Reggae Bass Players - What amps and cabinets are you using ?

[DrumsAndBass]

I'm curious to know what other TB Reggae players are using for amps and cabs. And what have you done with your rig > eq > volume setting to get a stage sound for the band vs. front of house ?

Thank You

[BurningSkies]

Amp:
Kern IP-777 tube preamp + Peavey IPR-3000 power amp (parallel mono for 1000w or bridged at 3000w)



+
fEARful 15/6 with a fEARful 15sub:

[Jim Carr]

Wow, that rig is amazing.

I usually just use my 4 ohm Epifani UL1 410 or maybe add an 8 ohm Epifani UL1 210 to that with a 900 watt Mesa Boogie M9 Carbine head. I like to use my Lakland 55-01D or RW Jazz—both strung with rounds at standard tunings. The Mesa into Epifani cabs is capable of lots of good clean bottom.

I mostly have used the built-in DI on the Mesa lately, though I carry a Countryman type 85 DI.

[The Diaper Geni]

I'm a good 15 years out of the loop for reggae gear. BUT, I did make my living playing reggae when I was in my 20's. And I got to work with some really great and nice soundmen on a regular basis. (One band I played in had a soundman as member of the group and he toured with us and was at every gig.)

One thing I learned from the soundmen I worked with concerning FOH was to let the FOH do it's job pushing the bottom end. If you can, let the FOH be the "bottom" to your sound and let your stage rig carry the rest. Even on outdoor festival type stuff you'll be able to feel the FOH subs pretty well. Tailor your tone on-stage to compliment the FOH subs, not the other way around. The way I thought of it was like this: I pretended my rig was bi-amped and the FOH subs were the subs and my on-stage rig were the tops. If that makes sense.

I know what I said sounds counter intuitive to getting a good "reggae sound", but it works. At least it did for me! Good luck! Gear shopping is fun!!

[Jim Carr]

EQ settings on M9 Carbine when using passive Jazz bass (my favorite). N.B., the Active/Passive switch should have been on passive in the photo, but this gives you a rough idea. Deep switch is "Pulled." Also must add that the "Voice" switch also works well on V1 for the other setting, though it lacks some of the mid punch.





Garage band backing tracks with bass run direct off Post Preamp EQ settings shown above:

http://www.jamescarr.net/reggae/Reggae_Bass_Study.2.mp3

It's basically low but punchy, has clean bottom, but is not too huge. Use good headphones or good speakers to hear it.

[AwkwardLoudness]

I play reggae in additional to many other styles. Lately, I've been using a Carvin B1500 with two Low Down Sound nEarful 15/6 cabs with fEarful crossovers (stack on the left). Normally, I play at private parties with no PA support.

[tlr1293]

Bass playing super secrets revealed, for us bass noobs, Reggae style - Heavenly info!!

Originally Posted by The Diaper Geni

I'm a good 15 years out of the loop for reggae gear. BUT, I did make my living playing reggae when I was in my 20's. And I got to work with some really great and nice soundmen on a regular basis. (One band I played in had a soundman as member of the group and he toured with us and was at every gig.)

One thing I learned from the soundmen I worked with concerning FOH was to let the FOH do it's job pushing the bottom end. If you can, let the FOH be the "bottom" to your sound and let your stage rig carry the rest. Even on outdoor festival type stuff you'll be able to feel the FOH subs pretty well. Tailor your tone on-stage to compliment the FOH subs, not the other way around. The way I thought of it was like this: I pretended my rig was bi-amped and the FOH subs were the subs and my on-stage rig were the tops. If that makes sense.

I know what I said sounds counter intuitive to getting a good "reggae sound", but it works. At least it did for me! Good luck! Gear shopping is fun!!

[Jim Carr]

I usually don't have PA support either for most reggae gigs. Here is an old pic of the cabs with the older Art/Crest head. In this case, the 210 is an Epi NYC.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

Wow, that rig is amazing.

