I'm thinking of going "ampless" in a live context and buying the Universal Audio Dream pedal. I don't really play places with great monitoring so I'm a little concerned about getting enough stage volume. I'm looking into getting my own little monitor. What do people use for monitoring? I'd love to use something super portable like an 8" powered PA speaker or something.

At risk of sounding like a jackass why not use a small amp (ZT lunchbox or Quilter) as the "monitor". I know with Quilters at least you can run them in full EQ mode, or conversely, it may be possible to send an out to the amp without the cab sim.

Leeplusplus wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 8:27 am I'm thinking of going "ampless" in a live context and buying the Universal Audio Dream pedal. I don't really play places with great monitoring so I'm a little concerned about getting enough stage volume. I'm looking into getting my own little monitor. What do people use for monitoring? I'd love to use something super portable like an 8" powered PA speaker or something.

There's speakers made for IR usage called FRFR. But before you go there, I would suggest that you wouldn't need a cabinet to monitor. The stage should have monitors.

The other option is to use a regular cab and turn the IR off.

Some FRFR have their own power amp. I use a class D power amp with a 100w 8ohm cab without IR. Be careful with the ratings on class D. My power amp is rated at 170w, but when you factor in the 8ohm cab, it's actually 45w. Still plenty loud!

cakes wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:26 amThere's speakers made for IR usage called FRFR. But before you go there, I would suggest that you wouldn't need a cabinet to monitor. The stage should have monitors.

For any DIY-ish gigs I've seen/played I wouldn't trust this for more than a solo guitar set. Not being able to hear yourself and having an awful time is way worse than lugging around a small, utilitarian amp or speaker.

penningtron wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:52 am

cakes wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:26 amThere's speakers made for IR usage called FRFR. But before you go there, I would suggest that you wouldn't need a cabinet to monitor. The stage should have monitors.

For any DIY-ish gigs I've seen/played I wouldn't trust this for more than a solo guitar set. Not being able to hear yourself and having an awful time is way worse than lugging around a small, utilitarian amp or speaker.

Yeah this is essentially my concern. I'd hate to have my vocal fighting with the guitar out of the same wedge to get over the drums. One of those tiny Quilters is a great suggestion! Thanks.

Leeplusplus wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 11:17 am

penningtron wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:52 am

cakes wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:26 amThere's speakers made for IR usage called FRFR. But before you go there, I would suggest that you wouldn't need a cabinet to monitor. The stage should have monitors.

For any DIY-ish gigs I've seen/played I wouldn't trust this for more than a solo guitar set. Not being able to hear yourself and having an awful time is way worse than lugging around a small, utilitarian amp or speaker.

Yeah this is essentially my concern. I'd hate to have my vocal fighting with the guitar out of the same wedge to get over the drums. One of those tiny Quilters is a great suggestion! Thanks.

I have yet to play a show without a cabinet... I know it could work, but it really depends on the venue and how well they can monitor. I have used the Quilter micro amps before, but they are only good enough for practicing with headphones, IMO. There's only really two class D power amps that I've looked into that that seem good enough: the Ashdown Newt and the Seymour Duncan Power Stage. The one I have is the Power Stage 170w (like I mentioned earlier it's about 45w with an 8ohm cab).

I just did a search on FRFR cabinets for my own interest, some seem reasonably priced, considering they come with a power amp inside. Usually a good enough class D power amp is gonna cost almost the same as a cheap FRFR 1x12 cab.

penningtron wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:52 am

cakes wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:26 amThere's speakers made for IR usage called FRFR. But before you go there, I would suggest that you wouldn't need a cabinet to monitor. The stage should have monitors.

For any DIY-ish gigs I've seen/played I wouldn't trust this for more than a solo guitar set. Not being able to hear yourself and having an awful time is way worse than lugging around a small, utilitarian amp or speaker.

I agree with Brian. ZT would probably work. I use on into a single 12 cab for little shows and it's loud AF. If not that, yeah any little powered 8 inch pa speaker like a yammy, eon, ev, or Mackie will work great. If you need more than that a Poweramp and cab... But then you just graduated back to a fucking big amp on stage.

If you want to send your modeler to the board with the IR and have a cabinet to monitor on stage, you'd still need IR and figure out how to split it. The options would be using something like the Opus that lets you do this, and get a lunchbox amp like the ZT... or get an FRFR cab that has direct out, solves both of your problems. (EVH makes the Hypersonic that's a 1x12, not that far off in price from the ZT.)

modeler "life hack" (ick), use an acoustic guitar amplifier. They're almost all designed to be 'full range', and are often being sold for pennies used. Taylor makes one that is expensive, but I use it all the time with modelers and it works great. Run into the line in.

Then you also have an amp for your sentimental coffee shop days.

Downside is they so often look like ass.

TylerDeadPine wrote: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:18 pm modeler "life hack" (ick), use an acoustic guitar amplifier.

Good tip. Plus a lot of those are angled like wedges and the audience doesn't even have to look at the earth tone aesthetics.

The irony being that acoustic guitar players are more likely these days just to show up and plug in direct, no matter how ill advised that may be.