Kick drum amplification

Back'N'Black · #1 12-30-2009, 04:48 PM

I'm in my first band (4 of us, no singer yet) and except for one guy who played in a band in the early 70's briefly this is a first band for all of us, much to learn. The neat thing is we're adults and not dead broke.

Practice tommorrow, guitardists have 100watt amps now, I have 450. Poor drummer has nothing except a snare crack that is pretty amazing. I did a good bit of searching and couldnt find what exactly drummers were amplifying the kicks with except through the PA. We havent gotten a PA system yet. Could we use a mic through a bass rig? What kind of wattage is needed to get the kick out there?

jelpo · #2 12-30-2009, 05:24 PM

I play drums too. For band practice, I've never mic'd drums. If you can't hear the drummer, turn down.

Back'N'Black · #3 12-30-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelpo

If you can't hear the drummer, turn down.

Not gonna happen, we are gonna be a loud band with huge bottom end. Just trying to figure out how to do it.

ahbassman · #4 12-30-2009, 05:37 PM

there is nothing wrong with putting a mic on the drums for practice... especially on the kick.

**jmattbassplaya** · #5 12-30-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back'N'Black

Not gonna happen, we are gonna be a loud band with huge bottom end. Just trying to figure out how to do it.

Yeah, you`re also going to be a deaf band as well. Being loud for the sake of being loud at practices is stupid.

meycom · #6 12-30-2009, 05:40 PM

If you guys need to mike drums, get a PA, small 16 channel board, amp, and mic everything, you can balance it and get a good sound. Gonna cost ya...

Jeff

stflbn · #7 12-30-2009, 05:42 PM

I've NEVER mic'd drums for practice. EVER.

If you practice so loud that you can't hear the drums you will have problems finding places to play. And you WILL go deaf quick. At high practice volumes you have no idea what's really going on sonically with the music.

Back'N'Black · #8 12-30-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahbassman

there is nothing wrong with putting a mic on the drums for practice... especially on the kick.

This is the question, listen carefully

What do we need to amplify it? How many watts? If I'm running 3-400 does he need 3-400? What sort of amplifier?

unbridled · #9 12-30-2009, 05:44 PM

I ran the kick through a bass amp years ago and it worked OK. Just don't run it through the same rig you are using because you'll be using the same frequencies as your bass, and you'll muddy up both of your sounds.

ahbassman · #10 12-30-2009, 05:44 PM

ive tried it through a combo amp once and it came through... except it was kind of distorted. i wouldnt do it, turning up to much may run the risk of blowing the speaker.

we barely turned up and man it didnt like it at all... but it was a crappy peavy combo too... haha.

Back'N'Black · #11 12-30-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unbridled

I ran the kick through a bass amp years ago and it worked OK. Just don't run it through the same rig you are using because you'll be using the same frequencies as your bass, and you'll muddy up both of your sounds.

Tommorrow I'm going to try a junk mic I have running it through my head and cab just to see what happens. I'm just suprised there seems to be no purpose built head and cabs for drums.

bassophil · #12 12-30-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back'N'Black

Tommorrow I'm going to try a junk mic I have running it through my head and cab just to see what happens. I'm just suprised there seems to be no purpose built head and cabs for drums.

Thats because normally the PA is used for amplifying the drums

As soon as your gonna have a singer you will need a PA anyways. So if your going to buy something to amplify the drums let it be a small PA.

Back'N'Black · #13 12-30-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassophil

Thats because normally the PA is used for amplifying the drums

Thanks, thats what I had come to the conclusion of, sort of. Since we dont have a PA system and wont get a cheap one, especially since we dont have a singer yet, I'm thinking a duplicate of my bass setup. Behringer BX45000 head and 410 cab. $500 buys a lot of noise.

sonic assassin · #14 12-30-2009, 08:22 PM

someone is going to need a PA system eventually. if you cant hear your kicks, theres an issue with the room, volume, and equalization.

screw your tone in the practice room. make it so everything can be heard. i always had my guitarists drop their low end way down so i had room to play. live, it came right back up and FOH dealt with it. make sure everyone can be heard to practice. practicing loud isnt going to help.. you're just going to suck loudly instead of sucking quietly.

and bass amps werent built for kick drums. dont spend 500 dollars turning up the kick drum. thats asinine.

iamlowsound · #15 12-30-2009, 10:33 PM

TURN DOWN and wear ear plugs. This is the best advice you will get and you should follow it.

lowsound

deaf pea · #16 12-30-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

...and bass amps werent built for kick drums. dont spend 500 dollars turning up the kick drum. thats asinine.

I gotta' agree with you, SA . . .

deaf pea · #17 12-30-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

TURN DOWN and wear ear plugs...

Even if y'all DON'T turn down . . .

wear ear plugs or stuff some wadded up toilet paper or cotton in your ears . . .

.

**Pacman** · #18 12-31-2009, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back'N'Black

Not gonna happen, we are gonna be a loud band with huge bottom end. Just trying to figure out how to do it.

And you'll be a deaf and unemployed band, too.

BassBrass · #19 12-31-2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Back'N'Black

Not gonna happen, we are gonna be a loud band with huge bottom end. Just trying to figure out how to do it.

With just a 500w half stack you aren't yet into the territory of needing to mick the bass drum (unless your drummer is as strong as a baby rabbit). I run 1050 watts into a full stack and a half (700/350), my guitarist is bloody loud ('68 Marshall 50w. 2/12") and our drummer's bass drum is easily heard. In a show, where a house PA is running 10,000w and a separate monitor system...then you mick the bass drum so it hits the audience in the stomach and into the stage monitors too. I've been doing this for many years and Never needed to have the drummer micked at rehearsal.
But if you do, match impedences please. Amps are high, mics are low...unless you use a imp. matcher/preamp/mixer...it will distort.

Hellbastard · #20 12-31-2009, 05:31 AM

Is the BD empty or is there foam/ a pillow inside of it? Try removing the stuffing from it, that might help. But if you definitively "need" amplification try looking for a powered subwoofer.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...Sub?sku=501907