Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
If there is PA support, why have such a large rig on stage?
- Thread starter glocke1
- Start date
AQUANOVA
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong
Bigger is only better if you can get someone else to carry it for you.
Because it feels awesome. And when it feels awesome, I play better. I'd rather have a live show be a visceral experience, personally.
Because some people get used to a certain sound and feel from their bass amp, and that S&F is inspirational to how they play. On stage PA support is for everybody else, anyway. When I used a small bass amp, I hated having to limit myself to a small piece of stage real estate to hear myself. I remember one huge stage where my little amp was placed at the back of the stage, so if I wanted to hear myself, I had to listen through the monitors, and through whatever mix the person who was sharing that monitor dictated. I developed a dislike for wedge monitors that way. One gig had honking huge side and back fills, and that worked great. OTOH, the best bass sound I heard on stage was with a band that had 4 Bose sticks and custom woofers placed at the back of the stage, and everybody through the board.. I think that is why, at least back in the days when concerts were happening, about every bass player I knew stipulated SVT tube head with 8 10s. At least you knew you could get a good sound out of it and plenty of it..
The audience sees the rigs on the stage. That’s why some bands (like Kiss going a bit over the top) would have walls of speaker cabinets (most of which I assume were either not hooked up or just empty cabinets). And when I see a big act, I’m always curious about what type of rig they’re playing through, even though I know it’s all being fed into the PA.
Pop acts, however are all about the vocalist and you don’t usually see any amps on stage. Sometimes you hardly see the band at all with all the dancers and the backgrounds and light show.
Pop acts, however are all about the vocalist and you don’t usually see any amps on stage. Sometimes you hardly see the band at all with all the dancers and the backgrounds and light show.
I’m no stranger to using big rigs. In the 80’s, it seemed one had to have a bi-amped system on stage to play rock. I’ve had multiple combinations of 18s and 15s for lows, and 12s and 10s for the mid and high frequencies. Big rigs and big sound: fun onstage, but a real downer loading in and out.
These days I’m using one 1000 watt powered JBL 15” full range PA speaker, a Sansamp preamp, and a Zoom pedal. With a two wheel hand cart and bass in a gig bag, it’s just one trip load ins and load outs for me, and I’m getting some killer bass sounds.
My big rig stays home now. With a good PA and electronic drums the biggest thing I carry is a 1x10” combo.
In and out in one minute, don’t have to bump in at stage door, just park and walk into the venue.
These lightweight combos are fantastic for those gigs. Otherwise it’s bass, preamp and IEM.
In and out in one minute, don’t have to bump in at stage door, just park and walk into the venue.
These lightweight combos are fantastic for those gigs. Otherwise it’s bass, preamp and IEM.
.
I toured with a band playing 6000+ seat amphitheaters. Roadies were indespensible. But just because they have monitors, side fills, drummer wedge, etc... Doesn't mean it sounds good to the band.
I had a 8x10 cabinet for touring the big shows... There was a direct feed too. But the pit needs bass right up front... And drummers are deaf and need an 8x10 blowing their head off.
Yep...but, unfortunately, the bass geeks aren't the ones that get your band hired... Unless they are attractive females dancing and drinking all night, LOL.You forgot bass geeks. They not only notice, they endlessly analyze every aspect of the equipment and how the player uses it, along with a critique of the bass players choice of everything from their cables to the clothes they are wearing, and how all that “fits” the band, the material, the venue, and their personal preferences if they were in the performers place.
Little wonder folks call us bass geeks.
Sometimes you run across sound guys who gimp out the bass in the monitors either because they just dont care or they think the low frequencies will wreck their speakers or use too much power. If you have tour own trusted engineer and system, iem for sure, but in the gritty real world, sometimes you gotta be ready to blast.
I have always had a amp on stage. I recently auditioned for my church. All we had was small headsets and a mixing box. No amp or monitor. I crashed and burned because I could not hear the band well.
Bass gets you hired, gets those honeys dancing etc.
It is the rhythm section. Send your guitarist our there by himself...........after a measure or two, crickets. 
Maybe it makes the guy feel better about what he is emulating or posing etc...... hard trucker cabs , alembic etc.. imho maybe fun, but you dont need all that to play the part if you can play the part. He's probably a great player as well, but would sound pretty much as good w/o the rig you would think.
Last edited:
Latest posts
-
-
Greetings, and help me value my basses, please.- Latest: MochaFiend
-
-
-
