Most of the places we play don't HAVE house systems. And since we're strictly instrumental, we have a small PA system that's used only for announcements.
There's always a place for a good, right-sized amp.
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Everyone's downsizing these days..
- Thread starter I play metal
- Start date
Most of the places we play don't HAVE house systems. And since we're strictly instrumental, we have a small PA system that's used only for announcements.
There's always a place for a good, right-sized amp.
Downsizing? Hey, let's not put those chiropractors outta business. They gotta eat too! Ditto for audiologists.
Kidding!
Kidding!
I totally agree with all points.
1) The worse thing you can do for the mix is have your stage amp too loud (although this is usually guitards rather than bassists
2) Tinnitus is no fun. If you love music, save your hearing.
3) I think the in-ears really make a huge difference. Bass frequencies tend to get buried in a loud stage mix making it difficult to play as crisp and clean as you would like to. Geddy Lee discussed this in an interview in Bass Player mag when he talked about why he started using in-ears and stopped using stage amps. I didn't fully understand what he meant until I started using them myself.
I so wish my bands would go with IEM's. Fortunately, we have a pretty good handle on stage volume and understand mixing. Still, I long for the days when we used IEM's. No ringing, hear everything - or nothing - whatever you want.
Unfortunately, I also do jazz gigs and "open mic" things where there isn't much PA - vocals/announcing, etc. so I need to have a conventional rig.
Unfortunately, I also do jazz gigs and "open mic" things where there isn't much PA - vocals/announcing, etc. so I need to have a conventional rig.
Same here. I'm bound to needing some kind of ample rig (sorry for the pun). It is, frankly, mostly a bother! I want an invisible rig that kicks ass!
I agree with the opinions in IEM's but wheeling in a giant rig is what I wake up for
It's part of this complete breakfast...
I've had 8x10's 4x10's, 1x15 stacked under 4x10's and 2x10's. My current rig (see sig) is all I need for every venue I play. In fact, about 1/2 of the clubs' stages are so small (with drums, 2 guitars and keyboards) it would be hard to fit anything bigger. If I rolled in with an 8x10 the sound guy would be shooting daggers at me. 
Probably harsh and strident, maybe kind of low-mids-heavy. Not round, warm, or smooth.
To be perfectly honest - I don't think you know what a "loud" drummer is...
- georgestrings
Strongly agreed(and laughing about the 4 drummers being drowned out)!!My drummer litterally drowns out a 410 with ease(not bragging-we need to work on that!hah).
A single 10 inch maybeee would cut it with a jazz drummer with wire brush sticks,but that's bout it IMO.serious..
(K-wheel in the big rig boys!!)
My brother caused me to ruin my GK Neo 212.
I had a 700RB-II.
I could BARELY be heard, at just below clipping volume.
It took me a while to find my kind of rig - and 'hi-fi', 'light, powerful and compact' ain't it. I play 60s and early 70s kind of rock with some Motown soul thrown in, and it's not just about being loud - it's about having presence and beef even at low volume. I don't think you can get that with 4x10s, 4x12s, 1x15s, or any combination of the above, and still have a decent tone. I couldn't do it, anyway, not with Eden or GK or Crate or Laney.
I now play old school Acoustic and it fits like a glove. Started out with a 456 (450 head and 406 2x15 cab paired) and it's plenty loud for most situations, but I played an outdoor gig without PA support and didn't have enough juice for even a medium-sized backyard. I mean, I could be heard, but I want to be heard by bowels as well as ears - that's what bass is about. So I got a 271 stack in addition - some 300 watts into a folded-horn 18" cab - and now my rig is complete. And aside from the volume issue, the tone is sweet.
I'm in my mid-20s and Acoustic gear is really not that hard to move. The downside is the amount of space it takes when transporting, but the drum set usually gets a truck bed anyway so that issue is nullified.
I now play old school Acoustic and it fits like a glove. Started out with a 456 (450 head and 406 2x15 cab paired) and it's plenty loud for most situations, but I played an outdoor gig without PA support and didn't have enough juice for even a medium-sized backyard. I mean, I could be heard, but I want to be heard by bowels as well as ears - that's what bass is about. So I got a 271 stack in addition - some 300 watts into a folded-horn 18" cab - and now my rig is complete. And aside from the volume issue, the tone is sweet.
I'm in my mid-20s and Acoustic gear is really not that hard to move. The downside is the amount of space it takes when transporting, but the drum set usually gets a truck bed anyway so that issue is nullified.
Except when you have a 40 year old leader reliving the days of Blind and a 13 year old drummer into Chevelle! Yes we can rock a little harder than the average team! Your right though, nothing on the level of the Christian metal bands that come around!
If you read my post carefully, you'd notice I didn't say the drummers were drowned out, the bass just wasn't drowned out.
Believe what you like, but I know from personal experience that my amp can very easily be heard above a metal drummer with proper sticks with just a single 10 inch speaker, and that's all that matters for me.
After reading all the posts, I am damn glad I play DB and ABG... these days. I can't lift those heavy ass amps any longer. The newer light, yet toneful and powerful amps, are great for old duffers like me.
But with that said, you younger musicians should enjoy whatever the heck you like and do it while you can. When you hit 60 your back it pretty wasted for the most part, at least many backs are. And, your hearing, if not protected all those years is pretty wasted too!
Viva the new PA systems the new lighter and powerful bass amps.
Have some fun while you can.
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But with that said, you younger musicians should enjoy whatever the heck you like and do it while you can. When you hit 60 your back it pretty wasted for the most part, at least many backs are. And, your hearing, if not protected all those years is pretty wasted too!
Viva the new PA systems the new lighter and powerful bass amps.
Have some fun while you can.
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I've done both ends of the spectrum---I've played exclusively through IEM's, and have carted around 810's, 610's, and 410's.
I personally prefer having a decent sized amp onstage. I always play with full PA support (we have our own JBL PA system). I currently play through a DB750/GS410 setup, and don't see myself downsizing any time in the near future. Sure, it would be nice to have something lighter for those PITA load-ins, but then we're also loading in JBL dual 18's and dual 15's, so carting my amp in isn't that big of a deal. But I have yet to find a light weight amp that gives me the feel/sound/punch that my setup does. If I could find such an animal, I'd consider going lightweight, but until then, I'll keep carting my rig around.
I personally prefer having a decent sized amp onstage. I always play with full PA support (we have our own JBL PA system). I currently play through a DB750/GS410 setup, and don't see myself downsizing any time in the near future. Sure, it would be nice to have something lighter for those PITA load-ins, but then we're also loading in JBL dual 18's and dual 15's, so carting my amp in isn't that big of a deal. But I have yet to find a light weight amp that gives me the feel/sound/punch that my setup does. If I could find such an animal, I'd consider going lightweight, but until then, I'll keep carting my rig around.
