For cryin out LOUD

[obimark]

The average "loud" band members don't even listen to anything we play on the bass. Nothing. They just want to feel the bass, not hear it.
IMO- ANYBODY who plays too loud is typically not a musician on any level, they are just a hack.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Also, just wondering what kind of rock band uses a harp and fretless.

Haha, sorry it's more of a blues/jam band, or at least that was the intention. Funny thing is, the guitarist does not boost his solos. I consider myself somewhat lucky, I guess...

 

[Runnerman]

Our lead guitar player used to run 2 amps in stereo and he would put one of the cabs on my side of the stage right beside my bass cab. If it was too loud I would just point his cab directly at him. He caught on after a while. Doesn't do that any more.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

I may just suggest we switch sides. Ultimately, it could turn out there's too much bass in his side of the room, but I doubt it seeing as how my cab is mostly pointed towards me. And still I hardly hear myself - with an Orange Terror 500 and a Barefaced cab ..

 

[mrcbass]

I may just suggest we switch sides. Ultimately, it could turn out there's too much bass in his side of the room, but I doubt it seeing as how my cab is mostly pointed towards me. And still I hardly hear myself - with an Orange Terror 500 and a Barefaced cab ..

I always find that I hear myself better with my amp across the room from me rather than near me. Even with it on a stand, the bass tones don't have a chance to develop in the short distance when it's near me. Maybe the same with you guitarist?

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Fretted PBass
Ampeg SVT II pro
6×10 Fridge

The End

 

[BassplayinBob]

Yet another testimony to the value IEM. The future is now.

 

[interp]

I'm having a similar problem with one of the bands I've been rehearsing with recently. A bunch of seriously old-school players with decent chops but no concept of reasonable volume whatsoever. To make matters worse, they turn up the PA to just below feedback levels, and then when they still can't hear themselves sing they never think, oh, maybe the instruments are too loud, but instead try to turn the PA up even further. The lead singer insists on angling his mic 90 degrees to how it should be with the mains, and I have told him repeatedly this is causing more feedback but he does it every time. These guys have been doing this for decades, you'd think they'd have this figured out.

I have a rehearsal space in my home and I will never invite this bunch over to use it, that's the quickest way I could think of to alienate my neighbors. Lucky for them they have a rented space.

I'm at the three-month mark with them at this point and, though I was recruited with the promise of work, there are no gigs on the books. My unstated rule is six months of weekly rehearsals, tops, and if nothing's on the books by then I won't waste any more of my time. That's probably far too generous, but I'm still kind of in it right now for the networking. You never know what might come from something. I like keeping everyone smiling and being easy to work with, myself. But there comes a point...

Wow, you’ve given them at least two months more than I would have.

 

[LBS-bass]

.

Wow, you’ve given them at least two months more than I would have.

I know. I like them, personally, and the drummer is giving me other work.

 

[Biggbass]

OP that sounds like a PITA situation. If it were me, I'd go in another direction fast and let them know why. Maybe one day they'll listen and learn to take criticism and constructive advice. IMHO musicians like that are on a dead end street to nowhere.

 

[Frank77]

I may just suggest we switch sides. Ultimately, it could turn out there's too much bass in his side of the room, but I doubt it seeing as how my cab is mostly pointed towards me. And still I hardly hear myself - with an Orange Terror 500 and a Barefaced cab ..

I hope you're wearing hearing protection.

I avoid guitar-centric bands like the plague. For every "adult" guitarist out there, there's a thousand d-bags who can't help overplaying at deafening levels.

 

[BAG]

The latest project I joined, a three piece, really surprised me. They came and saw me play with my family three piece which is two acoustic guitars and vocals with the drums being just a cajon with kick and snare pedals. We're really quiet on stage and I only use my little Schertler B10 combo's DI and as a monitor.

