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Oldtoe

Intestinal Poltergeist
Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
3,215
Location
Paris, TX
My buddy Tyler uses a Shure wireless every time he plays. I can't tell that his tone suffers, but it might be a factor of the type of music (heavy blues mostly) and amps that he plays.
 

Mick

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 21, 2004
Messages
1,405
Location
Germany
I think in most gig situations large enough to warrant using a wireless, you would not be able to notice too much difference in tone. I have had el cheapo wireless before now, but a £20 cable normally suffices for most situations. If I was playing arena stages every weekend, I would use wireless all the time. But as it stands I have done probably 3 gigs the last year which a wireless system would have been nice.



You are right Tim, but over the years I´ve noticed that the main difference is in the feel of the unit in my opinion.
 

Pktaske

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Joined
Oct 10, 2004
Messages
66
Hate to be a bummer and knock on some of the Tone Kings in here but a decent wireless does not rob tone to any noticable effect in a live music situation. The EQ settings on your amp/pedals/house will have a much greater influence over your tone than a wireless will. Live music is much different than headphone music.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Wireless gives you the ability to move out 30-40+ feet from your amp and give a listen to the front of house. If you are like most gigging musicians, you are doing your own mixing and this is of INFINITE value. Too many great "tones" are killed by a bad mix. Remember: The sound you hear standing on stage is not the sound the crowd is hearing.

And stepping on your cord all night is a PIA too! lol.

Long live wireless.
 

jazzbo jim

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Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Messages
634
Location
Great White North
Pktaske..what type are you using?

I played a 500+ seater concert theatre last week and rented a shure VHF wireless. I really dug it!
Tone wise I didn't notice a ton of difference, however, we weren't exactly playing "Close to the Edge" either.;)
 

Elmer Imperial

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Joined
Sep 10, 2006
Messages
212
Location
Frisco, Texas
And, I find that the smaller the stage area, particularly the miniscule corner assigned to me and my equipment, the more I need the wireless, because the cables just get tangled up in my feet otherwise. The last thing I need is to stumble on the cable and take out my rig and guitars.

While dancing around from stomp button to stomp button, and manoeuvring around volume and wah pedals, the last thing I need under foot is a cable.....

(personal opinion, of course....)

I agree. I don't have a wireless setup (yet!), but I played a private party this weekend and was all wedged up into a corner, spent all night trying not to trip over my cables. What a pain.

My bassist, on the other hand, was able to roam freely throughout the crowd with his wireless setup (a Sennheiser, I think - not sure how "budget" it is...) and the folks in attendance thought it was cool. I didn't notice any change in his tone, but I wasn't really listening for it either.

You can't beat a top notch lead, but in some situations the benefits of a wireless rig may balance out any possible tonal differences. IMHO, of couse... ;)
 
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