The Police concert I went to...

blipndub · #1 07-18-2008, 09:47 AM

I'm almost 40, been a police fan since I was 13. All their records and songbooks, learned as many basslines as I could. Was psyched when the Synchronicity live video came out on dvd and got that last year. You can imagine how I felt when a good friend gave me and my wife A100 seats to see this Police last weekend at Clark County Amphitheater just north of Portland.

I'll cut to the chase. I was thrilled to see the band. Andy Summers is a great guitarist and his playing was loud and proud. Copland is a joy to watch and listen to. And Sting, well he's a great great singer, fun to watch and USED TO BE A GOOD BASS PLAYER! I can't say for sure if he still is because I could not hear the bass all night long. Not the low super rumbly sound you sometimes get with live show, I mean not even that, no bass. No bass. I mean he WAS playing the 51, it looked cool and all. The only time I heard the bass, the ONLY time I heard the bass was on a break down on Wrapped Around Your Finger, literally one or two notes. These little thin chorusy wimpy things that hardly counted.

His technique at the show was this kind of namby pamby thumb and forefinger light touch, Gordon Sumner kind of thing. And it's no wonder no one was dancing because he wasn't driving anything all night. Maybe he's too old to play with a pick and make some noise. Most people seemed pretty content to hear his singing and the guitar. So maybe that's what it was about, but i was saddened cuz man, he USED TO BE A GOOD BASS PLAYER!

lefty007 · #2 07-18-2008, 11:32 AM

I didn't get to go, but heard mixed reviews from two bass players: one said he could hear the bass clearly all night long; another said it was nothing but rumble and the worse bass tone ever.

I think passive Fenders are great in the studio, but they just don't cut it in big arenas - unless you EQ them aggresively, which nobody seems to be doing.

I went to see a great Hispanic rock band at an arena a few month ago, and the bass player had a P bass, a Ric, a Steinberger, and a Kubicki. The Kubicki sounded incredible, the Steinberger not bad, but the P and Ric were completely lost, like he was playing air bass.

I also went to see John Mayer with his regular bass player (not Pino). The guy (Bela, or something like that) played vintage Js and Ps. . . never heard a clear note the whole night.

blipndub · #3 07-18-2008, 12:30 PM

Yeah, who knows, maybe it was the venue. When I saw rush there it was more on the big rumble side of things. And the guy playing with Elvis Costello was nothing but indistinct plow. I guess I figured with the stripped down sound of the police they couldn't NOT have the bass be clear. What's the point?

dangnewt · #4 07-30-2008, 09:11 PM

I'm going to the same show tomorrow at the amphitheater in Mansfield Mass. I hope the mix will be better than what you experienced as I am a big fan of both the Police and Elvis Costello. I'll let you know what I hear.

dangnewt · #5 08-01-2008, 08:50 AM

The concert was great and the mix sounded good where I was (seats about 30 yards behind the end of the shed). Elvis Costello's bassist played a P-bass and it was more of the low thump sound - felt more than heard. But Sting's '51, at least after the first song where he was kind of buried, was fine. I could hear the notes, especially when he dug in a little. People were on their feet the whole time and there was some dancing (and a ton of crowd singing) going on. I thought I was pretty familiar with the Police songbook, but I was behind the curve with this crowd.

Barkless Dog · #6 08-01-2008, 09:02 AM

I thought the 51 bass is a new relic job?

ryco · #7 08-01-2008, 09:17 AM

I wonder if the Police carry their own soundguy, or if they're contracting locals.
This would certainly explain the difference in mixes you guys are describing between shows.

A good soundman is essential. If I were a major act I'm thinkin' I would bring a main soundguy along. Even if you were contracting out the sound gear, he could stand there with the guy who owned the PA(or was regularly in charge of a venue's PA) and dial in a good mix.
Soundmen make or break performances.

Relic · #8 08-01-2008, 09:42 AM

It was probably the venue. I saw them last year in Atlantic City NJ (wearing my Police t-Shirt as I type!) and the bass was nice and clear. I think his is an actual 53 or 54? Not sure but it sounded sweet.
It was one of the best concerts I've been to in a long time.

blizzard · #9 08-01-2008, 10:05 AM

Sounded great when I saw them. Though it was very very loud, my ears hurt for a while after.

Hoover · #10 08-01-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryco

I wonder if the Police carry their own soundguy, or if they're contracting locals.

I can absolutely 100% positively assure you The Police travel with their own sound guy. No way in hell a tour of that size with that budget would contract a local guy to mix FOH. They might pick up stacks&racks from local companies, & if so might get a new system tech & road crew at every venue, but the guy mixing the show is on salary, absolutely. You have to be a pathetic has-been act before it becomes economically necessary to sub out what's arguably the most important job on the tour. Worst case scenario the FOH mixer is doing double-duty as Tour Manager in order to justify his cost...but on a tour the size of The Police's he doesn't need to justify anything except his ears.

davetakis · #11 08-01-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkless Dog

I thought the 51 bass is a new relic job?

it is. he had 2 maede for the tour. doesnt take the original one out anymore.

all 4 shows i saw you could hear sting really well. he has 2 svt's on stage. how could you not hear him.

dangnewt · #12 08-01-2008, 11:29 AM

Looking at some Sting pictures and interviews - I think Relic is right and the bass was either the '54 (or as Barkless Dog points out a CS relic based on it

). Whichever it was, he stuck with it the whole show and based on the closeups of the bass on the big screen (I sat outside of the shed and got a little wet - serves me right for being so cheap) it was a very convincing relic job.

The bass geek in me wants to believe I heard the old one

. And if I were Sting and playing my farewell tour, I would play my old basses - at least for the last few shows.

Andy's g*****s were also CS relics - the battered modded Tele and the '61 Fiesta Red Strat. He played both about evenly and switched only a couple of times. He sounded great as well.

As my wife mentioned as we were leaving, they make a ton of music for just three guys.

MonetBass · #13 08-01-2008, 01:07 PM

Sounds like the Rush show I saw in April. Couldn't hear Geddy most of the time.

The Police in St. Louis last year, however, was fantanstic. The person running the board did an excellent job, and I could hear the bass very well all night.

**baba** · #14 08-01-2008, 01:46 PM

Probably comb filtering due speaker locations and you were in a bad spot. Bummer.

bryan bailey · #15 08-01-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baba

Probably comb filtering due speaker locations and you were in a bad spot. Bummer.

That and everyone has different ears.

Some people only want to hear a certain instrument and if they have to use some brain power to find it in the mix they aren't happy.

I look for an even mix when no one is louder than the other.

ryco · #16 08-01-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

I can absolutely 100% positively assure you The Police travel with their own sound guy.

I would think so too.
Going to concerts I tend to stand by the soundboard instead of running up to the stage any more.
Seems this is where the sound would be the best 'cause it's the mix the soundguy is hearing.
Also don't get so beat up -- I'm old.

blamelouis · #17 08-02-2008, 12:47 PM

Seen The Police in Dublin last october and in june in Belfast , in both gigs the sound was great.
Sting was the dogs danglies and playing GREAT !