Really, having played at a church for a long time I wouldn't worry about it. If you're sounding good in the house, which seems to be the case and you can hear yourself at all in the stage mix it's all good.
In my fairly long experience, there's nothing worse in the typical praise band than trying to deal with people who are anal about their stage sound. Even in churches with expensive sound systems the expertise just isn't there and you waste an incredible amount of rehearsal time. So you can get "your" tone in the stage mix? No way. I play for pay in a rock band and there I want something pretty specific. But I'm working with people who have much more experience than what you usually get at a church.
Nothing against churches at all, but IME if you can hear yourself at all, it's golden. If it's weak who cares? I've had a 2x10 500 watt Ampeg combo amp for a stage monitor at church cranked and couldn't hear a dang thing. Tilt back model pointed straight at my ears. Still couldn't hear. Spent some time with the sound guy and worked out something reasonable that usually works. Now I don't even bring an amp, and for church bass players you shouldn't have to, again IMO. All that's needed is a DI. Pedals, more speakers, bigger amp? Nope. My guess is that any such approach is just as likely to make the whole situation worse instead of better.
I'm in total agreement with those who say, "don't throw money at this". My rule of thumb would be that if you can hear yourself at all, it's all good. Sounds like the OP can. So......Enjoy. Make it a project to work with your sound people over time and make progress as you can.
In my fairly long experience, there's nothing worse in the typical praise band than trying to deal with people who are anal about their stage sound. Even in churches with expensive sound systems the expertise just isn't there and you waste an incredible amount of rehearsal time. So you can get "your" tone in the stage mix? No way. I play for pay in a rock band and there I want something pretty specific. But I'm working with people who have much more experience than what you usually get at a church.
Nothing against churches at all, but IME if you can hear yourself at all, it's golden. If it's weak who cares? I've had a 2x10 500 watt Ampeg combo amp for a stage monitor at church cranked and couldn't hear a dang thing. Tilt back model pointed straight at my ears. Still couldn't hear. Spent some time with the sound guy and worked out something reasonable that usually works. Now I don't even bring an amp, and for church bass players you shouldn't have to, again IMO. All that's needed is a DI. Pedals, more speakers, bigger amp? Nope. My guess is that any such approach is just as likely to make the whole situation worse instead of better.
I'm in total agreement with those who say, "don't throw money at this". My rule of thumb would be that if you can hear yourself at all, it's all good. Sounds like the OP can. So......Enjoy. Make it a project to work with your sound people over time and make progress as you can.
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