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Brutal open Acoustic jam experience
- Thread starter JGbassman
- Start date
BRUTAL ACOUSTIC JAM....... my next project band's name. LOLOLOLolololol
Like the guy running an "open mic" night said to me, "When I started this, I was picturing 'one guy, one guitar'". We had a bass, an acoustic guitar, and a non-playing singer.
Ghost bassist.
Strutting his stuff, with swagger and pout.
Our hero of bass has completely dropped out
For some unknown reason, no bass in the mix.
Band leader, please fix!
jive1
Commercial User
My 2 cents: Whoever is running the sound is being a jerk.
There is absolutely no reason why the bass can't be run in the monitors. If they are afraid that the bass will blow the speaker, they can cut the lows so that the players can hear the note and articulation. You don't need subwoofer lows to hear yourself. And honestly, an amplified acoustic can put out alot of bass frequencies too. It also doesn't matter if you are using an electric bass, keytar, upright or ABG, no-one is gonna hear the bass unless it's amplified. Especially, if there are other amplified instruments and crowd noise.
I think your friend should have made a little stink on your behalf. A simple, 'Hey I need to hear the bass for my songs and there is none in the monitor" should suffice.
There is absolutely no reason why the bass can't be run in the monitors. If they are afraid that the bass will blow the speaker, they can cut the lows so that the players can hear the note and articulation. You don't need subwoofer lows to hear yourself. And honestly, an amplified acoustic can put out alot of bass frequencies too. It also doesn't matter if you are using an electric bass, keytar, upright or ABG, no-one is gonna hear the bass unless it's amplified. Especially, if there are other amplified instruments and crowd noise.
I think your friend should have made a little stink on your behalf. A simple, 'Hey I need to hear the bass for my songs and there is none in the monitor" should suffice.
I'll put in my 2 cents...
When I was in the house band in Spain/Tenerife, there would be many instances of the power going out.
I felt strange watching the other members grab acoustic guitars, drums, etc., and I just stood on the sideline. I kept thinking "without 220/240 volts, my experience and musicianship don't mean squat." It was a sobering experience...
I've played fretless in the UK for acoustic artists. I was in the house band and if they wanted a group, that was my job. I would always have someone ask for acoustic bass... Eventually...
Seeing the debate between Ron Carter and Anthony Jackson, plus other various articles on "doublers" made me feel that I should be able to play both. In fact, several famous musicians in the London scene told me "I only use acoustic bass in my bands..."
I slowly, but surely, started to learn Upright bass... Try it, it's a lot of fun...
Don't bother if you don't feel it. It's not for everybody... You could play the Acoustic bass guitar. People will always create an issue, ignore anything regarding music that your heart doesn't lead you to... Also, kudos for helping your friend...
I can make my way around an upright. It's just cumbersome, hard to transport,and just not my favorite. I honestly don't have the time to invest into learning to play it well, and then there is the cost...
I concur... It's an acquired taste...and burden, I'm about to spend $10,000+ on one being refurbished... In the words of Bill Clinton "I feel your pain..."
Kinda like the "Mtv unplugged" craze that always had the instruments plugged in...
Easy now. He didn't call you names. Just because you don't like what he said, doesn't mean you should call him names.
"Acoustic means no amplification..." <- at the risk of sounding obnoxious this would be a good time to point out that you don't make the rules. I think you're flat out wrong in the circumstance described in the OPs post.
Acoustic instruments are different from electric instruments. One type can be amplified, the other must be. More importantly, Acoustic guitars _sound_ very different than electric guitars and that is the crux of the issue. Just because they are amplified to suit the size of the venue doesn't mean that they are electronic instruments. Singers with microphones are not electric vocalists.
Having said that, I think the situation the OP described was too bad. I would have brought an ABG, but that's because I happen to love them. He doesn't. Nothing wrong with that. And he's right, fretless electric bass sounds great with acoustic guitar (hello, Melissa Etheridge's first album) so no reason not to want to go that way. In these situations, I always bring a small combo amp for the electric bass (I use GK MB210), because sound men are like everyone else, some rock - some struggle.
And that brings us to the real issue: The sound man or whoever was running the show. I understand the philosophy of wanting an acoustic show. It keeps the focus on the singer/songwriters and keeps out the metalheads and the Hendrix wankers. This should be encouraged. However, realistically, bass players should be exempt. Just a quick look at the haters here on TB that show up anytime there is a new ABG thread will demonstrate that the bass community does not have a clear cut and popular solution to the acoustic idea. Therefore the soundman should accommodate with an amp or a DI that can bring that bass guitar into the mix without blowing up his mains or his monitors. If the soundman or MC is a stickler about acoustic instruments, he's going to see less bass players which I feel is a mistake.
And I'd like to echo the sentiments expressed above that the OP is doing something good with his talent by supporting his recovering friend. We should all have friends like that. We should all _be_ friends like that.
And just because a pedant likes to prescribe what is correct to other people doesn't mean that the practical application in the field conforms to their view.
OK, they probably should have tried to make it work. Having said that, If I was going to bring an electric bass to an acoustic jam, I'd either ask before hand, or bring a small combo just in case (probably both). I agree that you are not a prima donna, but you do sound kind of thin skinned.
I was asked to go to a jam by a friend that had been there before, and he knew what I played. I assumed it was a typical jam with an acoustic slant. Thin skinned would be throwing a fit or demanding to get my way. I attempted to adhere and adapt to the situation and do the best I could. I was frustrated, and left the stage once it got to the point I could no longer hear my bass. The frustration stemmed from the lack of cooperation of the host. That isn't being thin skinned in my book. Not sure how you came to think that.
I know this thread is well on it's way and much has been covered but I'll toss in my .02 I've done many a open mic and these things often have their regulars there . I like to visit and check them out before taking any gear or trying to sit in with the clique usually weeds out a lot of things that might pop up . Cheers
When I toured, we would do a stripped down "acoustic" set when we did radio shows or other special events. Here we even ran a minimal drum kit (we made a bass drum out of a sansonite suitcase, and it sounded great!) so this is how in my mind an acoustic show works, a laid back sound based on an acoustic guitar. So I guess this was what I was expecting when I showed up that night.
