At a bar right now and bow. Band is good, but bass is non existant.
How to tell him or band without insult?
How to tell him or band without insult?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Can't hear bass player....
- Thread starter M Sharp
- Start date
This drives me crazy too...
Just yell it out, it's a bar. I doubt it's his doing anyway, it'll give him more ammunition at the next band meeting.
Just yell it out, it's a bar. I doubt it's his doing anyway, it'll give him more ammunition at the next band meeting.
Probably he was told by the singer and guitarists to keep it low. As a public service, TBers should fan out, spreading the message to band leaders at gigs everywhere: "more bass!"
To start, I'll cover central Virginia wineries on Tuesdays and small music clubs on Thursdays. Might need a little help covering the world's other music venues, though. Anyone?
To start, I'll cover central Virginia wineries on Tuesdays and small music clubs on Thursdays. Might need a little help covering the world's other music venues, though. Anyone?
Last edited:
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
If the bass and / or drums can't be heard then it is not rock and roll.
I play in an acoustic duo, where my bass lines are an integral part of our all original songs. My biggest gripe is when the "sound man" mixes my bass so low in the FOH that it can't be heard. It's impossible to tell from the stage.
Wow. I think I may have been drunk-posting!!!
It was a smaller bar and the band mixed themselves. Guitar combos miked, keys direct. Drums bass not miked.
Bass player had a large combo, big enough to sit on through every set. I told my buddy he did not need to be miked. His amp should be able to rumble. He played very lightly with a pick and the 4 of us agreed we heard zero bass. He may have thought he was loud enough by feeling the bass under his arse?
My friend said, "hey turn up cause we can't hear you."
He gave a perplexed look and did nothing.
It was a smaller bar and the band mixed themselves. Guitar combos miked, keys direct. Drums bass not miked.
Bass player had a large combo, big enough to sit on through every set. I told my buddy he did not need to be miked. His amp should be able to rumble. He played very lightly with a pick and the 4 of us agreed we heard zero bass. He may have thought he was loud enough by feeling the bass under his arse?
My friend said, "hey turn up cause we can't hear you."
He gave a perplexed look and did nothing.
Tell his bandmates how much better they would sound if the bass was heard OR, if you're feeling cocky, ask his bandmates if the bass player's amp is broken because you can't hear any bass. I get the "you're too loud" thing on stage sometimes. When that happens, I make it a point to walk around in the audience on the next song where no backing vocals from me are needed to check the bass level in the audience.
PS: this is another reason why walking around with a wireless during soundcheck or the show is required(got bass?).
PS: this is another reason why walking around with a wireless during soundcheck or the show is required(got bass?).
Maybe that guy is like me and cares about his ears more than his slot in the mix There's a point where I just wave bye-bye to the volume and tell the guys I'll see them at the end of the night.
You can have bass in the mix or not but I plan on getting paid either way so....
And yeah...they are my ears and I get to decide how loud is too loud.
Having said that. sitting on top of your amp may be the worst place in the world to judge mix volume....
You can have bass in the mix or not but I plan on getting paid either way so....
And yeah...they are my ears and I get to decide how loud is too loud.
Having said that. sitting on top of your amp may be the worst place in the world to judge mix volume....
If you're worried about ear damage, you should get a nice pair of plugs (every bass player should have a nice pair of plugs)
Playing without hearing myself is seriously no fun. I can't believe you actually would just be like "whatever" about it.
I had the exact opposite problem last week at a gig. Our drummer and I rocked out apparently guitar/vocal free. He was there, but sound man sucked the anuuuuus. Someone in the crowd got pissed and went and fixed it themselves for the last 2 songs.
Don't confuse a refusal to enable some idiotic volume war with complacency, I'm hardly all "whatever" about it.
Bass player sitting on his amp = someone who just plain does not care.
I just assume by default they cant hear the bassplayer. Besides if we get loud enough, we can use our sonic frequencies to confuse females into thinking we are not the bassist and then sleep with us.
