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Gig w/Ampeg Backline

#61
DWBass said:
I didn't have a problem with it. It was just the first time I've experienced it in all my years of playing. And it was in a written directive to not move anything onstage. The sound guys were decent but not the best I've ever worked with. Took a LOT of tweaking during soundcheck. And for some reason, they had the treble on my bass signal in the monitors maxed! Yeesh! And they had the kick drum on overdrive! Thought Godzilla was in the house!

Me: "Uh guys.....can y'all back off on the treble......a LOT! And balance out the bass to kick drum mix! Thanks!"
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How big was this stage?....layout?

That monitor thing seems pretty whacked. Like they're unfamiliar with the system or just don't have a good starting point to adjust knobs (like somewhat "down" :) ).

Depending on the layout, sidefiring can be a proactive way to keep levels in check. When somebodys rig is blasting their own ears instead of everyone elses, they'll usually turn down a bit on their own.
 
#66
Sartori said:
My amp is part of my instrument. I'm playing it as much as I'm playing the bass.

I do wonder, though, why do folks who think nobody should use an amp hang around in the Amps subforum?
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I love amps/cabs. I’ve got some nice (to me) guitar and bass rigs parked in a back room, and I miss them terribly.

I should sell some, but I’m having trouble bringing myself to do it. :o
 
#68
It's only the very lowest frequencies that go everywhere, that's why they make delays to put the subs and mains in phase with the backline. There's a whole bunch of bass tone above that that is directional, and thus can be directed, in mics, away from mics, in ears, away from ears, etc.

There's a reason why you don't often see subs passed higher than about 120hz.
 
#69
will33 said:
It's only the very lowest frequencies that go everywhere, that's why they make delays to put the subs and mains in phase with the backline. There's a whole bunch of bass tone above that that is directional, and thus can be directed, in mics, away from mics, in ears, away from ears, etc.

There's a reason why you don't often see subs passed higher than about 120hz.
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Yep.
 
#70
The optimum situation would be to have a medium sized rig from which you get 'your' tone with a mic on the cab, keeping it relatively low in volume, and then everybody onstage has in-ears and there are no wedges of any kind.

I like both ways: amp, bass not in P.A., or...no amp bass in P.A. via DI, using in-ears.
 
#71
will33 said:
It's only the very lowest frequencies that go everywhere, that's why they make delays to put the subs and mains in phase with the backline. There's a whole bunch of bass tone above that that is directional, and thus can be directed, in mics, away from mics, in ears, away from ears, etc.

There's a reason why you don't often see subs passed higher than about 120hz.
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Oh really, I didn't know that... :p :ninja:

Seriously, though, midrange and higher frequencies from bass amps are seldom problematic in the house, but low frequencies sure can be. Not like guitar amps with all that beamy midrange usually pointed right at the sound person. :D
 
#72
will33 said:
How big was this stage?....layout?

That monitor thing seems pretty whacked. Like they're unfamiliar with the system or just don't have a good starting point to adjust knobs (like somewhat "down" :) ).

Depending on the layout, sidefiring can be a proactive way to keep levels in check. When somebodys rig is blasting their own ears instead of everyone elses, they'll usually turn down a bit on their own.
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It was a pro concert venue sound-stage with curtains and lighting. The whole 9!
 
#73
Marko5657 said:
A little extreme, maybe, but no troll post. I really believe stage amps are unnecessary (even a detriment) to doing the job if everything else is right.
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If the monitoring system was top notch with zero delay, I'd have no problem with it. I need to hear MY sound though and monitors can't give me that. At least on the level that I'm playing at. What would work for me is just not available. I'm not ditching my stage rig anytime soon! I don't like in-ears either mainly due to the isolation. Add in some audience ambiance....maybe but I still don't like them. I like hearing the sound on stage.
 
#75
DWBass said:
If the monitoring system was top notch with zero delay, I'd have no problem with it. I need to hear MY sound though and monitors can't give me that. At least on the level that I'm playing at. What would work for me is just not available. I'm not ditching my stage rig anytime soon! I don't like in-ears either mainly due to the isolation. Add in some audience ambiance....maybe but I still don't like them. I like hearing the sound on stage.
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Perfectly understood.

As for IEMs, I don’t think I’d care for those, either. :)
 
#77
Marko5657 said:
Yeah, I’m just a small-timer with my own PA, so it’s controllable.

I understand that some of you have more going on than that.
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Well, notice that in the case of the OP's gig, what he had to work with didn't sound very enjoyable at all - just sayin'... In my case, I'll be using(and running) my band's PA in a roadhouse that probably holds 150-200 on friday, and playing a venue on saturday that will hold 1k, with a killer system and a pro running it - both nights, my band's backline will operate in pretty much the same manner(matching volume with the drummer)...

IME, depending on people outside of your band to control the stage sound rarely works out - and certainly not nearly as consistantly as a group of pros in a band that work well with one another... I would much rather concentrate on my playing and singing, rather than to be pissed off because I don't have what I need to hear, in order to play my best... *For me*, that means an amp behind me that matches the level of the drums and guitars, and a wedge in front of me for my vocals - none of which are all that difficult to execute, while still getting a great sound thru the PA... All that assumes *reasonable* stage volumes, though - but IMO/IME, "live music" should have some LIFE to it...

As always, to each their own...


- georgestrings
 
#79
DWBass said:
If the monitoring system was top notch with zero delay, I'd have no problem with it. I need to hear MY sound though and monitors can't give me that. At least on the level that I'm playing at. What would work for me is just not available. I'm not ditching my stage rig anytime soon! I don't like in-ears either mainly due to the isolation. Add in some audience ambiance....maybe but I still don't like them. I like hearing the sound on stage.
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Yeah, I didn't like the isolated feeling at all, and I've yet to experience ANY type of monitoring that sounds as good as my typical bass rig... I'd have to be getting paid ALOT of money to play in an environment that I didn't enjoy...


- georgestrings
 
#80
georgestrings said:
Yeah, that's a pretty big "if" - how often does that happen, 1 out of 10 gigs??? 1 out of 100??? No thanks - I've been "doing the job" for over 30 years with an amp...


- georgestrings
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Yeah, a mic'd B-15 or some other small but great sounding rig, backstage, with amazing monitoring would be great.

Most times I don't even play shows that have any monitors at all, though. And that's like to continue being true for quite some time.
 

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