Using headphone live on-stage

christiaan_01 · #1 06-04-2008, 04:12 PM

Hey guys,

Kind of new here, and with a problem, so....

I play every week with my MiM jazz bass, through my Ashdown mag300H and 410 Ashdown cab. Sounds all very nice, but the problem is that the stage at which I play isn't really great for heaving any bass on it. It is quite hollow, and made of a nice layer of wood, which actually reproduces the noice I make, and gives way too much bass in the entire building. (I already tried out several things to solve it but none of them worked well)
Therefore I always have to turn down the volume, so that I finally can't hear my self properly, and I'm pretty sick of it.
That's why I want to try it with a headphone. My budget ranges from 100-170 euros. I'm not sure yet whether I also want the monitor of the other band members on the headphone, or just keep it going through the monitors, which will make the difference between closed and open headphone.
I don't want in-ear because I think it would be too expensive to achieve the same quality as a professional headphone.

Please provide me with some models, it doesn't really matter which brand (AKG, Sennheiser,...) but it must be suitable for live playing, bass of course, and maybe also monitoring of other group members.

By the way, is it possible to connect a Ashdown mag 300h to a headphone?

Thanks a lot guys,

Chris

**baba** · #2 06-05-2008, 07:36 AM

Before you get all goofy trying to wear headphones at a live gig (bad solution), try a couple changes. Try removing some of the bass and bumping up your mids. This will reduce the boomy sound and the mid bump will help your sound cut through the mix. Also, try moving your amp to a different spot. Amp placement, within the room as well as in relation to you, can have a huge affect on the sound. For instance if you get it off the floor, it won't couple with the hollow floor and this will likely reduce boom. If the amp is blasting at the back of your knees and two feet behind you, it will be hard to hear. Experiment with amp placement.

christiaan_01 · #3 06-05-2008, 11:32 AM

I've tried all that already before, and I never found a really good solution. And is it really a big difference in wearing a headphone or in-ear monitors? It's just that professional in-ear is too expensive for me, whereas a quite professional headphone doesn't cost to much. And I've already seen other bassplayers wearing headphones live on stage.

last minute · #4 06-05-2008, 11:41 AM

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Auralex-...33-i1134483.gc

use this product. problem solved.

F-Clef-Jef · #5 06-05-2008, 11:42 AM

I use in-ears, they work great! (Future Sonic Atrio ~$150 American, not sure what that would be in Euros) I have a mix of the entire band (same mix as the main PA cabs) then I add in enough of my bass until I am in heaven! The Atrios put out very good bass without being woofy, and my ears are much less fatigued at the end of the show, because even though I am kinda crankin' the volume in my in-ears, it's still considerably quieter than the normal ambient stage volume (i.e. drums)
I just have a small Behringer mixer by me that I use to mix the band feed with my bass, I have complete control, works great.
By the way, you don't need "custom" in-ear monitors. I used Shure E-2's for quite a while, not the greatest, but definitely okay. They can be had pretty cheap.
One warning, you may find yourself leaving your bass amp at home...

christiaan_01 · #6 06-06-2008, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by last minute

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Auralex-...33-i1134483.gc

use this product. problem solved.

That seems to be very interesting. Would be nice if it worked out, and that I can play without headphone/in-ear.

Thanks guys!

TimmyP · #7 06-29-2008, 03:51 AM

Get some open air headphones. That way you will hear everyone else just as you would otherwise, and you can dial yourself in as you please. Grado phones are the best I've heard. There should be a couple of models in your price range.

funkfingers · #8 07-08-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F-Clef-Jef

I just have a small Behringer mixer by me that I use to mix the band feed with my bass, I have complete control, works great.
By the way, you don't need "custom" in-ear monitors. I used Shure E-2's for quite a while, not the greatest, but definitely okay. They can be had pretty cheap.
One warning, you may find yourself leaving your bass amp at home...

I use pretty much the same set up as well. I have a Behringer mixer with my bass, front of house and the kick drum all on separate channels. (I like a bit more kick so I can really lock with it.) This works great. I am currently using the Shure E-2's.

Good luck!