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Bassists who enjoy playing LOUD!!!

#41
markkoelsch said:
I wnt to try these...a friend is in a metal band and swears by them. He was referred by an audiologist who tested his hearing ...the 15db types are good for most things, and the 25 db for seriously loud situations.

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Yeah, that's what I use, they work great. It takes some getting used to, especially if you sing. The high end is still attenuated (the ping of the cymbals etc.), but overall you can hear everything and get a real feeling of power and the guitarist can crank it, with no ringing afterwards.
 
#42
Playing stupid loud onstage is on of the best ways to sound like a giant pile of muddled crap.

I used to go to alot of Hardcore/Punk shows and the bands often have such loud stage volumes that the vocals end up inaudible or just plain crappy sounding. After a song or two most people in the croud have their hearing blown out, so the band just sounds like HISSSSSSSCHRrrrrrrrrcHHHHHhhhpsssss! from that point onward.

The best sounding bands I have seen take the time to get the levels loud enough for the venue, but not so stupid loud. With decent PA support, there's really no good reason to have mega-loud stage volume, unless you just don't care that you sound like ass. :rollno:
 
#43
I read this and decided to give loud a try tonight. I wear musicians earplugs, so it was like listening to the stereo at home:).

I had my shuttle 6 at almost 1/2 volume with my Carvin 4X10. All I could really hear was myself, the drumer, and just a little lead guitar. Tightest practice we have had in a LONG time! The drummer was very happy! I have yet to come down off of my musical high!:hyper:

Woh, I could really FEEL the bass. I sat on a stool right in front of my rig. I could feel my guts shaking!
 
#44
Gearhead43 said:
Playing stupid loud onstage is on of the best ways to sound like a giant pile of muddled crap.

I used to go to alot of Hardcore/Punk shows and the bands often have such loud stage volumes that the vocals end up inaudible or just plain crappy sounding. After a song or two most people in the croud have their hearing blown out, so the band just sounds like HISSSSSSSCHRrrrrrrrrcHHHHHhhhpsssss! from that point onward.

The best sounding bands I have seen take the time to get the levels loud enough for the venue, but not so stupid loud. With decent PA support, there's really no good reason to have mega-loud stage volume, unless you just don't care that you sound like ass. :rollno:
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This could no be more true. I would never do anything too loud live. I play in a Catholic church every sunday, so I know what a volume knob is.

Regular band practice.....heheheh
 
#46
Bass has to be felt. If you can't feel it, then you might as well be a guitard.

Having said that, regardless of live or in rehearsal we always set our amps to a level that is comfortable to all and will have us sitting in a nice mix so that we are just resting nicley with the drummers attack.

Also I always wear earplugs. When I was younger, I didn't and I guess I was not as well informed about the dangers of not wearing them. They live in my gig bag and come out before I play a note these days. I probably have a slight bit of dammage from my younger days, but I'll be damned if I'm going to make it worse.
I keep telling my guitard and singer in one of my bands they need to start wearing them, but both are being a bit silly about it and haven't brought any yet. I might even do them a favour and buy some for them, because I know if I don't do it, they won't bother.
 
#48
Guys,

My Drummer uses double bass drums, both guitarist in the band use FOUR Marshall Cabs and two heads EACH. Yeah, we play loud 80s metal. I'm using 500 Watts to a 4-10 cab, another 500 watts to a 2nd 4-10 and 500 watts to a 1-15 cab. I will most like be adding a 2nd 1-15 cab just to keep up. And our vocalist can sing over that AND sound great doing it. Playing rock at low volumes sucks.

:hyper:
 
#54
Laserman said:
Guys,

My Drummer uses double bass drums, both guitarist in the band use FOUR Marshall Cabs and two heads EACH. Yeah, we play loud 80s metal. I'm using 500 Watts to a 4-10 cab, another 500 watts to a 2nd 4-10 and 500 watts to a 1-15 cab. I will most like be adding a 2nd 1-15 cab just to keep up. And our vocalist can sing over that AND sound great doing it. Playing rock at low volumes sucks.

