Bass Drum Rant / EQ Rant

[WayneP]

Oh, I think it’s an epidemic problem. I have the same problem in my own band with our guitar player. This EFX box he uses for his chorus for some strange reason also dumps in a massive low freq boost, so he’s always trampling all over me. During rehearsals our drummer often complains that he can’t hear me. A couple of years ago the guitar player spent the summer out of town on business, and the whole time he was gone the drummer never complained about not being able to hear me. LOL!

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt



Administrator, Tobias Club
Pedulla Club #45
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[Russell L]

Thanks, Wayne, for the explanation. I understand.

Actually, the sound onstage for the band I was in was mixed by the band leader, not the FOH guy. I don't think he understands sound at all. The bass drum was my worst enemy, but I always assured the drummer that it wasn't his fault. He was just playing. I tried to help by keeping my bass eq flat and not adding bottom, just trying to cut through somehow. I also didn't overdrive my amp with high volume. The FOH guy said all was fine out front, it's just that I couldn't play, hearing it the way it was onstage. There were also some gigs when it mysteriously sounded fine onstage.

The other situation simply concerned a loud drummer, even though he wasn't mic'd.

 

[IvanMike]

Thanks, Wayne, for the explanation. I understand.

Actually, the sound onstage for the band I was in was mixed by the band leader, not the FOH guy. I don't think he understands sound at all. The bass drum was my worst enemy, but I always assured the drummer that it wasn't his fault. He was just playing. I tried to help by keeping my bass eq flat and not adding bottom, just trying to cut through somehow. I also didn't overdrive my amp with high volume. The FOH guy said all was fine out front, it's just that I couldn't play, hearing it the way it was onstage. There were also some gigs when it mysteriously sounded fine onstage.

The other situation simply concerned a loud drummer, even though he wasn't mic'd.

Well there are a couple of fixes for that. the more expensive and pita is to have yourself a dedicated monitor from your rig either at ear level or a wedge.

the more difficult but far more invaluable thing is to just learn how to play when you cannot hear very well at all. A bummer to be sure, but I've played a ton of places and stages where i couldn't hear myself or the kick, or the stage mix was just plain wacky. Usually you can find a way to visually get cues from the drummer (even if it means watching the front head of the kick flapping), or some such thing.

IMO, FOH sound trumps stage sound every time. having a good stage mix is nice, but you need to be able to learn to play without it (not easy, but a great skill to have). also, some venues will cause major problems for the FOH sound if you have a good stage mix. Keeping the stage volume down helps a lot with this.

edit: oh yes - I forgot my favorite thing to do when a soundman (and I like soundmen, I are one), tells you that you're too loud or that the boominess is your fault when it clearly isn't. By this time you probably will have turned your amp down. At this point I unplug my cord from the bass and amp and when the soundman (or other band member) keeps complaining I hold up both ends of the cord and smile.

 

[Russell L]

Oh yes, Mike, I've played many a gig like that, too, when ya can't hear very well. The band I mentioned had very, VERY loud stage volume which was a problem in itself. Other times it was just a weird room. And yes, I can still play, and like you said, watch the drummer, even if I can't hear him very well. But, the other band was ridiculously errant in eq and volume. That's why I eventually told them I just can't go on like that. It was just too frustrating, and the problem was apparently never gonna go away. As for a monitor, I was using a Markbass CMD 121H (one 12" with 300w) on a stand, not right in my ear, but up a couple of feet and slightly tilted. I shoulda been able to hear that, I would think. But not in that band, although sometimes.