Gigs above bar room

[MultiScaleMale]

Went to a festival yesterday, M3, and boy was it cold. Got to see a few bands I've never seen before and shockingly, Stryper was my favorite. Yngvie Malmsteen was a glorious train wreck of ego and wireless drop outs. Skid Row was tight, but I'm not buying their newest singer. He needs an "onstage antics coach", but his voice is good.

Anywho, all that aside and just being good to be at a concert again, I was thinking about what the bassists were playing. They kept it simple. Four string or five string, pickup configuration, name on headstock, really didn't matter. You're lucky to be heard over the kick and the trend of lower and lower toms. No pedals, you really wouldn't know if it was on or off. Skid Row's bassist had an overdrive tone, but you could only tell that in the 4 beat bass break in whatever song.

So is this pursuit of tone that we've all been on at one point maximize it's ROI (return on investment) in the bar room were the sound is much, much better and balanced? The digital mixers now give even small bands effects and sculpting per channel that would have required racks and rack of gear previously. Beyond the barroom, it really doesn't matter what you play, but just have good timing and a good wireless.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

ill go with a big nay on the wireless.
unless you move more than 20ft away from your amp, they’re a pain in the &d#a*hh

 

[fu22ba55]

No pedals

Yeah, this was pretty much the norm in bass playing for the first 1000 years? right?

"Must-have" bass effects (compressor, SansAmp BDDI) are a conspiracy started by NAMM and converted guitarists.

The best part of being a bassist is shaking your head in disbelief as the guitarist sets up their pedalboard that looks like the USS Enterprise.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Yeah, this was pretty much the norm in bass playing for the first 1000 years? right?

"Must-have" bass effects (compressor, SansAmp BDDI) are a conspiracy started by NAMM and converted guitarists.

The best part of being a bassist is shaking your head in disbelief as the guitarist sets up their pedalboard that looks like the USS Enterprise.

The sound engineer will run a compressor, a HPF, and EQ you even on barroom gigs now.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

ill go with a big nay on the wireless.
unless you move more than 20ft away from your amp, they’re a pain in the &d#a*hh

In larger venues, 20’ is really limiting and more likely to get tripped on when someone is doing their onstage antics. A good pro wireless along with IEM is almost a must.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

In larger venues, 20’ is really limiting and more likely to get tripped on when someone is doing their onstage antics. A good pro wireless along with IEM is almost a must.

Let’s agree to disagree then.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Let’s agree to disagree then.

It depends on the type of gigs mostly. If you park and play, then not needed. If the concert is more animated, I can't imagine not using one given the reliability of the new stuff.

 

[Cave Puppy]

I was checking out a very recent video of Paul Gilbert and band on the sweetwater stage at the Dallas Guitar Show and all you could hear was the drums, the guitar and some kind of bass... no definition whatsoever ... just BOOM. I stopped watching as a result.

 

[Wanker_Joe]

The best part of being a bassist is shaking your head in disbelief as the guitarist sets up their pedalboard that looks like the USS Enterprise.

I don't know about that. I very much enjoy gazing upon the rows upon rows of blinking lights, switches and toggles at my feet. How else am I going to make weird ambient noises and squelches without a fleet of pedals worth more than my car?

 

[WI Short Scaler]

In larger venues, 20’ is really limiting and more likely to get tripped on when someone is doing their onstage antics. A good pro wireless along with IEM is almost a must.

I am never without my wireless. In our small configuration of 3 band members I also run our PA and lights so the wireless gives me some freedom to move out front at sound check and later if needed to see what's going on. My Shure wireless and tuner make up the entirety of my pedalboard. One power plug, one plug to amp and done. Power it all up, run the channel scan on the Shure and sync transmitter for a total of 2 minutes is all that's needed.

Even at home practicing I use my old rechargeable Line 6.

Still no IEM for us though.

 

[mrcbass]

I've also found it true that bass effects pedals wind up being pretty useless in group settings.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I am never without my wireless. In our small configuration of 3 band members I also run our PA and lights so the wireless gives me some freedom to move out front at sound check and later if needed to see what's going on. My Shure wireless and tuner make up the entirety of my pedalboard. One power plug, one plug to amp and done. Power it all up, run the channel scan and sync transmitter for a total of 2 minutes is all that's needed.

Even at home practicing I use my old rechargeable Line 6.

Still no IEM for us though.

