 heads either peavey 6505 and Mesa dual rectifier Or fender hot rod deville and vox ac50 I have a large board Few unnecessary pedal but not too over the top It has 1 modeler in it. For acoustic simulator. I don’t want to play acoustic so I don’t. I do have an hx stomp Use it to practice
I have done most of my gigs via Di for 25 years. Starting with a Marshall JMP1 and Alexis Quadreverb, then POD’s, Fractal, and then more recently a Boss GT1000 Core. All patches controlled via backing track program changes. I used to use a Fender amp and small pedal board for fill in gigs, but now take a small powered speaker. I don’t see it as a compromise anymore.
I had a Laney twin combo, and it still needed people 2 to lift it!! I have used a Boss GT10 since they came out, but as you say Scotty, there’s better stuff out in the last ten years. My GT10 is great but getting old. I know the reasons why I went with amp modelling , but your validation as a full-time pro is comforting.
There are pros and cons to both. If you are using the traditional rig, an amp + pedalboard, if one of your pedals dies, you can still manage and play, not to mention that it's cheaper to replace it. Have one of those amp-in-a-box pedals as backup on your pedalboard, if your amp dies you can again still play. If your modeler dies however, well that's it, you have to replace the whole rig. If for whatever reason you can't use your in ear monitors, you will not have any control (I've played places that don't have any on the floor monitors at all, especially bars and clubs). BUT, yes, the amp is usually heavy, it's a drag, micing it, transporting it etc. To be prepared for every scenario, you ideally gotta have everything, amps, pedals, modelers, cabs, in ears...of course that's impossible, and it adds up, both in weight and cost. So it's really a balancing act, I would love to be able to use just a modeler, but I'm always scared that it would die on me and then I'm screwed.
I have the Mooer P1 as the backup, so I’m not too worried. I had one friend who said he was worried about that once and his amp died on stage like a month later lol. All gear can break. And to me, the “which patch cable is broken? Why is my pedalboard not working??” situation is much more common than the entire rig breaking. But having an iRig with an iPad/iPhone or the Mooer P1 is a good way to have a backup. Always have a backup plan is my philosophy! 🤘
Welcome to the club. Though I do things a little differently. Purchased my first guitar processor in the late 80's, a Roland Gp8, glorified pedal board but sounded great. Ran a GT 10, then a GT 100, and now a GT 1000. However, I still like having an amp with me, that's not really an amp, I use basically a PA rack. A stereo peak limiter compressor, dual 31 band eq, an expander, to a crown stereo power amp to my stereo cabinet. Run 1/4" stereo outs from my GT 1000 to a direct box, to connect to the PA which passes through to my so called amp. The GT 1000 is a power house, not for those unwilling to spend time deep diving into all the crazy things you can do with it. Great sound, good to see you found your sound, your way.
For the last few days I've been using your videos to set up my HX Stomp. Great video and a complete description. I'm 74 YO and having on heck of a time understand and getting what I "thought" I wanted to hear. BUT it is one heck of a ride.. Thanks
Ive started playing out live through a JBL PA system, an iRig2 and an iPad....Absolutely love it!! Still, Im old and stubbornly hanging onto my tubes and pedals though. lol
Absolutely spot on as usual Scott! I am using a Helix LT straight to front of house. Singers love the it as well!! I’ve never had anyone in the audience ask why there isn’t an amp on stage. Why… because they don’t care! Sounds good and that’s all that matters! Thanks for another great video 👍
Nice. Keeping a few of my tube amps, nothing like them, and I can play them loud. I've used modelers for many years (currently using my Boss SY-1000); I use HX Effects for effects with a Catalyst 100 in 4CM and MIDI to control the amp channel and amp boost. I've been using Blue Cat Audio's Axiom plugin for years, before that their Destructor plugin - which is part of Axiom. Recently released, PolyChrome DSP McRocklin Suite is my favorite guitar plugin. FWIW, your channel convinced me to try the Mooer Prime P1, and it works great and sounds great though dialing in the sounds on my iPhone gets tedious. I have the F4 footswitch, and use wireless in/out (two wireless systems) and a wireless in-ear system; the P1 is mounted on my mic stand with a phone holder. Best of all, this all fits in lunchbox sized bag including a USB hub or my Tech21 PSA 2.0. TL;DR: plenty of options that sound good, having many rigs for different situations is great if you can do it!
I had a hard time getting the tone I'd hear from the amp to transfer to recordings. Then around 2001 I bought and started using a Johnson J-Station for recording. The thing was incredible! Eventually I started using it as a preamp and it transformed my Peavey VT100 combo into this monster of an amp that could take out a set of acoustic drums in a live setting . I would venture to guess there are many guitarists who feel like they're losing control if their amps at their fingertips. The sad truth is that the sound waves from their amps have limited paths. Since many members of the audience are barely able to hear them, their moments of glory in blazing lead breaks go largely unheard. If the sound people happen to be in your soundwave path could see why your signal would be buried in the mix. As a lead guitarist who used to play a lot of gigs in the last Millinium, I know this firsthand. I would have loved something that would sound at least as good as my rig, but placed in a mix that actually filled the venue.
I'm thrilled more and more folks are getting into the direct thing. As a sound tech and a drummer, I was an early adaptor of edrums specifically for the idea that 80% of stage volume is usually dictated by how loud the drums are, and 20% by how loud the guitar amps are. The vast majority of us play in small spaces where silent stages would be the best. I've only had the opportunity to do sound for a few bands on IEMs and even that was a massive improvement on what I had to work with. I'd love the idea that up to 100 person venue is silent stage, and beyond that acoustic drums and amps.
I’ve done a few shows with all direct and an electronic drum kit. It’s amazing. When my wife and I are fortunate to travel to resorts in Cancun/Bahamas and stuff like that, we have our drummer bring an SPDSX sample pad. It’s amazing to have everything on stage direct and have complete control over the volume
@@ScottUhlMusic Absolutely! I use a variety of drum kits from Superior Drummer 3, and when I'm playing a gig with a sound tech, I hand him a labeled snake right out of my Apollo 8 so they have control over the house. They always are impressed!
Since you mentioned "cartridges"; back in the 80's my brother had a Seymour Duncan Convertible amp and cab. It had "modules" that allowed for tone shaping the preamp stage from super clean to high gain. It even had a dial to drop the 100W output to about 5W of tube crunch. Unfortunately, the amp never delivered good tone, likely due to the ultra linearity of the output stage that made it sound lifeless and sterile. We've both owned dozens of amps over the years but we never talk about that one!
I just watched a video from Andy Wood (who I adore) using a $20,000 pedal board. Just saying I 100% agree with you Scott. In a band mix the audience just doesn't care or notice, if you can play, you can play. And so much less headache and cost etc.
The cartridge amp is something like Egnater or Randell was selling. It was a 100 watt power section and then you could put 4 midi switchable preamps in it. I have an old Rocktron vendetta that is a precursor to that idea. Also now play through a helix and leave the amps collecting dust....
I got hooked on your channel and bought quite a lot of gears but right here I'm gonna make a huge saving as I was going to buy a very expansive Fender Stratocaster. I'll finally go for the GTRS. Not sure which one though. Thank you loads 🙏
Really great content. I’ve been ampless with a Boss GT Pro for years. Every reason you give are all reasons I did it. 99.9% of the audience don’t care or don’t know. It’s only ever muso’s who comment and I always discover they’re not half as busy with gigs as I am!
Another informative video, Scott. Thank you. I'm almost to the point of giving up my amps but not quite. I used to use an old Digitech GSP-1101 modelling preamp and power amp in a small rack that sat on top of a 4x12 Marshall. I used the Digitech foot controller to change between patches as needed. I'm almost 64 years old now and have back problems that make moving a 4x12 difficult. What I've done is purchased a Headrush FRFR-108 powered speaker and run my preamp into that. I also just recently picked up a Digitech RP-1000 and a RP-500 that will take the place of my rack preamp. Definitely easier on the back and takes up a lot less room in the car. Will probably upgrade to the Helix or the new Headrush floor modeler at some point. I also use Phenyx Pro wireless IEMs and wireless guitar systems thanks to your recommendations.
More reasons to go direct: 1. Easy stereo tone with usually sound very big live and you can only do that with two amps. 2. I use my HXstompXL to control my other pedals as well as my computer for playback. also, other then a guitar player I'm a sound engineer and I definitely prefer a quiet stage
Such great advice! Dead on and I totally agree on the 95% rule! Simplicity rules whether live or recording. And you’re 100% right: the listener wants to hear you play and could care less about the gear.
Love your videos!! You’ve got me re-thinking my live approach for sure. Scott, my question for you is - can this setup work even when playing dinky bars that have a small PA and no sound guy? I’m intersted to find out the exact setup needed. Thinking that would require us to bring our own mixer output to the venue PA.
