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Double Bass Jazz Combo Gig - Amp Recommended?

L

LowEnder2112

Apr 2, 2007
121
1
33
Bethesda, MD
www.myspace.com
#1
Hey everyone. So i'm in the jazz band at my high school (i'm a junior), and we have a combo gig for some silent auction. From what i know, it's a relatively large room. The combo lineup is double bass, drums, piano(acoustic), tenor sax, trombone, trumpet. I've played with this combo only once before so far this school year, and i played with no amp that time. However, i found it a little hard to hear myself, and the drummer complained about not being able to hear me.

The director from jazz band says an amp (we have an GK MB-12 bass amp. small, but loud enough to play with the whole band), is not necessary for a combo gig. Should i push to ask permission to bring the amp? or should i be fine without it?

if necessary, i think he'd likely allow me to use the amp if i really asked FOR it. i can't bring my own amp (it's an rb 1001-ii head with 4x10 and 1x15 neo cabs), it's too big. and the only other amp i have is very small and tinny (15 watt crate).

What do you guys think? Do you do combo gigs acoustic or with an amp on maybe a lower volume?:confused:

Thanks,
-Mark Andrade
 
#2
Bring it! You won't have to play as hard to be heard which is very liberating musically. Sounds like your teacher has a very traditional approach, which is fine, but why not use the modern magic of electricity to help you play, sound and feel better.
 
#4
Yeah man, insist on bringing the amp.

You might be able to get away without one if you were playing with a soft drummer and a sensitive pianist, but with the horns, you'll be drowned out. You don't want to make other people sacrifice their expressiveness just so you can be heard.
Also, even if you can hear yourself without an amp, the sound won't travel very far with the rest of the band.
Best case scenario, you can at least point it at the drummer.
But without an amp, you'll probably end up with massive blisters!
 
#7
That amp is small and light enough that even if you don't use it's no hassle. I'd say push for the amp, when I did my year without an amp it had it's good and bad moments. It can be really fun when you're in a good room or playing with sensitive musicians, but if that's not the case playing unamped is a drag. The beauty of that amp is it can be invisible and if you only need a little support it can sound great.
 
#10
At this stage of your playing life (and your band mates') go with the amp for sure. IMO, your teacher, as has been stated, is way off the Mark by telling you to not use the amp.
Some of us here at TBDB go without for very specific musical and special small group occasions. You need some time and experience to even try this. Like....years of playing time with players who know how to use dynamics.
Good luck.
 
#12
You don't mention (that I noticed, anyway) having a pickup on your bass. I've been using a very inexpensive pickup from SixRounds.com. Not clear if you were going to use a mic, which is a whole other hassle. Get, or get the school to get, a pickup. The SixRounds is a self-install. Of course, get a better one if you can, but my point is that for many circumstances, this one is good enough. I think I paid $50 for mine brand new.

-S-
 
#13
If I got a call to play a similar thing, I would bring an amp along. Too many unknowns, such as the size of crowd and venue. Also, the ability to play with intensity at low volume, and not murder the bassist, is a skill that is sometimes absent, even among "pro" players.

OTOH if you go ampless, discuss it with the teacher and talk about rehearsing the band to play at a volume level appropriate for an unplugged bass. The teacher may be trying to teach this to everybody already. Or it might take some leadership on your part, which isn't a bad thing.
 

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