4 weeks without an amp.......it's addictive!

Stewthebassman · #1 03-22-2007, 05:40 PM

So 4 weeks ago I was running late to my restaurant gig....dragged the Big Boy in and started playing with no amp....there were only about 10 bodies eating, so it was quiet anyway.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!

I can feel the bass all of a sudden! The vibration, the strings, floor vibrating under me........I can control my feeling a lot better, control my phrasing and volume. What a revelation!

And now I seem to be playing better and people are noticing, even my pianist. My hands haven't suffered at all, in fact i play softer at times. I AM playing with more discipline, so the notes are clear when they are struck.

So when the crowds come back in the spring.......I'll have to find that perfect balance between amp and "bareback" feel.......

Callused Finger · #2 03-22-2007, 06:32 PM

Congratulations. Makes me want to get behind a real UB and feel it.

So what are you thinking amp wise?

Ben Rolston · #3 03-22-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewthebassman

So when the crowds come back in the spring.......I'll have to find that perfect balance between amp and "bareback" feel.......

I say the perfect balance is no amp at all! Anyway, I found all the those things to be true, plus because you can't just turn up, your bandmates have to actually LISTEN. What a concept

Stewthebassman · #4 03-22-2007, 07:48 PM

I agree, it would be amazing to continue going amp-less. But when the restaurant has a noisy table for 16 or when full there are just too many people talking to even hear myself, sadly.

Since there are only two of us, my pianist and I, and he is a super listener, we don't have issues in that respect, our "mix" is just fine.

Michael Case · #5 03-22-2007, 10:57 PM

I think a duo with piano would be fine no matter what the level the crowd noise reaches. You'd be amazed at how loud the bass can actually be without an amp.

Andy Allen · #6 03-22-2007, 11:50 PM

I'm just finding out about this myself.

As I reported in another thread, I just picked up a regular Friday evening gig with an acoustic-only piano/bass duo. This is the first time I've played regularly without an amp. It's in a small, upscale restaurant, so volume is not a problem, but I've had to learn to play with some finesse over the last few weeks, rather than just pulling hard.

Once I stopped trying to just produce maximum volume I have been really enjoying the new dynamics available from just hands and bass. After all, this is why I'm playing an acoustic instrument and not an electric one.

Andy

LouisF · #7 03-23-2007, 01:26 AM

Andy

What restuarant? Maybe I'll stop in if I ever am out of rehearsals myself.

Louis

Dave Speranza · #8 03-23-2007, 10:46 AM

In my experience, the bass is much louder out in the room than we think it is when standing behind it.

I have a pretty loud bass, and I pull the strings hard, and when I am playing in loud quintet (unamped) I sometimes can't hear myself very well and I question what it might sound like out front. But then I'll have someone else play my bass, who doesn't pull nearly as hard, and the bass sounds GREAT out in the room.

Andy Allen · #9 03-23-2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisF

Andy

What restuarant? Maybe I'll stop in if I ever am out of rehearsals myself.

Louis

Hi Louis,

It's at Bistro of Santa Monica (23rd st & Santa Monica). And that's tonight

If your idea of entertainment is watching a bass player get his butt kicked by the piano player all night then this would be the perfect night out for you

Seriously, it would be good to see you again (and anyone else in the L.A. area).

Best,

WillBuckingham · #10 03-23-2007, 12:27 PM

Yeah! I've been having a similar experience lately. First I worked a gig in a live room with no audience, and if I just cracked the amp open it was way too much, so I just left it off. That was with a vocalist singing through a pa, and electric piano playing at around acoustic piano levels.

Then I had a job that I booked at a convention playing for the front door as people walked in. I figured its my job so I don't have to worry about not getting the call next time because they (guitar and sax) can't hear me. I filled up the room great that time and played better than ever.

I have a job next weekend at a private party (with a drummer) at a house and I'm definitely not bringing an amp. We'll see how it goes with the drums.

Stewthebassman · #11 03-23-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Allen

If your idea of entertainment is watching a bass player get his butt kicked by the piano player all night then this would be the perfect night out for you

Ha ha, that's what I tell people !!!!LOL

But he wouldn't play with me if I were THAT bad!

mrpc · #12 03-23-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Speranza

In my experience, the bass is much louder out in the room than we think it is when standing behind it.

I have a pretty loud bass, and I pull the strings hard, and when I am playing in loud quintet (unamped) I sometimes can't hear myself very well and I question what it might sound like out front. But then I'll have someone else play my bass, who doesn't pull nearly as hard, and the bass sounds GREAT out in the room.