You would plug directly into the PA or get a FRFR speaker if you really wanted to. Sometimes there can be a plus to have an amp on stage in situations like that… that is if the guitarist doesn’t blast his amp too loud haha
Thanks for this video. I did the same a few years back. My buddy thinks im crazy, but he loves my sound. Im down to GT1000 Core, and Bose S1s. My buddy still has "His Wall" and is always on one knee, making adjustments. lol
100% agree on modelers. I haven't used my tube amps ever since I switched to the dark side. I do understand having sound on the stage though... If you intentionally want your guitar to feedback, you need to be in front of a speaker. Also if your IEM fails for whatever reason, you have a failsafe immediately. Just take them off and continue the song. Also I heard from audience that are at the edge of the stage that it's very weird to not have stage sound. PA speakers usually are pointed towards the crowd but kinda go over the very edge of the stage... So at least a 1x12 or a 2x12 depending on the size of the stage, is still a good idea. I just use my solid state amp to go from the Helix to whatever cab is on the stage, and then go to PA direct with the helix.
Excellent video. I switched to helix and powercab a few years ago. After numerous sound guys telling me my guitar tone sounds thin across the PA (but I thought it was fine in my ears) compared to the other guitarist using a full rig, I switched back to amp and shelfed the powercab but now I still use the helix in 4CM for FX only. The other issue is there are simply more practices than gigs and our PA is only a few small tops in the space with nothing mic'd up so no IEM for example during practices. My little powercab couldn't compete with the drums or the other 4x12 etc. volume or direction. Some could hear me, some not depending how close in firing range of my speaker. TIlt up, I was good but nobody could hear me. Tilt down and I couldnt hear but others could. Too much hassle. I have to rewatch your plugin portion, see whats up with that. I just use the HX edit. Anyway, when I switched back to amp, I just fell in love with the real deal again. Just something about a real amp that the amps in helix wasn't delivering. I will also add for many live festival local shows, we'd get literally 15 min to setup and go so there's no time to bother with IEM or bring them at all. Sound guys wont even let you. Mixing on the fly, thee end.
Yeah the IEM switchover is frustrating for sure for festival style shows. And some sound guys are just always going to be mogami cable/tube amps only guys. Helix does not sound thin in the PA if it’s setup right, I know that. Thanks for commenting!
In-Ear-Monitoring was one of the biggest reasons, I went digital. I built an IEM setup for my band in 2015 and due to the loud amps, we could barely hear, what went on in the IEMs, the bass player and I often stood on each others end of the stage, so we could hear at least ourselves in the IEMs. In 2020 I bought a Helix LT, which I hated, because I couldn't get it to sound good, not due to user error, in fact due to a board defect. Yamaha took 6 weeks to fix it, but the damage was done. I sold it in 2021 and bought a Kemper. I'm very satisfied with my tone, never sounded better.
i still absolutely love my amp, but since using my helix going direct i definitely wouldn't go back to taking the big amp out (unless i had mega money to get someone else to do it) I've been able to walk home after a gig with my guitar and the helix on my back, i wouldn't recommend walking 45mins like that but it 100% wouldn't be possible with the amp and cab... i've noticed so many more sound guys loving the fact there's less on stage too... currently putting together the in ears and trying to convince my bassist to try out a helix or similar so we can go even lighter and use that space for more fun show type things (lights etc)
Couldn’t agree more! And you nailed it “I still absolutely love my amp.” Being pro amp modeling isn’t being anti amp. It’s just saying the convenience of direct rigs out weighs bringing your amps. Great comment 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusic absolutely... i toyed with modellers before all the lockdowns but being in lock down with a then 9 year old really cemented how much more useful it really was, i could play until 2am and she wouldn't even know, was a total game changer
I fully agree with you, I sold my full Marshall stack a couple of years ago and switched to a lunch box amp to play at home and gig with. I just need to find a load box with a good DI cab sim or something so I don’t need to hook up a cap. That way I can go direct to front of house. If you have any good solutions here, let me know. Thanks for the video!
I usually just go direct into front of house from my GTRS, helix, or hx stomp. Especially since we use in ears, it makes the most sense to me personally. Thanks for watching!
AMEN brother!!! I had a monster pedal board (Temple Audio) with a shit ton of high end pedals and A/B/Y switches, power supplies, miles of intricately placed cables and connectors yet 1/2 the time when I was ready to gig there was always some cable that got bumped or a power supply cable that disconnected leading to frantic troubleshooting and stress. I switched years ago to the Helix + Seymour Duncan Powerstage 700 with 2 Celestion F12 x200 in a 2x12 cab with xlr L and R out to the board. So I can jam with friends with an amp and have it to gig with if I chose or just run direct to the board from the Helix. I agree with the 90-95% concept. For me it is close enough and 95% of the audience will have no clue.
I'm using a HX stomp going into a Laney Cub 10. Super lightweight. Not very loud. I"ve beem using in ears recently. But I still prefer to go through an amp. There is some feedback happening between the amp and the guitar that just feels better. And having an amp in the room/stage let's me bring my in ears down, as I don't need as much guitar in my ears as if I was going direct. I can hear the amp bleed in the mics. I don't mind playing direct. It's a feel thing. In fact, the laney is so controlled volume wise that is almost as easy to do FOH as going direct. And I can carry it with my pinky. But, yes, I don't gig a lot.
I’m approaching my third year of switching to an amp modeller, and I couldn’t be happier. Sold every piece of gear (amp,pedals, etc), and haven’t looked back.
@@ScottUhlMusicame. The band I tour with had been doing it for years before I switched. I came to the realization that my amp rig was limited to one style, since I only had certain pedals. Now with the Headrush, I can do different types of sub gigs with no worries about what I can do.
I play in a world where using a modeler rig is still regarded with antipathy, but I bought an inexpensive Fender Mustang GTX100 for a backup, and I'm pleasantly surprised at how good it sounds and plays. I did have to spend a lot of time tweaking it to get it sounding like it should on all the patches I've made, but once you get there it really does a good job. That's my biggest gripe about modelers: it takes me a long time to get one to sound right, because of all the menu scrolling and tweaking. Side note: In my experience with modelers, you almost HAVE to have experience with real rigs to be able to know how to properly program a modeler. Or at least be knowledgeable in how a real rig works, how the pedals and amps interact, etc. The modelers are pretty good at modeling the stuff to the point where you have to employ a lot of the same tricks as you would on the real gear to get your virtual rig to sound good.
I’ll give you that it does take time to get it to sound right….. if you are new to it or bad at tech. I do agree. But giving it the time to understand will give you all the pros I mention in this video. Therefore I think it’s worth it 👍 Thanks for the comment!
@@ScottUhlMusic yeah I completely agree! Nowadays technology give us endless possibilities so every approach is more than respectable. Everything that can boost our creativity is more then welcome as well. Thanks to you for the amazing content.
my stage setup is Axe Fx 3 > QSC FRFRs.. the FC-12 is my foot controller.. I use monitor wedges or put in my IEMs.. either way the FRFRs give me a sonic stage footprint which I like..
I have so many pedals and amps, but I just play my HX Stomp. This little unit is just too handy... I also got an adapter to power it from a battery pack so I literally don't need a power outlet for it. So simple: get to the gig, plug the XLR outs to the sound board, done!
This is awesone info, Scott. Found it on your channel and loved it 'cause I was thinking of doing the same. What's the use of an amp any more. I use it as my guitar monitor on bigger stages, but now you can get a good sound going through normal wedges or in-ears... Thanks for this!
I use a simply set up Line 6 x3 and a small 8in powered pa spkr Same idea. If you know what a good amp sounds like you can recreate it with todays tech. On my Marshall sims i run the master vol to about 90% and add the drive with some compression on the back. It makes the "amp" sag like a cranked plexi. Im impressed it will do that.
Great video Scott! My band's a metalcore 4 piece with 2 guitars drums and vocals. We're on a fully automated setup with patch changes and basically everything's being done on my macbook pro and behringer umc1820 interface running reaper (Including running backing tracks, process vocals, run drum triggers) The only reason we would run amps/cabs live is when PAs are going above the first couple rows head (We're also on in ears and using Line 6 Helixs)
I thought when I switched to modeling that it would just be a convenience for live thing and for recording I'd keep my old vibrolux tube amp. But an unexpected consequence of crafting tones for live was, I spent a lot of time getting to know the modeler, learning how to tweak it, learning how to get it where I wanted it to go. After a while I realized that I was just as good at dialing in a great studio tone on the modeler as I was dialing in and micing and amp and... well.. Bye vibrolux. It's absolutely true what you're saying about that last %5. If you can let go of "perfect" the cost associated with getting your tone that last few percent is... not worth it. And also, a bit of a myth. Because there are definitely times in the studio with a great amp rig where I still couldn't find the exact sweet spot for a tune and got no closer to "exodia" than a modern modeler would've gotten me.
I was mostly pedal-only since around 2006 with the Boss GT-8, briefly went tube around 2012 for the first time. Started combo, went half stack and in less than a year full-reverse. Went through the GT-10, GT-100, Pod HD500, then Helix LT. A year ago I swapped that for a Headrush Pedalboard and that's my go-to. Came down to the simplicity & interface as their approach to scenes suited me well to minimize pedal stomping. If I ever find myself in an automated solution like you center around that may revert to Helix or another solution. It's always about the balance in the formula for the control style and compromising the sound options. I've been big on IEM's since 2019 and love the freedom of it all. Running sound for all of my bands with an X32 Rack it's plug & go....
