Shhh. Keep it quiet out front

[Spudman]

How arena rock really works.

 

[oldguy]

Bonamassa's a little more "upfront" w/ his.............

 

[poodlesrule]

How arena rock really works.

So, there is market for light, knock-down, tolexed dummy boxes...!??!

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Bigger's not necessarily better. Mike Campbell's Heartbreakers rig when they backlined Vox Silver Beatles:

I also saw Rick Nielsen's rig about a decade ago, again, a small Fender tube amp with a mic position masked off, sitting behind a wall of cabs.

 

[Spudman]

Another good one

 

[hubberjub]

Another good one

I've seen that pic all over other forums and I still think it's one of the funniest things to behold.

 

[Eric]

I've seen that pic all over other forums and I still think it's one of the funniest things to behold.

There's something about that's even more funny than it should be. It might be because Warrior (the band in this picture) is supposed to be a bad-*** rock/metal band, but the dude looks rather pedestrian from behind, and combined with all of those fake amps and cabs, it adds up to a really funny picture.

 

[bcdon]

I saw Black Label Society last night and Zakk Wylde had at least 8 double stacks with a Marshall head on each stack. I know not all of them were connected but he did have in excess of 20 guitars in the rack beside the stage (he played about 5 of them).

By the way, as long as we are peering under veils, when a band has a single guitar player and yet their album features double/triple guitars, how do they pull this off live? Also, those in ear monitors, are they listening to what they are currently performing or are they playing along with a track?

 

[Eric]

I saw Black Label Society last night and Zakk Wylde had at least 8 double stacks with a Marshall head on each stack. I know not all of them were connected but he did have in excess of 20 guitars in the rack beside the stage (he played about 5 of them).

Yeah, I saw Dream Theater and Petrucci had 4 full duel-rectifier stacks, but according to my DT-obsessed drummer friend, he only uses one duel-rectifier stack that is hidden behind the others, and the rest are all fake/unplugged.

When artists have that many guitars (e.g. Joe Bonamassa when I saw him) I honestly believe they rotate them just to justify having that many guitars. Like the audience notices a difference? Unlikely.

By the way, as long as we are peering under veils, when a band has a single guitar player and yet their album features double/triple guitars, how do they pull this off live?

For the record, I'm also interested in this. Backing tracks? Hidden touring musicians?

Also, those in ear monitors, are they listening to what they are currently performing or are they playing along with a track?

I have personal experience with this, so I'll chime in. The in-ears are just headphones that take the place of floor monitors. If everyone is using in-ear monitors, other than the drums, there is literally no noise on stage. Each person has two feeds going to the earbuds: their instrument (or vocals if they're singing) and the monitor mix (i.e. everyone else). They can adjust themselves vs. the band as they see fit using the little receiver unit. It's actually pretty sweet, because then you can crank your own instrument without having the sound guy ream you out.

 

[Spudman]

By the way, as long as we are peering under veils, when a band has a single guitar player and yet their album features double/triple guitars, how do they pull this off live?

Sometimes there is someone playing to the side or behind the stage. Some things are also sequenced (recorded). Sometimes they just do without the extra layers.

Also, those in ear monitors, are they listening to what they are currently performing or are they playing along with a track?

They're just listening to the local game. It gets really boring playing big shows for thousands of people when someone else has written and recorded all the material, and you just lip sync every night. :thwap

It's just a monitor system. They can have any mix they want in those. Often a drummer will have a click track. It's the same as wedges, but instead it's just in your ear set. Keeps the stage quieter and no feedback/volume issues...and they are great for listening to the game.:rollover