Need help on solving a problem with sound

[andbaggio]

I'm using a Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III with a 2x10 cabinet and a 1x15 cabinet also Ashdown ABM Series, both with reflex. Pretty good sound.

The problem is that in the practice room the drummer has a big problem hearing the other instruments because he says that my bass sound is booming too much over in his corner and gives him problems hearing the other two guitars and voice.

My eq is bass at 12 o'clock, mid at 3/4 o'clock and treble at 11/12 o'clock. the two sliders between bass and mid are pretty much in the middle, same as the other two sliders between the mid and the treble. But I don't think that's the problem.

The problem is in the room I think. Is there anything that I can do to resolve this problem. I almost got into a fight with him because the others started changing my sound and I hate playing with a sound that I don't like. Might as well not play.

Please someone give me a solution that is not shooting the drummer. Thanks

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by andbaggio

The problem is in the room I think.

It is.

Is there anything that I can do to resolve this problem.

He has to move out of the corner.

[bassophil]

A cost free solution might be the placement of your amps and drums in the rehearsal room. F.e. if you place your amp in a corner of the room you will have some kind of amplification for the lower frequencies, which might sound contra productive at first, but this can allow you to roll down the bass on your amp's EQ since the whole room might be more equally filled with your low end. And since this way your speakers will be directed at everyone the whole band will, more or less, hear the same bass sound.

Also putting your cab on some kind of box can, depending on the room, get eliminate boomynes sometimes.

A solution for money would be a multiband graphic EQ (f.e. dbx 131) or a parametric EQ in your signal chain. You can use it find the boomy frequencies and turn them down without a huge effect on the overall impression.


Edit: or what Bill said^^

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by andbaggio

I almost got into a fight with him because the others started changing my sound and I hate playing with a sound that I don't like. Might as well not play.

First thing I'd do is change this attitude. There are going to be lots and lots of situation where you'll have to play with a sound that you don't like. If you don't get used to it, you're going to be making yourself and others very miserable. It's important to be able to work in a way that makes everyone in the band happy, be a team player. And that becomes even more important when it's gig time and you've got an audience, and a sound person too that you have to work with.

I think it would be best to open to the idea of re-equing, and then just start moving stuff around the room. Put your amp on boxes, against the wall, away from the wall, closer to you and use less volume, move the drums, the guitar amps, etc.

Last note, drummers often don't know what overtones they're hearing. I had a very experienced drummer give me hell constantly in one particular band, to the point where I turned my bass off completely and he was still giving me a hard time. It was the bottom on the guitars, which can feel and sound very much like a bass depending upon where the people in the room are situated. Some guitarists like to crank their low end and blow out a room. Makes everything sound like mud. You might want to check their EQs and have them follow everything I said in the first 2 paragraphs also. Move, elevate, turn, and EQ everybody till you make it work.

[andbaggio]

Originally Posted by bassophil

A cost free solution might be the placement of your amps and drums in the rehearsal room. F.e. if you place your amp in a corner of the room you will have some kind of amplification for the lower frequencies, which might sound contra productive at first, but this can allow you to roll down the bass on your amp's EQ since the whole room might be more equally filled with your low end. And since this way your speakers will be directed at everyone the whole band will, more or less, hear the same bass sound.

Also putting your cab on some kind of box can, depending on the room, get eliminate boomynes sometimes.

A solution for money would be a multiband graphic EQ (f.e. dbx 131) or a parametric EQ in your signal chain. You can use it find the boomy frequencies and turn them down without a huge effect on the overall impression.


Edit: or what Bill said^^

putting the cabs in a box??? maybe I'll try that. in the room there is some kind of "box" where my cabs and amp can fit inside and maybe that would be the solution.

thanks, I'll see next Wednsday how it goes.

[andbaggio]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

First thing I'd do is change this attitude. There are going to be lots and lots of situation where you'll have to play with a sound that you don't like. If you don't get used to it, you're going to be making yourself and others very miserable. It's important to be able to work in a way that makes everyone in the band happy, be a team player. And that becomes even more important when it's gig time and you've got an audience, and a sound person too that you have to work with.

I think it would be best to open to the idea of re-equing, and then just start moving stuff around the room. Put your amp on boxes, against the wall, away from the wall, closer to you and use less volume, move the drums, the guitar amps, etc.

Last note, drummers often don't know what overtones they're hearing. I had a very experienced drummer give me hell constantly in one particular band, to the point where I turned my bass off completely and he was still giving me a hard time. It was the bottom on the guitars, which can feel and sound very much like a bass depending upon where the people in the room are situated. Some guitarists like to crank their low end and blow out a room. Makes everything sound like mud. You might want to check their EQs and have them follow everything I said in the first 2 paragraphs also. Move, elevate, turn, and EQ everybody till you make it work.

Sorry I didn't mean to appear a guy with an attitude. Maybe I said things in the wrong way.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, I'll try to move stuff around and make the others do the same so to find a good solution for everyone.

Thank you

[nobodysfool]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

It is. He has to move out of the corner.

+1 What Bill said....

[RickenBoogie]

Originally Posted by andbaggio

putting the cabs in a box??? maybe I'll try that. in the room there is some kind of "box" where my cabs and amp can fit inside and maybe that would be the solution.

thanks, I'll see next Wednsday how it goes.

Not IN a box, on TOP of a box, or chair, or amp stand, or......

[andbaggio]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Not IN a box, on TOP of a box, or chair, or amp stand, or......

Oh ok, well they are already on a wooden stand