@@ScottUhlMusic My GT-8 & GT-10 preceeded it, but I actually left off my old Boss VF-1 half-rack that I used as a desktop unit in the early 2000's and later brought into a rack w/ wireless unit + Beheringer FC1010 midi pedal to control. It all just kept getting heavier with no ROI. I used the GT-10 in 4CM in between my tube "phase" keeping it and learning how better to use the sound out of the GT-8/10 and then stayed Multi-FX only since. Even with the massive modelling options out ther I find I use THREE amps and maybe a drive pedal sim for almost everything and run most shows off a single multi-layered patch. In so many ways less truly is or can be more....
Having a lot of fun with a Boss Dual Cube LX lunchbox amp. Got amp sim like JC, Tweed, 1959, 5150 and Mesa DR. Even the fx are solid (Boss). At 2x5 watts you might even be on speaking terms with the neighbours. My favs are JC & chorus, Tweed & phaser & reverb and Mesa DR & octaver. Now trying the 1959 & high gain & octaver for a blues sound (ZZ-Top kinda).
Thank you! Very useful. If you sold all your gear, how do you rig when you come to a gig? Do all venues have their own PA that you can just connect to? So you basically only carry a computer or a tablet to a gig and plug it into their PA? I'd love to see a rig rundown video with you!
I’m a bassist that is going completely direct with modeling for my rig and I don’t ever see myself turning back. I’m using a boss GT-1B for my preamp and a Torpedo C.A.B. For my speaker and mic emulation. The cleanest and most balanced I’ve ever sat in a mix was using that rig. Like you said it does it 95% but to me that’s still an A grade. If anyone in the audience wants to complain about that 5% then they can come on stage and do it themselves.
Back in the 90's I never brought amps to a gig. I had a pedal board at the time and ran that into a channel in the drum mixer we kept on stage. Then all I had was one monitor with the bass and lead guitar in that and another a little further away with just me. Once processors became more refined with the amp modeling I switched to a Digitech RP500. These days I run that into a Crate G-600 head i got at the Goodwill store for $34 into a Peavey TX810 bass cab I used in the last band I was able to play bass in. That is rewired without the horn and two sides of four speakers wired to 2 ohms to match the amp. That's more then I will ever need just messing around in the bedroom with the guitars I build at this point. I remember when Line6 first came out my God that sounded like someone just filtered the crap out of bad 4 bit midi keybds. Specially the stuff built into the combo amps. I STILL cringe to this day when I go into a music store and someone is blasting drop tuned crap on one of the over effected presets out of a tiny combo. I am glad they must have got better if you actually use it to record with line6 stuff. Everyone has their preferences unless you are one of those channels that hawks the next FOTM as if it were the best thing since sliced bread and wound steel guitar strings. I Never bothered with line6 after that. I got the RP500 on the advice of a soundman who told me about the really good cab sims and EQ section. There pretty much hasn't been any tone I cant recreate with that set up to this day. I may cry if that dies some day.
Before I bought my HX Stomp, I used a Princeton Chorus (SS amp) and a Laney Cub 12R (tube amp). I still have them, but play them very infrequently. I love experimenting with sounds, the Stomp was a no brainer for me, because I'll never own all of those pedals that I'm curious about.
Right on. Size, weight, features, reliability (based on reducing number of moving parts). I'm not quite there yet, but I have been heading in that direction for years. I haven't used my big pedal board since about 2016 but somehow I can't help but feel I would regret selling (maybe its because I've sold so many guitars over that years that I later came to regret, but pedals and amps are a different beast. Your relationship with a guitar is much more personal and intimate). You've got me seriously considering letting go now. I've been using small amps with direct boxes for years (like H&K Tubemeister 18 and the tiny little Vox MV50s for backup) and multi-effects units which gets me part of the way. I guess my biggest hurdle for giving up the amp altogether is getting a good IEM system. Which I could probably afford if I sold my pedals, pedal board, and flight case). Two questions - what about small gigs with no house sound? And what about small gigs with crappy PA? Do you bring your own backup PA?
If you don’t have a house PA, how do you get vocals? That’s my question. So usually just go into the pa! And if there is a bad PA, an amp might be best, but a bad PA usually means bad sound overall haha
The main reason I still have amps and cabs is because most venues I play usually don't offer the necessary PA equipment to go direct. When they do, my back and van's tranmission thank me.
How did I, a drummer, end up here? I mean, as a drummer there is so much shit you have to bring. Your tiny setup is a dream come true XD I do not recommend drumming for people with OCD! You will end up checking If you've brought all gear ten times and still feel like you've missed something. Because there's just so much.
This is exactly what I’m trying to do. I’m not as nimble as I used to be so cables and pedals are just booby traps awaiting me to perform a pratfall. My goal is to run direct into my Soundcraft UI16 and use the Digitech amp modeling and effects for my tones which I hope to control with a Line 6 MIDI controller. I’m still trying to figure out the whole MIDI thing but I’m getting closer from watching your stuff. I do wish you could elaborate on actual hook ups and such. I’m quite old school but gradually getting into the 21st century. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and keep making those videos!
Great vid! I'm a homebody using just an MX5 direct to my scarlet, DAW and studio monitors.... My amp is awfully lonely these past couple years. I can see using modern modelers getting way more popular in the near future.
Do you still use your Variax? I am using the CAT5 cable so my Helix can control the guitar as well - which is really cool. However, that leaves me with no backup since none of the other Helix devices have that Variax input. I don't trust the Variax battery since mine died and I have to buy a new one.
I do still use the variax sometimes, but the GTRS does do my main heavy lifting for sure. I always have a spare battery with my variax though! Just in case. I know I’ve been seeing that a guy was able to convert a Widi Master to wirelessly be able to control his variax from his helix 🤯🤯 I’m definitely going to buy one if they release it!
Yep. Since I got my HX Stomp, my tube amps are collecting dust. I record with the Stomp, and live, I go straight to the PA. I won't get rid of my tube amps yet, though, because I feel like I might regret it one day. I think tube amps are going to get more expensive. But I'm right there with you about why I decided to stop using tube amps.
Hehe. I figered some of this out years ago, not because I was smart, but because I was lazy. Started out with princeton reverb, the deluxe reverb, then a ultra chorus (s state) then a 50 watt jcm800 with vintage cab. The Marshal lasted about 2 years until I had to do a gig in a small space that really didn't pay much. So enter the 10 watt peavey rage. I put it on a chair and miced it up. It worked very well. So well, that I started using it on more and more gigs, and on biggrr and bigger gigs. One day it dawned on me that the only time I used the other amps was at home. Then I started experimenting woth processors like azoom and an rp20. Still, I would many times wind up with either the rage, yhe floor mfx, or both. I never ever, not once, was told by anyone that my rig sounded bad. People just can't tell. Especially if they do not have a better amp plugged in to compare with. I was told by one venue owner that he didn't like the looks of that little amp sitting on a chair, so I hid it outta sight. I have a Helix and a fractal now, a Katana, yamaha thr10, and my old princeton from 55 years ago. I'm happy. James
I lugged an amp and board to 1 gig when I first started gigging. It was my first and last time. After that I sold everything and went direct and not just direct. The modelers are rad but you dont need those either. Mooer makes such good products that to the average listener at your shows. Your tone is indistinguishable from analog.
I enjoy your program, and I understand that you sacrifice tone for portability; I recently sold my hx stomp. It's excellent gear, but if you have the actual thing, keep it. The thunder and the force of actual speakers, as well as his presence, set him apart from the rest, (one thing is to hear, and another is to feel the sound and control it). The crowd as front-of-house speakers. but you as a musician know something its off . its nice but not quite the same. thanx for the channel keep it strong .
Thanks for the comment! And I actually personally do not agree that I’ve sacrificed tone for portability. I think these sound just as good as an amp. And I disagree that “as a musician I’ll know something is off.” Periphery, Metallica, animals as leaders, steel panther, and many others use direct rigs live. I’ve heard amazing sounding direct rigs, and bad sounding direct rigs. Same as I’ve heard amazing sounding amps and horrible sounding amps. It just depends on the setup. But thank you for commenting! Do what works best for you, that’s all that matters 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusic thank you for the reply , all those bands you mentioned have monitors, side-fills and in-ears , the total cost is huge ,for direct sound i agree and its easier , no noise bleed . People are forgetting about combos, they actually are good option also . i think mostly what it seems to lack is a cab behind me , the sound wave driving thru my body . have a nice week and keep up the good content
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Another great video Scott! 6:00 Quick story… when I told a friend of mine that I'd switched to a Helix a few years ago, he said, "Oh man, that's a shame, since I loved your tube amp sound for a long time!" when I told him that I hadn't used tube amps for over two decades, he had to admit that he'd never noticed.
