Cab for tough room

[dbsfgyd1]

The important thing here I think is going to be taking all the sub frequencies out with your equalizer.

‘Yep. The worst room I played in was the Masonic hall in Erie, Pa. Tile floor glazed tile walls and pillars every 10 feet, with glazed tile floor to ceiling, gridding the room. I played it with a Rick 4001 using just the bridge pickup with the tone up all green way. The amp was EQ’d bass off, no low mids, the rest flat. Even at that it was still booming (and 40 years later it’s probably still reverberating down there). The only cure was to basically turn the volume almost off, just enough for the band to hear.

The only that gave me comfort was that this dance was an annual affair going back several decades and every band that ever played there probably sounded like crap

 

[Johnny Fingers]

Bass=25 watts
Guitars =5 watts ea
Drums=trap kit
PA=Bose


Still will sound like crud.

 

[57pbass]

Turn down the volume
Turn down the bass
Turn up the mids
That’s a good starting point..
In those types of rooms I usually start there and tweak the controls..

 

[ashtray]

Solo the bridge pickup on a Jazz bass, roll back the tone knob to about 3 on the bass, cut the bass frequencies on the amp, with mids and highs flat.

That might help avoid getting a booming sound.

 

[SteveHeissner]

Playing at a brewery you say? Well, in that case in addition to adjusting EQ as mentioned above, drink a beer or two before you start playing. Then you can keep smiling even if you can't hear yourself.

 

[chris_b]

Barefaced or Bergantino cabs, an HPF and enough time to sound check.

 

[mrperkolator]

so perhaps someone else can chime in who's tried this, because I'm just working on theory.....

What about bringing (or having brewery get one) a large rug for the drummer / bass cab area. Having something to absorb some of that sound may be beneficial, and keep down the echo. From my understanding studios have material that helps dampen sound to get a clear recording. Thought this might help you too.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Gramma pad, decoupling is the key to consistent sound.

 

[mrperkolator]

Gramma pad, decoupling is the key to consistent sound.

The gramma looks very interesting. Cool company. I'm busy reading all their info..... For others reading this that want to follow me down the bunny trail, the company is called Link Removed

 

[Standalone]

Playing a brewery tomorrow with terrible acoustics. High ceilings concrete floors . So only so much we can do with what is. So do you think I’d have better luck with, my pair of Ampeg svt210av’s or trusty Genz Benz 212neox? I’m running a TC electronics BH550 head. Thanks again

The Genz is DEEP and a little scooped and hi fi. A little. That cab and tone profile needs a good room. I loved mine but it wouldn’t be my choice for what you describe.

A vertical stack of the 210’s would be my call — or one set vertically and on a crate if the room is not large.

I just played a similar small room brewery with my two single fifteen stack; my bag ends are very mid forward and work well in challenging rooms.

 

[Amano]

Concrete floor. Put an old rug.

 

[RCH]

Is this a private event? I don't see anything on their website about live music? Wanted to stop by and check you out.

 

[bgavin]

If you have the time, and the freedom to check in advance....
Place your cab at the audience location where you want the best sound.
Play bass content music through the cab with a player of some sort.

Wander the area where you will have your amp during the performance.
Move your ears into all the areas where you could possibly place your cab during the performance.
You will hear the best (or worst) bass response in various areas.
This is where you put your cab during the performance.

This works well for home theater subwoofer placement... should help your tough room as well.

 

[RCH]

Saw a friend's band at this venue a couple of years ago. They were set up in the lounge area facing the bar. The bass player had a 15" cab on the floor. The whole band was too loud for that space and there was alot of mud. I think if the cab were off the floor and the mids were bumped and the bass rolled off a bit (HPF would have helped) it could have been better, but it was a tough space to sound good in. Good luck and Merry Thanksgiving.

 

[hasbeen]

Interesting gig. I helped develop the Neo-X and "voiced" it. That cab is great for cutting through the mix. One thing though- I LOVE low mids. They are a fickle friend though. They really add punch but as well, they can cover up regular mids too, making it difficult to hear yourself. As well, they can add mud too just like lows.

BTW, I live just up the road from the brewery.

 

[IamGroot]

I would take a Fender Rumble, so you can blames something for the bad sound..

 

[Altitude]

I'd go with as low volume as you can get away with and set the amps away from the walls and up off the floor if you can. But, like Analogeezer said in post #2, it's not likely to make much difference.

The best possible thing a band can do to combat these situations is go 100% IEM, no on stage amps, and digital drums. It's a nuclear option, requires big equipment investment, and takes time to get used to. Drummers are especially grouchy about it.

But the current generation of e-drums actually sound terrific and if you can get this sort of thing going right, playing tough rooms is a whole different game.

 

[dave64o]

Bring both 210s and stack them vertically behind you, but only use the top one, cut bass, and get and HPF if it's not too late.....

That pretty much covers it.

 

[micguy]

For loud, reverberant rooms, if there's a decent PA in the place, the thing to do is to put as little sound in the room from the band itself as possible. PA's can be set up that will put the energy where it needs to be. A bass amp barfs low end in every direction at once. Less from the bass amp (in ears is ideal), more from the PA is usually a recipe for better sound.

 

[Timmah]

Playing a brewery tomorrow with terrible acoustics. High ceilings concrete floors . So only so much we can do with what is. So do you think I’d have better luck with, my pair of Ampeg svt210av’s or trusty Genz Benz 212neox? I’m running a TC electronics BH550 head. Thanks again

Hey, I have both of those cab setups and I live in CT too. Haven’t played legitimus yet but I do enjoy their beer.

I’d go with the 210s stacked vertically, personally. The Neo is a great cab but I find it a little bit hard to control at a low volume, so I bring it out at gigs where I know I won’t have to worry too much about things like that. The natural loa bass roll off baked into the little Ampegs is your friend here, imo, as is keeping the volume as low as possible and relying on low mids instead of bass.

Good luck with your gig!