Keyboard Player Complaining About Can't Feel The Bass

[rapidfirerob]

I had two GK 1X12 Neo cabs with my Shuttle 6.2 amp. He complained then. Due to a serious
medical issue, I had to downsize to two Trace Elliot 1X10 Neo cabs. Of course, he's still complaining.
The drummer asked me to turn down at rehearsal a week ago. I played our first gig with the rig
last night and recorded it on Zoom H2 recorder. It sounds fine to me, as it does on a video recorded
as well. I told him today I'm tired of hearing about it. I set bass at 1:00, treble flat, mids
also at 1:00. I have the bass boost on. I'm open to suggestions. Allman Brothers tribute band.
Eve IONA, Alembic Spoiler basses. La Bella Gold Light Flats for strings.

 

[Joe Nerve]

There are several devices like this, I fogot what the others are called though. My drummer has a drum stool that gives him the same kind of oomph.

BackBeat - Play Bass, Feel Bass

Honestly, if everyone else is fine with your stage volume and sound this should be his issue to work out. There are also lots of other things to take into consideration. Does your band have a monitor system? Can you hear yourself well enough with 1X10 to let him do whatever he wants with the other in order to feel/hear it? Putting it on a stand right next to his head would probably do the trick .

I've found that comunication is always key. Its best when everyone is happy, and that usually takes compromise. On both sides.

 

[rapidfirerob]

There are several devices like this, I fogot what the others are called though. My drummer has a drum stool that gives him the same kind of oomph.

BackBeat - Play Bass, Feel Bass

Honestly, if everyone else is fine with your stage volume and sound this should be his issue to work out. There are also lots of other things to take into consideration. Does your band have a monitor system? Can you hear yourself well enough with 1X10 to let him do whatever he wants with the other in order to feel/hear it? Putting it on a stand right next to his head would probably do the trick .

I've found that communication is always key. Its best when everyone is happy, and that usually takes compromise. On both sides.

It's two 1X10 cabs. Some venues have their own PAs with monitors. Last night our singer brought his PA. Small club. I was set up next to the keyboard player.
I talked to one of the guitarists a little while ago. He said I could have more bass as well. I don't want to bump up the bass on the amp where the audience
gets hit with loads of low end or blow up my speakers certainly. I understand mids are better for bass and for the audience. The guitarist said he's
willing to come over and adjust the tone at my house. I'm open to that. I believe I'd enjoy putting a cab or two next to his head! lol

 

[Mike Caldwell]

Adjusting the "tone" at you house will not mean anything when it's showtime on the stage with the full band, chances are it may be worse then.

 

[rapidfirerob]

Adjusting the "tone" at you house will not mean anything when it's showtime on the stage with the full band, chances are it may be worse then.

Agreed. Just trying to work something out beforehand to keep the peace.

 

[s0c9]

Agreed. Just trying to work something out beforehand to keep the peace.

Give him some headphones off an AUX mix and he can add what he wants to it?

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Point at least 1 of your cabs right at the keyboard player and away from the drummer.

It's curious usually drummers want everything louder. LOL

 

[BassBrass]

Agreed. Just trying to work something out beforehand to keep the peace.

Keeping the Peace never works.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I had two GK 1X12 Neo cabs with my Shuttle 6.2 amp. He complained then. Due to a serious
medical issue, I had to downsize to two Trace Elliot 1X10 Neo cabs. Of course, he's still complaining.
The drummer asked me to turn down at rehearsal a week ago. I played our first gig with the rig
last night and recorded it on Zoom H2 recorder. It sounds fine to me, as it does on a video recorded
as well. I told him today I'm tired of hearing about it. I set bass at 1:00, treble flat, mids
also at 1:00. I have the bass boost on. I'm open to suggestions. Allman Brothers tribute band.
Eve IONA, Alembic Spoiler basses. La Bella Gold Light Flats for strings.

If the FOH is a good mix, tell him tough noogies. One thing you don’t want to do is blow up your rig trying to make him happy.

As for helping your keyboard player out, if you can get one or both of your cabs by the keyboard player where he is off axis, he will get more of that “feeling”.

Just asking by the way, does he happen to have one of those 2,000 watt subwoofers in his car??

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I had two GK 1X12 Neo cabs with my Shuttle 6.2 amp. He complained then. Due to a serious
medical issue, I had to downsize to two Trace Elliot 1X10 Neo cabs. Of course, he's still complaining.
The drummer asked me to turn down at rehearsal a week ago. I played our first gig with the rig
last night and recorded it on Zoom H2 recorder. It sounds fine to me, as it does on a video recorded
as well. I told him today I'm tired of hearing about it. I set bass at 1:00, treble flat, mids
also at 1:00. I have the bass boost on. I'm open to suggestions. Allman Brothers tribute band.
Eve IONA, Alembic Spoiler basses. La Bella Gold Light Flats for strings.

Tell him to set up in front of the subwoofer

 

[bassicmike]

Our guitarist wants to 'feel' the bass. But if I do that, everyone else is complaining that all they can hear is the bass across the stage.

I set my volume so I can hear it as my stage monitor, Otherwise trust to FOH, and get the bass from the monitors.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Can you change the stage set up so keyboardist is closer to the line of fire for your amp?

 

[Spidey2112]

I'd hand him a pair of drumsticks... y'all know what happens, soon after that.

 

[monsterthompson]

A possible way to address the issue. I’d say the keys needs to pay for it and load it. This might not be the best tool for “feeling” the bass if that means more low mids and lows, but it might help by providing some added definition for the keys.
P: EB-200 | Phil Jones Bass

 

[perfektspace6]

What does he mean he can't "feel" the bass? If he can hear the notes you are playing then it should be fine. Not much rumble is going to come out of a 1x10.

If you are playing Alembic basses I am willing to bet you know what you are doing.

 

[6-3-2]

Another example of why people like in-ears. Given how expensive that can be, I wonder if the keys player is just in the wrong spot to really hear the low end. I don't know the exact physics off the top of my head, but I know low frequencies can be especially hard to hear when someone is too close (something to do with the length of the sound waves). Your keys player may need to be further away from you, which I'm sure you wouldn't mind.

 

[coy garcia]

I use a 112 downfiring cab. It's 20 lbs and everyone on and off stage feels the bass. I'm surprised that very few bass players use them.

 

[JRA]

I use a 112 downfiring cab. It's 20 lbs and everyone on and off stage feels the bass.

DIY or manufactured? brand? TIA

 

[coy garcia]

DIY or manufactured? brand? TIA

I use a BBC 112 tank...once in a while I run into other bass players in the wild using a bigger model but I've yet to run into a bass player using one that wasn't in love with it.

 

[halcyo]

Maybe get him one of those vibration platforms to stand on that you can run the bass and kick signals into. A keyboard player is perhaps the ONLY guy in the band who can even practically use one since they probably move around the least.

Nowadays any serious band pretty much has to get an in-ear monitoring rig together. It’s the only option for 1) clearly hearing each other, 2) having a lighter/faster load-in, and 3) making the venues happy that your show volume overall is medium and clean.