Can't hear bass player....

[JimmyM]

Ridiculous.

Can't find a chair?

 

[mellowinman]

Can't find a chair?

Can't find a phone.

 

[HolmeBass]

Yeah, this is annoying. Too many soundmen, singers, whatever do feel that a tiny, tiny amount of bass is the right amount. I can't stand that. Most heavy music is like that. We listened to Alice In Chains first CD in the car on Sunday, my wife and I, and were commenting on how the bass is pretty much zero on most of the tunes. There were two tunes where you could actually hear everything the bassist played, although not loud, at least audible. Any coincidence that those were also the two successful singles from that album? I think not!

 

[hrodbert696]

The guy who usually plays mandolin in our church worship team started trying guitar recently. He is NOT very confident on the instrument. I sit behind him (on a stool, not my amp, thank you) and can't see what he's doing, but sure couldn't hear him in the mix. My wife, who was in the congregation, informed me that he barely seemed to be strumming... at all.

Could well be the bassist the OP was watching couldn't be heard because he wasn't confident enough to actually play.

 

[will33]

Guy was told he could not be heard and he did nothing, so he deserves to not be heard.

Seems pretty apathetic to me.

 

[EastCoastThump]

Guy was told he could not be heard and he did nothing, so he deserves to not be heard. Seems pretty apathetic to me.

Could be. Or maybe his bandmates have asked him to keep his stage volume down, and for him that trumps well-meaning advice from unknown audience members. Hard to judge him from this distance.

 

[viper4000]

Being heard and being loud are two different things. EQ is our friend. The EQ at home, in the rehearsal space, and on a gig are three completely different settings. Young or inexperienced players overlook this.

The best results I have ever had at a gig was when our overall volume was much lower than one would expect. EQ each instrument to meet the needs of the room, and you're golden. We received many, many compliments about how hard we rocked and how we had the best sound ever achieved in that room. None of the regulars that commented said our volume was not worthy of being called rock-and-roll.

Once again, less can be more.

 

[will33]

Could be. Or maybe his bandmates have asked him to keep his stage volume down, and for him that trumps well-meaning advice from unknown audience members. Hard to be judge him from this distance.

Possibly, could be an eq thing rather than a volume thing, but he still did nothing and has no idea what he sounds like sitting on top his amp. Apparently didn't even get off the thing and take a couple steps forward to have a listen.

 

[Bredian]

If its rock, it needs to thump your chest while on the dance floor. I'm gonna bring out my subs for the next gig and charge $5 per ride.

 

[NWB]

I can't hear what I'm playing if I sit on my cab. Apparently this bass player doesn't really care about hearing either himself or the audience hearing him.

 

[repoman]

What is the best amp to sit on for metal?

 

[ArtechnikA]

I talked with the bass player in the house band at a local open mike about the same situation: no bass...
I thought his response was puzzling at first but I'm starting to understand it: "The guitars and drums are too loud."

At the open mike, after the 'house band set' there was a continual parade of guitarists and drummers, and they were all (too) loud.
I started to get it: These guys come out to the open mike because it's their only chance to play loud. Take that away and they have no reason to show up...
(There was also a solo acoustic singer/songwriter type set to which no one payed any attention...)

It happens that the most convenient venue for this particular open-mike experience stopped having them just as I was about to go sign up, so I'm now chasing them around the county for a workable time and place. If I'm playing bass, it will get turned up enough so that I can hear myself because - fretless - I kinda gotta hear myself. I'll take my InEars if I have to and there's access to an outlet...

So in the 'house band' open mike concept, yeah, evidently "the job" is just to provide a little bit of support for the guest players, let them play loud and have a good time.
It doesn't explain what he was inaudible during the house band set, but my guess is that's the way the guitarist likes it...

 

[Crazy_Jake]

I tend to only play in 3 piece bands - that way I never have to worry about the bass not being heard

 

[rtslinger]

Maybe he was just sitting in for these guys and didn't care about the mix. Or his last gig he tore the roof off the place and now he has been stifled could be anyone of these things. We played in one place where they asked as to keep the bass volume low while people were eating. So if he did nothing after you mentioned it, this screams he doesn't care or his hands are tied.

 

[MJ_Sotti]

I hate guitards o much...I refuse to turn up. Yesterday, outside gig I got my Classic w me I could have blown the doors off everyone, but it just makes everything worse. I need to find some grown ups.

 

[vmabus]

What is the best amp to sit on for metal?

I think it would have to have those aluminum-coned speakers

 

[vmabus]

I played this spring with a big band, and after the concerts, most of the players (including the drummer) made a point of thanking me for bass they could hear. They formerly had one of the keyboard players covering the bass lines, and the six trumpets alone buried that.

 

[Feral Feline]

What is the best amp to sit on for metal?

Definitely solid state, tubes get too hot to sit on.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

At a bar right now and bow. Band is good, but bass is non existant.
How to tell him or band without insult?

mids mids mids

 

[interp]

I've occasionally played with people who believe that if they can hear the bass it's too loud.