Live Bass & GK

[bluewine]

My guitar teacher plays bass in one of Milwaukee's premier blues bands.

I saw them play to a room of about 250 people, 2nd floor over looking the Milwaukee River last night.

Their sound was great, not sure how they did it. My teacher was using his Jack Casidy Epiphone ( he owns a lot of basses) through a GK COmbo , 2 10"s and a horn. His tone and volume was great, deep /thick and even, not loud, boomy, his signal was well positioned against the other instruments. He did have 3 small pedals, not sure what they were or what he was using them for.

I introduced him to my publicist during the first break he was explaining the pedals to me, but I was not really listening. I have guitar lessons this Wednesday so I will ask for another explanation.

BTW, I have been playing bass for 40 years, I am just studying guitar to becaome a better bass player.

[diechris]

not sure what this thread is about? are you asking something or simply blogging?

[bluewine]

I am not sure what my thread is about. I have been torn and confused about some of the marginal bass signals I have been hearing in clubs. And I figured there are so many varibles on how to get that tight, deep compressed even sound in different live environments.

Is it gear

Is it Musicianship

Is it luck

Is it all of the above.

I don't think you have to have high level gear that requires a huge $$$ investment/

blue

Originally Posted by diechris

not sure what this thread is about? are you asking something or simply blogging?

[JustDavid]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I am not sure what my thread is about. I have been torn and confused about some of the marginal bass signals I have been hearing in clubs. And I figured there are so many varibles on how to get that tight, deep compressed even sound in different live environments.

Is it gear

Is it Musicianship

Is it luck

Is it all of the above.

I don't think you have to have high level gear that requires a huge $$$ investment/

blue

Is it DI'ing into the PA?

[bluewine]

Good Question,

I'm not sure, the PA was pretty basic, I think the PA was just for vocals.It did not look like the kind of PA that could handle DI bass signal.

blue

[JustDavid]

Knowing whether he's going through the PA or not is kinda key to figuring out how he sounds the way he does.

I view GK as good stuff, but I don't know if any 2x10 combo would do for a 250-person room unless it's a relatively low volume band.

[Nick Kay]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Good Question,

I'm not sure, the PA was pretty basic, I think the PA was just for vocals.It did not look like the kind of PA that could handle DI bass signal.

blue

You'd be surprised how little it takes to handle a bass signal - a pair of 1x15 mains and a sub is plenty for a room that holds 250.

[bluewine]

Yeah, it really depends on to many variables. I saw a guy play that same room with a 10" cab and a Genz Benz head and he was killing in the mix and the tone of his Jazz Bass was right where it was suposed to be.

When I say where it's suposed to be I mean that we are bass players, not lead guitar players.

[Jehos]

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

You'd be surprised how little it takes to handle a bass signal - a pair of 1x15 mains and a sub is plenty for a room that holds 250.

Yeah, this. I own a Yamaha 500W PA (one of those 8 channel box things) and a couple 1x15 speakers on stands, and we can get a great sound out of it. It's more than enough to handle any size venue where the drums don't need to be mic'd, and I run my bass through it for mixing purposes.

It really doesn't take that much to get a great sound. I'd attribute his really good tone to the sound guy doing his job well.

[JustDavid]

Originally Posted by Jehos

I'd attribute his really good tone to the sound guy doing his job well.

I'd also be willing to, if the bassist was run through the PA. We don't know yet.