I usually just use my 4 ohm Epifani UL1 410 or maybe add an 8 ohm Epifani UL1 210 to that with a 900 watt Mesa Boogie M9 Carbine head. I like to use my Lakland 55-01D or RW Jazz—both strung with rounds at standard tunings. The Mesa into Epifani cabs is capable of lots of good clean bottom.

I mostly have used the built-in DI on the Mesa lately, though I carry a Countryman type 85 DI.

Thanks Jim. You've got a nice setup too. I don't carry an external DI, but the Kern DI is driven by a dedicated 12AU7, and has as much control as most DI's do (phase, ground, level). I prefer post-preamp DI as most soundmen are not always well versed in reggae bass tone and it lets me minimize any tonal 'damage' caused.

Originally Posted by The Diaper Geni

I'm a good 15 years out of the loop for reggae gear. BUT, I did make my living playing reggae when I was in my 20's. And I got to work with some really great and nice soundmen on a regular basis. (One band I played in had a soundman as member of the group and he toured with us and was at every gig.)

One thing I learned from the soundmen I worked with concerning FOH was to let the FOH do it's job pushing the bottom end. If you can, let the FOH be the "bottom" to your sound and let your stage rig carry the rest. Even on outdoor festival type stuff you'll be able to feel the FOH subs pretty well. Tailor your tone on-stage to compliment the FOH subs, not the other way around. The way I thought of it was like this: I pretended my rig was bi-amped and the FOH subs were the subs and my on-stage rig were the tops. If that makes sense.

I know what I said sounds counter intuitive to getting a good "reggae sound", but it works. At least it did for me! Good luck! Gear shopping is fun!!

While I'm not shy on stage with some lows (because the drummer and other guys in the band want reggae-tone on stage, they play better, etc), I don't feel the need push sub-lows if the club can do it. That's the big problem though. Many clubs can't, and some soundmen have no idea what it should sound like. I happen to like a strong amount of mid content in my sound, which also confuses sound men who's knowledge of reggae is limited to boomy sub-bass 70's oldies roots. Our material runs between classic roots, modern roots, dub and a mix of modern and 80's style dancehall. For the 80's (a la Roots Radics and Junjo produced type stuff), I want punchy mids with solid lows.

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

I usually don't have PA support either for most reggae gigs. Here is an old pic of the cabs with the older Art/Crest head. In this case, the 210 is an Epi NYC.

Nice! I like having big power on tap for the headroom and lack of anything resembling power-amp compression.

[mroekalea]

Hi, I use a 2 x 15 cab (an fender bassman 2x15, speaker reloaded with neo speakers with a bassman 100 tube head. In our bands repetition space I got a Ashdown Little giant 350 watt with an Craaft B215 cab, the 15 inh will give you serious low end thumb en sweet mid-range, I however think that the use of modern 15 inch speakers (neodynium) is the key.

[Floridabwoy]

Burning Skies, I never get tired of seeing your bass.

I do get tired of seeing this thread. : )

I use a GB Shuttle 6 & 1 or 2 Peavey 410TX cabs and a P bass.

[The Diaper Geni]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

While I'm not shy on stage with some lows (because the drummer and other guys in the band want reggae-tone on stage, they play better, etc), I don't feel the need push sub-lows if the club can do it. That's the big problem though. Many clubs can't, and some soundmen have no idea what it should sound like. I happen to like a strong amount of mid content in my sound, which also confuses sound men who's knowledge of reggae is limited to boomy sub-bass 70's oldies roots. Our material runs between classic roots, modern roots, dub and a mix of modern and 80's style dancehall. For the 80's (a la Roots Radics and Junjo produced type stuff), I want punchy mids with solid lows.

Yuppers. That's a problem. Again, I usually was with a very good soundman and (almost) always had decent PA provided.

