Funny, sure. And simple, you bet. But, what a bunch of passionate responses. Sure, the op needs to add an ext cab, done, end thread. But that's never really good enough, 'round these parts, is it?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
575 watt combo not loud enough!
- Thread starter rhythm
- Start date
No! 
In seriousness though since an extension cab is clearly his best option when he can get the money together, it's best that he is advised on what he might need. Unfortunately these debates seem to occur though when the science of the matter comes into it, I think if people like bill and alex claber could simply put together a few undeniable scientific truths that could simply be quoted then less of this will happen.
I mentioned it on here when I got the cab and tried switching the phasing, still was very messy. I will say that despite the mess it was kinda cool having the marginal amount of extra sensitivity, but the sound was so muddy it really wasn't worth it, 1 more of either of the cabs however would have been.
In seriousness though since an extension cab is clearly his best option when he can get the money together, it's best that he is advised on what he might need. Unfortunately these debates seem to occur though when the science of the matter comes into it, I think if people like bill and alex claber could simply put together a few undeniable scientific truths that could simply be quoted then less of this will happen.
I mentioned it on here when I got the cab and tried switching the phasing, still was very messy. I will say that despite the mess it was kinda cool having the marginal amount of extra sensitivity, but the sound was so muddy it really wasn't worth it, 1 more of either of the cabs however would have been.
You can quote all the scientific truths that you like they're only worth the toilet paper of the Labs that the specs apply to.
Once you've left the Lab you find yourself on a different stage in a different building with different accoustics everynight and that is why I always use the option of different speakers.
You can also build some of these large complicated Lab technology designs and lug them around to each gig, my 1x15 caters for most gigs, with the added 2x10+H I don't have a problem anywhere.
I have to ask, if you are at rehearsal, then why do you need to be so loud? It has been said over and over, but 2x10 is not going to cut it. Try turning down at rehearsal, one you can hear everything that's going on it could help your band sound better, rehearsing loud wont let you hear what is wrong or right in you music.
If your guitar players feel the need to blast their 120's on a small stage (smaller than an auditorium), they need some BIG-TIME psychological help!! That to me is very UNprofessional and immature!! If it were me, I'd quit the band and go find a more pro band that has already gone through their baby-like experiences. Ridiculous, buddy!! Move on!!
I own the 500 EVO and have NO problems playing for 2000 patron clubs. Stage volume is nothing more than monitor volume for the band. It is NOT to blast the audience away! If that is your goal, then most people won't stick around to watch your band anyway. I sure as hell wouldn't. And for practice... again... they are freaking IDIOTS!! Sorry, but that is BS.
I own the 500 EVO and have NO problems playing for 2000 patron clubs. Stage volume is nothing more than monitor volume for the band. It is NOT to blast the audience away! If that is your goal, then most people won't stick around to watch your band anyway. I sure as hell wouldn't. And for practice... again... they are freaking IDIOTS!! Sorry, but that is BS.
I think you just need to play harder... Or maybe put their amps on top of your 210 combo and see if you can vibrate their amps off the back an break them! Hell, stack their amps on top of each other on top of your 210 and just see if you can be so lucky! That'll show 'em! Worth a try, right? 
In all honesty, I compete against an Ampeg V4 -> 8x12... My SVT/810 rig is enough for this but still... That's one 100W guitar amp & a lot of speakers. If both of your guitar players play with 120W into a full stack... Well... Umm.... 2 810s or 810 plus 2x15 or something?
In all honesty, I compete against an Ampeg V4 -> 8x12... My SVT/810 rig is enough for this but still... That's one 100W guitar amp & a lot of speakers. If both of your guitar players play with 120W into a full stack... Well... Umm.... 2 810s or 810 plus 2x15 or something?
All great responses..... obviously, some more speaker is the primary fix.... but I want to point out a couple of things that have only been touched on a little bit in this thread.
First, is the eq. Bump up the mids some, and cut some of the low end. Put yourself into a position to cut through some, and give some definition your sound, especially when heard toward the back of a larger room.
Second, the band has to take a look at what constraints there are in the sound. If it's the bass volume, then everyone has to be mature enough to realize it, and turn down. If that doesn't happen, then they'll have to resign themselves to the fact that the whole band will sound like caca.
In the mean time, try running through the pa.
First, is the eq. Bump up the mids some, and cut some of the low end. Put yourself into a position to cut through some, and give some definition your sound, especially when heard toward the back of a larger room.
