I'm in the 'I pay the mortgage on this place and still have no corner to practice or call my own' club.
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Bedroom Bass Player Club
- Thread starter Boogie Woogie
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- bedroom bass players
I haven't played out in years, don't even have a working bass amp since my ancient Peavey Mark 3 crapped out on me, so it's all bedroom headphone practice. Lately I find i'm more interested in building basses than playing them. I could probably suffice with a single 8 and one of the micro-amps like an Elf or TC Electronic, or something like a Rumble 15, but I like the hassle free aspect of headphones. I use a really ancient CD player Tascam Bass Trainer, the basic functions work, but its the "4 buttons with 30 functions each" aspect that makes it a PITA to use. I always searched for a perfect headphone set up that allowed me to mix recorded and my live playing, felt like I never really found it. What kind of setups are other people using?
I'd play in a band and live but since the only thing that matters is beer sales and playing a bunch of music that makes me want to watch paint dry. That's not my idea of fun, so I play in my basement and sometimes in my bass room.... I can play what I want and not have to smell bar stench and or vomit.
I started as a bedroom drummer, and then started playing with some friends in my own room so I've never avoided having loud stuff at home. I practice bass through a Rumble 500, but I like knowing I can take the same amp to a gig. I also have a very small amp (Peavey MAX 126, 10-watt, 6.5" speaker) that I can bring on vacations, and currently have it in my office.
Hey G! In my (way overcrowded) home office/music room I have that same Tascam bass trainer plugged into a Hartke A35, and then my bass plugged into a Zoom B3 and that into the A35. I don't use the B3 for much other than the tuner and metronome. I could probably do without the B3, but I have it now, so... I do mess around with some of the effects every now and then, but I pretty much like the way my bass sounds "au naturel".
I play at church and used to rip and burn all the songs so I could use the trainer to key shift, but the new church I'm at usually plays in the original key, so I save the time and trouble and just play along with the computer (Klipsch computer speakers are pretty nice). Also, even the A35 rattles my room, so I'm usually listening to the bass through headphones.
That's my set-up, but looking at this, it's obvious I could probably do just as well with my VOX headphone amp!
In my 2nd year of learning at home, started out with Rumble 100V3 and now Im up to GK Fusion 550 with 2 NEO 4x10 - 2x12 cabs, which was supposed to be at work - and was getting lessons for proper technique, but ended at home, but before they came home I bought a Streamliner 900 and 2 Genzler 2x10-3 cabs - it gets worse - Im stuck having to work from home enter the office/bass room - so I practice all through out the day, which causes another problem - Bass Wanting, start seeing these beautiful bass's on sale and go nuts, up to 10 and cant play worth a poop! But I look good doing it, now i just bought a PF50T -PF115 cab for my shop , i do go in now and then - Keep my P bass and T40 there - selling my rumbles - except my lil 25 watt - keep in my truck - have no clue why
Haven't been in a band in almost 4 years. I've sold off most of my larger club gear, and I'm down to only two basses! It's like pulling at a thread on a sweater, now I want to sell everything. I was thinking of going with an iRig and headphones. I think it might be fun to see what other people are doing to satisfy their desire to play without all the band overhead.
Everyone's got different reasons why they enjoy playing music. You clearly like to perform. That's EXACTLY the opposite of the entire point of this thread. Lol
i played live for many many years i gave up playing live 10 years ago after going through personal loss. i had not touched my bass in a very long time. i join'd talkbass a year ago and talking to people on here it inspired me to pick up my bass again im now happy playing in my kitchen
Not following your logic here. Our amps have Volume knobs. Just because my amp is 800 watts doesn't mean I'm using all that power when I play in my music room.
And, the knobs go to eleven!
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I did the opposite once. It doesn't work. It's too quiet.
Well, no time like the present to start, then:
I live in a condo and I don't sound proof my "office" where I play / record music at all. I just have my bass cab elevated to ear level and close to my stool. That's all. Granted I don't use distortion for practicing (or playing), but I find that I can play very quietly with the loudspeaker in close proximity to my ear and be totally satisfied. I play all the time like that into the wee hours of the night (which is when I'm most awake) and don't bother anybody. My wife lives in a hospital bed in the living room and I don't bother her, or the neighbors. I do have several pares of headphones, but I far prefer the method described over them. Maybe something like this would work for you...
The only thing I have to watch out for is playing backing tracks too loud. When I get around to it I'll just move my monitors closer, or even better, purchase a pare of those little I-rig monitors. With something like that in close proximity, it will solve the problem I bet. No doubt overkill, but I have an Acme Low B-112FR on a four leg stool right next to the stool I sit on when playing (if I'm not standing), and I'm better than good with that. Trace Elliot has what sure look like some outstanding mini-cabs in their line now, a 2 X 8 and 1 X 10 that would probably be superior to what I'm using now, the way I rehearse / practice.
Trace Elliot
Vox has a real nice bass combo that has the loudspeaker recessed into the cab that looks real nice, too. 'Killed_by_Death' uses this set up for woodsheding with reportedly excellent results.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...-50-watt-bass-combo-amp?&mrkgcl=28&mrkgadid=3
The logic is that one amp isn't just volume knob. It has speaker and cabinet too, and that speaker pushes the air. And that air has to go somewhere, and that "somewhere" can be a small room or football stadion.
In short, if you have Ferrari in your backyard you won't be able to drive it as it should be driven, even if you have a gas pedal.
