Stereo setup worth it?

[Orangesoda]

So I'm contemplating making a few changes. The money isn't really an issue because I'll be selling some pedals and most of the cost of the new stuff will be covered.

What I'm wanting to do is have a stereo setup when I play for when I play live. But, for example, the next show we will play at has a small stage so I can't really spread out my amps. They will either have to be stacked or right beside each other. Will that effect the 'stereo-ness' (if that's a word lol)? Would it be optimal to separate the amps as much as possible?

This place has a PA. Sometimes I will use one amp at a time and for some songs both amps. So what I'm THINKING is micing both amps, having the sound guy run one amp on the left and one on the right and coordinate with him so that he knows which songs use both amps and which ones use just one amp so he can either run it L and R for both amps being used or run the sound of the one amp being used into all the speakers.

If I'm gonna do this stereo thing I just want to get the full effect. Wanna be certain it's worth the time and effort.

[Hubaxe]

On spacial effects (flange, chorus, etc) it's interesting. In another hand, if you don't play in the center of your amps, you won't really hear the results. And for small/mid gig, it means 2 mic on amps, and make sure you have a balanced volume..

The time I had a stereo rack system, I ran it through my 4X12 (2+2 in X configuration). It add some spacial presence, but in real stage life if you don't have your own tech to set this up, to my humble opinion it's not worth the pain.

The only condition where playing stereo is easy, is the one where you have no amp and plug a pod/fractal/eleven rack like system direct in the PA.

[Invin]

It can sound extremely cool if you're sitting in the middle with stereo delay and reverb especially. I've never tried it live myself... it seemed like a lot of hassel and the average sound guy seems to have a hard enough time just getting the band balanced let alone making sure a stereo guitar rig sounds right.

[bclaire]

Unless you're playing BIG venues, that stereo effect has the potential to make your guitar sound become really messed up. Imagine a room where all you could hear was the left side of your amazing sound and it's the off-beat delay? If you're using sounds that need both sides to be full ask yourself if they will work with one side only. If the answer is yes, then go for it!

I find nine times out of ten, the only person who is going to really appreciate or even HEAR the stereo effect is you. Onstage.

[Les Paul Lover]

Personally, even though I could do it, I have no incline to do so.

Even though I could run my delay like that, not sure I'd want to do it. For recording, that would be worth the hassle, but any gig crowd won't take note.

[baytamusic]

The sound guy is not going to go for that at any small or medium sized room. You'd need your own paid sound man. Trust me, I can't even get them to let me use an effects pedal for my vocals 99% of the time.

[bclaire]

Baytamusic has a good point. Often times there isn't a second available mic... and it might be a hard sell anyways since many guitarists are pretty much loud enough that stage volume is the bulk of their live sound, barely reinforced through the PA. If you can keep it to a workable level with two amps and have a sympathetic soundman then go for it.

I have run stereo rigs on a number of occasions but for the most part, I'm the only one enjoying the stereo bit. Still, I enjoy it and if it helps me play better....

[Orangesoda]

Imagine a room where all you could hear was the left side of your amazing sound and it's the off-beat delay? If you're using sounds that need both sides to be full ask yourself if they will work with one side only. If the answer is yes, then go for it!

Well with my setup I'm looking into having a stereo chorus for now. Might add a delay later. Other then that I'll have my Orange and another amp that will practically be doing the same except with a slightly different sound since they are both very different. That's when I'm using both at the same time. So I'm not too worried about a few people right beside the PA speaker hearing 1 amp. Actually from what I remember this place has a couple of large speakers hanging from the ceiling pointing down. I don't remember if there are speakers elsewhere.

The sound guy is not going to go for that at any small or medium sized room. You'd need your own paid sound man. Trust me, I can't even get them to let me use an effects pedal for my vocals 99% of the time.

We played at this place before and the sound guy was really cool and laid back and was actually telling us about this one dude that played SRV stuff that had a huge setup and played loud. So I don't think it will be a problem. In any case I will probably email the lady setting up the show and try to talk to the sound guy to see if that would be an issue or not to go ahead and know ahead of time. There's a friend of ours that has DJ'd for many years and set up bands at parties and we played through his setup once. He once said he would be our sound guy at this place if necessary.