Yes! Haha, that’s truly a way to tell how good everything is sounding now in the modeling world. Thanks for sharing 🤘
Absolutely spot on! Even amps need to be DI capable these days…the Tone Masters are phenomenal split of the difference for us full time gigging musicians.
Agreed!
You do such a great job of giving economical, practical and attainable advice that is so helpful for new peeps. Very consistent. Subscribed. Thanks!
Thanks Rob!
Love this - I use just my Mac and MainStage with Izotope's Amplitude, added a bluetooth pedal and can tweak and customize my sound any way I want. I use a small behringer interface, for in/out. I am a full time audio engineer and the these are the sounds we use for recordings as well - MOST players will have a hard time matching the tone you can get through these plugins - whether in-studio or live.
My band decided to go with the Captor X for live gigs, using real amps and cabs. At first we wanted less stage volume to hear better in our IEM,s. But, we noticed at smaller shows the volume from our gear had a better FOH sound then rather depending on small local venues with Smaller PA’s. So for our metal band having a real amp with a DI signal thru our IEM system, we mix our own FOH with our rig sending a L/R/SUB to FOH
This works for us well and is manageable with minimal amount of issues. Bringing the gear on a road could be a lot easier but at the same time the stage presence of cabinets let’s the crowd know this band is going to fun.
Every band has to decide what works for them -
We do have a sound guy that travels with us
Thanks for the content as always - good stuff
Oh nice! That’s a good way to do it. I’ll have to look into that Captor X. I haven’t heard of that. Thanks for the info. And you are 100% right, every band will figure out what works best for them, and that’s the important part 🤘
Totally agree. I run an Epiphone ES-335 through a Hughs and Kettner pedal amp with a built-in DI out. I never bring a cab any more and I haven't put the H&K through a venue backline for about a year. I get exactly the sound I want. Monitoring can be a little tricky in venues that don't have good monitors, but as I tend to run around with a wireless headset mic and wireless guitar setup, I can usually hear myself in the FOH mix anyway. I play fairly basic punk rhythm guitar live (over my own original backing tracks), so I only have a tuner and an acoustic pedal on my pedalboard. Very simple setup. I love it. I can carry everything (iPad with backing tracks, synced backup iPad, mic rig, pedalbag) in a rucksack.
Totally agree. I went 100% modeling 10 years ago. For all the reasons you cite.
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So did I.
YESSIR! Direct rigs allow you to be so much more efficient and show-focused.
I like effeciency and have done 100% the same!
I see no reason to carry around heavy amps and dealing with microphones.
A modeler with XLR cable to the PA is everything the audience needs to hear what I do :)
💯🤘
We are on the same boat. Portability is everything to me. Variax + Helix = all i need.
Such an amazing combo! I know there is a guy who was able to make a wireless adapter from the CME Pro widi master in order to wireless have the helix change tuning/tones on the variax. He then also had a wireless guitar system for audio, so his variax was completely wireless 🤯
Great amp modeling is not even that recent ("last 10 years"). I tried the latest and greatest but _always_ gravitate back to my Digitech GNX4. I now have _six_ of them for a total outlay of
Thanks! And I plan to do a PA video eventually. I love my EV 50s. They are so easy to setup and sound great!
Well said Scott, I was the same and now using a fractal Axe III set up and thinking of going with the new fractal smaller paddle setups they have out now. When you're gigging often and don't have help, you need to make it work, especially with all the new toys out there today that sound amazing.
The system you referred to is from Synergy Amps, there's lots of different amp modules for them.
I'm right there with you on modelling rigs. Might be nice to have an FRFR for live tones.
Just going through Indianapolis now. Hopefully NAMM has some fun new gear
I wanted to go to NAMM this year, but I would probably spend all my money there haha. And yes it was the Synergy!
@@ScottUhlMusic Too late for me, already spending it all. I am seriously considering selling my amps too though. I've got an apartment and I'm trying to find bands to join in Europe so you know...travel + big heavy gear = not very smart
This video shows how far guitar tech has grown and how we can adapt to a much simpler guitar lifestyle.
Agreed. The tech is pretty wild, and I love anything that sounds good and makes my life easier 🤘
I can guarantee that even people listening for the sound, including an individual instrument, cannot hear the difference in a live setting. I know people who have their own studio full of pedals and amps and say, “I just don’t like the sound I get from my HX Stomp,” spend more time doing A/B comparisons than playing music and don’t play live.
100% and that’s an excellent point! And yeah there is nothing wrong with playing at home for sure, but once you start playing live you start to value ease of setup even IF you lose 5% of your tone (which again I don’t think these do). Very good point!
@ScottUhlMusic Just found your awesome channel yesterday 👍
Already watched a bunch of your videos.
Have a question. I'm 100% interested in minimizing my gear for convenience but I'm totally new to midi and anything programmable like ( hotone ampero II) which I just bought.
In this video you mentioned how you automatically turn effects on and off in certain parts of the song based on what the original guitar parts are using. Can you guide me to which videos I should be watching to learn about that? Thanks
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❤❤❤❤by yÿ😮😂🎉
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Yep, went from half stack, to direct, and Loving it, I did Europe this way and it was better that I expected.
Great content Scott- Im going thru this exact dilemma now, downsizing and figuring out how to get my sound direct. I'm a bass player and am starting to hate lugging 2-50lb bass cabinets. The "swappable" amp system you mentioned sounds like the Synergy amp (synergyamps), where you can snap in various preamp modules from builders like; Friedman, Bogner, Engl, Diesel, etc into a host amp.
Yup! It is the Synergy, that’s definitely what I was. I knew my subscribers would know what it was. I couldn’t even figure out how to google that lol. But yeah, especially for bass amps, it’s really tough to bring those again and again when you can pull it off with a direct rig. Bass does feel weird the first few times not having the sound waves blasting from behind you, but you do get used to it 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusic Finneas uses a gaming vibrating vest to get that bass feel in lieu of amps. The P!nk bass player stands on a platform, underneath which reside a battery of ass kickers normally used on drum thrones. Now ... Neither of these are going to be particularly viable at a local bar gig but sometimes, like Formula 1, the technology trickles down to the rest of us over time. And ... You know ... Tech is just good :)
Best advice I can give is - go with an ultralight bass cab. I use a GK Ultralight 2-10 combo (33 lbs) for most of my gigs. Our PA is usually compact, so I don't subject it to a direct feed. but the amp has one if needed.
I have a 1-15 bottom cab if I need to stack up for a large room or an outdoor gig. Signal chain went from a Boss ME-50B (for rock with The Window Panes) or just a tuner (classic country with the Mission Road duo).
If i have room to move around, I will use one of three inexpensive wireless units (thanks Scott!) and I can ham it up.
Well…I’ve had my Stomp for a year and half and now have an FM9. And I’m about to sell all but a few of my pedals And two amps. That’s a big deal for me. I love my gear. And these are some great pedals. But yeah: the modelers are really THAT good. I’m blown away.
I'll probably always be a "guitar > pedals > amp" guy, but I love watching you talk about your rig. Great video as always!
Hey, there is nothing wrong with that!! If you like your rig, use your rig 🤘🤘 Glad it’s working for you, and that’s the important thing
Your right the new gear is there . I appreciate you !
Hey Scott! Really appreciate your videos. I’m going look at your backing track video next.
Excellent Info !! I stopped using guitar amps 6 yrs. ago. Running Everything FOH. From Old School.....Technology Is Wonderful...!!
My band moved to amp/cab sims in the last year. The biggest benefit is the load in and out. We used pedal platform amps anyway so we switched out for 3x Behringer GDI21 and 1x BDI21, all set to clean, total budget £150. Never looked back.
Great channel, great video, as ever! Thanks.
Nice! Excellent choices 🤘🤘
Funny how it's always the guys with the least experience who pretentiously stick to their guns with old analogue gear. All the super experienced pros I've met are open to whatever tech will help. Love your videos Scott, you perfectly embody the humble, open minded spirit of all the best ppl I've worked with!
Thank you!
I came back to revisit this after watching your video on iPads on stage. Gave me things to think about and a perspective I didn't consider before. I am trying to sell my amps, but lots of people are not buying. I can't sell my Laney I am to attached to it. LOL . I run my Helix all the time. Almost every-show, for my acoustic solo shows I have a different modeling pedal. The convenience of moving it in and out are just to good. I get almost the exact sound. Only other guitar guys hate on it. I love I have all these different amps at my fingertips and can just cycle through them and mess around all day if I want. I got 1 or 2 I always use for my shows and I stick with that. Bottom line I love it, makes my work life easier.
great arguments :) I'm 17 right now and I think I just have to get through a few years of lugging way too heavy amps around before I not only see but feel the upsides of such rigs. I just love feeling the air moved and feeling the pressure in your body a bit too much right now. Also I wanted to add that especially in todays world with the given possibilities it can be quite nice to have a finite amount of options to choose from and not always be overloaded by what tones you can get so I really like the process of finding the analog gear that does what I want it to and leave it at that- not constantly stressing about getting my tones one extra bit nicer and trying the 20 amp sims I haven't tried yet.
