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I've been playing in bands for 30 years, some loud, some quiet, playing at tiny bars ("there's room for the band over there, if you move the pool table") to large stages.
I remember a time long ago when rock music was meant to be played loud and with an attitude. From the stage as well as through the PA. I recall one gig where our agent sent us to some little dive country bar (back when Hank Williams SR was on the jukebox) out in a vast remote wasteland. Well, we brought in our whole outdoor PA (two double 18" scoops on each side, etc. etc. etc.) and I brought in the fridge with the SVT head. This was one of those "move the pool table to fit" bars.
We thought we'd stick it to our agent for sending us to musical Siberia by cranking our volume up enough to literally knock stuff off walls and glasses off tables. As we suspected, everyone of the old farts at the bar left. The bar owner was pissed off.
But guess what? Little by little younger people started showing up but then leaving (we were ungodly loud so we must have drove them away too). But they kept coming back...and bringing more people with them. By the end of the night the bar was overflowing with people out into the parking lot and the bar owner told us afterward it was the best night he had in 30 years and wanted us back.
Moral of the story? Rock and Roll Ain't Noise pollution. Stop being such damn weenies and worrying about being so damned uptight and politically correct. Don't like how loud it is? There's the freakin' door ->!!! I'm finding more and more lately (as a vet rocker with a wife who bartends at a rock club), people are coming back to rock music and they are wanting it LOUD. And I'm not talking kids...I'm talking ALL age groups. It's about time too. I've just about had it with all this 'polite' karaoke level BS. Large loud bass rig making it hard on the soundman? We don't need no stinkin' sound man. We run it ourselves. If we had a soundman, he'd be working for us.
So is there a need for a huge rig? Obviously yes. If there wasn't, no one would make large cabs and big amps anymore. Dumb question really. Some want to go tiny, quiet or just DI. Good for you. Enjoy. That's cool you have the option today. Having to haul my own stuff to bar gigs, I'm digging lightweight gear. But it damn well better be able to get loud ONSTAGE. I play bass because I want to FEEL it. If all I wanted to do was hear it nicely, I'd be a guitard and play in a 'Bread' cover band.
I play in a classic hard rock band. I wouldn't want to offend anyone with loud rock music, now would I?
To each his own.
I've been playing in bands for 30 years, some loud, some quiet, playing at tiny bars ("there's room for the band over there, if you move the pool table") to large stages.
I remember a time long ago when rock music was meant to be played loud and with an attitude. From the stage as well as through the PA. I recall one gig where our agent sent us to some little dive country bar (back when Hank Williams SR was on the jukebox) out in a vast remote wasteland. Well, we brought in our whole outdoor PA (two double 18" scoops on each side, etc. etc. etc.) and I brought in the fridge with the SVT head. This was one of those "move the pool table to fit" bars.
We thought we'd stick it to our agent for sending us to musical Siberia by cranking our volume up enough to literally knock stuff off walls and glasses off tables. As we suspected, everyone of the old farts at the bar left. The bar owner was pissed off.
But guess what? Little by little younger people started showing up but then leaving (we were ungodly loud so we must have drove them away too). But they kept coming back...and bringing more people with them. By the end of the night the bar was overflowing with people out into the parking lot and the bar owner told us afterward it was the best night he had in 30 years and wanted us back.
Moral of the story? Rock and Roll Ain't Noise pollution. Stop being such damn weenies and worrying about being so damned uptight and politically correct. Don't like how loud it is? There's the freakin' door ->!!! I'm finding more and more lately (as a vet rocker with a wife who bartends at a rock club), people are coming back to rock music and they are wanting it LOUD. And I'm not talking kids...I'm talking ALL age groups. It's about time too. I've just about had it with all this 'polite' karaoke level BS. Large loud bass rig making it hard on the soundman? We don't need no stinkin' sound man. We run it ourselves. If we had a soundman, he'd be working for us.
So is there a need for a huge rig? Obviously yes. If there wasn't, no one would make large cabs and big amps anymore. Dumb question really. Some want to go tiny, quiet or just DI. Good for you. Enjoy. That's cool you have the option today. Having to haul my own stuff to bar gigs, I'm digging lightweight gear. But it damn well better be able to get loud ONSTAGE. I play bass because I want to FEEL it. If all I wanted to do was hear it nicely, I'd be a guitard and play in a 'Bread' cover band.
I play in a classic hard rock band. I wouldn't want to offend anyone with loud rock music, now would I?
To each his own.
Not for ego but for feeling for me, my band and the audience do I take whats necessary. Whatever fills feels good. Front people like that cushion to lean back on too.
That's not my point. My point is how much headroom do you need? The vast majority of people who run 1000+ watt rigs do so for bragging rights. There is no headroom benefit over a 500w amp when you're not turning up past 2 or 3 with either amp. Cliff Williams plays bass for AC/DC and he's never needed more than 600w.