Baytamusic has a good point. Often times there isn't a second available mic...

I got mics and cables . I'm pretty sure there are enough inputs because one time there was this band playing there that had 4 vocal mics, drummer, 2 guitars, bass and a banjo all running through the house system.

[baytamusic]

Well, that's all fine and good at that venue then. I guess my point is if you're playing lots of different clubs I wouldn't rely on always being able to do that. And Billy makes a pretty solid point, in smaller rooms stage sound is a good portion of what the audience is hearing. If you are just playing one venue and the sound guy is willing to use notes of your set and all that, then I guess go for it, but it would seriously piss off most house guys. They for the most part want to set it and forget it.

[Randy Bass]

I'd much rather have control of things with an ABY pedal instead of relying on the sound man to switch things for each song at his end. You'd just have to mic both cabs and tell the sound man not to worry if you switch one off for a song or two.

Also, it doesn't really have to be a spread-out stereo setup for biamping to sound awesome. Pile it up if necessary.

[iblastoff]

sounds like way too much effort for very little gain, especially in a small club. no one will even discern the difference, let alone even give a pile of poop about stereo guitars.

[Orangesoda]

The hate for sound guys makes my tummy tickle. I'll have my own. Jesus.

I'd much rather have control of things with an ABY pedal instead of relying on the sound man to switch things for each song at his end. You'd just have to mic both cabs and tell the sound man not to worry if you switch one off for a song or two.

Also, it doesn't really have to be a spread-out stereo setup for biamping to sound awesome. Pile it up if necessary.

Now here's something to think about. Ok so if I were to instead just do this (mic both amps and have them running through all the PA speakers all the time) will it still have a decent wet stereo sound to it coming out of the PA? Even though I'll try to have most of my sound coming from stage it would still be pretty cool to have a stereo sound coming out of the PA without having to have a sound guy mess with anything.

[Bensnake]

At home a stereo setup is cool. Chorus, delay and reverb sound huge and really fat. Live? No.

[Randy Bass]

The hate for sound guys makes my tummy tickle. I'll have my own. Jesus.

I'd much rather have control of things with an ABY pedal instead of relying on the sound man to switch things for each song at his end. You'd just have to mic both cabs and tell the sound man not to worry if you switch one off for a song or two.

Also, it doesn't really have to be a spread-out stereo setup for biamping to sound awesome. Pile it up if necessary.

Now here's something to think about. Ok so if I were to instead just do this (mic both amps and have them running through all the PA speakers all the time) will it still have a decent wet stereo sound to it coming out of the PA? Even though I'll try to have most of my sound coming from stage it would still be pretty cool to have a stereo sound coming out of the PA without having to have a sound guy mess with anything.

You'd have to leave them panned left and right to have any stereo effect through the PA when playing through both amps, but then it would sound a little odd/empty when one side drops out if you switch the ABY to only one amp. If you are okay playing through both amps the whole time, which I recommend, then it would be more worthwhile. More amps is better!

[Orangesoda]

The hate for sound guys makes my tummy tickle. I'll have my own. Jesus.

I'd much rather have control of things with an ABY pedal instead of relying on the sound man to switch things for each song at his end. You'd just have to mic both cabs and tell the sound man not to worry if you switch one off for a song or two.

Also, it doesn't really have to be a spread-out stereo setup for biamping to sound awesome. Pile it up if necessary.

Now here's something to think about. Ok so if I were to instead just do this (mic both amps and have them running through all the PA speakers all the time) will it still have a decent wet stereo sound to it coming out of the PA? Even though I'll try to have most of my sound coming from stage it would still be pretty cool to have a stereo sound coming out of the PA without having to have a sound guy mess with anything.

You'd have to leave them panned left and right to have any stereo effect through the PA when playing through both amps, but then it would sound a little odd/empty when one side drops out if you switch the ABY to only one amp. If you are okay playing through both amps the whole time, which I recommend, then it would be more worthwhile. More amps is better!

For the 'one side dropping out' thing I was going to get my own sound guy in order to have him change it depending on the song so that the 1 amp goes through all the speakers. I might just use both amps all the time then. The thing that I really wanted to have was the option to only use 1 amp for some songs and use the dirty channel on my amp. Poop.