Drummer thinks this amp/speaker combo will help

[smogg]

Originally Posted by SevenJacks

In our 2+ years of gigs I've never had the drummer tell me he can't hear me. His email today says:

"So I bought a GK 15" bass cab and peavey sessionbass head last night. Figure we can feed my head into it through the monitor output to tap a little more low end. "

I honestly don't think it's an issue with hearing me. I think he saw a cheap setup with the word 'bass' in it on Craigslist and thought 'YESSSSS!'...
I will find out more this Wednesday at practice.

I'm not asking you guys to decode my band chemistry of course, just providing info.
I will check our FOH sound in a few weeks at our next gig and see where it is with bass response. We may very well need a sub soon.

Sounds to me like you got a pretty good grasp on the bigger picture. When you can remain objective like that, good things can happen.

[azureblue]

You band does not have a rear monitor for the drummer? If not, that is the problem, not a bass amp. Be nice to your drummer and get him his own full range monitor and his own mix, so he can hear not only the bass but vocals, as well.

I use a bass amp, but we have a drum monitor and it is very nice for the whole band, since it back fills the dead spots and evens out the sound on stage.

[bigsnaketex]

honestly, I can't imagine gigging without a bass rig......

[Bufalo]

I had a sessionbass head and regret selling it. How much are they asking for that head/cabinet pair?

[SevenJacks]

I don't remember what the drummer said he spent but we set it up a few days ago:

We rehearse in his space with his PA that we use for wedges when we gig. He also has a separate sub for some nice huge rumble in the practice room. (The larger PA that we use for FOH is the guitarist's.)

Drummer removed sub.
I ran to my Zoom B3.
Zoom B3 to the amp/cab.
Ran amp to his PA system.

So basically we took out a sub and replaced with a amp/cab. Sure the notes were cleaner and with my PA input turned down a bit the tone was better, but this was rehearsal.

Now we have some options on how to set up at a real gig, but I'm still unsure of why this was such a big deal in the first place, and why our drummer needed to do this. I will just keep my mouth shut and learn a bit more about amps and cabs now that I'm using one!

[SevenJacks]

OH my GOD I was right...
He could hear me fine, it was the 'image' or whatever he thought a 'normal' band does.

From email today:
"lets try using the bass amp as a sub tonight and have bass plug into the PA head"

I really love these guys but...

[walterw]

Bass amps don't make good subs. Why not use the sub as a sub, and then run the bass into the PA?

[dalahorse]

Agreed. And I agree, also, with SevenJacks. It sounds like others in the band are more concerned with image than sound. Many folks here on TB are in bands that are trying to get into situations where they can go ampless, let the PA do all the work, and still maintain good monitoring. SJ's band was already there, but the drummer seems to think everyone still needs an amp. Speaking as a drummer, it sounds like your drummer needs a reality check.

[walterw]

Yeah, but with no subs and no amp, what definition of "already there" are we talking about here?

[dalahorse]

Ah - very good point!

[Groovy_Gravy]

Originally Posted by SevenJacks

I don't remember what the drummer said he spent but we set it up a few days ago:

We rehearse in his space with his PA that we use for wedges when we gig. He also has a separate sub for some nice huge rumble in the practice room. (The larger PA that we use for FOH is the guitarist's.)

Drummer removed sub.
I ran to my Zoom B3.
Zoom B3 to the amp/cab.
Ran amp to his PA system.

So basically we took out a sub and replaced with a amp/cab. Sure the notes were cleaner and with my PA input turned down a bit the tone was better, but this was rehearsal.

Now we have some options on how to set up at a real gig, but I'm still unsure of why this was such a big deal in the first place, and why our drummer needed to do this. I will just keep my mouth shut and learn a bit more about amps and cabs now that I'm using one!

Its a big deal because your drummer wants some real bass!! You cant replace a dedicated amp and cab..PA just doesnt cut it unless its a very very nice full range one with Tons of power and nice speakers. Most of the Time running through just the PA sounds sterile and lifeless..PLease, use an amp and cab

[Hactar]

Originally Posted by Groovy_Gravy

Its a big deal because your drummer wants some real bass!! You cant replace a dedicated amp and cab..PA just doesnt cut it unless its a very very nice full range one with Tons of power and nice speakers. Most of the Time running through just the PA sounds sterile and lifeless..PLease, use an amp and cab

You sound like the drummer

To suggest that most of the time a PA will not be sufficient for bass is incorrect. Many bassists and audio engineers happily run bass through the PA, often without any amp onstage. It can sound excellent, and also helps bring down stage volume.

The issue here is that the drummer may be lacking bass in his monitor, and that is something that is better remedied by upgraded monitors. The other issue (significantly more difficult to fix) is the drummer's over-valuing of onstage image...

[Nev375]

Here's what to do. Get an old blown SVT 8x10 cab that tilts back like a dolly. Gut it.

Carefully saw around the top,bottom and sides so that the front grille of the cab forms a lid to a large box. Reaffix this with a piano hinge and latches.

Use this dummy cab to transport Mic/speaker stands, cables, tools, odd and ends, etc... providing quick/convenient load in and the appearance of a large bass rig on stage.

Keep plugging direct to PA.