Kick drum through my bass amp?

[Brad Johnson]

So, what have you cats actually concluded on the topic?

I still don’t get (and will likely NEVER get (I know, I’m hopeless)) the obsession that sound folks have with the kick. Sure, it’s good to know where 1 and 3 are. Being uncertain on those probably disqualifies one as a musician, unless you gig with the Portsmouth Sinfonia. But, most club venues, the acoustic drum set is enough as is. Bigger venues where the drums need reinforcement, then fine; but at that point you need more PA.

The snare is a different matter; simply because people dance to the back beat; and some drummers are a little weak on the snare.

Anyhow, point is that reinforcing the kick does NOT fill up the dance floor. At least in my neighborhood. So, putting it in the bass amp? Personally? I mean, I might, depending on the answers to a whole lot of questions. Can’t rule anything out. But, it would be unlikely. Highly unlikely.

I guess that depends on what kind of music is being played. For a lot of music the kick is very important. Not sure what the mystery is... and I certainly don't see it as an obsession. It's a component of that kind of performance. That's all.

 

[kalle74]

I have a hard time believing this has gone on (and still is) for 12 pages...

1. Your "soundguy" is not. Suggesting kick through bass amp sounds very "hack" to me.
2. It's not called "bass and kick amp" for a reason. For one, the wattage, output and frequency response aren't there...
3. PA's and subwoofers were invented for a reason. Can't afford them / don't need them? Go without, save for later.
4. It's 2018, not 1974.

 

[Drgonzonm]

There was thread about placing the bass amp behind the drummer. I wonder if the sound guy and the BL are the same guy?
Key word in this threads title: "my."

 

[Brad Johnson]

I have a hard time believing this has gone on (and still is) for 12 pages...

1. Your "soundguy" is not. Suggesting kick through bass amp sounds very "hack" to me.
2. It's not called "bass and kick amp" for a reason. For one, the wattage, output and frequency response aren't there...
3. PA's and subwoofers were invented for a reason. Can't afford them / don't need them? Go without, save for later.
4. It's 2018, not 1974.

A sub is not mandatory for a kick. Like most things... it depends.


And if they ran the kick through the unknown quantity bass rig and it worked, they wouldn't have to go without.

 

[bucephylus]

I guess that depends on what kind of music is being played. For a lot of music the kick is very important. Not sure what the mystery is... and I certainly don't see it as an obsession. It's a component of that kind of performance. That's all.

“Obsession” may have not been the most accurate choice of words. But, I’m not sure what else you call it when the sound person is spending 30% of the sound check making sure the kick is blasting loud enough so the band will have the “right” groove on Walk This Way. And proceeds to put the snare way buried in the mix. Anyhow, I know you’ve played a lot of gigs; so, you know what I’m referring to.

 

[Drgonzonm]

If you willing to follow the sound guys request, then do some web research. Some the advice from other sites is not much better than this forum. I headed to a pancake place for Belgium waffles. The bridge I live under doesn't have a pancake place.
Know your options.

 

[Brad Johnson]

“Obsession” may have not been the most accurate choice of words. But, I’m not sure what else you call it when the sound person is spending 30% of the sound check making sure the kick is blasting loud enough so the band will have the “right” groove on Walk This Way.I And proceeds to put the snare way buried in the mix. Anyhow, I know you’ve played a lot of gigs; so, you know what I’m referring to.

I do... and I hate playing under those circumstances as much as I hate being an audience member.

Fortunately for me the majority of my gigs are with either very good or great soundpeople. I mean studio quality at live levels. It's my norm so I know that it's possible. For instance I did a gig at The Amp, a great local venue. The soundguy probably wasn't even thirty. For my sound check he listened to me while I warmed up and then replicated my tone to a "T" in the house. He did that with the other instruments. It could've been "my gig" for as great as he had me sounding.. which also made it even easier for me to stretch out.

The kick was studio quality too, not like a fender-rattling Jeep three blocks away

Good stuff can happen.

 

[oldrocker]

There was thread about placing the bass amp behind the drummer. I wonder if the sound guy and the BL are the same guy?
Key word in this threads title: "my."

I remember that thread. A different guy posted that thread so this not the same guy.

 

[4-stringB]

I'm not feeling all the contention here. I've been miking the kick for years. Just enough for presence, not earth-shaking. Almost never a problem. Drummer did play a lot harder than he did at sound check, fried a PV BW 1502. I had already re-soldered the voice coil once, so it's days were numbered anyway....But dropped a 3015LF into the cab (cab modified per BFM) And we've been sailing along just fine....But having suffered through the cash strapped younger days, I always have way more amp and cab than I'll ever need.