Bass Players are Their Own Worst Enemy!

[gazzatriumph]

I can get help lugging gear at the venue but not from home to car, I love the lightweight class d amp (TC RH750 and RS210 x2) I have and won't go back to the heavy gear again.

 

[Gaolee]

Here's my compact rig:
View attachment 3018822

What does the little Vox do? Is that a compact in-ear monitor, scaled to match the rest of the rig?

 

[Medicine Man]

Funny, my mom gave away a B3 with a Leslie 15 years ago and could barely get someone to pick it up for free. My budd's Nord sounds just like it to me, but im only a snob for bass gear. I love the sound of my SVT stack, love the sound of my Mesa powerhouse stack. I gig a crappier sounding markbass combo 95% of the time, because it's easier and more volume appropriate. I'll echo the earlier sentiment that if I see a band setting up a Pert-sized drum kit and half stacks, I know I'm probably leaving after 3 songs.

 

[Gaolee]

Finally, just to toss one last wrench into the discussion, many gigs are more and more going ampless, because of two facts: one of which is that bass amps on stage interfere with vocal microphones, and the second of which is that digital boards capable of delivering high quality FOH tone are affordable. My main current gig uses NO AMPS AT ALL. So, with that situation, most of this discussion becomes moot, and you have to get your head wrapped around figuring out how to get your FOH to deliver that SVT sound you prefer. Things are changing quickly. A gigging player has to be adaptive.

Which is why I have a beast, a smaller combo, and a ToneHammer attached to my board that works as a DI.

 

[Kro]

I haven't tried those. I do have an Ampeg Micro VR and a TC Electronics amp. Both of which are 5-6 years old?? They are both lower wattage than what is available now. Neither of them impress me at all. I take that back. They are both impressive in that they can do what they do with such little weight. But... I wouldn't gig, or even rehearse with either as my main. Maybe I'll stretch out and buy another one. Something higher wattage...

If those are all that you're basing your assessment on, then I could maybe see how you may have generated your views, but it's quite a limited pool of experience to pull from. I'd suggest finding some top-level modern gear to demo just to experience how far bass gear has come. If you're dead set on an SVT tone, then you may still be left wanting, but at least you might walk away with an appreciation for just how powerful much of the newer stuff is - while being smaller/lighter (because it doesn't need to be big).

Hell, or find modern gear that is the same size as your stuff and prepare to have your socks knocked off (thinking of like a Barefaced Eight10 paired with something like a D800). I'd dare say that bass gear of all shapes and sizes has benefited from advances in technology within even the last decade or so.

Do that, and then we can actually have some decent discussions on the benefits of all types of gear, new, old, big and small.

 

[jnuts1]

Why? because I live in a big city and easy parking and load in/out isn't always available. I can carry my entire rig in 1 trip and still keep up with 2 drummers. or I can get a horrid sounding ampeg fridge and fight it every day.

 

[punchdrunk]

In my experience, the more someone gigs, the lighter their gear becomes.

 

[lfmn16]

Which pickguard should I put on my bass?
Which neck looks better on this bass?

Which bass should I buy; because I'm too lazy to go to the store and try them out myself.

 

[Passinwind]

Just remember, the TalkBass community is not the bass community. I've been playing for over 45 years and have never heard some of the nonsense I see on TB. I never heard anyone say that knowing music theory was a bad thing until I got here. I never heard a bass player be disrespectful of Jaco until I got here (don't confuse not like him to being disrespectful). I never heard anyone who played all roots called a great bass player until I got here (you can be a solid player without being a great player). The list goes on and on.

Amen. For example, I haven't seen an SVT in use anywhere in person in at least five years. But that doesn't mean I think nobody else has.

 

[maxschrek]

What does the little Vox do? Is that a compact in-ear monitor, scaled to match the rest of the rig?

I don't know how that got there but I do know that I love playing Brian May licks through it with my Hamer Special.

