These days, bassists need to be ready for anything — whether that's playing through an amp and cab onstage, or going completely "rig-less" and using only in-ear monitors. For players who are used to standing in front of their amps and feeling every note, going rig-less can feel distracting and a little artificial at first.
But fear not! There are ways to make the rig-less environment much more comfortable — and even inspiring.
Start with Your In-Ear Monitors
Or maybe I should say end with them — because your in-ears are the last link between your bass and your ears.
When rig-less setups first became common, good-quality in-ears were either rare or prohibitively expensive. Thankfully, today there are more options than you can shake a Chapman Stick at — and great in-ears available at every price point.
With so many options, you might be wondering, "How do I pick the best ones for me?"
Here’s what I look for:
Sound Quality
You might be surprised to hear that I don’t choose in-ears with enhanced bass. I want the flattest possible response — no boosts or cuts — so they accurately reproduce the tone I send them.
Comfort
This is a big one for me. I often have to wear in-ears for hours at a time. While many players swear by custom-molded options, I prefer universal in-ears with a variety of soft ear tips. This way, I can find the perfect fit — and easily replace the tips when they get worn out or dirty.
Durability
I’m always willing to invest more if a product has a strong track record for durability. Before buying any in-ears, check reviews and ask trusted friends for their experiences. A little research goes a long way toward a confident purchase.
Other Keys to Rig-less Success
Once you’ve chosen your perfect in-ears, here are a few more things to keep in mind to maximize your rig-less experience:
Preamp/Amplifier
The old saying “Garbage in, garbage out” definitely applies here. You want to send the best, most inspiring tone possible to your in-ears.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as plugging into my Aguilar AG or Tone Hammer preamp pedal and sending that DI signal to the monitor mixer.
Pro tip: Make sure the "Pre/Post" switch is in the Post position!
Cab IRs (Impulse Responses)
Here’s the real secret sauce: using cab IRs can take your in-ear sound to the next level.
(If you want a deeper dive, I wrote a blog about Cab IRs you can check out HERE.)
One of the easiest ways to add cab IRs is by using the Aguilar AGv2 or Tone Hammer V2 heads. These amps can be run without a cabinet, they’re small enough to tuck away on stage, and best of all — they feature a second DI output that allows you to load and use DB or SL cab IRs. You can even upload your own custom IRs!
Effects
Too many bassists leave their pedalboards at home when they know they’ll be playing rig-less.
NO! Bad bassist!
If your musical identity includes effects, bring them! Just make sure your preamp pedal is at the end of your chain, so the DI you send to the monitor mixer includes all your pedals. Also, be sure to balance the levels across your pedals to maintain unity gain — your sound engineer (and your eardrums) will thank you.
Final Thoughts
Going rig-less doesn’t mean your tone has to be soul-less. With the right gear and a little planning, you can create a rig-less setup that feels just as inspiring as standing in front of your favorite amp and cab.
I hope these tips help you build a rig-less setup you’ll love! Feel free to share your own experiences and suggestions in the comments below — we can all learn from each other.
Story by Dale Titus
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Dale has been a professional bassist for 40 years and during that time was an instructor/counselor at the Bass Institute of Technology, a freelance writer for Bass Player magazine as well as the Editor of Bass Frontiers magazine. He also released The Ultimate Beginner Series for Bass videos and book for Alfred Publishing, as well as the Everything Bass YouTube channel.