:hyper:
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WOW! I have been in situations like that, and I do not miss it. I am glad you enjoy it, but I cannot fathom why everyone needs to be so loud. Do you think it is an image thing...perhaps an ego thing? After a point, it just becomes noise. Being that close to that much guitar power would worry me a bit...please look up guitarist Paul Gilbert, and his hearing loss.

Good luck to your hearing,

Mark
 
#55
Gruntollio Bass said:
Bass has to be felt. If you can't feel it, then you might as well be a guitard.

Having said that, regardless of live or in rehearsal we always set our amps to a level that is comfortable to all and will have us sitting in a nice mix so that we are just resting nicley with the drummers attack.

Also I always wear earplugs. When I was younger, I didn't and I guess I was not as well informed about the dangers of not wearing them. They live in my gig bag and come out before I play a note these days. I probably have a slight bit of dammage from my younger days, but I'll be damned if I'm going to make it worse.
I keep telling my guitard and singer in one of my bands they need to start wearing them, but both are being a bit silly about it and haven't brought any yet. I might even do them a favour and buy some for them, because I know if I don't do it, they won't bother.
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Ehhhhhh? Could you repeat that? What?
 
#57
I like loud....it kind of pushes you out of normalcy into the moment of the music.....feeling the stage buckle under you and a warm breeze across your forearms.

Always wear plugs though......but then one tends to turn up which does get a bit silly.

Also, I've noticed that I crank the low end/volume wanting to really feel it....but due to the room (standing waves) right in front of the cab is relatively light on low....one time at one rehersal room I sat on the drummers stool in the corner while someone played by rig and holy cow...those 2 18's were really pummeling. In front of them though, can't feel much.

Massive low end is part of the key to feeling of hugeness...but does depend on where you stand. .
.loud mids are easy to get and the lower ones chew everything up. Its possible my band will be working with a singer live and I really get concerned for balance and sound issues with that - thats something we will have to work hard at.

Heavy overdriven bass just sounds silly quiet - but it can stomp over everything.

With my current drummer he'll often say I'm a bit loud on soundcheck, so I drop back.....then once we are in full flow he's beating the sh*t out of the skins I can't hear myself so well.

Getting the mids right up behind your head helps (again, always wear plugs).

One show I fired up the carvin B1500 and the sound guy quite nicely said "err...the PA can't keep up with that!" :D --- 'but its only on 3?!' (owners of that amp who use the drive control will know what I mean!)

A couple of 10/8/6s can provide
plenty of mids providing they are crossed over... its the low end takes the surface area and power.

For sound check, what I do with the drummer is he pedals his
hi-hat while I play...if we can't hear that I'm too loud. Seems to work ok.

We are not playing shows where its all FOH and we have a sensitive sound guy.
 
#58
markkoelsch said:
For anybody that is interested I found a chart of various sounds, including various musical instruments. Please take a look, and be amazed.

Mark
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I call bull. Rock music isn't approaching 150dB, I don't give a rip what band you are.

Most of the rest I'll go along with, but that stat is so far off as to be laughable. I've been on-stage in monitor world for some of the loudest acts out there, and I worked the club scene for a lot of years with seriously loud metal bands. Yes, I wore / wear plugs, I like my hearing...but I've never seen an on-stage measurement above mid 120s. And yes, I agree that is STUPID loud.

As for me, I had the realization that I like my bass seriously loud behind me on-stage (venue allowing). I do have the courtesy to listen to the sound man (I'd be a serious hypocrite if I didn't), but I'll push it as far as they'll let me go. It helps to play venues that are of a little larger capacity.

Lately I've been trying out IEMs, and I think that may be a nice way to go for smaller clubs where I can't push it without overpowering everything. On larger stages, I'll let my pants flap.

-Mark
 

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