Unlike some of you, I now only do 5 jobs a week, normally. Two are house jobs. On the one or two a week that are singles, I traditionally used an arranger, small PA, 1 cabinet, a hot spot and a nylon string guitar plugged directly into the PA.

Recently, I got a beautiful Guild jazz guitar and wanted to use it on the singles. Problem is, you can't just plug the single humbucker instrument into a PA and have is sound like anything. I also didn't want to give up my nylon string for quiet bossas and Earl Clugh type solos.

Now, I have added a small Fender tube amp for the Guild and am taking a Nord to use for the excellent pianos. I place it on my right hand. Often, I add a 2nd cabinet and use a little powered Roland monitor.

That's a bit more than the bare essentials I would need to do the job.

None of my jobs are 1 hour deals. Most are two hours, minimum, with an average being three hours, My question is, how many of you take more than the bare essentials to gigs? What else do you use? Why? In a perfect world, what would you add?

Luckily, my son sets most jobs for me, and, when I have back-to-back jobs, it's generally the trio, and he is the bass player. He co-ordinates set-up and tear-down. A 2nd son, who runs our sound company, tears down and sets up sound if the job is bigger...up to 6 1000 watt Crowns, 10 pieces, etc.

How do you decide what to use on OMB jobs?


Russ

Russ-

I've run the gamut in what to bring on my solo jobs.

Ten years ago when I was only using a Yamaha P-200 digital piano and a Yammy MU 15 tone generator for backing strings/vibes/etc. I ran it all through my P200. Then I expanded to two 12's and a 6 channel box mixer with effects. It sounded much better of course. Then the Tyros 1 came along and my world got suddenly sunny, lol...

I tried to do some smaller gigs with the on board speakers/sub Yamaha sold for the t1, I don't much care for it-Only use that set up, 2-3 times a years, if that...

Then I went up to two 15's and really loved the sound. I got so many compliments on that sound after adding the 15's that I stayed with that for 4-5 years.

Recently I switched to the Bose L1, and the Bose tone engine for a mixer.

I'm getting even more compliments now than ever before.

Its not for everyone, but the Bose sounds as good as anything I've ever used, probably better in terms of clarity...

I've always sacrificed weight and trips to the car for sound quality. I have the pains in my back to prove it, lol...

Bottom line-I take what I need to sound very, very good-the best I can. Part of my success in this business is that I'm told I sound better than anyone else around this area...

Not sure if that's true, because I rarely hear anyone else, lol...

Cheers-

------------------
Bill in Dayton

I only do three or four gigs a week. One is for 150 and the others are 30-40 people. Regardless of the size, I also bring my Bose L1,T3 mixer, and whatever keyboards I feel I need to sound my best. Setup time and weight is secondary. Of course the major players might have to make concessions I don't.
Bernie

The Bose LT for 3 or 300

Pretty basic package for most gigs...

The Yamaha PSR-S900 and two Yamaha MS60S lightweight powered monitors...plus stands and bench.

Only thing extra would be the Yamaha P85 piano.

For room filling stereo sound, I take the two Bose systems.

Ian



[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 03-29-2009).]

Good topic. I'd like to hear more.

1. PA800 keyboard
2. Podium 10" powered speakers
3. Wireless headset Shure mic system (with power pack and transmitter to plug in)

Simple as it can get. Plug the mic into the keyboard and keyboard into the speakers that sit on the floor - wonderful

Daytime jobs, usually 20-40 ppl:
Yam 3K
Boom mic or Crown headset
Roland KC 350 amp
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Night jobs - 80-300 ppl
Some jobs are as a single, some with female singer.
Yam 3K
Bose L1 Mod 1
Yamaha mixer
LT for lyrics and MP3's for breaks
Crown Headset
My female singer uses a Shure cordless...don't know the model..but it sounds very good.
Lately, I have added the Roland KC 350 to the night time set up. It just seems to compliment the Bose with a little added "in your face bass" oomph. Plus, being a little hearing impaired, it doubles as a monitor for me.

Eddie

Hi Guys - I played a 4-hour gig last night with this rig:

Tyros 2
Soprano & Tenor saxes w/wireless mic
Stand mic for facility staff
Sony DVD player for tracks
Yamaha Stereo PA head
(2) EV SX80 speakers
(2) speaker stands
keyboard stand
keyboard bench
Separate rollable case w/all my wires and wall warts

On 1-2 hour gigs I usually don't take the keyboard and I try to not take it on 3 hour gigs if I can help it.

I'm getting ready to post a link to a song I played (won't hijack this thread) but if you check the link you'll see all my paraphenalia.

I need to learn a few things from you guys!

Have a great week!
Randy