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I hate subs

JimmyM

JimmyM

Apr 11, 2005
127,255
125,172
Plymouth NC
Disclosures
Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
#1
Or better yet, I hate when they interfere with me hearing my amp. I don't know what's going on lately, but I've had more than one gig recently where the subs have almost totally drowned out my amp while sounding great in the house. It's now to the point of annoyance. Obviously part of it is because they're so close to the stage, but you can't do much about it. And turning way up is not an option. So I feel like there's pretty much nothing I can do about it other than stand really close to my amp with my ear on a driver. That'll be cool.

Hate to screw with a good house mix, though. So you're pretty much stuck bearing with it. Maybe I need to learn better coping methods...anyone got any?
 
#2
JimmyM said:
Or better yet, I hate when they interfere with me hearing my amp. I don't know what's going on lately, but I've had more than one gig recently where the subs have almost totally drowned out my amp while sounding great in the house. It's now to the point of annoyance. Obviously part of it is because they're so close to the stage, but you can't do much about it. And turning way up is not an option. So I feel like there's pretty much nothing I can do about it other than stand really close to my amp with my ear on a driver. That'll be cool.

Hate to screw with a good house mix, though. So you're pretty much stuck bearing with it. Maybe I need to learn better coping methods...anyone got any?
Click to expand...

How about some kind of wireless in-ear system?
 
#3
as much as you might not want to, change the mids so they REALLY cut through.

i've seen a band do that with a fender jazz and an ampeg b1r through an 810, and it was very easy to hear over a Moss 6x12 stack and a mesa dual rectifier stack. you might not like that tone, and i wish i had a sample of it, but its just an idea in my head.
 
#4
JimmyM said:
Or better yet, I hate when they interfere with me hearing my amp. I don't know what's going on lately, but I've had more than one gig recently where the subs have almost totally drowned out my amp while sounding great in the house. It's now to the point of annoyance. Obviously part of it is because they're so close to the stage, but you can't do much about it. And turning way up is not an option. So I feel like there's pretty much nothing I can do about it other than stand really close to my amp with my ear on a driver. That'll be cool.

Hate to screw with a good house mix, though. So you're pretty much stuck bearing with it. Maybe I need to learn better coping methods...anyone got any?
Click to expand...
Sometimes they kind of fill up your ears on stage these days of huge downstairs.
Worse if the venue is long and narrow. I dont need in ears just good overall pa eq with no over egging the pudding so as to speak.
Good if you have great subs but its better to use them for sub not low mid boom thats loud because its sympathetic to the LF hall resonance.
That just breeds that one note bass effect. Good for Hip Hop Though!.
Next time go and take 3 db out of the front of house eq at 100Hz, tight q and try again if its still much of a problem just broaden the q a bit.
You wont hurt the mix it will just clean it up.
 
#7
Ahhhhh! The ol' subs-are-too-loud thang.

Take it from an old reggae player: The subs are your friends. It takes some getting used to, but think of the FOH subs as an extension of your rig. Mix your on-stage sound to blend with the subs.

I worked with a fantastic sound guy who finally got that concept into my walnut sized brain. It wouldn't happen too often, but in smallish venues with good FOH sound, I wouldn't even turn my rig up. Would just get the tone from the subs.

Now, rock/R+B/whatevah is different than reggae. I know. But still try using the FOH subs as part of your rig.
 
#8
The Diaper Geni said:
Ahhhhh! The ol' subs-are-too-loud thang.

Take it from an old reggae player: The subs are your friends. It takes some getting used to, but think of the FOH subs as an extension of your rig. Mix your on-stage sound to blend with the subs.

I worked with a fantastic sound guy who finally got that concept into my walnut sized brain. It wouldn't happen too often, but in smallish venues with good FOH sound, I wouldn't even turn my rig up. Would just get the tone from the subs.

Now, rock/R+B/whatevah is different than reggae. I know. But still try using the FOH subs as part of your rig.
Click to expand...

Hmm...interesting little piece of "out of box" thinking. Thanks.
 
#10
These guys hate subs too

Menges_4623_sm.gif
 
#12
monitors! either get a good monitor, or one designed for bass. and then listen to it. simple as. failing that, get another power-out into a passive monitor wedge that then works as an extension of your amp and has just you in it, no FOH soundman messing with your tone.
 
#13
Thx for the in-ear suggestion, but those are out of the question for me. I can't stand playing with stuff in my ears, especially stuff connected to yet another transmitter.

So far, it looks like the reggae suggestion might be the best avenue. The thing is, though, I like to mic my amp and not DI whenever possible. That might create a bit of a problem. But if I blended, I could probably do it. Had to do that the other night on a gig because it was impossible to get a sound any other way.
 
#14
Just put your cab on a box.

I built a Magnum 18LF sub for Chelsea Baker (Link Removed) which she uses at all their gigs, even those with giant PA support. The purpose is get her D410-XLT up to ear level.

Her Eden is really just a stage monitor in large venues, and an ideal monitor at that. She needed the Magnum sub when they were playing smaller gigs, but now it is mostly an amp stand.
 
#17
I had that happen this past Fri. night. A pair of dual 15 subs on each side built into the stage. I set my EA NL210 on top of an old Peavey 300 combo and that helped out a bunch. The room was a real cave so that was going against me but it got me through. In ears were available but I just can't stand them. They were the $75-$100 type. I think like Pacman said if I could afford the molded, high end type I probably wouldn't mind them.
 

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