Are bass amps obsolete?

[-Asdfgh-]

I can't wait for the world to invent virtual t-shirts

It'll make fast fashion even faster.

 

[rollie 55]

At that level they might have studio musicians under the stage.

this is what will happen next

 

[JimmyM]

this is what will happen next

Oh, it's happened a lot already, more than you might think. Off the top of my head, Cheap Trick, Yes, and Cinderella have used offstage musicians to augment their shows.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Cool Will do. Loading up my 2500w class A amp right now. Gotta forklift I can borrow?

With rigs like this, we should be asking: “Is DIing into FOH obsolete”!
Actually, without FOH, my amp WOULD be obsolete (300watts, EVM drivers)

 

[rollie 55]

Oh, it's happened a lot already, more than you might think. Off the top of my head, Cheap Trick, Yes, and Cinderella have used offstage musicians to augment their shows.

not happy i must be getting old i dont like change anyways still got me amp will rock till i drop F.O.H do one

 

[TinyE]

Oh, it's happened a lot already, more than you might think. Off the top of my head, Cheap Trick, Yes, and Cinderella have used offstage musicians to augment their shows.

ozzy too. he totally admitted to having a singer offstage.

 

[rollie 55]

ozzy too. he totally admitted to having a singer offstage.

thats because he was so drunk at the time

 

[zontar]

Small mix consol with 3 or 5 channels with either headphone or studio monitor

But if you already have an amp?

 

[sanwin17]

But if you already have an amp?

Coffe table?

 

[gary mitchell]

I use my own amp are I don't play. I want to hear my sound it inspires me. At church I use a 350 SWR head and a SWR 410 cab. and he lines me out. But I am the one who needs to be happy. Unless the sound man wants to come up and play bass. I have not had any complaints yet anywhere I have played. I do not want to hear a junk monitor.

 

[keith1r]

Always place amps behind (next to)the drums. Look at photos of arena bands and all those cabs are behind the drums.

 

[rollie 55]

Always place amps behind (next to)the drums. Look at photos of arena bands and all those cabs are behind the drums.

great but FOH are trying to steal our amps

 

[BassmanPaul]

In every situation I have played in the last several years FOH has controlled the bass, volume and tone.

Of the gigs I have played in the last say twenty years, a PA at the venue is the exception rather than the rule. I carry my own PA for the vocals.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Always place amps behind (next to)the drums. Look at photos of arena bands and all those cabs are behind the drums.

And then you get to vibrate the snare of the snare drum and fill the drum mics with bass and annoy the sound engineer, especially if the engineer is me.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Of the gigs I have played in the last say twenty years, a PA at the venue is the exception rather than the rule. I carry my own PA for the vocals.

I tend to put mine down when I get to the venue.

 

[seamonkey]

With all the edrums/hybrid kits out now the marketing departments are out trying to convince the drummers they need their own "Drum" amps

They already have drummers convinced they need their own microphones.

 

[seamonkey]

after zooming in, i do see a lyrics screen surrounded by what could be 2 monitors on each side of the stage!



View attachment 3305545 View attachment 3305546

Those concerts in the round are just amazing way to address the audience and venue.
No bad seat in the house.
With the distance between the players the best way their going to stay musical is IEM
Virtual amps are probably key here.

 

[swarfrat]

With all the edrums/hybrid kits out now the marketing departments are out trying to convince the drummers they need their own "Drum" amps

They already have drummers convinced they need their own microphones.

Actually low frequency peak excursion is sorely lacking in most anything you find marketed to musicians, drum amps included. Think of what you're trying to replicate... 35hz, 12mm excursion, 24" dia...

 

[Chickenwheels]

Well, I played through a Meyer UM 1P with a Meyer 215 sub in the floor right next to me last night. Kept my amp turned off. Yeah, it was fat and loud, but somewhat lacking in juicy mid range sweetness and feel. Plus the engineer wasn’t easy to communicate with (way across a massive ballroom, head down). This erked the drummer more because he wanted more bass in his wedge. In the end I dialed up my own amp and it sounded/felt a lot nicer. Even with this level of FOH on hand it’s still a lot nicer having an amp behind you making a nicer, more organic feeling sound.

 

[rodl2005]

In every situation I have played in the last several years FOH has controlled the bass, volume and tone. My stage amp, when I have occasion to use one, serves as my personal monitor. This is not only on big stages but also in small clubs when band leader provides sound and mix. FOH always wants the stage volume down so they can control the mix. And yet, it seems almost every day, a new bass amp is out.
Thoughts?

Firstly, it's a funny question in an AMPS & CABS forum

I haven't read any replies, just the OP.

In my opinion and experience, they sure ain't obsolete. Even when there's a full FOH PA, I'd MUCH rather have either my own rig or a decent quality supplied one, than use the PA monitors. That's just my personal preference.
There's a good percentage of my gigs that we just use a PA for vocals, maybe a touch of kick drum, sax etc...
So, for these gigs, I ALWAYS have my own rig and ALWAYS make sure that I've got ENOUGH rig. Either by knowing the venue, punter numbers or I'll simply take my biggest rig.
Always better to have more than enough and turn down, than not enough and struggle, or have to go thru the PA that may not be ideal for bass as well as vocals etc

My 2c