The Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club part 22

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by BlueLine1

mkandolf, can I have a number as well? I asked for one in post#457. Thanks!!!

Mizedog, sounds like you could really benefit from a 6-string. I've been using one since 1997. I don't use it like I should, because I don't play flashy at church. I play it because I like the way it feels and the sound of it and I get lots of compliments about it. It's killer. Most people ask about the looks, not what's in it that makes it sound so good.

PipeRain, I hope you are still following this. You can have a different looking instrument. If you are doing it for the right reason, praising the one who saves us, it's OK.

What are the strobe tuners some of you are talking about? I have been using a Korg DTR-2 in my rack for 8 years or so and have been happy with it. Are you saying these strobe tuners can "Listen" to all strings at once, and show what's in/out? That would be way cool....

Thanks for your input,
Alan

I can't remember the definition of a strobe tuner other than it's very accurate. The multi string thing is nothing to do with strobes - the one pedal I know that does that is the Polytune.

[MissingHighs]

All I know is I want a tuner that I can calibrate to the keys - especially these things that synthesise "stretch tuning" (the ST200 allows "fine calibration") so that there can be no argument about me being in tune or not. I once had the keys player insist I was out and, to save an argument, let her tell me "sharp or flat"..... NEVER again! I don't know what frequencies she was listening to, but it certainly wasn't the fundamental. As Steve pointed out, a fast locking strobe tuner allows you to tune on either the attack or the sustain, depending on the song and how brutal you are on the strings.

[SoVeryTired]

Good reminder - time to tune up the guitar and bass before heading to rehearsal for tomorrow. Our guitarist is on his way back from Poland at the moment so I'll be covering for him and playing whichever instrument helps the cast the most on each song.

I will tune up when I'm there of course, but I won't be plugging into the pedal while playing - space and power constraints mean I'm keeping it as simple as possible. Bass to DI. Job done.

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by MissingHighs

All I know is I want a tuner that I can calibrate to the keys - especially these things that synthesise "stretch tuning" (the ST200 allows "fine calibration") so that there can be no argument about me being in tune or not. I once had the keys player insist I was out and, to save an argument, let her tell me "sharp or flat"...

When I first started using needle tuners because of bad acoustic pianos, I never took the time to re-calibrate them. For fast, silent tuning, I simply took a pitch reference by playing a bunch of different mid-register octaves on the offending instrument, and watching for how many cents sharp or flat they were. From that, I could get a sense of the average, and call it out to the rest of the band- "everybody tune 3 cents flat!"

It was also useful for settling arguments on whether it was time to call in the piano tuner: the stingiest club owner or church deacon crumbles when you start waving a sheet full of impressive-looking numbers at them!

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by mizedog

Aviom -
I have gone direct for many services with a couple problems. One, is that my passive Jazz just loses something that I think a preamp would provide. The tone can be thin and sterile at times.

Depends on the DI. A passive bass into a passive DI has a high likelihood of changing the tone. Try a good active DI like the Radial with the Jensen Transformer or Countryman. I've used both and like 'em. The alternative would be to use a preamp pedal of some sort. Even the Tech21 BDDI would be great to boost a few offending frequencies and fatten up your sound.

Originally Posted by mizedog

The other problem is that I'm at the mercy of the variety of inexperienced sound guys, and have to share a monitor with the drummer (electric drums, uses Aviom too). It seems that when the drummer thinks my bass is too loud, and so I lose my monitor. Plus, the sound guys often drop my monitor level too low. We have one more Aviom 16 that just sits there unused.

I've experienced this many times at one of the churches I play at. The drummer and bass player share a monitor mix from the board. The drummer is behind the plexi-screens (where it is darn loud) and doesn't require a lot of level for the drums. I'm standing away from that position and can barely hear the drums through the rest of the mix. Sometimes I take one earbud out. Sometimes I watch the kick. Whenever the 2nd keys monitor mix is available I ask for it. The monitor tone is so anemic and unbalanced from week to week, I've just kind of given up, not in a bad way, just trying to be practical. It would take too long to dial in proper monitor levels every week with a different soundguy. However, if there's a spare Aviom, why would you share a mix? IEM's are a compromise IMHO, sharing a mix with the drummer is another, even bigger compromise.

Originally Posted by mizedog

Should I stop using an amp as a monitor, get a preamp, go direct and try to use the Aviom?
Thanks!

If your sound guys are not adverse to your judicious use of an on-stage amp for monitoring, keep it. Your life will be simpler and allow you to concentrate on your performance and worship without being distracted by the shortcomings of technology used by well-meaning amateurs.

[Starflyer59]

This was me playing back on Dec 5th. Hillsong's came to my rescue.

http://youtu.be/QAXyuqNDtTs

Am I the only one who uses a 8-string octave bass for P&W?

Please let me know what you think


Rob

[HereIGoAgain]

Originally Posted by SoVeryTired

I can't remember the definition of a strobe tuner other than it's very accurate. The multi string thing is nothing to do with strobes - the one pedal I know that does that is the Polytune.

From my research, a strobe tuner has a coded disc that spins relative to the frequency of the note desired to tune to, and a light blinks at the frequency of the note being tuned. When you see the motion stop, you're in tune. What I've describe here is a mechanical strobe tuner. There are also electronic strobe tuners.