For our first jam they said to just bring the little Schertler. Sure, it's a 300w little beast but i thought that there's no way it'll be loud enough with a drummer and guitarist doing 70's and 80's rock so I packed my bigger amp just in case.

I needn't have worried. These guys know how to play quietly!
The B10 was more than enough with the guitarist using a small 30w tube only turned up to about 1 or 2 aimed at his ears. Some songs are sounding good, some not-so-much due to the guitarist doing so much solo stuff over the last few years, but the hang and the volume are so good i'll give it time to gel properly.

 

[Nevada Pete]

Yup, suggested both ideas. He tilted back his cab once or twice, but is back to listening with his ankles.

He probably just forgot. If you keep reminding him, it will eventually imprint. Good luck!

 

[buldog5151bass]

What's with all the passive-aggressive stuff? No one willing to stand up to protect their ears and reputation as a musician?

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Rehearsal yesterday. 4-piece band, singer also strums a guitar and blows a harp. The guitars were deafeningly loud. Again. Both of them dialled in so much bass, I had trouble discerning what I was playing vs. what came from their amps. Makes me wonder why I bother playing fretless.

I've had the discussion with both of them quite a few times now, and am getting tired of asking them to lower their volume. I could easily (and I mean EASILY) overpower them both in terms of volume, but I won't. Instead, I decided to start overplaying fills left and right - it's not like anyone hears them anyway, and I get to practice that aspect a bit. Pretty sure at one point all three of us were in a different section of the same song, and no one seemed to notice.

This is a low-maintenance band, and we've started working on some original tunes as well, so it's fun. Usually. Last night it was not. Too fast, too loud, no nuance or subtlety whatsoever. Makes me want to play the ukulele more ....

[/rant]

Have issues with sound ruining your day is not what I call low maintenance....

 

[two fingers]

Rehearsal yesterday. 4-piece band, singer also strums a guitar and blows a harp. The guitars were deafeningly loud. Again. Both of them dialled in so much bass, I had trouble discerning what I was playing vs. what came from their amps. Makes me wonder why I bother playing fretless.

I've had the discussion with both of them quite a few times now, and am getting tired of asking them to lower their volume. I could easily (and I mean EASILY) overpower them both in terms of volume, but I won't. Instead, I decided to start overplaying fills left and right - it's not like anyone hears them anyway, and I get to practice that aspect a bit. Pretty sure at one point all three of us were in a different section of the same song, and no one seemed to notice.

This is a low-maintenance band, and we've started working on some original tunes as well, so it's fun. Usually. Last night it was not. Too fast, too loud, no nuance or subtlety whatsoever. Makes me want to play the ukulele more ....

[/rant]

Simply turn your volume all the way down for about 5 songs. At the end of the 5th song ask them if they liked that run you did coming out of the bridge in the last song.


When they say "Yeah that was awesome!" THEN you can spring it on them that you haven't had you bass turned up for about a half hour and nobody in the band even noticed. Then say "I'm gonna go take a piss while you guys talk about that." and walk out. Don't come back for at least 5 minutes.

 

[mwbassace]

If these other ideas don't help then I'd crush them with your volume cranked as loud as possible. When they complain come back with a witty repartee.

 

[Quinn Roberts]

Both of them dialled in so much bass, I had trouble discerning what I was playing vs. what came from their amps.

"Dude, turn up your bass, we can't hear you!"

 

[pcake]

Simply turn your volume all the way down for about 5 songs. At the end of the 5th song ask them if they liked that run you did coming out of the bridge in the last song.


When they say "Yeah that was awesome!" THEN you can spring it on them that you haven't had you bass turned up for about a half hour and nobody in the band even noticed. Then say "I'm gonna go take a piss while you guys talk about that." and walk out. Don't come back for at least 5 minutes.

or don't turn your amp on at all, then ask how they liked the run you did

 

[Ostie]

I swear all guitarists are deaf. Especially when there are two, they try to out-do one another. This is why I don’t play loud music anymore.