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My next gig (like most of mine) is ampless. So, my amps weight nothing. But the subs in the place probably weigh as much as 10 or 12 Ampeg 810's. They're built into recesses in the concrete stage. Does this mean I'm a wimp or am I "going big"?
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Some folks play thier big amps so loud that the sound person has to turn them down in the P.A. leaving the big amp onstage to just "Beam" to those directly in it's path. (But it seems like the sound person should have given a better "fix", um, maybe a better mix!)
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,027
- 5
- 220,899
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
If the bass player won't turn down, how would you suggest the sound guy fix a bass player problem?
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,027
- 5
- 220,899
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Well, if the bass is too loud off the stage, screwing up the mix, what’s the sound guy expected to do? Think it through before you answer.
I contend the post wasn't conveying any expectation from the poster only the crowd perception and food for thought in the go big or go home fraternity rather than the sound guy fraternity.
It's just simply reversed itself. Take the little stuff out, and play the big stuff at home. I play drums out in the World and used to play 2 16x24, two rack, two floor and seven cymbals. Now, I play out with a little Ludwig 4 piece girly man with two crashes and a ride and get volume complaints. Bass player has a 2x10.
I am down to 4 rigs....
1. Hartke 350W plus 300W 4x10 Transporter - Great for smaller gigs, pubs and rehearsals
2. Hartke KB15 (500W) be really maybe 200-250W Combo and the best of the Kickback range to my ear.
3. Marshall VBA 400 into Marshall VBC 4x12 Cab (Bass player heaven)
4. Marshall JCM 800 Bass head into Marshall VBC as above.
Because I have a range of basses covering solid body, semi-acoustic, acoustic and Active electronics, these amps cover a lot of flexibility though I could lose 2 of them and still be covered very well.
1. Hartke 350W plus 300W 4x10 Transporter - Great for smaller gigs, pubs and rehearsals
2. Hartke KB15 (500W) be really maybe 200-250W Combo and the best of the Kickback range to my ear.
3. Marshall VBA 400 into Marshall VBC 4x12 Cab (Bass player heaven)
4. Marshall JCM 800 Bass head into Marshall VBC as above.
Because I have a range of basses covering solid body, semi-acoustic, acoustic and Active electronics, these amps cover a lot of flexibility though I could lose 2 of them and still be covered very well.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
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- 46,010
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- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Those amps are the bomb. As is Tal. I have two of the EBS's as well and a Fafner II. The Fafner replaced my SVT (I still have the cab though...in a roadcase no less) but I haven't used it in several years. I'm mostly now playing a Markbass 112p or my Kemper. I miss the big rig and especially the pressure off the cab(s) when playing, but I'm in my 50's and not willing to heft it up stairs anymore. I don't sell it because my son, a drummer and budding bassist, will inherit it and doesn't mind moving it.
An hour? All I ever had to do with my rack was plug in my power conditioner, cabs and my instrument cable. Bam. Done. Even with a pedal board, add 2 more minutes. Full band set up in 10 minutes that includes members helping drummer bring already set up drums on stage so it's just positioning and fine tuning. I don't get paid to set up for an hour lol.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,069
- 46,010
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
i'll maintain that even if you do want to bring out a big rig, that rig needs to be as loud as your drummer but never needs to be any louder!
if it's a small room and your rig is supposed to carry by itself because there's no PA support, what good is that if they can't hear the drums? it'll just sound stupid if the mix balance is off.
if it's a big room and the drums are in the PA, well then your bass should be too and there's also no point in being louder on stage than the drums.
if it's a huge room then nobody will hear your bass rig anyway, they'll only hear the PA. your only goal for your rig is to generate a tone that sounds good in the house, the PA will take care of the volume out front. your best bass rig here might even be no bass rig at all.
(this is assuming adequate monitors or IEMs, where you can hear yourself without wrecking the stage mix with an overly loud amp)
if it's a small room and your rig is supposed to carry by itself because there's no PA support, what good is that if they can't hear the drums? it'll just sound stupid if the mix balance is off.
if it's a big room and the drums are in the PA, well then your bass should be too and there's also no point in being louder on stage than the drums.
if it's a huge room then nobody will hear your bass rig anyway, they'll only hear the PA. your only goal for your rig is to generate a tone that sounds good in the house, the PA will take care of the volume out front. your best bass rig here might even be no bass rig at all.
(this is assuming adequate monitors or IEMs, where you can hear yourself without wrecking the stage mix with an overly loud amp)
I'm fortunate enough (and single enough) to have sizeable stuff that never moves, and some slightly less sizeable stuff that can travel when it has to. And smaller stuff that goes to normal gigs. And some tiny stuff that goes with me to smaller gigs.Well, in my case it means that stuff stays home permanently. And I like it that way
