Advice On Guitar Wireless Systems

[swingtoneman]

Two questions on guitar wireless systems.

a) Would the system work if connected into a Boss graphic EQ first which is connected to the amp? 1/4" jack.--the graphic EQ operating as normal?

b) As I sit to play--the amp near the chair---what wireless system would I require? Cheap or expensive system? Any recommendations regarding make of system?

[bleakanddivine]

a) Yes, it acts exactly like a cable.
b) I've used X-vive for years. I like them.

[Christian Miller]

Another rec for the XVives. I use them for both gigs and education, they are great. You can plug them into anything you like.

I even use them for passive piezo outputs and then put the Preamp after the wireless system, and I've not noticed any difference.

They are effectively just like cables.

[AllanAllen]

To counter the positive comments... I've rarely seen someone make it through a 3 hour gig on a wireless rig. Something eventually dies and out comes the cable, usually they can't get started. The one guy who has the most success has a Shure system. But he even had that die and it took them months to repair or replace it.

[bleakanddivine]

I have a rehearsal every week which lasts over 4 hours without running out of charge.

I have had 2 sets of X-Vives for many years which I charge up alternately - if I had longevity issues I would just take both sets - they're cheap enough.

[AllanAllen]

I didn't mean the battery didn't last. The system didn't work(no sound) and they couldn't figure it out by jiggling things and turning it on and off.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I have a Boss WL-20. I can’t hear any difference between it and a cable, and I’ve had no trouble with it at all. I’ve had a very few dropouts of less than a second on stages with a lot of wireless devices and RFI, but so have many friends with similar systems from other brands. The top level systems (eg Shure GLX) are even less prone to this, but they’re a lot more expensive.

The main drawback of the WL-20 level devices is having a sizable dongle of some kind sticking out of your guitar’s output jack. Whether it’s in the treble side of the lower bout or an end pin jack, it’s too easy to bang it against something (like a stand or your chair) in a rare moment of carelessness. I’ve seen both broken dongles and cracks around the guitar’s jack from this. Thankfully, I haven’t done it myself. Units like the Shure QLXD14 have a body pack that accepts a short cable from the guitar, if a dongle bothers you.

As for longevity, I’ve gotten through many 4+ hour gigs on a charge. If I know it’ll be longer (eg sound check at 6, dinner, then playing from 9 to 1), I just unplug the transmitter from the guitar on breaks and when I’m not playing. There’s a tiny steel pin switch in the flange that turns it on when it’s fully inserted into a jack. Boss says it will go “up to 12 hours” on a full charge.

Plug the receiver into an amp, a pedal, a rack effect, a DAI or whatever you want. Be aware that many of these don’t work with active pickups - so check the specs and instructions before buying.

[MarkL]

I have a Line 6 G10S. It works well and I also can't hear any difference between it and a cable. I used it fairly often when I bought it (probably about 5 years ago), mostly at home/privately and occasionally in small venues where there wasn't much potential interference. I don't recall using it for more than a couple of hours between recharging.

After a while the novelty wore off (maybe it was just the break from gigging during to the pandemic) and I've gone back to almost always using cables.

[sgosnell]

The Line6 G10 has worked for me for a long time. The battery lasts longer than I care to play, recharges quickly, and it just works. I also have Xvive and Ammoon systems, and they work fine, never had an issue with either, although there is sometimes some interference at home, because I have so many wireless devices in the room. I also get interference using a cable there, so it's not surprise that there is some wirelessly. It's just a very noisy environment in that room, with multiple computers, routers, printers, what-have-you. I just live with it because I use all the devices regularly.

The Ammoon systems is by far the cheapest, and it works as well as the others. It's 5GHz instead of the 2.4GHz Xvive, and I suppose the Line6 systems. I haven't seen all the issues that Allen has, and I have no idea what causes them. Elsewhere the wireless systems generally just work.

[garybaldy]

I have a Line 6 G10S. It works well and I also can't hear any difference between it and a cable. I used it fairly often when I bought it (probably about 5 years ago), mostly at home/privately and occasionally in small venues where there wasn't much potential interference. I don't recall using it for more than a couple of hours between recharging.

After a while the novelty wore off (maybe it was just the break from gigging during to the pandemic) and I've gone back to almost always using cables.

I have that one as well. I use the virtual cable switch as without, the sound is overly bright. I like it on the 30' cable setting. As regards batteries lasting, the receiver is run off a DC supply anyway and I always put the transmitter back in the charging jack to top up between sets. It's always then back on full charge so potentially it could last an infinite number of sets - longer than I can! No drop outs unlike what I've read about the likes of the Xvives. Also I can go to the back of the venue to check the overall sound.

[Bob_Ross]

Coming to this from a slightly different angle -- I was a professional audio engineer for most of my working career -- I would strongly advise that unless you need to be moving around a lot onstage, a wireless system creates more potential problems than it solves.

