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Live Sound Problems

P

pshep68

Sep 21, 2006
627
79
#1
Hi,
I am look for some suggestions regarding my live sound. I play in a five piece band... guitar, drums (electronic), bass, acoustic guitar and piano/keys. We are a loud band... mostly because of the guitar player. He is very loud (lots of low end.) and isn't a person who likes being told that he is loud. He owns all of our PA... End of story. Hopefully, your suggestions/tips will not include answers suggesting that the guitar player to turn down. That is not an option. Anyways, I use an Ampeg SVT CL & 810 with an American Fender 4 string jazz with Super Bass 8250M, NPS, (.045, .065, .085, .110TW Gauges) strings. My amp setup is as follows... Gain 11 - Bass 9.5 - Midrange 2:00 - Frequency Selector 3 - Treble 1:00 and Volume is MAX. My live sound is still fairly muddled... and I can just barely hear myself. I am standing about 4 feet in front of my amp... If I move any further, I can't hear at all. I have to depend on what bass sound is bouncing off the back wall. The guitar produces a lot of low end as do the electronic drums, bass and lower register of the keys. I usually only have my own vocals in my monitor. I have played with the EQ of the SVT CL. Will a lighter gauge string help? Is my amp functioning properly re: volume? Any and all suggestions/tips would be greatly appreciated.
 
#2
Bass at 9.5 what? Out of 10? Pull that way back to 5 and start there. Then, tell the guitarist he can be loud, but take the low end out, since the keys are already stepping on your end of the spectrum with him(the guitar).
 
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#3
Grumry said:
Bass at 9.5 what? Out of 10? Pull that way back to 5 and start there. Then, tell the guitarist he can be loud, but take the low end out, since the keys are already stepping on your end of the spectrum with him(the guitar).
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As if the dial was a clock. Appreciate your reply. As stated in the OP telling guitarist anything is not an option. Is there anything that I can re: my setup...
 
#5
pshep68 said:
As if the dial was a clock. Appreciate your reply. As stated in the OP telling guitarist anything is not an option. Is there anything that I can re: my setup...
Click to expand...
Try to reset your eq, everything at 12 noon. Then turn your gain up until it starts to clips the input, then back off slightly, or use more for a dirtier tone. Once you have the front end dialed in you can eq to get the tone you want. Then lastly turn up the master volume for the level you need in the room. Make sure to check your eq again once you're up to volume.

Having the guitar change his eq doesn't mean he has to turn down, he just needs to give your instrument the sonic space it needs to work properly.
 
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#9
IMO, your band's sound is what's known as a custerfluck. The only way to overcome this that I've read about on TB is go so massive with your equipment and volume the other members can't hear themselves And they ask you to turn down.

A couple thousand watts and two fEARful 151566's or something similar should do it.
 
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#11
smogg said:
If the guitar is way too loud and in your sonic space and the keys are in your sonic space and they won't step off, then you are doomed. The only thing you're going to get out of the deal is serious hearing loss. Your choice.
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They don't need a bass player. The gave all the bass they need.

Next rehearsal or gig, turn the volume off on your bass and pretend to play.
 
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#15
buldog5151bass said:
If telling the guitarist to turn down when he is too loud is not an option, your next option is to leave. Sorry, some BS is not worth putting up with.
Click to expand...

^^^This... I just quit a band because of BS drummer. After 30+ years of playing and putting up with asshats along the way, I no longer put up with it. Life can suck but theres no reason for a band to emulate life.
 
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#17
Your mix sucks. A proper mix will have every instrument in its own space to a degree. I am fortunate that my rhythm guitar player is a reallly really good sound guy.
As far as the guitarist goes, it's a straightforward conversation and if you can present to him that a live amp setting is different from a in the bedroom setting hopefully he will understand.
We have run into this scenario, we play at a venue for a year that provides its own hired sound (outsourced from a professional company), a gig comes up and they can't get said regular guy so my guitarist does sound, after the gig we are offered the sound guys cut for our guitarist to run sound for future gigs. The crazy part of all of this is he sets sound, Tweaks about 3 soundcheck songs and that's it.
At the end of the day there is this. Everyone in my band wants the band to sound great because that makes us money. If that wasn't the case I honestly wouldn't be bothering to play live.
 
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