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Bass is TOO loud!
- Thread starter Bob McAlister
- Start date
I've played on and off with a guy like this over the years... Absolutely love him but it was like softening butter in the microwave trying to get the volume levels set... "turn up a little... little more... turn WAY down" rinse and repeat. To top it off, he would mostly be in front of my amp... The horn section was by far the loudest thing on the bandstand. I kind of lost it bit the last time I played with him in September and vowed "No more"... Caught them a couple of weeks ago... The bass player is a fantastic mime!! Too bad, because he's a great bassist! Looked like he was playing some tasty stuff!!
-robert
Play/use GK 1001RBii also. Not sure if you're using/engaging contour and or presence, and if so how much, but...
...shouldn't be "boomy."
...that amp is particularly full of punch.
...perhaps cut your low mids and or bass EQ settings on amp.
...EVERY venue/site/setting has it's own unique acoustics/resonances, and EQ's should be tailored as such. These differences include practice/rehearsal/gigging tone.
...bass competes with mid to lower frequencies on the bandstand, so if you thin your tone a tad, or punch it out a tad higher you should be okay. I try to have mine "sit" just above the kick drum for the most part. Depending on genre, sometimes she "sits" just below the kick. Remember, mids are "our" friends. With the 1001RBii, one can hit without being boomy by bumping the high mids up a tad, cutting the low mids a tad, and or fiddling with the contour/presence. If you're Bi-amping, boost/woofer volume/settings can also totally dominate, or respectfully allow other freqs and players to pass through.
You have a SOLID rig.
Good luck.
...shouldn't be "boomy."
...that amp is particularly full of punch.
...perhaps cut your low mids and or bass EQ settings on amp.
...EVERY venue/site/setting has it's own unique acoustics/resonances, and EQ's should be tailored as such. These differences include practice/rehearsal/gigging tone.
...bass competes with mid to lower frequencies on the bandstand, so if you thin your tone a tad, or punch it out a tad higher you should be okay. I try to have mine "sit" just above the kick drum for the most part. Depending on genre, sometimes she "sits" just below the kick. Remember, mids are "our" friends. With the 1001RBii, one can hit without being boomy by bumping the high mids up a tad, cutting the low mids a tad, and or fiddling with the contour/presence. If you're Bi-amping, boost/woofer volume/settings can also totally dominate, or respectfully allow other freqs and players to pass through.
You have a SOLID rig.
Good luck.
I usually start at a volume I can barely hear and wait for the BL to ask me to turn up. If he doesn't after the first number I start turning down until he notices I'm vanishing.
I know I am biased to wanting to hear more bass in the mix than most folks do. But in my band I am one of six. Everyone has their own ears, and their own preferences. We work toward an 'us' sound rather than six competing 'me' sounds.
I know I am biased to wanting to hear more bass in the mix than most folks do. But in my band I am one of six. Everyone has their own ears, and their own preferences. We work toward an 'us' sound rather than six competing 'me' sounds.
Try to understand his perspective. The bass is a supportive instrument. Tell him you really want to solve the issues and that you think it may be EQ and not volume. Then start tweaking. Not sure what kind of bass you are playing but back the bass off a bit. Then on the amp. Then sprinkle in low mids. Then ask him. How’s that? Then again. How’s that? Then when he’s finally happy address the volume. Take a pic of your settings with your phone and save it for next time.
This whole process would prob take 10-15 mins and he would see your dedication to making the whole band sound good. May even motivate him to EQ his sound a bit once you show you are willing to do it so much.
This whole process would prob take 10-15 mins and he would see your dedication to making the whole band sound good. May even motivate him to EQ his sound a bit once you show you are willing to do it so much.
From Rocco Prestia interview:
Q: When you hear local bands as you travel through towns, what are your bass pet peeves?
A: Crappy tone, for one; that drives me up the wall. What the heck are you listening to that you think a bass should sound that thin? I want my bass to sound as fat and punchy as possible. Overplaying is another. If you’re overplaying, you’re under-listening. Being too loud is the other. Bass can be very overbearing. People are always asking me to turn up. I try to play to fit within the volume of the band, not stand above it.
Q: When you hear local bands as you travel through towns, what are your bass pet peeves?
A: Crappy tone, for one; that drives me up the wall. What the heck are you listening to that you think a bass should sound that thin? I want my bass to sound as fat and punchy as possible. Overplaying is another. If you’re overplaying, you’re under-listening. Being too loud is the other. Bass can be very overbearing. People are always asking me to turn up. I try to play to fit within the volume of the band, not stand above it.
Wait...people all over are telling you you're too loud, and you want to talk about signal chains and mid-levels and stuff? Are you the BL? Are you the soundman? Are you, in fact, the person in charge of deciding what the band is supposed to sound like? The whole band? So, you think bass should be loud...apparently you're in the minority.
Or, putting it more simply...yes, it's you.
Or, putting it more simply...yes, it's you.
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Ditto bass players.
Ditto recorded bass tracks.
Maybe try adding another 115 so you get a more full tone without getting too loud?
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Part of the problem is when we are playing we want to hear ourself about 6-10dB louder than everyone else. If you don't get the desired 6-10dB you feel disconnected from your instrument. It gets easier with practice.
Another problem is low frequencies are not directional, so the person standing 4' to the side of your cab hears the low end as well as you do standing 4' in front of it. Keep in mind they also want their 6-10dB of headroom, so hearing your low end booming can be irritating.
My approach is to elevate my cab and aim it at my ears. Keep in mind the mids and highs are directional, but low frequencies are not. Elevating and tilting my cab to aim at my ears allows me to hear the full range, direct sound of my speaker, rather than having the mids and highs zoom by below waist level. Not everyone wants to hear the mids and highs, but I do.
I usually work with a capable PA and try to monitor at a low level, so my stage sound does not interfere with house sound. If anyone wants to hear more bass, they ask for it in their monitor. If my amp needs to carry the room, I may put my speaker on the floor, so my approach is situational.
Another problem is low frequencies are not directional, so the person standing 4' to the side of your cab hears the low end as well as you do standing 4' in front of it. Keep in mind they also want their 6-10dB of headroom, so hearing your low end booming can be irritating.
My approach is to elevate my cab and aim it at my ears. Keep in mind the mids and highs are directional, but low frequencies are not. Elevating and tilting my cab to aim at my ears allows me to hear the full range, direct sound of my speaker, rather than having the mids and highs zoom by below waist level. Not everyone wants to hear the mids and highs, but I do.
I usually work with a capable PA and try to monitor at a low level, so my stage sound does not interfere with house sound. If anyone wants to hear more bass, they ask for it in their monitor. If my amp needs to carry the room, I may put my speaker on the floor, so my approach is situational.
I’m printing this out and glueing it onto every piece of gear I own. This is everything you need to know about live performance bass tone and playing imo.
Good stuff this, especially the learning to hear yourself IN the mix rather than OVER it.
If the boom doesn't go away when you drop out, it's the guitar as much as you.
