For the first time, our family band is going to perform on stage… in our backyard, this summer for my wife’s 50th birthday.
We are: Guitarist, Bassist, Piano/Keyboard, Drummer, Saxophone, Singer (the drummer)
So far, we’ve done a few “gigs” in our apartment with an electronic drum kit, and each instrument/vocal had its own amp (or not—our sax wasn’t amplified), so it was pretty simple (especially with our group teacher being our “backbone”). This time, it’s a bit more adventurous !
For this session, we have an acoustic drum set, the instruments, a 40W bass amp (Rumble), one microphone, and that’s it… So I’m planning to rent:
“2 speakers and a subwoofer, 1 mixer, 1 guitar amp, 1 microphone with stand, and all the necessary cables.”
What do you think? Are we missing anything (like a Y-split pedal for stage monitoring)?
How should we connect everything? Do we need a stage monitor (maybe by using the bass or guitar amp)?
I’d love to hear your advice on what to keep in mind to make it sound good — it’s not wembley, it’s a relaxed event, but we still want it to work well at least for a few soungs
Perhaps buy an Aux cable to connect the phone to the mixing table, so you can use music from the phone as pre or post gig.
Maybe good strong extension leads to power everything.
Apart from that, I’m not versed enough in gigs… only helped assemble in small studio rooms, with pretty much all the gear you listed and plan on leasing.
The Fender Rumble 40 has an AUX input on the back panel that takes a 1/8" TRS male plug. That’s the easy part. The more difficult part is getting audio out of your phone if it doesn’t have an 1/8" TRS female jack. I use a USB <=> 1/8" female jack dongle and then a 1/8" male to 1/8" male cable. One of the many things I like about my Studio 40 is that it includes a switchable tweeter (off for bass only, on for bass and backing tracks or break tunez). Unfortunately, the AUX input doesn’t have a volume control like my GR Bass AT Cube combo does. You need to control the volume via your phone.
Let us know if it works for you. If so, please post the manufacturer and part number, and where you bought it, in case someone else has the same requirement.
Now, I’ve never played outside, or gigged at all for that matter. But I have jammed with a loud drummer using my Rumble 100 and I couldn’t hear myself at all. Maybe someone with more experience with these situations can be more helpful, but I wouldn’t trust a 40w bass amp to be loud enough.
The Rumble 40 has a DI out. You don’t need to split the signal. Run your bass to the Rumble and connect it to the board with an XLR cable.
I would set the Rumble right next to the drummer as their monitor.
A 15 watt guitar tube amp would be plenty powerful enough to compete with everything else, all on it’s own. But it might make for an easier set up if it has a DI to the board. That way all the levels can be managed from a central point.
We started rehearsing together (and for some of us at all…) only 2 days ago as my oldest 2 sons (guitar and piano) came back later than anticipated from vacation with their friends….
The list of songs is finally agreed upon - last change yesterday evening ! Not easy to align a full band
We have song structures, chords, lyrics aligned. We rehearsed each song a couple of time.
G’Vibes - 2025 Summer Tour - 50s Party
Sunshine of your love (instr.)
Trouble
Another brick in the wall
Hey Jude
Please come home for Christmas
Baby can I hold you
Here comes the sun
Begin’
Glass onion
Zombie
A nos souvenirs
Promenade à Hollywood (Instrum)
Regarde l’étoile
Toi + Moi
The last song will have a adapted lyrics for my wife’s birthday
2 rehearsals to go before the big day
Equipment will be picked up tomorrow so that the last rehearsal can be as close as possible to the gig
for my wife’s 50th birthday.