More Promethean Review

StuartV · #1 07-12-2010, 08:15 PM

I had my first audition to play bass with a band tonight. The band is (or will be) a 3 piece. Guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. I've practiced with my own band using my Promethean 1x10 combo, but that is electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, and vocals doing an Eagles cover. For that, the Promethean was plenty.

But, this band is heavy rock. Very metal-ish. And the drummer plays LOUD. Well, in that scenario, the Promethean was just flat out not loud enough. I was playing my G&L L-2000, with it set for Series w/Bass Boost, and Active w/Treble Boost. I ran it through a SansSamp BDDI with the SVT settings and the Level turned up to 12:00. I had the amp gain set to where it was flashing the Clip light occasionally. And the amp master volume was dang near all the way up.

With that setup, I could hear the bass. The drummer said he could hear the bass. But I'm not sure the guitar player could hear it very well. I definitely would have liked it to be a fair bit louder.

I've seen the question asked here numerous times. Is the Promethean 1x10 combo loud enough for practice with a loud band? The question is now answered, in my mind. The answer is No.

StuartV · #2 07-12-2010, 08:18 PM

If they invite me back, I think next time I'm going to have to take the SVT Pro 2 and Aguilar cabs. And maybe my Peavey Pro 410 cab, too. 6 - 10s plus 1 - 15, combined to 2 ohms. If they ask me back, I want to make sure they know that I CAN be loud enough. :-)

PaulNYC · #3 07-12-2010, 08:21 PM

I do not have one, but I understand the SansSamp BDDI is kind of scooped in the mid frequencies. That could very well hurt your volume, in a and situation. In any case, you probably only need more cab, not more watts.

PilbaraBass · #4 07-12-2010, 08:23 PM

There’s nothing WORSE than playing with a loud drummer.
Loud does NOT = better.
Loud drummer = groove killer.
If your Prometheus 1x10 isn’t loud enough for an audition, I wouldn’t WANT to be called back.

These are strictly my sentiments, but I’m sure there are others who share similar viewpoints.

bass4u · #5 07-12-2010, 08:42 PM

I play in 2 bands,one is a punk/garage style and the other is alt/rock. The drummer in the alt/rock is 6'9" tall 265 lbs with an oversize custom kit (normal drum kits look like a toy kit with him behind them) and he pounds the drum kit but he still can groove. Playing with him, my Markbass LMII and 2 Markbass 12" cabinets definitely get pushed hard but still have headroom. In the punk/garage band the drummer plays half the volume of the other drummer and I can get by with one 12" cabinet. It is a challenge playing with a loud drummer. I feel for you.

StuartV · #6 07-12-2010, 08:45 PM

Yeah, PaulNYC, my Promethean is more watts than my SVT. But, if I get an invitation back, I think I want to give them the full effect of what I would gig with. Basically, go for shock and awe to make up for bringing no balls to the audition.

As for the loud drummer, well, I'm the drummer in the band I regularly gig with. In comparison to this guy tonight, I know I play a lot more quietly. But, I also know that I play louder or quieter depending on what music I'm playing. And trying to play softly on a song that is a hard-driving song definitely has an effect on my playing.

This guy tonight had better chops than me (on drums). So I don't want to knock him for playing loud. I think it kind of guys hand in hand with the style of music we were playing.

If they invite me back, I'll take a bigger rig and I'll take my musician's ear plugs...

Greevus · #7 07-12-2010, 10:58 PM

Wrong. LOUD is GOD. I'm amazed people are playing the 500 watt heads through one speaker. I wanted to try the Promethean, but have settled on the GK's. I play one live through an Ampeg 810 and it's damn loud. One 10" just seems wrong too. I like the SVT/Earplugs combo.

wateroftyne · #8 07-13-2010, 05:57 AM

I'm going to pull the trigger on one of these, but I'm not expecting it to hack it in rehearsals. We're not loud, so if it does, it'll be a bonus.

I have to echo PaulNYC's comments in that, in my expercience, the SABDDI's scoop makes it very difficult to be heard in the mix. Again, IME.

johnnycat42 · #9 07-13-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wateroftyne

I'm going to pull the trigger on one of these, but I'm not expecting it to hack it in rehearsals. We're not loud, so if it does, it'll be a bonus.

I have to echo PaulNYC's comments in that, in my expercience, the SABDDI's scoop makes it very difficult to be heard in the mix. Again, IME.

That has been my experience as well. However, on a recording, the Sansamps kill.

StuartV · #10 07-13-2010, 08:59 AM

Thanks to all of you for the input on the SA. If I get to play with those guys again, I will bring a bigger rig. But, if I still don't think it's cutting well enough, I'll try turning off the SA and see how it sounds.

megadan · #11 07-13-2010, 09:02 AM

Sorry, but a 1x10 combo isn't loud enough for any band above a small jazz ensemble. It's not enough for a loud rock or metal drummer, that's for sure.
Sure you might be able to hear the amp making some sound, but you're not going to achieve the role of the bass with an amp that small, imho.