Conn strobe tuner (no longer made, to my knowledge):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_G66Bl_6KU

A Turbo Tuner (not the pedal version):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9JB95DzVhU

A pedal Turbo Tuner vs. the Peterson Strobostomp (the gold standard of pedal tuners):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bY9H7ec6_0

[SoVeryTired]

Well that was an awesome morning. By far the best production we've ever put on, but with a strong and clear message, to the most people we've had on a Sunday morning ever. Loads of visitors, and people giving their lives to Jesus in every service. The music went smoothly and for the first time I managed fingerstyle, pick and slap in the same set!

[caeman]

I was scheduled to play bass this morning, but I'm just to sick to leave the house.

Friday night on drum set was awesome. Saturday morning on bass was awesome. Saturday night on bass was awesome.

Seeing the clock hit 1am and I still wasn't asleep because of caughing and stuffiness...well, time to throw in the towel and admit that I need to stop.

[Dan Knowlton]

The most important piece of gear I'm using is a Korg Pitchblack! Other than that, I usually use the Church's amp and DI (GK 400RB 2x10, some kind of DI), and a 5-string bass. I'm thinking of adding an Aguilar Tone Hammer (again) instead of the other DI.

Dan K.

Originally Posted by AlecRob

So what kind of gear does everyone use for praise and worship? Personally, I'm using a Rickenbacker 4003 strung with D'addario chromes with an Ampeg BA115 and vintage morley power wah boost and Big Muff (I don't use the muff very often haha)

[klokker]

Our sound guys scoop out the bass, trying to make it sound like the recording I guess. They want to "feel" it rather than hear it. What it does it muddy everything up and makes the bass harder to hear.

I've just gotten used to it, its an impasses. I just show up and play, sometimes I can't hear myself at all, even with my amp cranked. The people like the worship, so it just doesn't really matter.

[MissingHighs]

Originally Posted by caeman

Seeing the clock hit 1am and I still wasn't asleep because of caughing and stuffiness...well, time to throw in the towel and admit that I need to stop.

Know exactly how you feel, brother. Glad to see you're not doing what I did and push through (real men don't suffer "man flu", that's for wimps!) and landed up with bronchitis. Not clever! My wife expressed her concern but just shrugged it off; then got reminded how in our relationship she is the smart one!

Our MD was looking for for someone to sub a drummer-come-bassist for an outdoor carol event tonight (the guy himself doesn't believe he is up for a "carol request service"), then heard my throat and just knew.... 'forget it'

But while I was so ill, I really appreciated TB; didn't feel like "there's nothing to do at 1am" when there's all these guys and gals about who talk our language!

M. <><

[MissingHighs]

Originally Posted by klokker

Our sound guys scoop out the bass,...

Ah, is that the new 'fad' term for "pull back the bass fader till it lines up with the minus 'eight-on-its-side' symbol". Our sound guys do the same, and it does muddy up everything; no-one plays in time, in pitch, you get the drift!

Our guys have also discovered a new toy, the "comp" button. Oh grief! All attack gone! Sounded like I was playing a pipe organ bass pedal set. Sigh!

M. <><

[MissingHighs]

Roll on tuner!!

Had an interesting one, and where I need to retract my snark about the keys player. I tried to tune to the keys (before anyone else was present) and no way could I tune. There is some weird warble that comes out of this Roland RD700. It throws one off because you keep thinking you're "off beat", but you're not! Had to revert to a tuner app and all was sweet again. But now I understand why the instruments are always out of tune. Anyone suffer the same thing, and could you find a cure?

M. <><

[christle]

Originally Posted by AlecRob

So what kind of gear does everyone use for praise and worship? Personally, I'm using a Rickenbacker 4003 strung with D'addario chromes with an Ampeg BA115 and vintage morley power wah boost and Big Muff (I don't use the muff very often haha)

I use my Jazz, Precision or Ibanez SR1205E depending on the song list. All are strung with some type of round wound string (usually DR Hi-Beams or Dean Markley Helix SS). Other than that I use a SansAmp DI which the church supplies or my SansAmp PBDDI. We never use bass amps.

[FellowBass]

Originally Posted by christle

I use my Jazz, Precision or Ibanez SR1205E depending on the song list. All are strung with some type of round wound string (usually DR Hi-Beams or Dean Markley Helix SS). Other than that I use a SansAmp DI which the church supplies or my SansAmp PBDDI. We never use bass amps.

+1 on the Sansamp. Love Tech21s stuff, and with a decent sound system in the church (not a given, I know...) there's no need for on-stage amplification.

[SteveC]

Never had much luck with a SansAmp. I just use a passive jazz, a DI and IEM. No stage amps for us.

[english4bw]

Originally Posted by Starflyer59

This was me playing back on Dec 5th. Hillsong's came to my rescue.

Very nice. Big stage. I have about a 4 sq. foot range myself. And if I make too many sudden moves I'm liable to smack someone in the face with the head of my bass.
(which would not be pretty, especially with my Jazz Deluxe 5-er BEAST). We're talking TKO in the 1st Round with that sucker. haha



Was a great day in church today though... tried out my IEMs and after some issues with our MON Aux signal and tweaking (and eventually just taking a MAINS signal) it turned out
awesome! Gonna do that every Sunday from now on.

I'm just using one of these:



With these:

[SteveC]

That's all I use and it's awesome.

[caeman]

All this past week, I have experimenting with the new Radial PZ-DI and my Kala U-Bass at the Synagogue. I go two weeks with the U-Bass, then the Gretsch for two weeks. I like to keep the tones mixed up that way.