Will effects help here?

lankybass · #1 03-03-2011, 12:39 PM

Perhaps I need a Compressor?

The issue is when I play bass with my church (which is quite regularly) the A,Bb,B notes are explosive in volume and low-end. They shake the entire building it seems. I've been told this is just the way the room is built and what not. Is there anyway to get around this? It drives me nuts!

I play a Squier Classic Vibe J straight to the board. The tone is killer but those three notes are just bothersom.

warwick.hoy · #2 03-03-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lankybass

Perhaps I need a Compressor?

Could be.

Quote:

The issue is when I play bass with my church (which is quite regularly) the A,Bb,B notes are explosive in volume and low-end. They shake the entire building it seems. I've been told this is just the way the room is built and what not. Is there anyway to get around this? It drives me nuts!

I play a Squier Classic Vibe J straight to the board. The tone is killer but those three notes are just bothersom.

Maybe try lowering your pickups a little before you go out and by a piece of gear.

Also maybe think about a preamp/DI with an EQ to pull some of the lows out of your tone and bump the mids.

Lastly,...without knowing the churches PA setup,...maybe the soundman is running your bass through the subs a little too hot.

I can understand the room being boomy and you being tentative on those particular notes,...and I think a comp could help, but perhaps it's just a bandaid for a bigger or easier to solve problem.

**TheMutt** · #3 03-03-2011, 01:49 PM

Another church bassist here.

I also have had to switch to a 5'er for the songs that call for Eb, D below E, or low C.

Personally, I found that most compressors don't really cut it for what I wanted and they killed some of my dynamics (many of the songs that we play run the full gamut of quiet, building, full-blast, coming down, playing softly, etc. or if you want musical terms; rest, crescendo, fortissimo, diminuendo, piano, etc.).

Instead, I have been using a combination of setup (lower the pickup a little on the Low B side), EQ (cut the bass a little), and technique (because of the lower tension of my B string, I pluck it lighter than I do the other strings). This has worked quite well for me, but I am not run to the board at all and have my own EQ controls. You might need to have the sound tech work on how you are sent to the mains as well as your EQ.

warwick.hoy · #4 03-03-2011, 02:12 PM

Now you see,...I've found that using a compressor has made my playing more expressive,...I can bring it down a lot on the diminuendo and play more dynamically and still maintain a presence in the mix. Compression has enhanced not hindered my dynamics

Not to nay-say what Mutt is saying because it really is what works for you and what doesn't,...so as with most things FX,...YMMV.

I still think that in the case of taming boomy notes in a room; there are other fixes as laid out in both Mutt's and my posts that I think are worth considering before going out and dropping coin on a comp.

bongomania · #5 03-03-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I've found that using a compressor has made my playing more expressive,...I can bring it down a lot on the diminuendo and play more dynamically and still maintain a presence in the mix. Compression has enhanced not hindered my dynamics

Exactly! And this also points out a common difference between a "good" compressor and a sucky one--the good ones can be set to enhance the audibility of your softer playing, rather than just putting a muddy lid of your stronger playing. And TBH, a huge part of that is also user settings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I still think that in the case of taming boomy notes in a room; there are other fixes as laid out in both Mutt's and my posts that I think are worth considering before going out and dropping coin on a comp.

Agreed there too. A comp might help, but better EQ control can really help, and is the first direction I'd suggest looking.

GODSBASSMAN · #6 03-03-2011, 03:25 PM

Are the strings a possibility? Are they all the same age/brand etc.? Bass set up? Bridge/saddles in good condition? Just simple thot shots here.

**TheMutt** · #7 03-04-2011, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Exactly! And this also points out a common difference between a "good" compressor and a sucky one--the good ones can be set to enhance the audibility of your softer playing, rather than just putting a muddy lid of your stronger playing. And TBH, a huge part of that is also user settings.