I fully understand your decision Scott, I purchased a ENGL FB25 just for the real amp feel and it does sound great but since I've bought it I still find my self on my Helix most of the time and that's not a convenience decision just a simple sound and clarity of effects and so on , it's hard to beat a good modeler if it's setup correctly
100%! Couldn’t agree more 🤘
Great video @Scott Uhl. I would only add that going direct doesn’t have to be an all-digital experience. Some of the amp in box solutions like the Quilter Superblock and the DSM Simplifier amps sound great with just a couple of pedals added.
I haven’t heard of those, I’ll have to look into that. Thanks for the suggestion!
I had the Simplifier and got rid of it for Superblocks as the Quilters are actually amplifiers not just a sim. Also the ability to run a Superblock off a pedalboard PSU at 1watt is fantastic.
I’m doing all digital and wireless. backing tracks, guitars/ amps, foot peddles, lighting, iem,
Only thing I can’t do through Bluetooth is my accordions but they do have software to change the tones of them so that’s nice!
I couldn't live with the spongy response of the Helix on it's own so i added a Marshall DSL1HR head in 4 cable mode with a Two Notes Captor, no speaker, direct to PA and a stage monitor (IEMs coming next!).. Studio One controls channel and fx switching. A midi switch controls channel switching. Adding different preamps gives flexibility but generally i just need 2 channels plus tube screamer, compression, chorus and delay. Works beautifully.
I've been on IEMs for about 2 years now and man I will never go back ton monitors or amps or fills or dealing with rude sound guys. So my story is quite simple, I"m a bass player and I loved my cabs for years. Had the Ampeg SVT7 heads and classics with the 4x10 and the behemoth 8x10, some CRATE amps and speakers, my SWR 6x10 and 1000 watt amp heads. Had me some pedals, not a lot since I was a pretty simple bass player but none the less I still had some. Always had to lug them around and man it was cool back then, but such a pain in the ass always having to borrow my dad's truck or a buddy's jeep. This went on for years until I was over it. The sound at gigs was always competitive instead of enjoyable. So many things that would not make a show pleasant. Sometimes seeing other guys with better gear would kinda bum me out cause I thought you needed that gear to be a good player. FFW a few years and I got my chance to go on a small tour and man that was that an eye opener. Guys playing with minimal stuff to get in and out fast. Unless you had a road crew everyone had fast ways of setting up. Bass players carried combo amps and a good preamp pedal/DI. I was blown away and changed my tactics for my gear. I got me a 12 and a 15 combo amps from Hartke and that's what I use now. 12 for small clubs and the 15 for out door events.Then a few months later I bit the bullet and got some IEMs. Shure PSM300s and well, now I'm looking to get a rumble pack fro my strap so I can feel the bass, because that's the only reason I still have an amp, and a rumble pack would help with that. I could do a motion mat but I move a lot and the mat is way more pricey. Anyway son now I show up to a gig, I have my API DI or my Radial Dual split Preamp box with my Empress compressor, my wireless system and my wireless IEMs, plus my custom IEMs which give me the sound that I want directly in my ear and that is worth all the amps I have ever had in my lifetime and if need be I bring one of the combo amps, but yeah, I still take one cause people still freak out if they don't see an amp. My dream is to show up and only have to hand over two cables to the sound guy or plug into a board, which is possible. I know a lot of people who say it ain't the same and yeah it's not, it's better...haha...I'm with you on this one. 95% of people do not care about your gear, maybe they'll see your instrument and recognize it, but again 95% of people don't know jack about what is producing the sound, they just want to hear their favorite tunes, and I'm there to grove with that. Good stuff man and keep it up.
couldn't agree more. if i had a multifx i would take it any day of the week and go direct compared to my bulky and heavy pedalboard. and it is true that most of your audience would not even care about your tone as long as it is decent
Yup, exactly. The tone has to be really bad for the audience to notice in 99% of the cases. Most of the time it’s just “guitar was too quiet or too loud”
I've gone back and forth between modelers and amps over the past 20 years. My recent modeler is the Helix LT which I love and still have. But I'm one "those guys" who couldn't figure out why something was missing in the feel and tone of the Helix. I'm sure it's mostly in my head. So I purchased the Hughes & Kettner GrandMeister Deluxe 40 tube amp. It's a smaller head with built in delay, reverb, and modulation - all MIDI programable. The amp is plugged in to a Two Notes Captor X as my speaker cabinet connected to FOH via XLR. And I control the amp with the Nektar Pacer MIDI foot controller. Not having to lug around a cabinet makes this portable enough for me - I can fit it all in a rolling duffle bag. This setup blends the best of both worlds having a real tube amp, basic effects, and 0 stage volume. Until I got this rig, I've never experience the feel of a tube amp cranked to 10 but controlled at any volume I want. So far I'm really digging it.
Hey, finding what you enjoy is the most important thing! Thanks for sharing and commenting 🤘🤘
Great video, I used to run my 5150. Now I have a boss katana 100watt head which I run direct to front of house. Sounds killer with the foot switch I have programmed 4 channels. No stage sound an with inears we can hear everything crystal clear.
You can’t go back once you go direct and IEMs 🤘
I have the same philosophy with you. If it sounds good to me, makes my life and my music making easier, then I'm onboard. Cheers!
Thanks, couldn’t agree more 🤘
I’m still rocking amps
Live I use 2 iso cabs. 1 v30 1 creamback
2 heads either peavey 6505 and Mesa dual rectifier
Or fender hot rod deville and vox ac50
I have a large board
Few unnecessary pedal but not too over the top
It has 1 modeler in it. For acoustic simulator. I don’t want to play acoustic so I don’t.
I do have an hx stomp
Use it to practice
I have done most of my gigs via Di for 25 years. Starting with a Marshall JMP1 and Alexis Quadreverb, then POD’s, Fractal, and then more recently a Boss GT1000 Core. All patches controlled via backing track program changes. I used to use a Fender amp and small pedal board for fill in gigs, but now take a small powered speaker. I don’t see it as a compromise anymore.
Nice! 🤘🤘
I had a Laney twin combo, and it still needed people 2 to lift it!! I have used a Boss GT10 since they came out, but as you say Scotty, there’s better stuff out in the last ten years. My GT10 is great but getting old. I know the reasons why I went with amp modelling , but your validation as a full-time pro is comforting.
Just play, improve, and enjoy because everything changes. Great video!
There are pros and cons to both. If you are using the traditional rig, an amp + pedalboard, if one of your pedals dies, you can still manage and play, not to mention that it's cheaper to replace it. Have one of those amp-in-a-box pedals as backup on your pedalboard, if your amp dies you can again still play. If your modeler dies however, well that's it, you have to replace the whole rig. If for whatever reason you can't use your in ear monitors, you will not have any control (I've played places that don't have any on the floor monitors at all, especially bars and clubs). BUT, yes, the amp is usually heavy, it's a drag, micing it, transporting it etc.
To be prepared for every scenario, you ideally gotta have everything, amps, pedals, modelers, cabs, in ears...of course that's impossible, and it adds up, both in weight and cost. So it's really a balancing act, I would love to be able to use just a modeler, but I'm always scared that it would die on me and then I'm screwed.
I have the Mooer P1 as the backup, so I’m not too worried. I had one friend who said he was worried about that once and his amp died on stage like a month later lol. All gear can break. And to me, the “which patch cable is broken? Why is my pedalboard not working??” situation is much more common than the entire rig breaking. But having an iRig with an iPad/iPhone or the Mooer P1 is a good way to have a backup. Always have a backup plan is my philosophy! 🤘
Very well thought not dissing real amps. Practical I agree with all your discussion points
I definitely didn’t want to make it seem like I dislike amps. I love a good amp! I just find the pros of direct rigs outweigh the pros of an amp 👍
Welcome to the club. Though I do things a little differently. Purchased my first guitar processor in the late 80's, a Roland Gp8, glorified pedal board but sounded great. Ran a GT 10, then a GT 100, and now a GT 1000. However, I still like having an amp with me, that's not really an amp, I use basically a PA rack. A stereo peak limiter compressor, dual 31 band eq, an expander, to a crown stereo power amp to my stereo cabinet. Run 1/4" stereo outs from my GT 1000 to a direct box, to connect to the PA which passes through to my so called amp. The GT 1000 is a power house, not for those unwilling to spend time deep diving into all the crazy things you can do with it. Great sound, good to see you found your sound, your way.
I couldn’t go back now!
For the last few days I've been using your videos to set up my HX Stomp.
Great video and a complete description.
I'm 74 YO and having on heck of a time understand and getting what I "thought" I wanted to hear.
BUT it is one heck of a ride..
Thanks
Glad the videos have been helping you out!
Ive started playing out live through a JBL PA system, an iRig2 and an iPad....Absolutely love it!! Still, Im old and stubbornly hanging onto my tubes and pedals though. lol
Nothing wrong with that! 🤘
Absolutely spot on as usual Scott! I am using a Helix LT straight to front of house. Singers love the it as well!! I’ve never had anyone in the audience ask why there isn’t an amp on stage. Why… because they don’t care! Sounds good and that’s all that matters! Thanks for another great video 👍
100%! And yeah singers especially love direct units for sure
Nice. Keeping a few of my tube amps, nothing like them, and I can play them loud.