My approach is to use an amp if I can't hear myself on the bandstand. Otherwise playing isn't much fun. That being said, I always try to get situated in the best spot possible if amps aren't being used. I've done this alot over the years. Some rooms are surprisingly bass friendly, and of course many are not. If there is any doubt at all before a "acoustic gig" I've learned to keep an old Peavy Micro Bass Amp in the trunk "just in case." Just to focus the pizz. You can stash it so nobody has to see it. It doesn't need to be hi-fi. I noticed this years ago when my teacher did the same thing. He would only turn the amp (Polytone) on when the atmosphere in the room overwhelmed his ability to hear himself. How can you play your best, when you can't hear what you are doing? It's really tough!

Stewthebassman · #13 03-23-2007, 07:24 PM

A friend lent me his Roland Cube-60 Bass amp. It has a much nicer tone than my little Fender. And I thought I would be happy with that, but un-amped turns out is WAY better! Well, way better in the room that I play in, which is a nice old house with wood everywhere.

But this summer we'll be back out on the patio, competing with the motorcycles and jets and cars that drive by. :-( So at least I'll have a clue how I really want to sound now, having played so many weeks "sans amp".

And I agree with mrpc, if you can't hear yourself it's not much fun. I usually sit the amp on its back and point it straight up. People can hear me but more importantly I can hear myself! The bass usually carries more than we think!

Andy Allen · #14 03-24-2007, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewthebassman

Ha ha, that's what I tell people !!!!LOL

But he wouldn't play with me if I were THAT bad!

Tonight went pretty well, although I did make a complete horse's arse of Giant Steps at super-fast tempo....twice

That piano player has a cruel streak this |----------------| wide

. (I think he was disappointed that I handled Donna Lee at a similar tempo with aplomb

)

Still, he booked me for next Saturday night there with him as well as Friday, and was talking about a regular Saturday at an even swankier restaurant.

So I guess I don't suck quite as much as I think.

Andy

Stewthebassman · #15 03-24-2007, 05:57 AM

At my stage I don't even think I could count in to Giant Steps much over 123, LOL! Your pianist deserves to have his knuckles rapped!

We're currently practising "Jade Visions", that Lafaro tune he played with Bill Evans........a real wow tune for us, although it is somthing we'll save for those nights when the restaurant empties out early!

Marcus Johnson · #16 03-24-2007, 12:16 PM

I think that audiences sometimes pay more attention when the music is unamplified. I believe that perhaps the sound of acoustic instruments is somewhat alien to a lot of them, and is therefore fresher than hearing another amplified group. I get a lot of positive feedback on our unamped piano duo; people seem to be relieved to hear something more organic than the usual "guitarist with tracks". It also can have the effect of quieting a noisy room; rather than amping to try to outgun loud conversation, you can sometimes play at a certain level, and the level of conversation will automatically come down to match your own. Everybody's happy (especially the waithelp!).

I agree that it is addictive! I play acoustically whenever I can get away with it, and then add amplification in small doses as needed.

Uncletoad · #17 03-24-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

I think that audiences sometimes pay more attention when the music is unamplified. I believe that perhaps the sound of acoustic instruments is somewhat alien to a lot of them, and is therefore fresher than hearing another amplified group.

Man I'm there with that. When I've done all acoustic ensembles I love how things sound. I can't hardly talk anyone into doing it.

Stewthebassman · #18 03-24-2007, 01:03 PM

Your reactions are intresting.....do you guys find that when you play quieter in a combo that the other musicians also tend to quiet down to hear you as well?

Such is the power of the Bass Man!

Marcus Johnson · #19 03-24-2007, 01:30 PM

That's sometimes the case.... but some people need more training, and some, unfortunately, are untrainable.

The other thing is; I just feel that I play better when I'm playing acoustically. I dig the sound more, so naturally I'm more inspired to do good work.

Silversorcerer · #20 04-01-2007, 09:02 AM

I've been playing in this little quartet for about a year and a half now. I was able to talk the other three into rehearsals sans amps pretty easy. Even the vocalist is singing with no mic. So (I guess it's catching) I was able to score a gig bi-weekly at this place that has less than 10 tables and they have to remove 2 of them so we can fit in a corner. The place is so small I was able to convince the band to try it without amps. It is really a great thing to do. I wish it were that way all the time.

As far as training goes, it's mostly the drummer. The guitarist is pretty professional and the singer doubles on flute and sax and is doing well controlling the sax. So anyway, the guitarist and I agree that the drummer needs training. So what we've decided is that everytime we get to a point where we can't hear ourselves, he is going to suddenly find that he is playing a drum solo. When he calms down, we'll come back in. Who knows if that will work or not. Aside from being a little loud, he's a great drummer. Definitely worth training.