i hate sound guys

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Marcus Willett

Well, I.....nah....

ya, apprenty there's some new rule where you can't say bad things about soundmen anymore, even if they're jerks.

[Marcus Willett]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

ya, apprenty there's some new rule where you can't say bad things about soundmen anymore, even if they're jerks.

LOL....careful, now...

I think I need to start a thread on this issue but have it be extremely specific and confined to very precise questions and equally precise answers with no non sequiturs...of course that may just be a dream.

[JimmyM]

Ya, i better do a little editing.

[melarson]

Originally Posted by engedi1

I should have phrased it better...Dark and dirty can be beautiful, I play with flats mostly myself! But I do think that a huge, bass-heavy tone usually doesn't fly live. I have much fewer issues with sound guys when I turn down the bass knob-once I do that, they don't seem to care as much about the volume knob. Sounds thin and whiny to me on stage, sounds huge in the crowd.

+1. It is very different in the house than on the stage. When the "dark and dirty" is recorded they get to retry it if it bombs. Live if a different story.

I re-read the the OP. Really it comes down to the guy was not prepared. If he doesn't have a way to use his borrowed bassman as a monitor and go into the house direct I wouldn't let him use it either. I would try to find a way to help him do it, time permitting, but when push comes to shove IMO the amp on stage should be only a monitor (unless it is a very small room). If the amp is the only source of the bass the control over the overall volume is very limited. If the bass is too loud every thing needs to be raised. If it's too quiet, well that's the worst scenario, it won't be heard! For me it's not very often that everyone is giving their all for sound check, so adjustments need to be made during the performance. I find it hard to reach the bass amp's volume from the sound booth I don't know how many times the bass from stage is ok for most of the songs but when it slows down the bass kills everything.

[Marcus Willett]

First:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Wanted to wait till I got permission to say. I just got it...So once I get this, I won't care if the soundman wants to tie a string to a dixie cup to get my bass signal!

Then:

Originally Posted by bubbalow

As a professional bassist, and a professional FOH, monitor, and recording engineer, I would have to say: HAHAHAHA

Originally Posted by devoge

LMAO

Then:

Originally Posted by walterw

...um, I don't get it.

Originally Posted by engedi1

I don't get it either. Do they find the New Tech 21 device funny?

Originally Posted by BigMac5

....I think many of us are still waiting for clarification on this post.

Indeed. I would very much love an explanation of precisely what seems to be funny about a pedal designed to emulate one of the most revered bass tones by a respected company with a great track record that is specifically aimed at making life easier for the bassist and the soundman, theoretically eliminating the need and request for a mic.

So seriously; enlighten me....what's the funny part?

[JimmyM]

i never figured out what was funny, but i changed my mind...i still want a mic

[jetlaggemini]

i've played over 1000 shows at this point in the last 4 years and i've never met a soundguy that wouldnt let me use an amp. that guy was a dick. most sound guys are ok but you need to make friends with them. ask them for their name and call them that the entire night. its way better than dude or yo. tell them how its going to work(your set up) and end it with a really polite if thats cool. also just stress that you will be on and off stage on time. thats probably the number one thing they care about. you can't help grumpy soundguys pissed of to be doing what they are but you can def sway them your way as long as you stay on time because most of the grumpy ones dont give a **** about anything.

[JoshB]

Guys, I've had discussions about the new rule with a couple of our more, um, "vocal" members and I have left this open for longer than it should be open. My apologies but let's remember, this is the live sound forum, not the cry about the sound guy forum. (I know, I know, most of them deserve it, but that's a different story entirely!)

Now, that said, this thread is about done. We've all had sound guys that were complete nimrods, but I feel that this thread has run its course.

As a parting word though, thanks to all that have contributed, and I am looking at making a "Worst of the worst" thread that includes some of the horror stories in the couple of threads I have closed. If you have any nominations, PLEASE send them my way. Thanks guys!