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Are bass amps obsolete?

#161
Wow, 8 pages and nobody has said anything about playing alongside real instruments! I have lots of fun playing in my local JC jazz big band. 15 screaming brass and woodwind instruments to go along with a real drum kit and my electric bass - heaven! Even the concerts we play have minimal micing - piano and soloists only. I'll keep my amp.
 
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#163
In a music saturated city like Austin where you are lucky to find bars that invest in a good PA when all they can pay their bands is Lone Star tallboys, bass amps or any amps and pedals will never be obsolete. I don't know any musicians who actually use iem's except for what I read on here. The idea is a novel one at best in a club scene anyways.
 
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#164
Revolver said:
It would be strictly a matter of personal opinion if we lived in a perfect world where every gig you played had a more than capable PA system (and a soundguy/gal who knew what they were doing), but that's is not reality for most gigging musicians. In a lot of instances you either have to deal with under-powered/crappy systems that can't handle a whole band or have no system at all. What do you do then?
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Based on some of the other responses on this thread I’m inclined to think that is in fact the situation for a fair number of gigging musicians, and some of them appear to consider amps obsolete. If you aren’t in that sort of a situation, I would imagine you don’t feel that way. I don’t think it’s really any more complicated than that.
 
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#165
Colonel Barnes said:
Wow, 8 pages and nobody has said anything about playing alongside real instruments! I have lots of fun playing in my local JC jazz big band. 15 screaming brass and woodwind instruments to go along with a real drum kit and my electric bass - heaven! Even the concerts we play have minimal micing - piano and soloists only. I'll keep my amp.
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I play big band gigs like that occasionally, in fact they're the only ones I really accept anymore these days. Once or twice a year that band plays festival gigs with FOH support for section mikes and a few drum and percussion mics, but I really prefer the more minimalistic ones. A 112 cab is more than enough for either scenario though, in any case.
 
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#166
two fingers said:
Bass amps are not simply about convenience and/or practicality (or the lack thereof) for many of us.

I simply enjoy hearing myself through speakers. When I can, I will bring an amp. If I can get away with it, I'll bring an Ampeg SVT. The sound of that heavy beast makes me smile. :bassist:

They absolutely will be less common in a decade or so. We'll probably all have wireless basses with transmitters you can't see that send a signal directly to the computer used to run sound (that is the size of a pack of gum). Every audience member will be wearing headphones (tiny earbuds) that allow them to control the volume of their live band. Take out your earbuds and all you will hear are people talking and the sound of sticks hitting electronic drums pads. Your average bar will sound like a library until you put in earbuds. :cool:

So, not yet... but it's coming.
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i think your right. what a sad world we are heading towards :rollno: :(
 
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#169
bombpop14 said:
Well....last time I played Gas Monkey Live in Dallas I realized after the set that I never took my amp off of mute. The monitors and side fills (and subs) were so good I just didn't notice. Doesn't mean I'm not going to show up without one.
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I often sound check like this. I’ll let the PA get up to steam then bring up my amp for just enough presence.
 
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#171
BurningSkies said:
in rooms that are under PA'ed or under Sub'ed. You'd be surprised at how often we have to tell them to pull the bass out of the FOH and let me handle it from stage.
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I wouldn't. That is pretty standard practice all over the place, even when there is plenty of sub action in place.

You're a reggae outfit. Mondo bass. Lucky you to be able to live the bass massage dream on stage. No doubt your FOH has high-pass on the stage mic's.

I do wonder how you get on with the kick and bass tom mic's that can't be highpassed.

Big stage bass makes feedback and bleed city without gates, if the soundguys are to be believed.
 
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#173
Downunderwonder said:
I wouldn't. That is pretty standard practice all over the place, even when there is plenty of sub action in place.

You're a reggae outfit. Mondo bass. Lucky you to be able to live the bass massage dream on stage. No doubt your FOH has high-pass on the stage mic's.

I do wonder how you get on with the kick and bass tom mic's that can't be highpassed.

Big stage bass makes feedback and bleed city without gates, if the soundguys are to be believed.
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Judging by recordings of Bill's band I've seen online, the FOH sound is usually pretty awesome.
 
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#178
sanwin17 said:
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?
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You start by offering that you use a bass amp on every gig, then ask if bass amps are obsolete?

Did you mean *BIG* bass amps/rigs?

Most of those seemingly endless new amps sell based on being smaller, lighter, as someone might prefer just for that stage monitoring almost everyone requires.

Then there's the obvious wrinkle that the less someoe gigs the more they tend to "talk" bass and buy gear. The last thing working pro musicians can afford is new gear! So its really not about "need". At least not musical need.
 
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#179
hintz said:
Really?? When I was doing metal originals up in the twin cities I had the exact opposite experience: I was always going through FOH at every venue.... it must be your location?

OTOH with cover bands it was a different story. But I suppose that's also the difference between bars that feature music and music venues with a bar!?
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the distinction is fuzzy enough to be cute and that is all. The bar is all the profit unless the ticket price is big league.

I used to do sound in a little bar that featured music as its reason for being. The stage was 20% of the room. Plenty of PA. Bass always got cut first, then guitars. I forgot the overheads for drums they supplied that never got a look in after soundcheck.
 
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