Arent they called banjos?
Never had the inclination to play 5 string bass.
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About to start gigging again....whats new?
- Thread starter Pihabeach
- Start date
Never had the inclination to play 5 string bass.
I'm the quintessential weekend warrior. Cover band that plays 5-6 shows a month, typically 9pm to 130 am, bass and backing vocals with occasional keyboard. Been doing it in this town for 6 years now. Here are some tips I've adopted:
1. SMALL rig. I have no interest in hauling a 4x10 around. I want the lightest, most portable stuff I can find. Thus, my rig is a 1x12 lightweight (Bergantino CN) and a Genz Benz shuttle. It's plenty of volume for stage monitoring.
2. As a result, I DI from the GB Shuttle to our PA system for the big boost. I don't need the stage rig to provide volume, it's just a stage monitor.
3. Why? Because I'm old now, and I'm tired, and my back hurts, and get off my lawn ya damn kids! So I want to minimize my load in and out time. As it is, three trips: 1) Both basses, backpack containing amp and all my cables, pedal tuner, microphone and wireless. 2) Cabinet and vocal monitor (10", lightweight powered monitor), 3) mic stand and guitar stand. It's 10 minutes to load up, 10 minutes to get it on stage, 15 minutes to set up, and 10 minutes at the end of the night so I can help my bandmates.
4. Help your bandmates as much as you can. They'll appreciate that you're willing to pitch in even if your part is done.
5. Drink too much. Don't listen to all those other people. I like playing in a band because it's FUN. I get to play and hear music I like. I meet a ton of fun people, I used to meet loads of women before I had a partner, and it's just like a fun night out at a bar with your friends, it's just that these friends are musicians too. It should be FUN!
6. Consequently, enjoy it. Dance around a lot. I got a wireless because I have fun interacting with the crowds. That's where all the best stories are.
7. Don't drink and drive. I realise that goes without saying.
1. SMALL rig. I have no interest in hauling a 4x10 around. I want the lightest, most portable stuff I can find. Thus, my rig is a 1x12 lightweight (Bergantino CN) and a Genz Benz shuttle. It's plenty of volume for stage monitoring.
2. As a result, I DI from the GB Shuttle to our PA system for the big boost. I don't need the stage rig to provide volume, it's just a stage monitor.
3. Why? Because I'm old now, and I'm tired, and my back hurts, and get off my lawn ya damn kids! So I want to minimize my load in and out time. As it is, three trips: 1) Both basses, backpack containing amp and all my cables, pedal tuner, microphone and wireless. 2) Cabinet and vocal monitor (10", lightweight powered monitor), 3) mic stand and guitar stand. It's 10 minutes to load up, 10 minutes to get it on stage, 15 minutes to set up, and 10 minutes at the end of the night so I can help my bandmates.
4. Help your bandmates as much as you can. They'll appreciate that you're willing to pitch in even if your part is done.
5. Drink too much. Don't listen to all those other people. I like playing in a band because it's FUN. I get to play and hear music I like. I meet a ton of fun people, I used to meet loads of women before I had a partner, and it's just like a fun night out at a bar with your friends, it's just that these friends are musicians too. It should be FUN!
6. Consequently, enjoy it. Dance around a lot. I got a wireless because I have fun interacting with the crowds. That's where all the best stories are.
7. Don't drink and drive. I realise that goes without saying.
Step 5 sounds like a critical one to me
Yeh my markbass 2x12 and gk head is a pretty light weight set up for sure.
Do most guys always take two basses I.e a back up? I never used to. I have my testy p bass but I could take my active sound gear with me as a back up?
As far as ear protection is concerned what are people doing?
I forgot to mention, I'm also an ENT specialist. So for ear protection at a minimum use the foam noise reduction earplugs you can get at any pharmacy over the counter. However, if you guys are loud, and play small spaces - get some custom made ear plugs for 30-40 dB noise reduction. They'll cost you about $120 at any ENT audiology office.
+100 to lighter, more powerful rigs. Serious game-changer, that.
IPads/Tablets for set lists? I'd still rather carry some paper and a Sharpie. Sure, I make the letters a few points bigger now, but I like the ritual. And I won't cry when some jackass spills his beer on it or it grows legs.
Pedal tuners are much better than they used to be.
Oh, and yes- the $ still sucks. THAT certainly hasn't changed one bit. Welcome back and have fun!
IPads/Tablets for set lists? I'd still rather carry some paper and a Sharpie. Sure, I make the letters a few points bigger now, but I like the ritual. And I won't cry when some jackass spills his beer on it or it grows legs.
Pedal tuners are much better than they used to be.
Oh, and yes- the $ still sucks. THAT certainly hasn't changed one bit. Welcome back and have fun!
Haha no kidding. I'm an anaesthetist, I work with the otorhinolaryngologists level 4 theaters Auckland hospital. Nice bunch.
