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Bass sound during live gigs.

#21
+1 for pickup setup and playing style. - 90% of the time in my experience.- (I'm assuming you have taken the time to make sure you are not clipping the board with the signal, if so turn down the gain or pad the signal - bass Di's can have strong signals and tend to have overdrive knobs - make sure those are way down on the DI) - Am I right in guessing you do sound for alot of punk rock bands? Its surprising to me how many neophyte/ignorant bassists cant recognize this. They prefer the pickup on a bass right next to the string. Its very easy to get this "popping and cracking" sound on a fender bass (the worlds most popular bass) by having the pickups too close to the string. As soon as the song kicks up and the bass player starts vamping hard its all over. All you can do sometimes its just try to bring out the lows and cut the highs and mids and make it tolerable for the audience.
 
#24
uhdinator said:
Use better technique and your volume knob to add volume instead of playing harder to try and play louder.

Playing thru studio monitors/recording will reveal where technique is lacking.
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THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

At home I practice through my preamp, a Line6BassPODXTLive->QSC 2402->two ACME B2's about 2 feet on either side of me. You hear EXACTLY what you play because the speakers are that close and very precise/clear/almost flat. The SVT on "ballsy dirt" setting sounds like that thru the ACME's or on a good PA.

Solo?
Play the same as you practiced but boost the volume a tiny bit since the rest of the band will "drop out" at those times.

Even "pro's" sound different when solo'd. Check out these solo'd parts by Geddy Lee:
Tom Sawyer (Rush) - Geddy Lee Isolated Bass - YouTube
Rush - YYZ - Bass Track - 3/3 - YouTube
Rush- Red Barchetta (Geddy Lee Isolated Bass) - YouTube
Rush

John Entwistle:
Won't Get Fooled Again - John Entwistle - YouTube

The older guys are similar but bassy(i.e. James Jamerson).
 
#25
One common factor among the bands and gigs I am part of these days where I play bass is that the PA's are small and my bass amp is both for the stage and for the venue. I wish it were different; standing close to my amp and behind the FOH speakers, it is very difficult for me to judge how loudly I should be playing. I record every gig with mics out front, and sometimes I'm too loud, sometimes I'm lost in the mix, and only occasionally am I in Goldilocks space.
 
#27
ggunn said:
One common factor among the bands and gigs I am part of these days where I play bass is that the PA's are small and my bass amp is both for the stage and for the venue. I wish it were different; standing close to my amp and behind the FOH speakers, it is very difficult for me to judge how loudly I should be playing. I record every gig with mics out front, and sometimes I'm too loud, sometimes I'm lost in the mix, and only occasionally am I in Goldilocks space.
Click to expand...

Who is mixing sound? They should tell you if you are too loud or too quiet.
 
#28
seanm said:
Who is mixing sound? They should tell you if you are too loud or too quiet.
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I agree, but sometimes we are mixing from the stage and don't have anyone out front. When we do... well, I have asked him to tell me when I'm not sitting well in the mix, but listening to the recordings, often I don't like what I hear.

There are many pros and cons about playing original music for tips, and I don't mean to dredge up any old debates, but one of the cons is that it's hard to get good PA equipment and personnel if there is no budget for it.

So yes, I can hear many of you out there thinking that I am just whining about something that comes with the territory. You're right, of course. ;^)
 

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