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Ever been told!!!

BPotyk

BPotyk

Supporting Member
May 6, 2003
297
354
57
Edinburg Texas
#1
I am in the process of putting a new project together doing modern rock. Every one so far in the group has never played together but we are all in other bands. Well after about the 4th or 5th get together the guitarist calls and tells me our tones might not be compatible. Also I was told my bass tone makes his guitar sound weak as where with his regular band he has a full tone. I've just never heard of the bass making a guitar sound weak. I'm sure it was just the room we were in but has anyone else ever been told something like this?
 
#3
BPotyk said:
I am in the process of putting a new project together doing modern rock. Every one so far in the group has never played together but we are all in other bands. Well after about the 4th or 5th get together the guitarist calls and tells me our tones might not be compatible. Also I was told my bass tone makes his guitar sound weak as where with his regular band he has a full tone. I've just never heard of the bass making a guitar sound weak. I'm sure it was just the room we were in but has anyone else ever been told something like this?
Click to expand...

I think my response would have been, "Good luck finding a guitar tone that works, then."
 
#6
His tone, or lack of shouldn't be dependent on what your tone is. I don't know how many geetarists I've played with over the years who spend half the practice time trying to find a useable tone. Any decent musician should be able to dial in a useable tone regardless of rooms, other instruments, etc....May not be the best tone, but usable for the situation.

Just my $0.02
 
#7
Rumzini said:
Yeah...uh...EQ for the guitarist right. Seems that's like tommy Boy asking..."Richard, does this tie make me look fat?"
Click to expand...

Sorry I didn't make myself clear, I didn't mean it that way. Understanding EQ in general should enable our fella to adjust the guitar player's amp to not sound like monkey-poo.

Seriously though, work together. Different combinations of instruments with different setting can definitely affect how they impact each other's perceived sound. And why not EQ for the guitarist? He's a part of the band's sound. I want the band to sound good.

As for the change in sound due to the room, one way you can deal with this is by getting a dbx DriveRack, which auto-EQs the PA to the room using a reference signal and calibrated microphone. I don't have any experience with it myself, but it seems pretty sweet.
 
#8
Yea, I want the band to sound good too.... but the original poster only mentioned the guitarist having a problem with his tone. That kinda tells me that the guitarist is probably not interested in the band's sound as much as he is in his sound, and that's why I gave the advice I did.

Personally, I always try and suit my tone to the character of the singer first and everyone else second.
 
#10
BPotyk said:
I am in the process of putting a new project together doing modern rock. Every one so far in the group has never played together but we are all in other bands. Well after about the 4th or 5th get together the guitarist calls and tells me our tones might not be compatible. Also I was told my bass tone makes his guitar sound weak as where with his regular band he has a full tone. I've just never heard of the bass making a guitar sound weak. I'm sure it was just the room we were in but has anyone else ever been told something like this?
Click to expand...

Goodness, I've never heard such a thing! He's full of it. You cannot possibly be affecting his tone. Its the room.

Cherie
 
#11
At first I thought that he was full of it. Maybe just an excuse to get out of the band. On second thought, what's your sound like. I've heard bands where the bassist tries to get the most midrange and treble with little to no bass. Then yes, it would conflict with the guitar. This is just one example.

Just ask him if he's into the project, have the two of you get together with one or two other people who's opinion on sound you respect, and see if you can work it out.

It might just work, or he may say he doesn't think it will work. If he says that, he wasn't interested in the project. Either way, you can move on.
 
#12
Thanks for the insight everyone. Actually I think the project is falling apart. The guitarist and drums are both from the more modern edge school as where I'm from the classic rock/country side. We have been trying out singers using a variety of tunes.The bands they are in use alot of sequencing. My band is your standard classic rock setup( 2 geetars,bass, keys and drums)
My tone is what you would call your classic jazz bass.

I guess it's just different strokes for different folks. Chalk it up to a learning experience and consider myself very lucky to have my current band.

Take Care,
B
 
#14
The guitar tone that sounds killer when he's all by himself doesn't sound so good with a bass. Ever play with a guitar player with the low end cranked? :eyebrow:

That might be what's going on. He's not used to hearing his bass player (small bass combo vs 100w marshall stack). He hears you covering up his "marvelous low end". :spit:


What exactly does he expect YOU to do about HIS tone, anyway? :help:

Randy
 
#15
steveksux said:
The guitar tone that sounds killer when he's all by himself doesn't sound so good with a bass. Ever play with a guitar player with the low end cranked? :eyebrow:

That might be what's going on. He's not used to hearing his bass player (small bass combo vs 100w marshall stack). He hears you covering up his "marvelous low end". :spit:


What exactly does he expect YOU to do about HIS tone, anyway? :help:

Randy
Click to expand...

My guitar player always has his fat home practice tone going. Walks all over the bass frequencies with his Marshalls. Very common. We played the other night and he ran through a 30 watt Vox combo. No way was he gonna be able to muddy up the frequencies. Sweetest sound we've ever had. He filled the highs. vocals filled the high/mids, I filled the low/mids and drummers kick was way at the bottom. This is how it always should be.
 
#17
Last gig we played, was in a really wierd room. LOTS of echo. Before the crowd filled the room, the guitar was way to loud, after the room was full, it couldnt be heard over my bass. Did some EQing before the next set (cranking up the guitar), after that it went like a charm.

The room you are in has a lot to say about how your band is going to sound.
 

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