General Music Chat

Hey All!
I've been out of the gigging-loop for a while, so I was wondering if everybody is running wireless +diversity setups on your axes or if it's back to the good old standby faithful hardwired cord. If cordless, what's a good make/model? Shure? Telex? Used to be Nady and Sampson were crap. That might have changed. There's probly a lot of new stuff out there that I've never heard of by now. Hopefully the prices have gone down too.. (?)
Just wondering what everybody's favorite rigs are.
Thanx,
Steve

I use an X-4, I think that Line 6 makes them. Ive beat the crap out of it. I bought it at GC, and return it every 2-3 monthes just to have a fresh one.

People bitch about GC but their return policy is the best Ive every dealt with. You can try used effects pedals and if you dont like them get full credit toward another one. Thats like a dream to a guy like me. A couple of years ago I was trying out all the effects pedals Ive always wanted.

I use a cable, but I know a lot of people who go wireless. I'm not keen on it myself, so I couldn't make any recommendations.

I've never found a decent wireless tx/rx setup, as far as I'm concerned wire is the only way to go.

Thanks for the responses, Y'all. Sounds like things haven't changed too much ; 1 wireless and 2 corded preferences. The cords/cables are definitely less mainenance, I just like the freedom (I used to have a home-made wireless-lol sometimes it picked up radio stations) plus I'm clumsy and step on the cord sometimes.. a couple of embarrasing moments on stage..
Looking forward to hearing about the preferred brand names tho..
Line 6, Shure, etc.

I'll add fro recording purposes I always go with a good cable and just the effects I need for the track.

Live I need the wireless cause I hate getting wrapped up in cords. A friend of mine in another band recently left his Jackson guitar sitting there and somebody walked by and hooked his cord and knocked the guitar over, breaking the neck. Im not into Jacksons, but he said it couldnt be repaired. Our band, sometimes I spend as much time in the audience as I do on stage so I have to have a wireless. It also allows me to go to the back of the room and see how we sound.

Using cords Ive had the cord get under my wah and whammy pedal so I couldnt get the full stroke. I also dont look down at my equipment while I play, so in my situation a wireless is the way to go.

My suggestion would be to ask yourself what kind of player you are. If you are a person that just sits there and never moves around much, save the money and get a cord. If you like to do aerobics while you play invest in a wireless.

One thing about the newer digital units is that if you lose the signal its gone, whereas the old Nady unit I used for years was analog. If I got a little out of range it didnt cut off completely but would still send a signal.

I got a sennheiser freeport about 2 years ago from mus friend on sale for 119.00. I run both my bass and guitars thru the same set up and have been real pleased with its performance. The most noticable thing i encountered was the lack of low end response i get from my 5th string that I get with a cord, but no one else has ever said anything bad about the sounds I get playing either my guitars or basses. I go right out to my digitech bass processor and most times to a fender bass amp or straight thru the PA at small gigs and practices. I love the way the processor works with my guitars also even though it was designed for a bass. Its great having the freedom you get being wireless. Ive kept it thumping while I was in front of the urinal before.

I've got a Carvin wireless unit for my guitar. I got it used from a friend years ago and it still works as good as ever. I've been playing in a small club and walked outside and all the way around the building during the lead from "Stranglehold" and never lost signal. I've got an Electar headset wireless unit that I love. That was a small company owned by Gibson. They don't make them anymore. The frequency response went down to 50 Hz so it gave all the low end of a handheld wired mic. They are sitting around collecting dust right now as the past few bands I've been in were with people who don't move around much and I can't bring myself to being the only crazy on stage anymore. But someday...

I'm the same as JW on this one, I hate getting tangled up in cords so I use a wireless. As he said, it also allows me to go check the sound at the back of the room, and move around as much as I want to...which is not as much as he does, but I don't have to stay right on top of my rig either. Mine's a Shure, hasn't given me any trouble at all. Since I swap guitars often, I hook it to my back pocket, it has a 2 foot cable that goes from there to the guitar, the only time it causes any grief is when I forget to remove it during breaks. I'm reminded soon as I sit down...

I love it, probably won't ever go back to a cable. For many years I spent a lot of time kicking cables out of the way or getting my feet tangled in them and had to resolder quite a few jacks as a result. I'm hooked, same as my volume pedal I'm not sure if I'll ever be willing to play without it. I take the volume pedal even when I go to open mic's or to sit in, but I don't bring the wireless for those, I suffer through a few songs with a cable. Takes too long to hook up, the volume pedal takes about 5 seconds.

Wireless! I love the freedom it gives especially during sound check.
I can walk out to the center mass of the crowd, play with the band and hear the whole mix from that perspective.
I have been using a Samson AF1 for two years or so. Works great for me.
Just remember to go with new batteries before the gig.

I'm thinking wireless, um in talking guitars, I think cords give better sound than without cords, yet I enjoy the sounds of an acoustic guitar without the pic up. LOL yet I know you guys are talking bout something totally different, just thought I'd throw a pun in is all.
Later

http://www.myspace.com/TracyMcGrathsmusic

yeh chords on a guitar would sound better than without chords.. sorry, couldn't resist another pun..

The only reason I used to use a wrieless was so I didn't trip over my cords when playing and jumping around on stage. After time though... I really didn't like it. It felt un-natural to me. That and I can overdrive a little more with a cable.

To each his own I guess.... I thought I'd want it, but after time... it was just too much hassle.

Cord only.
\

Hate the wireless, it changes the sound.

I prefer using a cable over wireless. Wireless can cause a lot of signal loss, very similar to using a cheap cable. I would say invest in some good quality cables instead of buying a wireless. For playing live, I like Elixir cables. Very low signal loss and fantastic tone; the Elixir adds a touch of warmth to the tone. I like Mogami cables for recording though, because there is little signal loss with no coloration of the tone. The little bit of "color" that the Elixir adds is great live.