Unwanted interference from competing signals (most of which have nothing to do with the music you're playing) have always been an issue, and while wireless manufacturers continue to make improvements in terms of the gear being more selective and better rejecting outside signals, their improvements cannot keep up with the increased overcrowding of the airwaves and the reduced bandwidth available.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard taxi comms, police radios, military aircraft, or the keynote speaker from the shareholders' meeting in the ballroom one floor below, come leaking through a guitar amp or PA system!

So before jumping into the wireless world, ask yourself what it is you want to achieve by forgoing a conventional hard-wired rig, and just how important that is to you.

[garybaldy]

Coming to this from a slightly different angle -- I was a professional audio engineer for most of my working career -- I would strongly advise that unless you need to be moving around a lot onstage, a wireless system creates more potential problems than it solves.

Unwanted interference from competing signals (most of which have nothing to do with the music you're playing) have always been an issue, and while wireless manufacturers continue to make improvements in terms of the gear being more selective and better rejecting outside signals, their improvements cannot keep up with the increased overcrowding of the airwaves and the reduced bandwidth available.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard taxi comms, police radios, military aircraft, or the keynote speaker from the shareholders' meeting in the ballroom one floor below, come leaking through a guitar amp or PA system!

So before jumping into the wireless world, ask yourself what it is you want to achieve by forgoing a conventional hard-wired rig, and just how important that is to you.

I've had my Line 6 G10SII for nearly 2 years and have been lucky enough to have had none of those issues. I still have a cable handy though.

[MarkL]

Coming to this from a slightly different angle -- I was a professional audio engineer for most of my working career -- I would strongly advise that unless you need to be moving around a lot onstage, a wireless system creates more potential problems than it solves.

Unwanted interference from competing signals (most of which have nothing to do with the music you're playing) have always been an issue, and while wireless manufacturers continue to make improvements in terms of the gear being more selective and better rejecting outside signals, their improvements cannot keep up with the increased overcrowding of the airwaves and the reduced bandwidth available.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard taxi comms, police radios, military aircraft, or the keynote speaker from the shareholders' meeting in the ballroom one floor below, come leaking through a guitar amp or PA system!

So before jumping into the wireless world, ask yourself what it is you want to achieve by forgoing a conventional hard-wired rig, and just how important that is to you.

I agree with this advice, even though I never had a problem with leakage/interference. Some places where I was playing when I bought mine were spread out, and wireless gave me the opportunity to move around the room.

[shekie]

I've been using the new Fender Telepath Wireless for the past couple of months without issue. It seems very well made and I've not experienced any problems with unwanted interference. I use it with my Ibanez hollowbody either directly into a Henriksen Bud 6 or into a Yamaha mixer and then into the Bud 6.

Here is a link to a quick review from Aaron Short, who does a lot of guitar and accessories reviews.....

[Alter]

Saw Bobby Broom recently and he was using this Xvine, archtop direct to amp. Pretty cheap and convenient. Personally i prefer wired (if using in ear monitor), i have a Rolls PM 50se mini headphone amp

XVive Wireless System U2 Red – Thomann Elláda

[Rickco]

Any opinions or experience with NUX? I bought one for studio use and so far works great but not sure how it would do in the real world Im in a low RF and if it poops out I take quick break and change it but wondering if anyones using these in performance?

[Woody Sound]

Just beware that some of them don't play well with, or even near, certain active systems. They send a high, whiny sound to the amp. I've been using the Lekato 5.8 with good results. I bought another pair.

Amazon.com

[Woody Sound]

They have been a Godsend for me for theater pit work. Currently using 4 sets, no more spaghetti tangled cables when quickly switching instruments. This setup is from "The Addams Family" this month. (Some *great* music, btw.)

[sgosnell]

For that I might consider a Line6 G10. You can buy additional transmitters, and pair all of them to a single receiver, simultaneously. I don't know exactly how many transmitters can be paired at once, but it's several. Just stick the transmitter into the charge port on the receiver (1/4" jack) and it pairs automagically, and it's permanent until paired with a different receiver. The transmitters aren't cheap, about the price of a set of Xvives, but it's a lot less to deal with. The receiver has both XLR and 1/4" outputs.

[Woody Sound]

For that I might consider a Line6 G10. You can buy additional transmitters, and pair all of them to a single receiver, simultaneously. I don't know exactly how many transmitters can be paired at once, but it's several. Just stick the transmitter into the charge port on the receiver (1/4" jack) and it pairs automagically, and it's permanent until paired with a different receiver. The transmitters aren't cheap, about the price of a set of Xvives, but it's a lot less to deal with. The receiver has both XLR and 1/4" outputs.

If you are referring to my post about multiple instruments, yes that would make sense. However, each instrument goes to a different destination jack, with different preset vols, eqs, & efx.