I've used modelers for many years (currently using my Boss SY-1000); I use HX Effects for effects with a Catalyst 100 in 4CM and MIDI to control the amp channel and amp boost.
I've been using Blue Cat Audio's Axiom plugin for years, before that their Destructor plugin - which is part of Axiom.
Recently released, PolyChrome DSP McRocklin Suite is my favorite guitar plugin.
FWIW, your channel convinced me to try the Mooer Prime P1, and it works great and sounds great though dialing in the sounds on my iPhone gets tedious. I have the F4 footswitch, and use wireless in/out (two wireless systems) and a wireless in-ear system; the P1 is mounted on my mic stand with a phone holder. Best of all, this all fits in lunchbox sized bag including a USB hub or my Tech21 PSA 2.0.
TL;DR: plenty of options that sound good, having many rigs for different situations is great if you can do it!
Nice! Glad the P1 has worked well for you. It’s my main backup rig
I had a hard time getting the tone I'd hear from the amp to transfer to recordings. Then around 2001 I bought and started using a Johnson J-Station for recording. The thing was incredible!
Eventually I started using it as a preamp and it transformed my Peavey VT100 combo into this monster of an amp that could take out a set of acoustic drums in a live setting .
I would venture to guess there are many guitarists who feel like they're losing control if their amps at their fingertips. The sad truth is that the sound waves from their amps have limited paths. Since many members of the audience are barely able to hear them, their moments of glory in blazing lead breaks go largely unheard.
If the sound people happen to be in your soundwave path could see why your signal would be buried in the mix.
As a lead guitarist who used to play a lot of gigs in the last Millinium, I know this firsthand. I would have loved something that would sound at least as good as my rig, but placed in a mix that actually filled the venue.
I'm thrilled more and more folks are getting into the direct thing. As a sound tech and a drummer, I was an early adaptor of edrums specifically for the idea that 80% of stage volume is usually dictated by how loud the drums are, and 20% by how loud the guitar amps are.
The vast majority of us play in small spaces where silent stages would be the best. I've only had the opportunity to do sound for a few bands on IEMs and even that was a massive improvement on what I had to work with.
I'd love the idea that up to 100 person venue is silent stage, and beyond that acoustic drums and amps.
I’ve done a few shows with all direct and an electronic drum kit. It’s amazing. When my wife and I are fortunate to travel to resorts in Cancun/Bahamas and stuff like that, we have our drummer bring an SPDSX sample pad. It’s amazing to have everything on stage direct and have complete control over the volume
@@ScottUhlMusic Absolutely! I use a variety of drum kits from Superior Drummer 3, and when I'm playing a gig with a sound tech, I hand him a labeled snake right out of my Apollo 8 so they have control over the house. They always are impressed!
Since you mentioned "cartridges"; back in the 80's my brother had a Seymour Duncan Convertible amp and cab. It had "modules" that allowed for tone shaping the preamp stage from super clean to high gain. It even had a dial to drop the 100W output to about 5W of tube crunch. Unfortunately, the amp never delivered good tone, likely due to the ultra linearity of the output stage that made it sound lifeless and sterile. We've both owned dozens of amps over the years but we never talk about that one!
I just watched a video from Andy Wood (who I adore) using a $20,000 pedal board. Just saying I 100% agree with you Scott. In a band mix the audience just doesn't care or notice, if you can play, you can play. And so much less headache and cost etc.
Yeah, 100%! If I get even 90% of what I need in a much easier package, I’m in! And modeling sounds great now anyways
The cartridge amp is something like Egnater or Randell was selling. It was a 100 watt power section and then you could put 4 midi switchable preamps in it.
I have an old Rocktron vendetta that is a precursor to that idea.
Also now play through a helix and leave the amps collecting dust....
You are my man! I have not owned an amp in ~20 years.
Team no-amp 💪
I got hooked on your channel and bought quite a lot of gears but right here I'm gonna make a huge saving as I was going to buy a very expansive Fender Stratocaster. I'll finally go for the GTRS. Not sure which one though.
Thank you loads 🙏
Nice! Enjoy 🤘 I love my p800. Just don’t get the super cheap one (s800)
You´re absolutly right!
🤘🤘
Really great content. I’ve been ampless with a Boss GT Pro for years. Every reason you give are all reasons I did it. 99.9% of the audience don’t care or don’t know. It’s only ever muso’s who comment and I always discover they’re not half as busy with gigs as I am!
100%! Glad I’m not the only one 🤘
Another informative video, Scott. Thank you. I'm almost to the point of giving up my amps but not quite. I used to use an old Digitech GSP-1101 modelling preamp and power amp in a small rack that sat on top of a 4x12 Marshall. I used the Digitech foot controller to change between patches as needed. I'm almost 64 years old now and have back problems that make moving a 4x12 difficult. What I've done is purchased a Headrush FRFR-108 powered speaker and run my preamp into that. I also just recently picked up a Digitech RP-1000 and a RP-500 that will take the place of my rack preamp. Definitely easier on the back and takes up a lot less room in the car. Will probably upgrade to the Helix or the new Headrush floor modeler at some point. I also use Phenyx Pro wireless IEMs and wireless guitar systems thanks to your recommendations.
Nice! I’ve heard a lot of good stuff with the HeadRush for sure! It’s a great system. Glad you’ve found the iems and wireless to work well for you 🤘
More reasons to go direct:
1. Easy stereo tone with usually sound very big live and you can only do that with two amps.
2. I use my HXstompXL to control my other pedals as well as my computer for playback.
also, other then a guitar player I'm a sound engineer and I definitely prefer a quiet stage
Yup! Both also great reasons 🤘
Such great advice! Dead on and I totally agree on the 95% rule! Simplicity rules whether live or recording. And you’re 100% right: the listener wants to hear you play and could care less about the gear.
Another comment said “95% still gives you a A.” I like that 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusic and I also agree with you on the Mooer GTRS. I bought one about a year ago and love it.
Awesome! Glad you enjoy it as much as I do 🤘🤘🤘
Love your videos!! You’ve got me re-thinking my live approach for sure. Scott, my question for you is - can this setup work even when playing dinky bars that have a small PA and no sound guy? I’m intersted to find out the exact setup needed. Thinking that would require us to bring our own mixer output to the venue PA.
You would plug directly into the PA or get a FRFR speaker if you really wanted to. Sometimes there can be a plus to have an amp on stage in situations like that… that is if the guitarist doesn’t blast his amp too loud haha
Thanks for this video. I did the same a few years back. My buddy thinks im crazy, but he loves my sound. Im down to GT1000 Core, and Bose S1s. My buddy still has "His Wall" and is always on one knee, making adjustments. lol
100% agree on modelers. I haven't used my tube amps ever since I switched to the dark side. I do understand having sound on the stage though... If you intentionally want your guitar to feedback, you need to be in front of a speaker. Also if your IEM fails for whatever reason, you have a failsafe immediately. Just take them off and continue the song. Also I heard from audience that are at the edge of the stage that it's very weird to not have stage sound. PA speakers usually are pointed towards the crowd but kinda go over the very edge of the stage... So at least a 1x12 or a 2x12 depending on the size of the stage, is still a good idea. I just use my solid state amp to go from the Helix to whatever cab is on the stage, and then go to PA direct with the helix.
That’s true! Feedback is much much more difficult to get naturally without your amp
I'm loving my Helix! So many different tones!
Helix is amazing!!
Ok. You've completely convinced me. So glad I found your channel. I'll have an HX Stomp on the way soon, then watch all your setup/tip videos.
Nice! Enjoy, the stomp is amazing 🤘🤘
Excellent video. I switched to helix and powercab a few years ago. After numerous sound guys telling me my guitar tone sounds thin across the PA (but I thought it was fine in my ears) compared to the other guitarist using a full rig, I switched back to amp and shelfed the powercab but now I still use the helix in 4CM for FX only. The other issue is there are simply more practices than gigs and our PA is only a few small tops in the space with nothing mic'd up so no IEM for example during practices. My little powercab couldn't compete with the drums or the other 4x12 etc. volume or direction. Some could hear me, some not depending how close in firing range of my speaker. TIlt up, I was good but nobody could hear me. Tilt down and I couldnt hear but others could. Too much hassle. I have to rewatch your plugin portion, see whats up with that. I just use the HX edit. Anyway, when I switched back to amp, I just fell in love with the real deal again. Just something about a real amp that the amps in helix wasn't delivering. I will also add for many live festival local shows, we'd get literally 15 min to setup and go so there's no time to bother with IEM or bring them at all. Sound guys wont even let you. Mixing on the fly, thee end.
Yeah the IEM switchover is frustrating for sure for festival style shows. And some sound guys are just always going to be mogami cable/tube amps only guys. Helix does not sound thin in the PA if it’s setup right, I know that. Thanks for commenting!
In-Ear-Monitoring was one of the biggest reasons, I went digital.
