Amp to Compete with a Big Band

[jonners98]

First: Try you're Rumble 30. Does it work? Ask the director after rehearsal.

Second:
Since you have a good past with the Fender Rumble 30, how about getting a Fender Rumble 200? The 200 Watts into a 15" speaker will be plenty loud and full for that big band, and you'll even have options for a second cab. It's only 34lbs to carry too.

Keep in mind, when playing with acoustic bands, even loud ones, you don't need the power to match the entire band together, just be able to be a bit louder than other individual acoustic instruments on stage. Bands like that are used to listening to each other and matching volume. As long as you have the power to support the trumpets in the higher register, you are good. When the rest of the band is at their loudest it is very normal that they cover up the bass, piano and guitar... then they will come down in volume and let the rhythm section re-assert and take over.

Issue with my 30 is that it has no DI out - so it's a no-go for FOH supported gigs.

My Rumble is from the first gen, I'm not sure how the later ranges compare, if anyone can shed some light it'd be great, as I love consistency.

 

[jonners98]

I used to play those kinds of gigs using an Ampeg flip-top or a Polytone. These days, it's a Crazy8 and/or Crazy88 powered by an Acoustic Image Forte.

I should hasten to add, for what it's worth, that competing with a big band may not be the best mindset for success in these gigs; I think more in terms of providing support for the band, and would rather be asked to turn up my on-stage volume than be asked to turn it down.

A few people have noted this, just poor language choice for me - as I have said, I'm coming from a pure studio setting, I just need to know what I need.

 

[BarfanyShart]

Spreading the bass cabinets out distance wise creates phase cancellation that does more damage than good.

With 20 guys and a set of risers in between the cabs, probably not. Obviously, you'd want to try it out and make sure it wasn't an issue.

 

[iiipopes]

One of the band leaders I played for was a Kenton band fanatic. He would always have the drummer feather the bass drum on every quarter note. If the drummer’s doing it right and you’re locked in, it adds hellacious attack to your notes. Makes every quarter note you play like the Kool-Aid man, the attack of the bass drum knocks down the wall, and through the hole comes your pitch, like the Kool-Aid man. Toughest band leader I ever played for, but also the best.

Indeed. As when Kenton shifts gears on MacArthur Park. Kenton had a jazz band camp for decades at Drury University, Springfield, Missouri. I was too young to attend, but I saw the last band camp concert with both the Drury Jazz Band and the Kenton band when I was in 8th grade in the mid-70's. When I finally got to Drury, I got to read some of Kenton's famous songs in manuscript, such as Mac, Girl Talk, A Little Minor Booze, etc., as Kenton donated a set of copies of his manuscripts to Drury, and I got to sit in on a master class with Mike Vax. Then later in grad school, I got to sit in on a master class playing guitar with Jim Widner and other Kenton alums and be the guitar player for their rhythm section for a day.

 

[micguy]

The use of the word 'compete' was totally off-handed - I was just trying to think of a catchy title. I didn't mean to come across as 'competitive' in a literal sense - I just wanted to know what would be needed, as someone who has worked almost exclusively in a studio over the years. Apologies if it came across as such, but I'm not trying to outplay my part by any means.

Don't worry - we're OK.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

In our big band—17 pieces plus singers—I use my AI Focus 2 Series III with either a MAS 45 or my EA Wizzy 12 M-Line. Plenty of volume, plus I can send DI to sound guy (if there is one). I’ve never needed to use both cabs at the same time.

I don’t generally have to worry about trying to match power to the room; since most of the band members are unamplified—only two or three soloists have mics—I only need enough volume to support the band. If you want to hear the band better, move closer to the stage. I don’t know how those unamplified bass players of the Swing Era ever got heard by anyone but the band members who were near them.

 

[murph7489]

When I was in college I was in the jazz band, which was the typical big band scenario..of course back then I was a drummer (which was awesome playing that kind of music on drums after spending my high school time playing either concert band material, or show choir "broadway stuff". that old swing jazz is a riot on drums) The college had an Ampeg B-410 combo bass amp that was used for our jazz band, and at the time I was messing around with bass a bit so I plugged in..It was pretty good as I remember 175 watts, solid state..but that kind of wattage was plenty and we were not always a quiet band..so anything from 150-up would be good I think...