If you lift a cab less than about 2 feet, the sound is still coupled with the ground. It does not depend on actually touching the ground.
I would lift it 6 inches or a bit more, and tilt it back at least 30 degrees.
Absolutely.
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Bass just not cutting through the mix
- Thread starter amt7565
- Start date
I would lift it 6 inches or a bit more, and tilt it back at least 30 degrees.
Fair point. I wouldn't elevate it much more than 6" though, just because -- and I think tilting it would most likely be beneficial, assuming it could be done securely.
The post I responded to mentioned ears, and I kinda assumed he was talking about elevating the cab closer to ear level.
Elevating the guitar cabinet to ear level and pointing it directly at the guitarist's head is the surest way to ensure a reasonable guitar volume. Although you might just get a deaf guitarist.
It's a single 412 so only about 3 feet tall. And I'm guessing it's not pointed directly at his head. If it was, I bet it would be turned down much lower than noon. Every loud guitarist I've ever played with points the business end of their stack at everybody else, because that's how it sounds good TO THEM.
Holy hell!
360 watts and no cutting?!
I thought my metal band was loud, and I cut thru with 200 watts 115 combo!
You guys need to turn down!
360 watts and no cutting?!
I thought my metal band was loud, and I cut thru with 200 watts 115 combo!
You guys need to turn down!
I was thinking about it, and it may be a good idea to change her strings to some kind of steels.
You'd be surprised. I had the same issue because my guitarist uses a Marshall 100W valve head and half stack for rehearsal and gigs ...that and my drummer is extremely loud. I had to use an 8x10" and at least a 500W head just to keep up at rehearsals. I now use an SVT 7 and Barefaced Super 15. Yes i do use hearing protection.
Man... that's awful! Hearing protection is a bit of a saviour in those bands. You should really just leave your ears at home so they don't get damaged though!
Tone adjustments are what the knobs on the amp are for. It amazes me that so many people blame the bass when a little knob twisting would fix the issue.
See if you can scare up a couple of milk crates, elevate the amp a bit. Like everyone else said, boosting mids and highs, and cutting lows is helpful. I have a similar setup for rehearsal, I'm using the drummer's Peavey 115 combo, which is (I think) 300 watts, and I can hear myself fine with two guitarists, one of which uses a Crate tube head with a 4x12 cab that sits right about mid-body level, the bass combo is about 12-18 inches off the ground. And my drummer is loud, too.
There's a balance to find between your bassist's amp and yours, there isn't a need for her to buy a new amp and cabinet just yet, but when it is time then she should look for a 4x10 cab.
Nothing to add that hasn't already been said: +1 for another 1x15 and appropriate EQ for the whole band.
OP, if your bassist gets another 1x15 cab, first make sure her combo can take an aux cab ie correct Ohms rating etc — obvious, I know, and yet people still blow stuff up.
You're practicing in a tiny box, so +1 to elevating/angling the cabs at people's ears, but also note that what will sound good (EQ) in the practice room isn't necessarily going to sound good at the gig – but you already know that. I'll never understand the set-it & forget-it crowd, different venues require different settings and I've played a resident-gig where at the same venue using the same gear, yet it still sounded different week-to-week. Temp/Humidity/#people in the room etc.
Lastly:
Why isn't the bass player posting these questions here herself?
OP, if your bassist gets another 1x15 cab, first make sure her combo can take an aux cab ie correct Ohms rating etc — obvious, I know, and yet people still blow stuff up.
You're practicing in a tiny box, so +1 to elevating/angling the cabs at people's ears, but also note that what will sound good (EQ) in the practice room isn't necessarily going to sound good at the gig – but you already know that. I'll never understand the set-it & forget-it crowd, different venues require different settings and I've played a resident-gig where at the same venue using the same gear, yet it still sounded different week-to-week. Temp/Humidity/#people in the room etc.
Lastly:
Why isn't the bass player posting these questions here herself?
This is getting off topic, but... The JVM410 is a head, not a speaker cabinet. It's a 412 half stack.
No sense in reinventing the wheel.
Despite this being Talkbass I say there is no sense in spending a bunch of money on anything (except probably a smaller quitar amp for you) until the fundamental issues are taken care of.
First thing: Just turn down. Everyone.
Next, her EQ: Boost the mids, cut EVERYTHING below 80Hz, and if it still sounds tinny or trebly reduce treble as necessary. Cutting treble will make the bass tone appear more bassy, and a plus if she is still working out her technique (reference your comments about perhaps some sloppiness in her fretting her notes) having less high end will help "mask" her mistakes for now.
As her technique and confidence improves then over time she will work out her own tone and sound and spend money on what she actually needs.
And set her amp on a milkcrate to get it closer to everyone's ears. Floor coupling is NOT a concern when rehearsing in such a small space, actually the real low frequencies in this situation are not good things.
Rehearsing in such a small room is already a challenge. Rehersal should be for refining the songs, fine tuning the breaks, stops, intros, solos, and such. Particularly for a new band. So don't try to play arena volumes, plenty of time for that later.
And for playing out, work on getting a decent PA versus chasing after huge stage rigs.
Good luck.
Tons of good posts on here. The answers are there but I'll have a go as well. What bass was she playing? And if it's active is her tone controls flat? Bass, Mids, Treble on the bass(if their there). Bass can get washed out even if you have good gear as well, if you don't know how to eq, and all that. Also your room....does it have and sound proofing or sound dampeners? That could be sucking tone alot as well. But you said you had another dude that had a 1x15 sounded great, well seems it's not knowing the gear and understanding eq and tone to me.
1st thing-Get some milk crates or some poopie and put the cab on them off the floor at least a foot.
2nd thing- Dont jack up the bass eq no higher than 3 oclock, make sure the mids are at least 11oclock and treble no higher than 3 oclock(on the amp)
3rd thing-Turn up the gain knob and lower the overall volume control, try the gain nob 3 notches higher than your main volume.
4th thing-if it's active eq bass make sure to do this with the eq's on bass set flat-12 oclock, you can mess with these after but it will shag up your cab tone before hand so set em flat while you experiment.
5th thing-Remember that the bass will sound different with a full band, especially if your room blows, and your room being that small does blow so... but you gotta do what you gotta do. I've played in worse before so no worries. Thank Jaco that your not recording in that room, looking for a good mix...
1st thing-Get some milk crates or some poopie and put the cab on them off the floor at least a foot.
2nd thing- Dont jack up the bass eq no higher than 3 oclock, make sure the mids are at least 11oclock and treble no higher than 3 oclock(on the amp)
3rd thing-Turn up the gain knob and lower the overall volume control, try the gain nob 3 notches higher than your main volume.
4th thing-if it's active eq bass make sure to do this with the eq's on bass set flat-12 oclock, you can mess with these after but it will shag up your cab tone before hand so set em flat while you experiment.
5th thing-Remember that the bass will sound different with a full band, especially if your room blows, and your room being that small does blow so... but you gotta do what you gotta do. I've played in worse before so no worries. Thank Jaco that your not recording in that room, looking for a good mix...
You might want to check the preamp tube in that SWR in case you think the amp is too weak or muddy. It's a 12AX7, same as used in most Marshalls...
I used one of those pre-fender 350 redface as my main amp for years, very clear sounding and definitely cutting through. Even with a 15".
I used one of those pre-fender 350 redface as my main amp for years, very clear sounding and definitely cutting through. Even with a 15".