Maybe I'll get some of those 30-40dB ones for when I work with the orthopedic surgeons.
No kidding! I bet you know a bunch of my friends. They're in Auckland and Christchurch. All ORL guys. They'll all be willing to get you hooked up. I don't know what gigging is like in NZ, maybe you have to play the strings backwards since gravity runs the other way...or something like that.
Haha yes yes it's all back to front down here...
Oh wow, yeh well if you know any of the orl guys at Auckland I will have worked with them in the last few months. I'm about to rotate back to ICU for a while and then starting a pain fellowship.
maybe a compressor pedal to help keep volume levels more even ... i just ordered a Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Comp pedal ... mostly because i wanted a Mix / Blend knob to keep my original tone intact ... YMMV
i agree with the EV ND767 type mic ... very good vocal mic , good noise rejection ... use the SM57 to mic an amp of tom tom ...
some kind of inline tuner, that's easy to see ... auto mute would be cool ... Korg ... TC
i still like my old paper cheat sheets ... pads are the in thing , ... but at 57 , i need BIG Letters ...!!
i agree with the EV ND767 type mic ... very good vocal mic , good noise rejection ... use the SM57 to mic an amp of tom tom ...
some kind of inline tuner, that's easy to see ... auto mute would be cool ... Korg ... TC
i still like my old paper cheat sheets ... pads are the in thing , ... but at 57 , i need BIG Letters ...!!
Step 5 sounds like a critical one to me
Yeh my markbass 2x12 and gk head is a pretty light weight set up for sure.
Do most guys always take two basses I.e a back up? I never used to. I have my testy p bass but I could take my active sound gear with me as a back up?
As far as ear protection is concerned what are people doing?
At 58 I am 10 years into my second spell of gigging after giving it away for a while- Play covers in clubs, pubs etc.
I always take 2 basses. My ear protection is keeping stage level down- also helps to be able to hear everyone else comfortably. Drummer has a digital kit, which helps keep stage volume down.
Ha! I thought I had gone smaller and lighter with a GK Fusion 550 and GK Neo 410.
I have recently gone over to the pedal side and use MXR compressor, a MXR Chorus and EHX Big Muff Pi Bass Deluxe- which has some useful features other than the fuzz.
My Stroborack tuner is rack mounted with the Fusion 550.
What's changed?- less gigs and more severe noise restrictions.
Not that much has changed; I have an Ipad but I still use a notebook with printed pages for my charts; I use the same tuner I've used for years (Korg Pitchblack); My amp HAS changed - I was using a very heavy rig, but made the switch last year to Neo cabs and a class-D head (really saves my back some grief!)
What's new?
Bands seem to play for free. In Northern Cali, bars don't pay... but the wineries do.
Bands seem to play for free. In Northern Cali, bars don't pay... but the wineries do.
Go to the MRI suite and snag handfuls of the packaged plugs they use when sticking folks in the magnet. 4 MRI's and a resulting vascular decompression...I'm set for life!
Riis
Good to be back in it. I had a long break as well and there' plenty of great tech out there .
I use a lot of different pedals.... Volume, Tuner, Chorus, Octave, Delay , Overdrive and Reverb.
Telepromt "pluse" 3 for my iPad live and forScore for rehearsing. I have a mount on my pedal board for the iPad or occasionally I'll mount it to the base of my mic stand. I really only need it live for set lists and lyrics. I have the font large enough that I can easily read it at stage level if I need to ever glance down in case I forget a lyric. I control it with a bluetooth foot switch.
I use a Beta 58.
My goto bass rig is usually a Genz Benz SM 9.2 and/or Mesa MPulse 600 depending if I'm running a two amp setup.
For speakers I use as many as four cabs depending on the gig. 2 - Genz Benz Uber 115T's and 2 - Genz Benz Uber Quads.
I use a lot of different pedals.... Volume, Tuner, Chorus, Octave, Delay , Overdrive and Reverb.
Telepromt "pluse" 3 for my iPad live and forScore for rehearsing. I have a mount on my pedal board for the iPad or occasionally I'll mount it to the base of my mic stand. I really only need it live for set lists and lyrics. I have the font large enough that I can easily read it at stage level if I need to ever glance down in case I forget a lyric. I control it with a bluetooth foot switch.
I use a Beta 58.
My goto bass rig is usually a Genz Benz SM 9.2 and/or Mesa MPulse 600 depending if I'm running a two amp setup.
For speakers I use as many as four cabs depending on the gig. 2 - Genz Benz Uber 115T's and 2 - Genz Benz Uber Quads.
I be they're tough to get down even with a whole glass of water. Try sticking them in your ears next time.
I carry a bunch of Fisher & Paykel gear and I believe they're still 100% kiwi....at least the medical manufacturing end.
Riis
