Guitar wireless system

Manfred-Klose

has anyone ever used a wireless system on a guitar?
is the signal as good as a good cable?

I did stage sound at a festival the weekend, and one of the guitar players had this AKG unit:
http://www.akg.com/site/products/powerslave,id,1130,pid,1130,nodeid,2,_language,EN.html

he said he has never had any problems with it.
It looked like he had loads of fun running around on the stage ?

EDIT: reviews aint to good, but it wireless i suppose, nothing you can do about it.
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/product/AKG/WMS40+GB/10/1

guitarboy2828

I think you will always lose tone from a wireless system, even the best UHF one's will lose some of your signal. However, I've been to many live shows where they use them and the guitars sound great. So unless you are super antsy about your tone, I think they're pretty good. ?

AlanRatcliffe

Horses for courses - wireless gives you freedom for stage antics, cable keeps your tone intact. I'm also firmly of the belief that only the best wireless systems are worth it.

Don't forget to factor in battery costs - an alkaline 9V will give you only approximately two hours. Rechargeables make sense from a cost perspective, but give you significantly less time because they supply lower voltages.

inflames

I read a interesting article a year ago on wireless systems for guitars (will try and find it again).

It boils down to quality as Alan mentioned. The article basically said that no one in their right mind would record with it, but for live events should be fine. How many of us would hear the difference in tone if AC/DC is standing up on stage and play plugged in or wireless?

Also remember your environment plays a huge role in the signal strength and quality! I have seen wireless mic's break up if there is slight wind blowing. This actually happened at my wedding. The mic was about 5m away from the receiver and the sound kept dropping sporadically!

I would never use wireless mic's or guitar equipment outside!

[deleted]

inflames wrote: Also remember your environment plays a huge role in the signal strength and quality! I have seen wireless mic's break up if there is slight wind blowing. This actually happened at my wedding. The mic was about 5m away from the receiver and the sound kept dropping sporadically!

I would never use wireless mic's or guitar equipment outside!

Ja, sounds like it can be a crapshoot with wireless, but I can't complain, from personal experience (though that's just with mics). For most bigger stages a longer cable should deal with your need to cover real estate, anyway, without having to sacrifice much tone or greater reliability...

From an interview with The Edge's guitar guy:

Edge started going wireless on this tour, didn't he?

"He did. He wanted to move around more and work the stage - it's that kind of show. But as of three nights ago, we went back to wires; we're plugged in again. The reason is pretty obvious: the signal is direct and true. Wireless, it was fine. But there's no comparison."

deanBailey

If you want wireless, go with Line 6

It's a digital wireless system (and considered the best by most).
What makes this great is that unlike UHF systems that send the signal via a radio frequency, it sends binary (1's and 0's) and they don't get lost between transmitter and receiver.

The downside, is that it's still digital.

selbydoodl

I use a SAMSON system on my strat and tele.

Can't really tell the difference from the cable, but then I am blind in one eye!

Skywalker

Picked up one of these G30's a while ago.

http://line6.com/relay/

Super cool and as far as I can tell not too much signal loss.

I'll be using it for all our gigs from now on!!!

Freedom on stage is wicked 8)

needleshy

I use a shure wireless that I baught a while ago and I have used it for about 2yrs, great and reliable system, uses 2AA batteries and get about 2,5hrs of play time on a set which isn't bad at all, also let's u know when u have 30 min left of battery left by LED indicator turnin red, I only use for live performances though, I still use cables at home and practices. I don't think anyone will notice that you have tone sap except you in live situation, so if ya want to be tangle free at a gig then buy it.

sharonzaz

I own quite a few different systems from Samson, Shure, Sennheiser, Nady, Line6, JTS, Takstar and without a doubt the best out there is the LINE6.

end of story ?

PeachyDragon

sharonzaz wrote: I own quite a few different systems from Samson, Shure, Sennheiser, Nady, Line6, JTS, Takstar and without a doubt the best out there is the LINE6.

end of story ?

Does the Line6 also have a battery indicator so you know to change the batteries
before they die?

Jman76

Yes, an indicator light, I also use the G30 and must agree with Luke's comments, all and all a great digital wireless system as one would expect from Line 6.

PeachyDragon

J-man wrote: Yes, an indicator light, I also use the G30 and must agree with Luke's comments, all and all a great digital wireless system as one would expect from Line 6.

Awesome. Does anyone have opinions on G30 vs G50?
I'm thinking that extra strength/distance to the signal might be worth it?
No idea what the price differences are. Will speak to Marshallmusic on Friday.

I've looked at a few youtube videos like this one:

=

The Line 6 sounds either brighter/thinner... could that be due to the fact that it doesn't have cable Impedance
unless you use the cable emulation mode? Otherwise it just really affects the signal on this video.

Jman76

Yes I got mine from Stuart at Marshall Woodmead, if memory serves I paid around R1200 for the item in used/2nd hand condition.

In terms of signal, I use the cable emulation, I have picked up that it appears a little bit louder & brighter than using a cable. Haven't used it in a while but all things being equal been very happy so far.

In terms of G30 vs the G50, if the difference in cost is not too significant I'd go for the G50 yet I've never experienced signal interference using this unit.

PeachyDragon

Will be buying a G50 on Friday. Looking forward to it!

free2rhyme

I started with an akg wireless system... it broke after 3 gigs

I now use a sennheiser g2 for the past 6 years and its rock solid. Uses 2aa batteries that last up to 16 hours

If it breaks I will only consider another sennheisser ... nothing else

Tone wise, yes it can slightly kill your tone, but not drastically(more on the akg obviously) but on stage or in practice room, no one will know the difference

PeachyDragon

I got the Line 6 G50 and it's awesome.
I'm a bit concerned about stepping on the antenna and about the transmitter getting bashed on my belt etc.