Really, if there's anything to gain from this thread it's this: Reggae players have to deal with the same problems as the bass players in other genres and visa-versa. You want to hit the audience with good tone but have to work with the FOH (or lack thereof) to achieve that. EXCEPT, reggae tone usually has more bottom to it and that "tight-but-fat bottom on stage" can easily turn to "mush for the audience". Just keep that in mind. It's a very fine line and changes from night-to-night. IMO, of course.

And any equipment used is not specific to reggae. I mean, the standard for a loooong time in reggae was an Ampeg tube amp on top of an Ampeg 8x10. Which is also used in rock, country, pop, funk...You get the idea. It's HOW you use the equipment.

Shucks....Familyman used (maybe still does?) a Fender jazz bass. So did Jaco. The difference in their tones is how the bass was used.

Again, IMO. You may hear my reggae tone and think it sucks!

[AwkwardLoudness]

Originally Posted by The Diaper Geni

And any equipment used is not specific to reggae. I mean, the standard for a loooong time in reggae was an Ampeg tube amp on top of an Ampeg 8x10. Which is also used in rock, country, pop, funk...You get the idea. It's HOW you use the equipment.

Shucks....Familyman used (maybe still does?) a Fender jazz bass. So did Jaco. The difference in their tones is how the bass was used.

^^^ agreed. For me, an important aspect of reggae tone is using flatwound strings and plucking softly above the neck pickup.

[Zoa]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Amp:
Kern IP-777 tube preamp + Peavey IPR-3000 power amp (parallel mono for 1000w or bridged at 3000w)



+
fEARful 15/6 with a fEARful 15sub:

Plus, of course, the most gorgeous bass on TB.

[dave64o]

Originally Posted by Floridabwoy

Burning Skies, I never get tired of seeing your bass.

Nor do I!

[Stev187]

Originally Posted by The Diaper Geni

(One band I played in had a soundman as member of the group and he toured with us and was at every gig.)

Were you in (Bop) Harvey? If so, I think we opened for you guys back in the day.

I saw Sly & Robbie at the Hammersmith Odeon in London back in 1988, I think Robbie was playing a Jazz bass. Man, that was one of the best shows I've seen in my life.

--Steve

[ProffesB]

I use a Ampeg SVT 4 outta either an 8 x 10 or a 1 x 15 depending on the size of the place.

[Monkey]

I've used many cabs over the years, but now use two Aguilar GS112s (stacked vertically) with a Markbass LMIII. I play a lot of small to medium-sized clubs without PA support and am pretty happy with the amount of low end from the GS112s. I found myself missing my old 2x15 at a few outdoor festivals this summer, but my rig got me through it. My 50-year-old back doesn't miss the 2x15!

I play a 5-string fretless with TI flats (often played way up on the neck) and like more mids than some reggae players in my area. The Aggies are rather mid-shy, but my LMIII set close to flat (ocassionally with a VT, as well) does well for me.

I've been contemplating adding a third GS112, but would need another amp. I've been gassing for a fEarful or nEarful lately, but haven't pulled the trigger.

[sloppy_phil]

i guess i keep it retro comparatively; I'm using an Ampeg B-18-N with an old Ric 4003. It's got such a warm and fat sound; especially the super-lo channel which is just so typical Ampeg depth; even the bridge p'up with tone open on the Ric sounds super fat and great for all reggae styles. I'm intending to acquire a Countryman DI (or potential equivalents), which will allow me to send both pre and power amp to FOH. Up until now I've generally been at the mercy of the club. Sometimes I get it mic'd, other times I'm not so fortunate and go straight into the DI. I (sadly) use the cab mostly as a stage monitor, but I'm thinking of adding a second for larger venues just in case!

And as other guys have said in regards to FOH; just be willing to work with the guy and give him the best signal you can. To me, that means all the tubes my amp has in it!

[DubSound]

i use a genz benz shuttle 6.0 with a genz benz 410. LF boost switch on, mid freq knob at about 9 o clock, and treble rolled way off.

And of course, a jazz with flats. Never fails to give me that deep reggae sound.