Even a big amp, like say an 8x10, turned to the same level decibel wise, is going to sound bigger, fuller, and better, and everyone in the would be able to hear it.

Musicman20 · #12 07-13-2010, 09:12 AM

If it were a 1x12 Id be more interested. But still, a 1x12 is going to struggle.

2x10, IMO, is the minimum I can rehearse with otherwise may as well just DI.

Bassflute · #13 07-13-2010, 09:17 AM

That's what you really need. If you had the extension cab, do you think THAT would cut it with this band? Or a 4x10?

Cheers,
Cameron

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuartV

I had my first audition to play bass with a band tonight. The band is (or will be) a 3 piece. Guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. I've practiced with my own band using my Promethean 1x10 combo, but that is electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, and vocals doing an Eagles cover. For that, the Promethean was plenty.

But, this band is heavy rock. Very metal-ish. And the drummer plays LOUD. Well, in that scenario, the Promethean was just flat out not loud enough. I was playing my G&L L-2000, with it set for Series w/Bass Boost, and Active w/Treble Boost. I ran it through a SansSamp BDDI with the SVT settings and the Level turned up to 12:00. I had the amp gain set to where it was flashing the Clip light occasionally. And the amp master volume was dang near all the way up.

With that setup, I could hear the bass. The drummer said he could hear the bass. But I'm not sure the guitar player could hear it very well. I definitely would have liked it to be a fair bit louder.

I've seen the question asked here numerous times. Is the Promethean 1x10 combo loud enough for practice with a loud band? The question is now answered, in my mind. The answer is No.

StuartV · #14 07-13-2010, 09:22 AM

I have 2 Aguilar cabs (GS210 and GS115), and a Peavey Pro410 cab. I can use pretty much any combo of those with the Promethean (except all 3 together).

If they ask me back, I'll at least take the Peavey 410 and just use the Promethean with that. It's 500W into 4 Ohms (which is what the Peavey cab is). 500W into a 4x10 cab *should* be more than enough.

Or, just to make it clear that I do have the equipment to keep up with them no matter HOW loud they try to be, I might take my SVT and all 3 cabs and turn it up until THEY ask ME to turn it down.

StuartV · #15 07-13-2010, 09:26 AM

Oh, and Cameron, to answer your question, I really don't know if just adding a 1x10 extension cab would be loud enough. Probably. But I don't have one to try. I could try just the head with my Aggie 210 cab, but I don't think that's really an apples-to-apples comparison with using the Ibanez combo cab plus a 1x10 extension cab.

tombowlus · #16 07-13-2010, 10:05 AM

FWIW, the 2x10 Promethean combo is very loud, and more than handles my loudish practices. It would likely handle most of my gigs, too, though not all of them.

kimstevens · #17 07-25-2010, 10:21 AM

I bought a new Promethean (head only), loved the sound, but it shut down on my first gig in a hot club, so I returned it -- can't be dealing with thermal issues. It was about 90 degrees F in the club, the fan was on, and it cut out after about 10 minutes. Don't know if it was just my unit. I'd buy one again if it wasn't for that problem, and the unfortunate thing is that it's the type of issue that would be hard to deal with with a warranty, I'd think -- in a normal temperature room it worked just fine. I wonder if a service tech would heat up an amp to troubleshoot.

bmc · #18 07-25-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

There’s nothing WORSE than playing with a loud drummer.
Loud does NOT = better.
Loud drummer = groove killer.
If your Prometheus 1x10 isn’t loud enough for an audition, I wouldn’t WANT to be called back.

These are strictly my sentiments, but I’m sure there are others who share similar viewpoints.

+1000

CDweller · #19 07-25-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmc

+1000

Loud was cool for a few moments in the sixties when being able to make music at unheard of volumes was brand new.

Now what....how about good tone that doesn't exceed the ear's ability to not distort the sound it receives? Now you're talking.

Don't leave the house with anything less than a 4x10 and 500-1200 watts and you'll be able to "talk quietly but carry a big stick".

StuartV · #20 07-25-2010, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimstevens

I bought a new Promethean (head only), loved the sound, but it shut down on my first gig in a hot club, so I returned it -- can't be dealing with thermal issues. It was about 90 degrees F in the club, the fan was on, and it cut out after about 10 minutes. Don't know if it was just my unit.

Sounds like it is a bad unit. The audition where I used mine, we played for about 45 minutes straight. I had it turned almost all the way up to max volume. The room was a storage room at one of the guys' job. It had no windows and no A/C. We're in FL. It was at least 100 degrees in there. My Promethean took all that like a champ.