Bass Volume

[ackeim]

I played lots of un-amped gigs when i was in a "hot" string band. It sometimes worked, depending on the room. We used to play for college house parties, just park it in the corner with plenty of beer and try to play loud enough to be heard!

[Mike Goodbar]

Originally Posted by ackeim

I played lots of un-amped gigs when i was in a "hot" string band. It sometimes worked, depending on the room. We used to play for college house parties, just park it in the corner with plenty of beer and try to play loud enough to be heard!

Hm--I'm trying to image "Louie Louie" as played by Stephane Grapelli and Django Reinhardt.

[Eric Jackson]

I play in a big band with a drummer in his '60's who's been playing this stuff all his life. His dynamic range is amazing, from barely audible to knockyerfaceoff. At different times he uses sticks, metal or plastic brushes, and these things that look like a bundle of bamboo, and sound half way between a brush and a stick (bricks?!..). He usually brings only a 24" bass drum, a snare, high hat and one ride cymbal to rehearsal. (full kit for gigs.) I'm constantly amazed at the variety of sounds he can get out of one snare.

Yes, it can be done...

[Adrian Cho]

One of things that I've found particularly helpful for not so well educated drummers is to instill in them, full responsibility for the dynamics. That is, make it clear that they have the greatest dynamic range of any instrument in the band and that the dynamics of the band falls on them. If anybody drops down in volume but the drummer does not then it doesn't matter. If the drummer does go quiet then the rest of the band will follow suit. Give them that responsibility and often they will step up to it and make that role their own.

[Mike Goodbar]

I once had the pleasure of a drummer asking me, "Hey man, can you turn your amp up?"

I said, "No man, can you turn your drums DOWN?"

[bass_means_LOW]

Originally Posted by Mike Goodbar

I once had the pleasure of a drummer asking me, "Hey man, can you turn your amp up?"

I said, "No man, can you turn your drums DOWN?"

Mike, I've had that pleasure more than once. During the 'acoustic days' the quote well known to all the band members was, "If you can't hear the bass, you're too loud!"

[powermans]

That's about the conclusion I've drawn from my experience into acoustic and amplified sounds when we're talking Double Bass and VENUE acoutics! I've just unloaded the van from last nights gig and, really are feeling quite frustrated with the on going battle with different room acoustics / and the continuous battle with trying for a GOOD sound from my amp.
So we (the three piece) agree to try the acoustic approach.Everything sounds Good / we're all smiles then..... The room begins to fills to about 150 people....they start to chat...ever louder... and by the third number the level of chatter is way over our acoustic level so, we do the only thing possible I crank up the GK400RB . the keyboardist goes for the volume on his Peavy and the drummer changes the brushes for broom sticks and, from that point on... the TRUE bass acoustic sound goes out the window and once again the night becomes an electronics nightmare! Situation Normal......NOT!