I built an IEM setup for my band in 2015 and due to the loud amps, we could barely hear, what went on in the IEMs, the bass player and I often stood on each others end of the stage, so we could hear at least ourselves in the IEMs. In 2020 I bought a Helix LT, which I hated, because I couldn't get it to sound good, not due to user error, in fact due to a board defect. Yamaha took 6 weeks to fix it, but the damage was done. I sold it in 2021 and bought a Kemper. I'm very satisfied with my tone, never sounded better.
In ears and direct rigs… I honestly could never go back
i still absolutely love my amp, but since using my helix going direct i definitely wouldn't go back to taking the big amp out (unless i had mega money to get someone else to do it) I've been able to walk home after a gig with my guitar and the helix on my back, i wouldn't recommend walking 45mins like that but it 100% wouldn't be possible with the amp and cab... i've noticed so many more sound guys loving the fact there's less on stage too... currently putting together the in ears and trying to convince my bassist to try out a helix or similar so we can go even lighter and use that space for more fun show type things (lights etc)
Couldn’t agree more! And you nailed it “I still absolutely love my amp.” Being pro amp modeling isn’t being anti amp. It’s just saying the convenience of direct rigs out weighs bringing your amps. Great comment 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusic absolutely... i toyed with modellers before all the lockdowns but being in lock down with a then 9 year old really cemented how much more useful it really was, i could play until 2am and she wouldn't even know, was a total game changer
I fully agree with you, I sold my full Marshall stack a couple of years ago and switched to a lunch box amp to play at home and gig with. I just need to find a load box with a good DI cab sim or something so I don’t need to hook up a cap. That way I can go direct to front of house. If you have any good solutions here, let me know. Thanks for the video!
I usually just go direct into front of house from my GTRS, helix, or hx stomp. Especially since we use in ears, it makes the most sense to me personally. Thanks for watching!
AMEN brother!!! I had a monster pedal board (Temple Audio) with a shit ton of high end pedals and A/B/Y switches, power supplies, miles of intricately placed cables and connectors yet 1/2 the time when I was ready to gig there was always some cable that got bumped or a power supply cable that disconnected leading to frantic troubleshooting and stress. I switched years ago to the Helix + Seymour Duncan Powerstage 700 with 2 Celestion F12 x200 in a 2x12 cab with xlr L and R out to the board. So I can jam with friends with an amp and have it to gig with if I chose or just run direct to the board from the Helix. I agree with the 90-95% concept. For me it is close enough and 95% of the audience will have no clue.
Exactly! Someone said “95% is still a grade A.” I like that quote!
I'm using a HX stomp going into a Laney Cub 10. Super lightweight. Not very loud.
I"ve beem using in ears recently. But I still prefer to go through an amp. There is some feedback happening between the amp and the guitar that just feels better. And having an amp in the room/stage let's me bring my in ears down, as I don't need as much guitar in my ears as if I was going direct. I can hear the amp bleed in the mics.
I don't mind playing direct. It's a feel thing. In fact, the laney is so controlled volume wise that is almost as easy to do FOH as going direct. And I can carry it with my pinky.
But, yes, I don't gig a lot.
I’m approaching my third year of switching to an amp modeller, and I couldn’t be happier. Sold every piece of gear (amp,pedals, etc), and haven’t looked back.
Yup! I had amps and pedals that I loved, but ultimately this was the best decision for me 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusicame. The band I tour with had been doing it for years before I switched. I came to the realization that my amp rig was limited to one style, since I only had certain pedals. Now with the Headrush, I can do different types of sub gigs with no worries about what I can do.
I play in a world where using a modeler rig is still regarded with antipathy, but I bought an inexpensive Fender Mustang GTX100 for a backup, and I'm pleasantly surprised at how good it sounds and plays. I did have to spend a lot of time tweaking it to get it sounding like it should on all the patches I've made, but once you get there it really does a good job. That's my biggest gripe about modelers: it takes me a long time to get one to sound right, because of all the menu scrolling and tweaking.
Side note: In my experience with modelers, you almost HAVE to have experience with real rigs to be able to know how to properly program a modeler. Or at least be knowledgeable in how a real rig works, how the pedals and amps interact, etc. The modelers are pretty good at modeling the stuff to the point where you have to employ a lot of the same tricks as you would on the real gear to get your virtual rig to sound good.
I’ll give you that it does take time to get it to sound right….. if you are new to it or bad at tech. I do agree. But giving it the time to understand will give you all the pros I mention in this video. Therefore I think it’s worth it 👍 Thanks for the comment!
I did the same thing 4 years ago with the Fractal AX8.
Such a great system! Like I said, the teacher that I used to work with who had really incredible tone switched to that one. It sounds so good!
It's a very interesting point of view, great argumentations. I'm having a sort of hybrid approach between traditional gear and technology tho
Nice! As long as you found something that works for you, that’s all that matters. Thanks for commenting 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusic yeah I completely agree! Nowadays technology give us endless possibilities so every approach is more than respectable. Everything that can boost our creativity is more then welcome as well. Thanks to you for the amazing content.
my stage setup is Axe Fx 3 > QSC FRFRs.. the FC-12 is my foot controller.. I use monitor wedges or put in my IEMs.. either way the FRFRs give me a sonic stage footprint which I like..
Nice setup! 🤘
I have so many pedals and amps, but I just play my HX Stomp. This little unit is just too handy... I also got an adapter to power it from a battery pack so I literally don't need a power outlet for it. So simple: get to the gig, plug the XLR outs to the sound board, done!
Totally agree!
This is awesone info, Scott. Found it on your channel and loved it 'cause I was thinking of doing the same. What's the use of an amp any more. I use it as my guitar monitor on bigger stages, but now you can get a good sound going through normal wedges or in-ears... Thanks for this!
Glad it was helpful!
I use a simply set up Line 6 x3 and a small 8in powered pa spkr Same idea. If you know what a good amp sounds like you can recreate it with todays tech. On my Marshall sims i run the master vol to about 90% and add the drive with some compression on the back. It makes the "amp" sag like a cranked plexi. Im impressed it will do that.
Did the same thing several years back. Never one time missed all that old heavy gear.
💯 🤘
Great video Scott! My band's a metalcore 4 piece with 2 guitars drums and vocals. We're on a fully automated setup with patch changes and basically everything's being done on my macbook pro and behringer umc1820 interface running reaper (Including running backing tracks, process vocals, run drum triggers) The only reason we would run amps/cabs live is when PAs are going above the first couple rows head (We're also on in ears and using Line 6 Helixs)
Nice! Can’t beat the midi changed patch changes and just focusing on the show 🤘
I thought when I switched to modeling that it would just be a convenience for live thing and for recording I'd keep my old vibrolux tube amp. But an unexpected consequence of crafting tones for live was, I spent a lot of time getting to know the modeler, learning how to tweak it, learning how to get it where I wanted it to go. After a while I realized that I was just as good at dialing in a great studio tone on the modeler as I was dialing in and micing and amp and... well.. Bye vibrolux.
It's absolutely true what you're saying about that last %5. If you can let go of "perfect" the cost associated with getting your tone that last few percent is... not worth it. And also, a bit of a myth. Because there are definitely times in the studio with a great amp rig where I still couldn't find the exact sweet spot for a tune and got no closer to "exodia" than a modern modeler would've gotten me.
I was mostly pedal-only since around 2006 with the Boss GT-8, briefly went tube around 2012 for the first time. Started combo, went half stack and in less than a year full-reverse. Went through the GT-10, GT-100, Pod HD500, then Helix LT. A year ago I swapped that for a Headrush Pedalboard and that's my go-to. Came down to the simplicity & interface as their approach to scenes suited me well to minimize pedal stomping. If I ever find myself in an automated solution like you center around that may revert to Helix or another solution. It's always about the balance in the formula for the control style and compromising the sound options. I've been big on IEM's since 2019 and love the freedom of it all. Running sound for all of my bands with an X32 Rack it's plug & go....
Nice! Sounds like we went on a somewhat similar journey because HD500 was actually my first multi fx processor too!
@@ScottUhlMusic My GT-8 & GT-10 preceeded it, but I actually left off my old Boss VF-1 half-rack that I used as a desktop unit in the early 2000's and later brought into a rack w/ wireless unit + Beheringer FC1010 midi pedal to control. It all just kept getting heavier with no ROI. I used the GT-10 in 4CM in between my tube "phase" keeping it and learning how better to use the sound out of the GT-8/10 and then stayed Multi-FX only since. Even with the massive modelling options out ther I find I use THREE amps and maybe a drive pedal sim for almost everything and run most shows off a single multi-layered patch. In so many ways less truly is or can be more....
Having a lot of fun with a Boss Dual Cube LX lunchbox amp. Got amp sim like JC, Tweed, 1959, 5150 and Mesa DR. Even the fx are solid (Boss). At 2x5 watts you might even be on speaking terms with the neighbours. My favs are JC & chorus, Tweed & phaser & reverb and Mesa DR & octaver. Now trying the 1959 & high gain & octaver for a blues sound (ZZ-Top kinda).
