Have you ever been asked to turn your volume UP?

CrazyArcher · #1 06-03-2007, 03:10 PM

At the last rehearsal with my band (hard rock) we entered a new place, beeing not really familiar with the amps there, and after that my peeps told me that they didn't hear the bass very well and asked me to spin the volume a bit higher next time, but I thought that I sounded pretty cool in the mix. Has anyone experienced stuff like that too?

As a sidenote, I think that I should'da have just boosted the mids, and not increase the overall volume, but that's another matter.

Foamy · #2 06-03-2007, 04:07 PM

Yeah, it was weird.
Until my last gig, everything we did was indoors (with this new band) and was either in a room, or up against a wall or in a corner stage.
A couple weeks ago though, we were outdoors and up on a platform with nothing around us.
I thought I was playing rather loudly - at least what I heard standing right in front of the cabinet. It was about as loud as I remember hearing before. However, when our keyboardist went out for the soundcheck, she said she could not hear me.
That was reeeeally weird.
There was another thread here last week that explained that if there we no walls or ceiling, or supporting reinforcement, that one would lose up to about 75% or the volume.
That was new to me, makes sense, and explains it for my case.

IconBasser · #3 06-03-2007, 04:27 PM

skywalkerla5 · #4 06-03-2007, 04:29 PM

Deacon_Blues · #5 06-05-2007, 01:07 PM

Not really, I like to be loud enough.

That is to me having a volume that is in balance with the drums, and a good EQ setting that isn't intruding on the other instruments' territories.

I know a professional bassist who hardly ever uses more than the 100 watts his Ampeg B100R has to offer, and a guitarist I know has complained to me about the small rig of his and that it's just not powerful enough for their pop gigs....

Jimbob Jones · #6 06-05-2007, 01:21 PM

only in soundchecks, where my amp is left at bedroom volume from when I use it at home.

BrandonBass · #7 06-05-2007, 01:25 PM

ive frequently been asked to lower down. but the thing is if i lower down too much i cant hear myself clearly, and with distorted guitars i like to crank it up

Melvin7822 · #8 06-05-2007, 01:37 PM

Well, I've been asked to turn up on several occasions. I only use a 500 watt Bergie 210 and I only have to compete with a guitarist's half stack. I'm usually cranking it near full, so at that point I add mids and cut lows instead of turning up.

rockwarnick · #9 06-05-2007, 01:43 PM

i used to, then i got an aguilar 4x10 and aguilar 500sc

cowsgomoo · #10 06-05-2007, 02:00 PM

sometimes...

it's weird because I like it very very loud behind me... trouser-leg-flappingly loud, but sometimes even I think it's a bit too loud to get a balanced mix... and even then I sometimes get asked to turn up

most of the time i'm asked to turn down though

cutthroatmolloy · #11 06-05-2007, 02:03 PM

ive been asked to turn up a couple of times. mostly by our drummer

JeffC · #12 06-05-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutthroatmolloy

ive been asked to turn up a couple of times. mostly by our drummer

Same here, I was surprised too cause I didn't think everyone was really relying on me for timing as much as the drummer. Crazy.

Folmeister · #13 06-05-2007, 03:24 PM

All the time. I like to be very conservative with volume. That just puzzles some people

Monkey · #14 06-05-2007, 05:34 PM

I frequently get asked to turn up when playing reggae. I have found that, with the medium-sized rooms we usually play, that the bass sounds better when coming from one source (my amp on stage), rather than also coming through the PA. So it is loud. The leader of the band likes to have the bass LOUD for reggae, and who am I to question?

bburk · #15 06-05-2007, 09:00 PM

yes, much more often than to turn down. Usually by the drummer, but sometimes the singer...

Depth_Charge · #16 06-06-2007, 07:40 AM

Yeah I've been asked to turn up or turn down. I don't stress that much.

When I worried, was during 2 seperate rehearsals, when the guys said "we all need to turn down"...

..."Oh, except you".

That worries me

CrashClint · #17 06-06-2007, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Folmeister

All the time. I like to be very conservative with volume. That just puzzles some people

+1, I tend to be more conservative as well. Especially when I am playing Sunday worship. I am not in the monitors with exception of the drummer's so I adjust my level so it sounds balanced on stage to me with the worship leaders vocal and guitar monitor. Our worship leader will normally turn around and ask me to turn up my volume.

JLW · #18 06-07-2007, 01:02 PM

Yes. I am often asked to turn up.

doctorjazz · #19 06-07-2007, 02:21 PM

When I played with my progressive trio, I was asked to turn up pretty much on a nightly basis.

In a jazz setting, I think I've been asked to turn up maybe once.

Burg · #20 06-07-2007, 02:29 PM

Of course, many a time. I've also been asked to turn down, many a time.

It's hard to gauge how loud you're playing when you're stood next to your amp, I rely on my bandmates to let me know if there's a volume issue, and I do the same for them.