• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

I hate people telling me to Turn it Down

#21
I always put my DI between the bass and amp. First I go for a good sound in the house and when I'm happy with that then I'll turn my amp on just loud enough to hear it. Thing is, usually it's my PA and I trust the sound man :-).

If you keep stage levels low and have a good sound person they can have the bass boomin', the drums slammin', the vocals clear and articulate, and you can still hear the person with the chicken egg shaker in the back. :D
-mike
 
#22
You can't please everybody. No matter what you do, somebody's not going to like it. It's just the way the world works. Play the way you like it. Your fans will be the ones who agree with you. Everybody else will say you suck. You just have to accept that's the way it is.

I do have to say, though, that playing an outside gig where the sound guy told me and the drummer to play as loud as we could to get attention was a nice change of pace.
 
#23
dbase said:
Its always that one person in the audience. At that point I'm bummed out because I like to hear and feel my bass playing. Why did I spend all that money for equipment and wattage? The solution is, I act like I'm turning the gain down but actually I'm turning it up more..... "Hows that, OK", fine ... Volume is now louder and the audience doesnt know the difference. The real culprit is always the lead guitar player.
Click to expand...

You dominate.
 
#26
I have had this problem too and finally reached the conclusion that in my case it's an issue of concept. I was weaned on bands with loud, upfront bass players like Cream, The Who, Cactus, Rush, Yes.... (you get the idea.) I actually hear a balanced mix as the bass being at least equal volume to guitars and other instruments. Guitarists (and I guess most other people too) just don't hear it that way. I try to balance my aggressive tone with a healthy dose of what's appropriate to the song. For instance, I am somewhat louder if we are doing a Rush tune than if we are doing a Satriani tune or something where the guitar really is the dominant instrument. That's about the best compromise I can make- I like to play it loud and proud, but I don't want to screw up a song where too much bass (yes, it can happen) gets in the way of the other instruments or vocals. I mean at the end of the day my job is still to make the band sound good and I try to stick by that best I can, do what it takes.
 
#28
BassGuitarNoob said:
everyone told me how good Angus Young is from ACDC and i always thought that the awesome music coming from that band was him. then i watched his fingers and noticed the notes were not matching up, but the guy in the background was playing all the good stuff!
Click to expand...

The guy in the background? You mean his brother Malcolm? I mean, he does a good job, but it's nothing really complicated (I know, I've played in an ACDC Trib band)

Angus isn't that good? You're kidding right??? Watch the Donington video...Angus doesn't do a lot of rhythm, but he does killer leads.
 
#29
bassvi said:
I have had this problem too and finally reached the conclusion that in my case it's an issue of concept. I was weaned on bands with loud, upfront bass players like Cream, The Who, Cactus, Rush, Yes.... (you get the idea.) I actually hear a balanced mix as the bass being at least equal volume to guitars and other instruments. Guitarists just don't hear it that way.
Click to expand...

Preach it, my brother... :bassist:
 
#31
What I've observed in my considerable experience watching concerts is that I can almost never hear "the bass" I can hear BASS, but it's 40% guitar 40% kick drum, and 10% bass guitar that you can't really hear through the guitar and kick, other than the odd tug on the E string.

I think it's not a matter of the bass player turning down. It's a matter of the whole band turning down, A LOT.

Everyone forgets that a Drop D guitard's low string is at 73Hz. When there's "too much bass" it's usually too much guitar.
 
#34
Bearded Bugs said:
Hahaha, can we not just aim for a full on prolapse?
Click to expand...

Dang, and I thought my threads always went horribly wrong. :p

Sometimes you gotta ask if they're asking you to turn it down because you're too loud, overpowering, messing up too much, and/or they don't care for bassists. Just as you must ask, do people clap after a drum solo because the drummer did a good job or because they're done? :p

In my book, it's all about balance, which becomes especially important in my trio. Besides, my guitarist and drummer sound good, so they're worth hearing, too. I found out that at my last gig I was drowning the band out, although everything sounded fine in the monitors to us at the time.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back