 

[DrayMiles]

I regularly play in really tiny venues...like fitting a 4 piece band with drums in a 8x8 ft space...no room for anything large. Even bringing my DB is a problem in some of those rooms.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I did that and found numerous people bumping into my upright. In the past, I had bar staff move tables while we were setting up and they scratched the bass while I was playing. I don't like those gigs and turn down all when possible.

 

[Ellery]

Bass players are their own worst enemy...

Well... I certainly didn't intend to upset everyone so much. When I wrote this post, truthfully, I thought I was making good points that some of you might appreciate. I was wrong...

I'm playing a big bass rig now. My bandmates are all helpful when I need to move it. None of them want me to downsize. This is always the way it's been for me. My back still works... I guess I've been lucky. What I'm saying is, my perspective on all this is obviously very naive.

I'll try to be more sensitive to the TalkBass community in the future. I really "kicked a hornets nest" here, and I regret it.

Truce!

Bro you are not wrong or naive, nor do you have anything to apologize for. Your opinion and experiences are as valid as anyone else's. I liked your post. Please do not be intimidated by self righteous trolls, feel free to speak your mind in this forum which we all SHARE. I'm listening.

 

[RoadRanger]

An 8x10 fridge starts rolling off around 40hz

Try 58 Hz:
http://ampeg.com/pdf/SVT810EAV.pdf
It's a whopping 10 dB down at 40 Hz - practically inaudible.

 

[Jeremy Jones]

I use a Fender Rumble Studio 40 and Rumble 40V3 linked together for my big rig. Because most of the time I am plugging into the sounds system I do not need anything else. That being said if someone wanted to lug around a big amp for me I would be happy to let them!

 

[arbiterusa]

When I wrote this post, truthfully, I thought I was making good points that some of you might appreciate. I was wrong.

You weren't aware of something simple: the light gear sounds just as good, and in some cases better, than the old heavy stuff. It is at least as loud, and usually far louder.

You play keys, you of all people should know that. I used to as well. Had an OBX-a. 80 pounds of four-voice out of tune not-so-awesomeness. It got replaced with a JX-3P that sounded ten times better and was about a tenth the weight. The Rhodes got replaced with a DX-7. My bandmates were thrilled that I could now carry my own stuff and the audience...they never notice, do they?

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

my 810... travels better in ONE trip from vehicle to stage than two trips for a pair of 410s

Agreed. While I stand by the fact that an 810 is not always necessary or preferable, I would take an 810 over 2 410s any day. Unless it's a mesa.

 

[AlexBassMP]

So for bassists who aren't playing stadiums, bringing a giant, heavy tube rig is selfish, pointless, and a pain in the butt to move.

Thats my opinion too

 

[arbiterusa]

Finally, just to toss one last wrench into the discussion, many gigs are more and more going ampless, because of two facts: one of which is that bass amps on stage interfere with vocal microphones, and the second of which is that digital boards capable of delivering high quality FOH tone are affordable. My main current gig uses NO AMPS AT ALL.

Last big outdoor gig I did, they provided a GK1001 and an 8x10. Which was great, but they had us all in the stage monitors and those alone were so loud I just killed the master on the amp. Flat out didn't need it. And I'm seeing pretty decent PAs these days even in a lot of the bar gigs we are doing. The onstage amp's days are numbered, that is certain.

 

[yodedude2]

My back still works... I guess I've been lucky.

amen to that. may your luck hold out!

 

[bassboysam]

So for bassists who aren't playing stadiums, bringing a giant, heavy tube rig is selfish, pointless, and a pain in the butt to move.

Donning flame suit...

flamethrower activated.

Totally disagree, as I already mentioned in previous posts, in some scenes giant heavy rigs are part of the show. No one wants to hear/see a doom band playing through small rigs. They are not only part of the sound but also the visual. the DI thing is complete BS in my experience. I always bring a mic with me and insist on using it. In the last 10 years I have never had a FOH engineer refuse. I have never used a DI live.