Wireless System for guitar

[JoEpiWong]

Anyone using any wireless setups for their electrics? Was thinking of investing in one, but don't know which is best.

Any significant pros and cons regarding such systems? Best value?

Thanks

Joe

[Steelpriest]

I use wireless systems for a long time now, even during band rehearsals. The biggest advantage is that you don´t have cables lying around and no-one will actually step on your guitar cable. Another reason why I use wireless is the following: I wanna be safe from electric hazards... Some people say you will actually lose tone using wireless, I don´t think so. At least not as long as you are using a good quality transmitter and receiver. I recommend in any case a diversity system (those with the two antennas), they are more reliable concerning drop-outs. There are two technologies: VHF and the newer UHF band. The older VHF deveices worked very good also, I have an 10 years old VHF Nady True Diversity 19" rackmountable system and it never let me down. Especially those VHF systems are very affordable meanwhile. Ebay is full of them. Stay away from the low end non diversity systems. Good brands are Samson, Nady, Beyer Dynamic, Audio Technica and Sennheiser. It will be a totally new experience to be free from a cable, hehe... you are even able to listen to your own soundcheck from the FOH place when you do gigs... The topic of losing tone again: When someone says you lose tone by using wireless what do you think you lose with a 10 metre guitar cable? The only thing which is annoying is the fact you need a lot of batteries for the transmitter, my Nady does not like the rechargable ones, it requires good alcaline batteries. A good alcaline 9V battery provides about 450 - 500 mAh, a rechargable only provides about 120 mAh. The rechargable ones are tired amazingly fast while a alcaline battery is able to guarantee you a couple of hours of performance. Personally I vote: if you can afford a wireless system and you are a gigging musician, buy one! In the long run this makes more sense than another couple of pedal effects... ;D

[CAFeathers]

Steel is correct, however it is recommended to stay away from rechargable batteries in these systems.