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Dumb question: Is asking for bass in monitors a no-no?

A

Alan Vorse

Aug 20, 2005
1,665
34
#1
I feel a little silly asking this question. I've been playing bass for many years.

10 years ago, my hard rock band played a gig where we were the opener so we got a decent sound-check. Everybody else in the band got about a minute or so of attention regarding their monitor mix and then the sound guy said "OK, lets do front of house." I raised my hand and said "what about my monitor?" The guy said "Oh, OK what do you want?" I told him a little guitar and vocals and some bass. He responded with "You don't usually put bass in monitors." So I guess I got used to the idea of not hearing myself so well on stage.

So even though I play in a hard rock band (different band now), I still like to play fills and even get a few solo spots. Because of this I am reminded of a quote form Marcus Miller when he said "you have to hear yourself on stage or you start digging in and won't be able to play as well." Because of this, I have occasionally asked for bass in monitors and have usually got similar responses as the first sound guy and at best have got "I guess we could put a little in there."

The funny thing is, the last hard rock gig I did, the sound person was a punk rock chick and she actually asked me if I wanted bass in my monitor (the ironic thing is, either she didn't put much - or any - in).

I play in bands that do other styles (R&B, Jazz, Country, classic rock) and the volume is a little lower so it was never really an issue.

So have I just had a run of bad luck with sound people or is asking for bass in the monitors a no-no? Do I need to go out and get an SVT or something?
 
#2
Perfectly acceptable to have bass in monitors. I think part of the problem might be that some systems use smallish, cheap monitors that won't handle a lot of bass but if you're using an onstage amp as well, a little bass in the mix can go a long way.

I play a local casino gig occasionally that has a good JBL sound system and usually run just through the monitors.
 
#3
I dont's see why, if the kick drum isn't jammed in there too.
Unless the monitors just can't handle the freq's at higher volumes.

In that case use inner ear monitors or just crank up your amp. What else is there to do?

Why do I read so many threads about unwilling sound people?
I usually never had many problems with them.
 
#7
at my gig friday night the sound guy wouldn't let me turn my amp up loud enough to hear it on stage, made me go direct box even though i brought my own 300 dollar mic, and had it all set up on a stand for him. then he just turned my bass up in the monitors for my stage volume. my question is why did i even lug my all tube 65 pound amp head and my cab to the gig??? i could have just brought my bass and a cable and had the same tone. my tone thru the monitors was crap, and the audience said it was crap in the mains as well. it's a p-bass and i had no low end or mids at all....just treble. He cut the lows and mids from the guitars as well so literally the only low end was from the kick. i guess with a mic or other solution like a bddi/POD he would have eq'd the same so it doesn't matter much, but still it is frustrating to play when you know your tone is crap.

sorry for the derail. bass in the monitors should be OK if you need it.
 
#8
You're not 'wrong' to ask for what you want. You've probably run into a few different issues. Lots of people skimp on the monitor system. They're basically designated for mid-range stuff - vocals, guitar and keyboards so singers can hear what to sing along with. Cheap/mid-price 12" floor wedges don't usually have the 'stones' to take bass guitar or kick drum.
Since bass carries well the sound guy/girl may hear plenty of at the house mix position & it sounds fine there. Even more so if there are decent subs for the FOH.
Another issue (related to the 1st one) the board may only have 1 - 2 monitor mix sends so they don't really have the capability to give everyone their own mix.
 
#10
This Comes In to Play when Others on the Other side of the stage can not hear you. They are the Ones That Need to Tell the Sound People Hey I Cant Hear Him! if i Cant hear me then there is a Problem with the Bands stage Volume/Mix. The SVT And My Full Stacks are for Tone Not Volume.
 
#12
I rarely have a wedge since using IEM's for over 10 years. In the instances where I do, (usually a festival setting) I have had bass and kick in my mix every time. I can't imagine not having it. It keeps the overall stage volume down, and keeps the kick nice and centered. A nice trick to keep a guitar player in check, is to slowly bleed some of his guitar into his vocal monitor wedge. It won't necessarily make them turn down, but it just might keep them from turning up!
 
#13
Alan Vorse said:
10 years ago, my hard rock band played a gig where we were the opener so we got a decent sound-check. Everybody else in the band got about a minute or so of attention regarding their monitor mix and then the sound guy said "OK, lets do front of house." I raised my hand and said "what about my monitor?" The guy said "Oh, OK what do you want?" I told him a little guitar and vocals and some bass. He responded with "You don't usually put bass in monitors." So I guess I got used to the idea of not hearing myself so well on stage.

Do I need to go out and get an SVT or something?
Click to expand...
well, you do need to bring enough rig for the gig. your bass amp is for you to hear yourself, as well as tone-shaping. you don't want to blast everybody and wreck the stage mix, but you should never be dependent on a monitor to hear your bass unless it's a really big stage or a really quiet gig. (typical vocal monitors don't handle bass well, causing the rest of what the monitor is trying to provide, like vocals, to lose clarity.)

MrTAteMyBalls said:
at my gig friday night the sound guy wouldn't let me turn my amp up loud enough to hear it on stage, made me go direct box even though i brought my own 300 dollar mic, and had it all set up on a stand for him. then he just turned my bass up in the monitors for my stage volume.
Click to expand...
jeez, was it "your" gig or his?

there's a bunch of "bass player vs. soundguy" threads here that all end up getting locked, but the upshot is that you are responsible for your tone. don't be too loud (or too hostile), but he's there to get what you give him and make it work.

if you are really sure that your setup is professional and will sound good in the mix, calmly and politely insist that it be used.
 
#14
There's really no reason why you shouldn't be able to have a bit of bass in your monitor, if your sharing monitors it's fair enough that the power will get used up for vox and other things where monitoring a bit more vital so it won't be practical.

Anyway if the soundguy know what he's doing he will have set up the monitors so they don't have lows that will damage them, or in the case of slightly shoddy powered monitors just cut plenty of lows to get more volume out of them. If they're set up right there's no reason to not have plenty of bass in them. My rig at the moment hasn't got nearly enough power for what I use it for, so a little wedge is nice when I can get it.
 
#15
My position is that if two conditions are not met, there shouldn't be ANY instruments (other than purely acoustic ones) in any monitors. The monitors MUST be high-quality and bi-amped, AND there must be a separate mix for everyone on stage. Othertwise, just put vocals in the monitors, and turn the hell down on stage so everyone can hear everyone else.

John
 
#18
I kind of agree with JTE. I never want anything but vocals, snare and kik in the monitors.
Boost my vocal a little please.
My stage gear is my monitor. That's what the DI box is for - he mixes house, I mix stage.

But if you want bass in the monitor, it's a legitimate request and the soundman should give you whatever mix you want.

I also prefer mic on my cab and DI if there are enough lines available.
Prefer mic on cab, but it rarely happens - it's his house.
 
#20
One thing that has worked for me in the past is to sidewash my amp. If you are standing on the end of the stage turn it inwards and stand right in front of it. I like this method, because I can always hear myself better than the rest of the mix.

EDIT: A lot of sounds guys will say, "That's as much as she'll take," with next to no bass in the monitors. So, sidewashing helps big time. ALso, the rest of the band can hear you too.
 

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