I like the idea of being electrically disconnected from all wiring.

 

[Ostie]

If ROI mattered to musicians there would be far fewer guitars, amps and pedals sold.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Went to a festival yesterday, M3, and boy was it cold. Got to see a few bands I've never seen before and shockingly, Stryper was my favorite. Yngvie Malmsteen was a glorious train wreck of ego and wireless drop outs. Skid Row was tight, but I'm not buying their newest singer. He needs an "onstage antics coach", but his voice is good.

Anywho, all that aside and just being good to be at a concert again, I was thinking about what the bassists were playing. They kept it simple. Four string or five string, pickup configuration, name on headstock, really didn't matter. You're lucky to be heard over the kick and the trend of lower and lower toms. No pedals, you really wouldn't know if it was on or off. Skid Row's bassist had an overdrive tone, but you could only tell that in the 4 beat bass break in whatever song.

So is this pursuit of tone that we've all been on at one point maximize it's ROI (return on investment) in the bar room were the sound is much, much better and balanced? The digital mixers now give even small bands effects and sculpting per channel that would have required racks and rack of gear previously. Beyond the barroom, it really doesn't matter what you play, but just have good timing and a good wireless.

Stryper is actually quite great. Those guys are good friends of mine- they’re such pros but are very humble and appreciative of their fans and colleagues.

 

[NKBassman]

Went to a festival yesterday, M3, and boy was it cold. Got to see a few bands I've never seen before and shockingly, Stryper was my favorite. Yngvie Malmsteen was a glorious train wreck of ego and wireless drop outs. Skid Row was tight, but I'm not buying their newest singer. He needs an "onstage antics coach", but his voice is good.

Anywho, all that aside and just being good to be at a concert again, I was thinking about what the bassists were playing. They kept it simple. Four string or five string, pickup configuration, name on headstock, really didn't matter. You're lucky to be heard over the kick and the trend of lower and lower toms. No pedals, you really wouldn't know if it was on or off. Skid Row's bassist had an overdrive tone, but you could only tell that in the 4 beat bass break in whatever song.

So is this pursuit of tone that we've all been on at one point maximize it's ROI (return on investment) in the bar room were the sound is much, much better and balanced? The digital mixers now give even small bands effects and sculpting per channel that would have required racks and rack of gear previously. Beyond the barroom, it really doesn't matter what you play, but just have good timing and a good wireless.

If that's the way this show sounded, given the names on the bill I'd have to assume that it was intentionally mixed that way, and not some byproduct of a bad PA or environment.
So, with that in mind, I say NO to your last question. If the intention was to have the bass audible in the mix at this show, the sound company should have had the means to make that happen.

 

[turf3]

Well, since the vast majority of current pop music is mixed for everything below about middle C to just be loud repetitive thumps of indeterminate pitch, it shouldn't be surprising that the live shows are mixed the same way.

 

[Cave Puppy]

I was checking out a very recent video of Paul Gilbert and band on the sweetwater stage at the Dallas Guitar Show and all you could hear was the drums, the guitar and some kind of bass... no definition whatsoever ... just BOOM. I stopped watching as a result.

They are a power trio as well.

 

[Treblefree]

Saw Stryper 3 times in high school in the late 80's/early '90's; twice in Greenville SC and once at Spartanburg, or vice-versa. Anyway, they were awesome every time and just as perfect live as their tapes/CD's at each show. Awesome guys.

One time, the came out before the concert to literally walk the entire line of fans waiting to get in and shake hands/take pictures/sign autographs with every one there. Pretty awesome stuff. I had an acid washed jacket with all their sigs. They are all great. Tim Gaines was my hero at that time, but really Oz, Michael, and Robert were also my heroes as they were my favorite band. I will try to catch them again soon. I can't go to Atlanta this time around, but they are about to play there. Hate that I'll miss it.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

You're lucky to be heard over the kick and the trend of lower and lower toms. No pedals, you really wouldn't know if it was on or off. Skid Row's bassist had an overdrive tone, but you could only tell that in the 4 beat bass break in whatever song.

This is so interesting. I went to a concert this weekend. Sevendust, Plush, some other bands. Sounded absolutely amazing, however I could not for the life of me pick out the bass tone. Just thundering drums and toms. Made me question life choices.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

Just because you see no pedals doesnt mean they are not there in a rack drawer being triggered by a tech.