This could very well be. I haven't found a compressor that has really wow-ed me so far. Most times it feels like a compromise between an awesome punchy sound when I have a light touch, and a squashed muddy tone when I dig in. Probably the main reason I have foregone all compression. Of course, this may just be my lack of experience in setting up a compressor. (I've never been able to rule that out, even after reading about how to set them up)

lankybass · #8 03-04-2011, 07:30 AM

thanks for all the input. I'll definitely be digging a little deeper and seeing if I can work anything out with the sound guy

Nephilymbass · #9 03-04-2011, 09:12 AM

I think truthfully the sound-guy needs a compressor (or needs to use it more if they have one)for front of house. Compressing bass at your rig is just going to hurt your tone most of the time. Just let the sound-guy compress the bass, because most of them do and with your own compressor the sound-guy could be compressing and already compressed sound and it that's not a likable sound to me. If your amp is whats loud maybe its an amp issue.

That aside if your set on trying a compressor I'd recommend either one of the Keeley compressor pedals especially. They sound great. If the front of house is not compressing the bass at all it might help contol things. they are great because you can turn it off easily if there's over-compression issues.

I do not agree with lowering the pickups, this effects tone a lot. From my experience the higher the pickups, the hotter the signal and this equals better tone. You're sound will also be less noisy because you won't have to be cranked as loud on your amp and the PA

If all else fails try a different bass. But I would try out a different bass at the same gig before you buy another one as that might not be the issue.

Sav'nBass · #10 03-04-2011, 10:49 AM

Aree you going through an amp or a DI box or both? I had a similar issue only it was with the drummer's plexiglass cage.. I thought it was my cab rattling because we are close to each other.. I tweaked my tone and moved my cab.. You might want to consider that as well...

cheapbasslovin · #11 03-04-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMutt

This could very well be. I haven't found a compressor that has really wow-ed me so far. Most times it feels like a compromise between an awesome punchy sound when I have a light touch, and a squashed muddy tone when I dig in. Probably the main reason I have foregone all compression. Of course, this may just be my lack of experience in setting up a compressor. (I've never been able to rule that out, even after reading about how to set them up)

+1. I think for me it is as much a lack of patience as a lack of experience or skill. I don't hear a big enough difference in store between not having one and using one, so I don't drag it out to use it with other musicians where it might really shine.

To the OP, get an EQ pedal, I'm thinking a GEB-7 should have enough control to help out.

warwick.hoy · #12 03-04-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lankybass

I play a Squier Classic Vibe J straight to the board. The tone is killer but those three notes are just bothersom.

The OP is going DI to the board.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nephilymbass;10538993[B

]I think truthfully the sound-guy needs a compressor (or needs to use it more if they have one)for front of house.[/b] Compressing bass at your rig is just going to hurt your tone most of the time. Just let the sound-guy compress the bass, because most of them do and with your own compressor the sound-guy could be compressing and already compressed sound and it that's not a likable sound to me. If your amp is whats loud maybe its an amp issue.

That aside if your set on trying a compressor I'd recommend either one of the Keeley compressor pedals especially. They sound great. If the front of house is not compressing the bass at all it might help contol things. they are great because you can turn it off easily if there's over-compression issues.

I do not agree with lowering the pickups, this effects tone a lot. From my experience the higher the pickups, the hotter the signal and this equals better tone. You're sound will also be less noisy because you won't have to be cranked as loud on your amp and the PA

If all else fails try a different bass. But I would try out a different bass at the same gig before you buy another one as that might not be the issue.

A valid point,...I've never seen an FOH rig that doesn't have a rackmount comp in it. Okay,...I've seen em without but they were typically amateur rigs.

ga_edwards · #13 03-04-2011, 01:20 PM

As much of a compression lover I am, in this instance I would say invest in a small parametric eq.

What I would then do is turn the level up on the eq, sweep the frequency knob through till I find the boomy area (which with the level boosted, should be very apparent!) then reduce the level till the boom vanishes without losing too much low end and everything sounds well balanced. If the eq has a 'Q' control, you should be able to tighten the width to really hone in on the problem area.

I'm thinking about getting a simple single band para eq to keep in my gig bag for the odd problem venue where the fixed frequencies on my LMII head aren't flexible enough.

However, if you're playing though a PA with a decent desk, the sound guy should be able to do this right on the desk.