I just wanted to reflect on a situation that happens every so often in my musical world. It's the amazing sound of a marriage between amp/cab/bass when everything just clicks.
As a disclaimer, I do not have brand loyalty to anything. I do have my preferences, but if I can find the sound I want, I could care less if it was a Hello Kitty! bass running through a worn out Barringer amp. If it sounds good, I'm digging it!
Over the last year I have been involved with a Tribute band, where we produce the look and sound of the band. One of the trademark looks if the artist's back line. It more or less hasn't changed since the 90's. We felt it was necessary to bring this into our show. It's big and cumbersome, but the visual aspect is worth the time. (we have people that set it up for us so I really can't complain too loudly) For the bass, that means two Ampeg SVT rigs.... (only one gets used, other is just there for visuals)
Last night we had our first dress rehearsal, which means having the full stage setup. I did a little tweaking to my rig, adding another bass with flats. Wow, what a difference! During normal practice sessions, I used a smaller rig, and over the last six months I got used to this. Plugging into the SVT, pushing the volume a bit, and hearing that P bass punch was absolute perfection! I simply cannot remember having a better sound. I has the growl, creamy tube smoothness, punch, man its all there. I was one grinning bassist last night.
Ampeg Backline: (yes I know the other cab is an Acoustic)
Dialing in the sound was so effortless, its as if the p bass sound I have in my head is that sound. It honestly took 20 seconds to dial it it. It got me to thinking, I have other rigs, but prefer the P bass with the Ampeg. for my Jazz basses, I prefer GK 212 speakers and either the Trace Elliott ELF head, or an MB800.
Jazz V and GK Club Rig:
For my Fretless Jaco Jazz, it has to be my Trace Elliott ELF head and (2) 110 speaker cabs. So delicious!
Jaco and the ELF:
So to my ears, certain basses sound great with certain rigs, and no matter the amount of tweaking will get the sound I'm after from other rigs.
Am I weird, or is this normal? Anyone else have a certain sound that can only be found with certain combinations of instrument/amp/speaker cab? If so I'd love to hear about it, and of course post a picture of your rig of perfection!
Let's see what you have, and tell us why its that perfect storm of gear!
As a disclaimer, I do not have brand loyalty to anything. I do have my preferences, but if I can find the sound I want, I could care less if it was a Hello Kitty! bass running through a worn out Barringer amp. If it sounds good, I'm digging it!
Over the last year I have been involved with a Tribute band, where we produce the look and sound of the band. One of the trademark looks if the artist's back line. It more or less hasn't changed since the 90's. We felt it was necessary to bring this into our show. It's big and cumbersome, but the visual aspect is worth the time. (we have people that set it up for us so I really can't complain too loudly) For the bass, that means two Ampeg SVT rigs.... (only one gets used, other is just there for visuals)
Last night we had our first dress rehearsal, which means having the full stage setup. I did a little tweaking to my rig, adding another bass with flats. Wow, what a difference! During normal practice sessions, I used a smaller rig, and over the last six months I got used to this. Plugging into the SVT, pushing the volume a bit, and hearing that P bass punch was absolute perfection! I simply cannot remember having a better sound. I has the growl, creamy tube smoothness, punch, man its all there. I was one grinning bassist last night.
Ampeg Backline: (yes I know the other cab is an Acoustic)
Dialing in the sound was so effortless, its as if the p bass sound I have in my head is that sound. It honestly took 20 seconds to dial it it. It got me to thinking, I have other rigs, but prefer the P bass with the Ampeg. for my Jazz basses, I prefer GK 212 speakers and either the Trace Elliott ELF head, or an MB800.
Jazz V and GK Club Rig:
For my Fretless Jaco Jazz, it has to be my Trace Elliott ELF head and (2) 110 speaker cabs. So delicious!
Jaco and the ELF:
So to my ears, certain basses sound great with certain rigs, and no matter the amount of tweaking will get the sound I'm after from other rigs.
Am I weird, or is this normal? Anyone else have a certain sound that can only be found with certain combinations of instrument/amp/speaker cab? If so I'd love to hear about it, and of course post a picture of your rig of perfection!
Let's see what you have, and tell us why its that perfect storm of gear!