Second, the band has to take a look at what constraints there are in the sound. If it's the bass volume, then everyone has to be mature enough to realize it, and turn down. If that doesn't happen, then they'll have to resign themselves to the fact that the whole band will sound like caca.
In the mean time, try running through the pa.
Everyone is too loud. Turn down. You will actually hear better when you are not so loud.
Dude - you brought back a 7 month old thread to post that rant??? Really???
Someone apparantly had a very boring friday night....
- georgestrings
I was REALLY disappointed when I first bought this combo. It was no where near loud enough to be heard over an unmic'd drummer and a 50 watt (solid state) guitar combo amp! I bought a Carvin 1x15" extension. Problem solved for now, but up against a loud drummer, louder guitar amps, etc., I'm not sure it would have a lot of headroom. You know, the more I look at the VB2 the more I think I should have gotten that. G.A.S. pains...
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Playing a big room without pa support = failure.
A big pa and small amps is the PROFESSIONAL way to gig and/or put on a concert. Unless you are playing a small room. Running everything into a big pa system will give you the best and most balanced sound.
No pa support and a big room then you need a couple of 8x10 cabs.
A big pa and small amps is the PROFESSIONAL way to gig and/or put on a concert. Unless you are playing a small room. Running everything into a big pa system will give you the best and most balanced sound.
No pa support and a big room then you need a couple of 8x10 cabs.
Rule of thumb: The bass needs 10 times total guitar power to be heard. Seriously. Someone else will tell you it's 4 times, but they're wrong. Your own experience proves it.
I guess your guitarists don't have non-MV Marshalls that come into their sweet spot up around 6-7 on the volume. I would never expect a guitar player to set his amp where it doesn't sound as good just so I can play a wimpy little bass rig that weighs 50lbs and fits on my bike.
While I fully agree with your last sentence, I disagree with the overall premise - it's the guitarist's responsibility to make his rig sound good at reasonable gigging volumes... It's very amatuerish to blast out the room to get "your tone", and won't work out too well in most venues... Non-MV Marshalls really don't work that well in today's gigging world - a gigging guitarist either needs to have a MV installed, or use a pedal/pedals...
Now, before you think I'm some sort of volume nazi, I'll mention that I play in a loud rock band with a triple rec half stack on one side, and a 6505+ half stack right next to me - and I play an M-pulse 600 thru a PH810, so believe me - we're loud...
- georgestrings
I agree that another cab will help, but I also have this theory.
When you are playing, it can sound to you that there's not enough volume, when actually there is.
For example, in my early days of recording (& mixing), I would adjust the bass to what I thought was a proper level, only to find during playback, that it was actually too strong in the mix. Maybe a common phenomenon, or maybe exclusive to me.
This would also explain "volume wars" and their snowball effect.
When you are playing, it can sound to you that there's not enough volume, when actually there is.
For example, in my early days of recording (& mixing), I would adjust the bass to what I thought was a proper level, only to find during playback, that it was actually too strong in the mix. Maybe a common phenomenon, or maybe exclusive to me.
This would also explain "volume wars" and their snowball effect.
Yeah, that happens in a couple of rooms we play on a regular basis - what I ended up doing to solve it was going over to the other guitarist's side and adjusting my amp 'til it wasn't blowing him away over there... In that instance, cutting my lows a little resulted in me being able to turn down a little, yet still be able to hear myself at my mic position - before doing that, my volume "seemed" just fine on my side of the stage, but was blowing him away on his side - weird, huh?? Sometimes you just have to do what you gotta do to make room acoustics work...
- georgestrings
575 watts is enough to play nearly any stage in the world. IMHE, bands that insist on playing at the very limits of their equipment usually sound awful, no matter how well they can play their parts. Been there; done that. The aesthetic challenge is to find a balance and synergy between the instruments that works at ALL volumes. Any fool can crank it up all the way.
'But this one goes to 11.'
The idea that a 575-watt amp isn't loud enough for mere mortals is absurd.
'But this one goes to 11.'
The idea that a 575-watt amp isn't loud enough for mere mortals is absurd.
I went to a show recently and the bassist had his cab so freaking loud he could not sing over it and the guitar and drummer were fighting to be heard...I think some musicians need to learn how to control the volume...I've played with guitarist that just keep turning up and I struggle to hear myself.
How would a 15 add more volume? I think range and volume are two very different things, and IME just because some drivers are bigger in diameter than another doesn't mean that it will be able to go lower in frequencies than a cab loaded with smaller drivers. Cheers.
