matt
Joined: Oct 18, 2010
Posts: 653
Boston, MA
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Posted on Apr 30 2015 02:35 PM
what I mean is, I'm going to be doing some gigs (non surf) in which I won't be bringing an amp. they are supposed to have one for me, but if they don't, any advice on how to get a decent tone going straight into a PA? I'm bringing a FRV-1 in case there ain't no reverb.
(these are gigs backing up a singer, mostly acoustic guitar but she wants some electric-I'll try to sneak in as much reverb as possible)
— Matt Heaton & the Electric Heaters
Boston's Premier Surf/Noir Combo
http://www.heatonsurf.com
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SpaceTimC
Joined: Apr 18, 2015
Posts: 189
Bay Area, CA
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Posted on Apr 30 2015 02:48 PM
Why not bring an amp anyway? I have found on too many occasions that it's better to have it and not need it than to not have it and need it...whatever "it" may be.
— The Reverbivores - we're local favorites!
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4053
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Apr 30 2015 04:21 PM
I've used PODs, Zoom MS-50G and even a Palmer PD109 DI to play direct and gotten musical results.
I've actually used the Palmer the most for fly gigs doing what you described, backing a singer who also played acoustic. The electric allowed me to hit a wider variety of stylings. I usually used a light overdrive with the Palmer, not for grit at all but for warmth and a little pseudo tubeyness. My old Ibanez Mostortion worked well for this since it has three band EQ for some control. That little rig and I have done a lot of gigs but a small, newer modern piece of gear with amp modeling like the Zoom I mentioned above would probably be faster and easier.
I used a "Blackface Deluxe" like model in the Zoom to play a large outdoor acoustic show (me on electric) and while I have no idea what it sounded like in the house it sounded acceptable to me in the monitors/wedges. It's single pedal sized and fits right in your gig bag or case. Easy
hope some of that helps,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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shake_n_stomp
Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Posts: 615
Vancouver BC
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Posted on Apr 30 2015 04:29 PM
In a shoulder bag, I have a small DIY pedalboard with the following Velcro'ed as my emergency amp:
FRV-1>'Blonde' Tech 21 Character pedal>DI box (for stage snakes that only take XLR).
Tech 21 SansAmp type boxes sound more 'real' with ambience. If the room is quite dry then add some reverb effect at the mixer. A bit of natural room reverberation is good even if using a surf reverb effect.
— Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada
Last edited: Apr 30, 2015 16:31:41
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Surfgitar
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1342
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
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Posted on Apr 30 2015 05:12 PM
I second what Jeff says. There's been occasions where we can't bring our twins / tanks / pedals, etc. SO... we set up PODs with some decent surf emulations. They do the trick.
— CUTBACK
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WoodyJ
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1544
Bethlehem, GA
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Posted on Apr 30 2015 06:31 PM
If you can find a clean used one on ebay, I'd recommend a Line 8 POD HD desktop. It is a vast improvement over the earlier desktop POD versions, including the 2.0 version.
Without going into a long dissertation here, the short version is that it far exceeds my expectations. You can get a really convincing surf sound out of this thing. Among the 20 amp models it has, these are particularly useful for surf: Twin Reverb, Deluxe Reverb, Supro S6616 and Vox AC30. The appropriate outboard effects like reverb, delay, drive, compression and tremolo are in the HD and easy to tweak to get "your" sound.
After you set up the sounds you want, the signal chain is GUITAR > POD HD > PA. It doesn't get much simpler that that for an amp-less stage gig.
If this sounds like it will work for you, check ebay or Craigslist. The HD's originally listed for $399, my brother got his on the 'bay for $100.
— Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)
The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)
Last edited: May 01, 2015 08:46:52
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Apr 30 2015 06:38 PM
If you own a Mac Laptop, I would suggest the modeling in Pro Tools X. You wouldn't even need the FRV-1.
Pro Tools is going to serve you as a above average to very good pre-amp. There is an incredibly amount of 'tweakability'.
Pre-amp is always my concern in a DI environment. A very expensive but amazing sounding pre-amp is the new JHS Colour Box. There are a lot of examples of a pre-amp pedals out there. Unfortunately I don't know what is good or not... I just own the Colour Box(which is the circuit of a Neve pre-amp channel).
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Apr 30 2015 07:25 PM
shake_n_stomp wrote:
In a shoulder bag, I have a small DIY pedalboard with the following Velcro'ed as my emergency amp:
FRV-1>'Blonde' Tech 21 Character pedal>DI box (for stage snakes that only take XLR).
As pedals-solutions go, that's my idea of tactical! 
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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PrestonRice
Joined: Oct 05, 2012
Posts: 1725
Austin, Texas
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Posted on Apr 30 2015 11:16 PM
An iPhone and a good interface can make an amp that you'd have a hard time telling the difference from in a live audience. The feel is very different, but it can sound very convincing in a full live mix.
— IMO.
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on May 01 2015 01:43 AM
+1 on the SansAmp. They are not too bad for a pedal.
What about a Crate 'Powerblock'? It has a XLR 'Line out' and an onboard speaker emulator, which sounds quite decent to my ears. It also takes pedals well and comes in a nice bag you can toss over your shoulder.
— The Hicadoolas
Last edited: May 01, 2015 01:45:32
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el_camello
Joined: Jul 04, 2010
Posts: 369
Ottawa
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Posted on May 01 2015 08:21 AM
To add to Jake and PrestonRice's post:
I find Amplitube by IK Multimedia very good for a piece of software. They keep releasing more and more stuff aimed at smart phones so you could even run the software without a computer.
Amplitube is "free" (basic package, then you buy the individual pieces of "gear" you want à la carte). The '63 reverb unit sounds good for what it is.
— -Pierre
The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf)
The Obsidians debut EP
Last edited: May 01, 2015 08:24:45
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DaveyDinner
Joined: Mar 27, 2014
Posts: 24
Oakland
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Posted on May 01 2015 05:30 PM
Fender Mustangs are decent in-a-jam amps, are really light and easy to carry and some have direct outs.
I bought Mustang Floor unit (a Mustang without a speaker essentially) to use at a wedding I was flying to with only a PA. I returned it and brought a Fender Passport Mini with me. They mic'd it and I nailed it. Use the "Beauty Clean" preset. the Tiny 6 inch speaker with included effects and amp models, it takes up less space than a three-pedal board.
— "We spent the last 50 years mired in the 1960s, let's spend the next 50 years mired in NOW!" - Principle Skinner
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