• 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.

Are bass amps obsolete?

#362
rodl2005 said:
Firstly, it's a funny question in an AMPS & CABS forum :smug:

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:thumbsup::bassist:
Click to expand...
This fella has plenty of nice amps, which helps! Jealous!
 
  • Like
Reactions: sanwin17
#363
IMG_0979.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Downunderwonder, Scottgun, sanwin17 and 2 others
#364
Oh man, I wish the "clean the stage and remove your own drinks" thing was universal. I'm getting paid 40 bucks an hour and have half an hour for changeover and I'm supposed to be clearing drinks off the stage because grown adults can't take care of their own mess? Yeah that makes sense.

Musicians, the reason you say "man, this place is a real dive, it's dirty and gross and there's spilled beer all over everything" is because you don't bus your own stage and stuff gets knocked over, or you just drank too much and spilled everywhere. Dont make the poor sound guy who's got better things to do (like making you sound good even though you refuse to listen when he says to turn down a bit) become your mother/maid. He WILL remember.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sanwin17 and Zbysek
#371
chadds said:
Of course it can. Crank that bass like your boombox car and oops. Boosted eq adds gain. Some people, don’t know this club, want shouted distortion out of their vocals. Wear and tear.

Then that Melanie solo set sounds like &$$.
Click to expand...
I think is says, Do not blow horns (trumpets sax etc.) through the P.A. That's what I thought it meant.
 
#372
Scottgun said:
Yep. More than one bass player has melted his speaker by going "smiley" EQ, wondering why they don't cut through the mix, and cranking up the master to compensate. Same with a P.A.

Frankly, rather than a grumpy sign, they should hire a proper house sound guy.
Click to expand...
What? And pay an extra 50 bucks a night for a sound man? How long you been playing bars?
 
#376
I have been on IEM since 2003 for my regular bands. However, when I sub in with other bands, I bring a rig appropriately sized for the venue. I use a iAmp/NL210 or DB750/NV610. The NV610 just sold and the DB750 should be gone soon. But I just purchased a Fearless F112 and B|AMP which I love and used twice in the last month. I'm also looking into a couple more Berg cabs, including a sealed one to match with a V4B.

I'm lucky to be supplying sound for most of my shows (really decent P.A.) so my iem mix is always exactly to my taste. We also back up a few artists on big festival stages and theatres. For those, I bring a split snake, IEM rack, mics and DIs, as well as mixing board, and run 4-5 IEM mixes while letting the FOH and Monitor engineers take care of FOH and sidefills. Although it is nice to feel my pants flapping in front of a fridge, I much prefer hearing every musician, every lick, every fill, harmonies, etc. IEM provide this consistently, regardless of the room/stage acoustics.

I used to run my bass through effects pedals and VT-Bass, but have been using a Fractal AX8 for the past year. Simple, consistent and great sounding. I will only bring a bass rig if the drummer is not on iem, which is rare.

A couple of years ago, we backed up a country singer on a pretty big festival stage. There was a low rumble overpowering everything on stage every time I played a note. It was so bad that I kept looking at my fretboard to make sure I was playing in the right key. I couldn't tell by the sound. The entire band agreed that we really missed our IEM that day.

In a nutshell, to me, bass rarely sounds great in stage monitors. So it's direct to FOH and IEM for me. But I also look forward to the smaller shows where I get to use a rig, even if it means my ears may ring a little at noozie time.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sanwin17
#377
I worked as the main audio guy for a 600 capacity club in town for the last almost three years. I worked likely over 800 shows and it was basically always working with original artists. I can probably count on two hands how many artists I worked with who's bass player didn't have an amp. I think most bassists have stage volume that is appropriate for the context of their band and style of music they are playing. I love amps as a player and as an audio guy. That isn't always the perspective of a FOH or monitor engineer, but at least around here it seems to be the opinion of most I've worked with. I don't think bass amps are obsolete yet, but I do think that they may not be necessary for everyone's situation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sanwin17

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back