Nice! There are so many good modelers out there now
Yeah! I deal with a PA, lights + my guitar rig. Fewer moving parts is HUGELY important.
100%!
I’m with you. I haven’t turned on my amps in the two years since I’ved owned the Quad Cortex. I need to think about selling them.
It was hard to let go of my Mesa, but it went to a good friend of mine
Thank you! Very useful. If you sold all your gear, how do you rig when you come to a gig? Do all venues have their own PA that you can just connect to? So you basically only carry a computer or a tablet to a gig and plug it into their PA? I'd love to see a rig rundown video with you!
If a venue does not have a PA, we provide PA. My pa is the EV 50s and I love them! One of these days I’ll do a rig rundown haha
I’m a bassist that is going completely direct with modeling for my rig and I don’t ever see myself turning back. I’m using a boss GT-1B for my preamp and a Torpedo C.A.B. For my speaker and mic emulation. The cleanest and most balanced I’ve ever sat in a mix was using that rig. Like you said it does it 95% but to me that’s still an A grade. If anyone in the audience wants to complain about that 5% then they can come on stage and do it themselves.
Exactly! 95% is still an A. I should have used that in my video, it’s a great analogy!
Back in the 90's I never brought amps to a gig. I had a pedal board at the time and ran that into a channel in the drum mixer we kept on stage. Then all I had was one monitor with the bass and lead guitar in that and another a little further away with just me. Once processors became more refined with the amp modeling I switched to a Digitech RP500. These days I run that into a Crate G-600 head i got at the Goodwill store for $34 into a Peavey TX810 bass cab I used in the last band I was able to play bass in. That is rewired without the horn and two sides of four speakers wired to 2 ohms to match the amp. That's more then I will ever need just messing around in the bedroom with the guitars I build at this point.
I remember when Line6 first came out my God that sounded like someone just filtered the crap out of bad 4 bit midi keybds. Specially the stuff built into the combo amps. I STILL cringe to this day when I go into a music store and someone is blasting drop tuned crap on one of the over effected presets out of a tiny combo. I am glad they must have got better if you actually use it to record with line6 stuff. Everyone has their preferences unless you are one of those channels that hawks the next FOTM as if it were the best thing since sliced bread and wound steel guitar strings. I Never bothered with line6 after that. I got the RP500 on the advice of a soundman who told me about the really good cab sims and EQ section. There pretty much hasn't been any tone I cant recreate with that set up to this day. I may cry if that dies some day.
I know that some line 6 stuff was a little weaker way back then. But they really knocked it out of the park with Helix for sure! I love it
Before I bought my HX Stomp, I used a Princeton Chorus (SS amp) and a Laney Cub 12R (tube amp). I still have them, but play them very infrequently. I love experimenting with sounds, the Stomp was a no brainer for me, because I'll never own all of those pedals that I'm curious about.
Agreed completely!
Thanks for the mention of my
Heavy fella the II II II II 🤜🤛
Any time man 🤘 such a killer amp plugin for metal tones!
@@ScottUhlMusic looking forward to chatting again in the future about live stuff!
Absolutely 🤘🤘
Right on. Size, weight, features, reliability (based on reducing number of moving parts). I'm not quite there yet, but I have been heading in that direction for years. I haven't used my big pedal board since about 2016 but somehow I can't help but feel I would regret selling (maybe its because I've sold so many guitars over that years that I later came to regret, but pedals and amps are a different beast. Your relationship with a guitar is much more personal and intimate). You've got me seriously considering letting go now. I've been using small amps with direct boxes for years (like H&K Tubemeister 18 and the tiny little Vox MV50s for backup) and multi-effects units which gets me part of the way. I guess my biggest hurdle for giving up the amp altogether is getting a good IEM system. Which I could probably afford if I sold my pedals, pedal board, and flight case). Two questions - what about small gigs with no house sound? And what about small gigs with crappy PA? Do you bring your own backup PA?
If you don’t have a house PA, how do you get vocals? That’s my question. So usually just go into the pa! And if there is a bad PA, an amp might be best, but a bad PA usually means bad sound overall haha
The main reason I still have amps and cabs is because most venues I play usually don't offer the necessary PA equipment to go direct. When they do, my back and van's tranmission thank me.
Haha that’s a very good point!
How did I, a drummer, end up here? I mean, as a drummer there is so much shit you have to bring. Your tiny setup is a dream come true XD I do not recommend drumming for people with OCD! You will end up checking If you've brought all gear ten times and still feel like you've missed something. Because there's just so much.
This is exactly what I’m trying to do. I’m not as nimble as I used to be so cables and pedals are just booby traps awaiting me to perform a pratfall. My goal is to run direct into my Soundcraft UI16 and use the Digitech amp modeling and effects for my tones which I hope to control with a Line 6 MIDI controller. I’m still trying to figure out the whole MIDI thing but I’m getting closer from watching your stuff. I do wish you could elaborate on actual hook ups and such. I’m quite old school but gradually getting into the 21st century.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and keep making those videos!
Nice! Enjoy the journey into amp modeling 🤘 Once you go digital, it’s hard to go back!
Great vid! I'm a homebody using just an MX5 direct to my scarlet, DAW and studio monitors.... My amp is awfully lonely these past couple years. I can see using modern modelers getting way more popular in the near future.
My poor mesa sat around for years before I finally sold it to a good friend. So I know it has a good home now 🥹
Do you still use your Variax? I am using the CAT5 cable so my Helix can control the guitar as well - which is really cool. However, that leaves me with no backup since none of the other Helix devices have that Variax input. I don't trust the Variax battery since mine died and I have to buy a new one.
I do still use the variax sometimes, but the GTRS does do my main heavy lifting for sure. I always have a spare battery with my variax though! Just in case. I know I’ve been seeing that a guy was able to convert a Widi Master to wirelessly be able to control his variax from his helix 🤯🤯 I’m definitely going to buy one if they release it!
Yep. Since I got my HX Stomp, my tube amps are collecting dust. I record with the Stomp, and live, I go straight to the PA. I won't get rid of my tube amps yet, though, because I feel like I might regret it one day. I think tube amps are going to get more expensive. But I'm right there with you about why I decided to stop using tube amps.
For sure, I understand not wanting to sell. It was hard to let go of my Mesa. But it went to a good home of a good friend of mine!
those amp modules were probably the Synergy stuff, search for the SYN-2 preamp, you can get all sorts of modules for different pre's.
Hehe. I figered some of this out years ago, not because I was smart, but because I was lazy.
Started out with princeton reverb, the deluxe reverb, then a ultra chorus (s state) then a 50 watt jcm800 with vintage cab.
The Marshal lasted about 2 years until I had to do a gig in a small space that really didn't pay much. So enter the 10 watt peavey rage. I put it on a chair and miced it up. It worked very well. So well, that I started using it on more and more gigs, and on biggrr and bigger gigs. One day it dawned on me that the only time I used the other amps was at home.
Then I started experimenting woth processors like azoom and an rp20.
Still, I would many times wind up with either the rage, yhe floor mfx, or both.
I never ever, not once, was told by anyone that my rig sounded bad. People just can't tell. Especially if they do not have a better amp plugged in to compare with.
I was told by one venue owner that he didn't like the looks of that little amp sitting on a chair, so I hid it outta sight.
I have a Helix and a fractal now, a Katana, yamaha thr10, and my old princeton from 55 years ago. I'm happy.
James
Nice! Thanks for commenting 🤘
I lugged an amp and board to 1 gig when I first started gigging. It was my first and last time. After that I sold everything and went direct and not just direct. The modelers are rad but you dont need those either. Mooer makes such good products that to the average listener at your shows. Your tone is indistinguishable from analog.
The Mooer GTRS is my main guitar 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusic I really want to try one for an even more simplified set up.
Absolutely true on all counts! Your Imagine Dragons student experience was hilarious and totally spot-on😂
Hahaha yup! It’s definitely accurate
I enjoy your program, and I understand that you sacrifice tone for portability; I recently sold my hx stomp. It's excellent gear, but if you have the actual thing, keep it. The thunder and the force of actual speakers, as well as his presence, set him apart from the rest, (one thing is to hear, and another is to feel the sound and control it).
The crowd as front-of-house speakers. but you as a musician know something its off . its nice but not quite the same. thanx for the channel keep it strong .
Thanks for the comment! And I actually personally do not agree that I’ve sacrificed tone for portability. I think these sound just as good as an amp. And I disagree that “as a musician I’ll know something is off.” Periphery, Metallica, animals as leaders, steel panther, and many others use direct rigs live. I’ve heard amazing sounding direct rigs, and bad sounding direct rigs. Same as I’ve heard amazing sounding amps and horrible sounding amps. It just depends on the setup. But thank you for commenting! Do what works best for you, that’s all that matters 🤘
@@ScottUhlMusic thank you for the reply , all those bands you mentioned have monitors, side-fills and in-ears , the total cost is huge ,for direct sound i agree and its easier , no noise bleed . People are forgetting about combos, they actually are good option also . i think mostly what it seems to lack is a cab behind me , the sound wave driving thru my body . have a nice week and keep up the good content