So you CAN get stupid loud with A Schertler...

[Monte]

I was up in Memphis for an afternoon gig last Sunday with a drummer from MS that rode with me. He was on a jam session that night so I just stuck around to sit in.

The bassist (Errol Thomas...of Issac Hayes fame) was REALLY loud, as was the whole band. Not really my thing, but it worked in that huge room and with all the horns the people seemed to really be enjoying it.

It made me think.....normally I perform at acoustic, or just above acoustic volumes in trios or quartets. What should I do if I get hired on one of these type things where the leader prefers lots of volume?

Obviously, my mic on the bass would work, but might be a struggle, and would probably not be as easy to hear.

So, I decided to experiment yesterday afternoon with my only pickup, the Schertler Dyn B, and see if I could get a good sound without it being boomy or ugly.

Obviously, at those volumes you have to abandon the notion of an acoustic sound.

First I hooked up my Bose PAS system, which can get way louder than my Schertler Pub. I set everything flat and started moving around the Dyn B on the bass to find a spot that would sound the most clear. After about 20 minutes I found a spot that was just below the g string bridge foot.

Then I eq'd it by using the different settings with the High Pass Filter and found one that worked great.

As I predicted, not exactly the sound of my bass, but it was a good sound. Clear, not boomy, with a lot of the character of the bass present. Oh yeah, and LOUD...like shaking things in the house loud.

It is all in the name of being prepared to be whatever the leader needs. At least now I feel prepared.

I was even inspired enough to hook up my Fender Jazz while the rig was out, even though I haven't had a gig on electric in 2 years. Wow, the Bose setting for Fender passive Jazz is incredible.