The Ultimate Fly-Rig for Tour with Larry Burnett
Well, maybe it’s not the “ultimate” rig per se. Truth is, I would prefer to have 2 full 4x12 cabs and a few different combo amps driving them at every show…but alas, I’ll just have to stick to what I can afford to carry around without a full crew behind me.
When people talk about Fly-Rig, I think it’s a new term for some guitarists that are seasoned (another word for “old” hehe…j/k, love all you old rockers!!!). So, let’s just simplify what we’re working with: if you can’t bring an amplifier with you on tour, you’re going to bring an amp modeler of sorts with you.
There are so many on the market now, so for me to list them all here would divert from the point of this blog. I’ll just speak to the Line 6 HX Stomp being what I chose – reason being, is that they have really taken huge strides to make some quality FX over the years with this platform (even though it started on the POD series which was…less than desirable). There are tons of people in the community too that have improved this line of one-stop-shop pedalboards (Line 6 Helix series) such as custom IR’s and amp packs that are simulated by either direct capture of that amp, or just someone who knows how to manipulate the software well enough to match it. I like how small it is too, hence the “fly-rig” that I use it for. Check out the Line 6 HX Stomp here.
Aside from that, I don’t use any other FX pedals. I just have a power supply, wireless unit, and a volume pedal. The volume pedal is totally worth checking out – I use the Erni
e Ball VP Jr Tuner/Volume pedal, and of course, I reviewed it on our channel below:
This small rig option of mine was mounted upon my favorite pedalboard maker, Temple Audio (spoiler alert, I also reviewed that board on our channel 😊) which features the Quick Release plates. Super cool functionality, like I said there’s a video on our channel about them! You can grab a Temple Audio board here.
The truth about a rig this size (which is only a little larger than your typical backpack) is that it would have worked easily as a carry-on. However, we have this little thing called TSA to get through – and let me tell you, they do NOT like power supplies (such as the Aetos Clean Power from Walrus Audio that I use). Needless to say my main tip in this blog today is to just simply pack the rig in your checked luggage, haha…
If there’s any downside to the Fly-Rig, it’s just preference. I’ve always been an analog guy, not by pride but just preference. I have several settings and presets on the HX Stomp that I use often, because it offers a combo of amp + cab (IR) + 2 FX pedals and a noise gate that is just super clean and nice to have with 1 click. The truth of it though, is when I sit and dial in my Fender Deluxe and use a few pedals in the FX loop and sit a boost pedal or two in front of the amp, I am in heaven! But until I get that big record contract and the bus + crew to go along with it, a simple rig like this works just fine.
In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts on a rig like this – and if you need to fly, consider the gear I used here but don’t bother fighting TSA. Just check your gear in a big suitcase and you’ll be just as fly as the rig you’re jamming on!