Rehersal Spaces and Crap Bass Amps

How many of you have played in rehersal spaces that come stocked with a smorgasbord of guitar amps like a Mesa Triple rec and 4x12, Marshall JVM, Randal, and even a brand new ENGL Powerball . . . and a 30 year old rusted SWR or Hartke head on its last leg paired with a 410 that has vermin crawling out of it. Doesn't that kind of stuff make you laugh?

It's situations like this where I've really learned how to use what I consider to be the best 'utility' pedals: VT Bass, Sansamp BDDI, Xotic Bass PP Preamp . . . hell even a Boss Bass EQ sometimes. Some of these pedals should be known as 'City Pedals.' As a guy who jams on rehersal space rigs in and around the NYC area, it's a comfort to know I can throw a single pedal in my gig bag, jump on public transit, and get useable tone out of almost any rig.

I'm convinced that the best way for me to learn how to really utilize some of my pedals is not just to use them with my shiny Ampeg or MarkBass rigs. It's how I use them in less than ideal situations.

[megadan]

You get a head and a 4x10? Lucky guy.

All the bass amps at our local space are just combo amps - mostly the cheap Ampeg 15" combos, an old Peavey, a decent Traynor 2x10, and some crap like an SWR 12" practice amp. The guitar amps aren't much better so at least we're even with the guitarists.
Most of the bands playing there are metal, punk, and other loud stuff, and they wonder why the amps break so often...
I suggested getting tough, good quality 15" cabs (Avatar or Peavey) since so many bassists have their own heads. But yeah, what you have sounds great

Yeah, a standard 2x15 cab is a solid choice for a rehersal studio. Better and more versatile than a 410, IMO. The best rehersal studio cab I ever played was a Sunn 2x15 combined with a Peavey head. That rig killed.

And it's great having a Little Mark 3 now for just this purpose. Still getting used to the low-mid coloration, but it really helps to cut through a mix.

Originally Posted by megadan

You get a head and a 4x10? Lucky guy.

All the bass amps at our local space are just combo amps - mostly the cheap Ampeg 15" combos, an old Peavey, a decent Traynor 2x10, and some crap like an SWR 12" practice amp. The guitar amps aren't much better so at least we're even with the guitarists.
Most of the bands playing there are metal, punk, and other loud stuff, and they wonder why the amps break so often...
I suggested getting tough, good quality 15" cabs (Avatar or Peavey) since so many bassists have their own heads. But yeah, what you have sounds great