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Do you use your "volume" knob?

tspallone

tspallone

Guest
Oct 13, 2011
341
171
Nanuet, NY
www.tomspallone.com
#1
In a live situation, do you mess with your onboard volume knob at all?

Doesn't altering the output level of the bass itself throw off all the affects settings?

Should I just go full on (to 11) from the bass, match input/output levels on all affects and then just adjust level at amp and never touch onboard "volume" knob?

Same for front of house mix?

I'm sure the board op doesn't want the player messing with levels on the fly when they're trying to mix, right?

Or, am I wrong with this?
 
#4
Of course! A fundamental element of music is dynamics, which means appropriate volume levels and transitions. To get dynamics, I use it all: how hard I pluck, where I pluck, volume knob, tone knob, amp levels, discussions with the sound tech, etc.

The problem is that we are all now of the MTV generation, and broadcast bandwidth is limited, so dynamic range has to be compressed. So that leaves less dynamic expression available otherwise.
 
#5
remainthesame said:
I soundcheck with my bass at about 3/4 of the volume and then when we start to ply i slowly bring it up to full. after that, no i do not touch my volume knob.
Click to expand...

Why sandbag the soundcheck levels and risk distorting in the PA until the engineer catches on to your gag?

If your bandmates habitually crank their levels once the first set starts, get whatever extra level you need for monitoring from your stage rig, downstream from the DI send. Better yet, persuade them to knock it off.
 
#9
I play with my on board volume at ten at all times. I always have P.A. support so my stage rig is strictly for monitoring. If I need more stage volume I turn up my amp without affecting my line level, I would worry turning up my bass from %75 would affect my signal. While I always have P.A. support the sound guy tends to go home after sound check most nights.
 
#11
Depends on the situation and the gig. I find that when covering broad musical styles in smaller rooms (with vocal only PA systems), it can be necessary to constantly ride the volume and tone knobs to accommodate the dynamics of the tune. But I also have shows where the bass tone is fairly static for the entire night, and the only thing that needs to be established is the stage amp tone & volume, which is adjusted if necessary during the first couple of songs and left, and then only if something has changed drastically since sound check.
 
#13
Thanks for the replies but, I guess my point to the post is that, I'm trying to set up my effects here at home so that they work and sound like I want them to and just be able to take them out to a gig or rehearsal and plug in without worrying about level matching.

So, I guess what I'm asking is, what seems like the logical thing to do is to set it up with the bass volume maxed but then, it would always have to stay that way or else lowering the output volume on the bass would adversely affect the operation of the effects

I've just been going straight into the amp so, this hasn't been an issue but, I just purchased a wireless unit and am waiting for it to arrive and since I have to have SOMETHING between me and amp, I figure, let me connect all effects even though they won't all be active all the time but, I sort of would like to have them there if the need arises.

And so, this got me thinking how to connect and operate the whole mess.

So, it's really an effects issue and not really a end level issue that I'm concerned with.

What about a volume pedal POST effects? Bass volume maxed with all the effects tweaked to operate properly, always leave it like that and THEN eff with my own output level to the amp or board with a volume pedal? Anyone do that?

I think I'm making this more complicated than it should be, right?

Thanks for any input.
 
#15
I spent 30 years playing before I ever touched the volume or tone knobs. However, these days I will make minor adjustments if, say, one bass's pickups are hotter than another's, or there is noticeable fret sound. In those cases I'll roll the volume back to keep from lightly overdriving (I hate that) or to keep the sound nice and thuddy by backing off some highs.

It is very minor and only when necessary. Most of the time they're on 11!
 
#16
My Gibson SG bass has 2 vol knobs and one tone knob. I have to use the vol controls to balance the p/u's to the sound I want. There is no master volume on the bass. I have had great success adjusting my volume as needed depending on the song [dynamics] using a Dunlop Volume pedal between the bass and the amp. I don't use any other effects. If I find I need to make an adjustment during the song, I can do it without interrupting anything, and not have to wait for a whole note to make the change!
 
#20
It's not *always* bad idea to make subtle adjustments w/ the volume knob(s), as the songs require. (For simple volume, it's better to adjust w/ touch; but sometimes that's not an available option for all players. And of course on a VVT J-style bass, tonal balance b/w the pups happens via the two volume pots.)

OTOH, there's no reason to sandbag the soundcheck by intentionally sending a quieter signal than you intend to use as your max.
 

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