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Live sound solution for excessive bass stage volume?

H

Hambone70

Guest
Jan 31, 2018
1,183
2,311
#1
I’m currently playing a P Bass through a Rumble 100. There is plenty of volume for the gigs we’re doing, although I’m not a fan of the tone, which I describe as “cardboard”. I realize I need an amp/cab or combo upgrade. Or do I?

Only the vocals are going through the PA, and everyone uses floor wedges, which are also vocals only. The problem is when I crank the Rumble to a decent volume, the bass swamps the stage, goes all boomy, and nobody can hear the monitors clearly. My only solution at the last gig was to turn the bass down, which meant very little bass was getting out to FOH. I just ordered a Broughton HPF to help, but I don’t think that’s the only solution.

So I’m thinking that the bass has to get off the stage. The current PA isn’t beefy enough to DI the bass straight from a preamp or model to the mixer.

So how can I clean up the stage volume without putting the bass through the PA? I like the idea of running a modeling preamp like the new POD Go straight to the PA. So rather than buying a better bass amp/cab or combo, I could spend the cash on adding a powered sub to the PA. The mixer only has a single aux send, so everyone has to listen to the same vocals. I can’t put the bass through the monitors.

Any solutions appreciated!
 
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#6
lz4005 said:
Why do you think you can't DI your bass into the PA and monitors? There hasn't been a PA made in the last 40 years that would be damaged by that if they're run by a competent sound person.
Click to expand...
There is only one monitor send, and they only want vocals in the monitors. I suppose the DIed bass can go to the powered speakers, if I can talk them into it. They’re budget 15 inchers, so adequate.
 
#13
1DX80.jpg




Problem solved!
 
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#14
Well lets just tell you this... I play a small Hartke amp at prctice. Its sounds like cardboard in the closest.
Then we played a gig and I brought one of my fender 410 cab. Insane difference in sound and presence!!
So cabs do make a difference. Now I will get the usual ITS WAS TOO LOUD !! No.. it was recorded on video
and the levels were good. Just had that 60KHz bottom you dont get with many smaller cabs. If you can try
another cab, do it and see what you think? Played an Acoustic 360 with a 18 inch driver years ago and that
beast could handle 2k seat / gig with no PA -DI !!
 
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#15
Hambone70 said:
The problem is when I crank the Rumble to a decent volume, the bass swamps the stage, goes all boomy, and nobody can hear the monitors clearly. My only solution at the last gig was to turn the bass down, which meant very little bass was getting out to FOH.
Click to expand...

"Decent volume" for who, exactly? For the venue? Or for you to hear youself? Because those are different situations...
 
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#16
Hambone70 said:
I’m currently playing a P Bass through a Rumble 100. There is plenty of volume for the gigs we’re doing, although I’m not a fan of the tone, which I describe as “cardboard”. I realize I need an amp/cab or combo upgrade. Or do I?

Only the vocals are going through the PA, and everyone uses floor wedges, which are also vocals only. The problem is when I crank the Rumble to a decent volume, the bass swamps the stage, goes all boomy, and nobody can hear the monitors clearly. My only solution at the last gig was to turn the bass down, which meant very little bass was getting out to FOH. I just ordered a Broughton HPF to help, but I don’t think that’s the only solution.

So I’m thinking that the bass has to get off the stage. The current PA isn’t beefy enough to DI the bass straight from a preamp or model to the mixer.

So how can I clean up the stage volume without putting the bass through the PA? I like the idea of running a modeling preamp like the new POD Go straight to the PA. So rather than buying a better bass amp/cab or combo, I could spend the cash on adding a powered sub to the PA. The mixer only has a single aux send, so everyone has to listen to the same vocals. I can’t put the bass through the monitors.

Any solutions appreciated!
Click to expand...


Who determines the appropriate level of bass for the FOH mix? Generally bass carries a lot of energy so it goes further into the audience before it dies out than higher frequencies. So what typically happens is you are too loud at FOH, and you can barely hear yourself on stage.

Elevating your cab may help. This creates a bit of a dip in the low mids which helps reduce the boom factor and tighten up your sound. I like elevating my cab and also tilting it back to aim the mids and highs at my ears. This helps me hear myself without having to excessively loud. But if you like a big fat bass sound, you won't like this approach because it tends to be more clear and articulate, rather than fat and pillowy.

Here's an article that explains how elevating your cab impacts your tone through boundary interference. Speaker Placement 101: Is Speaker-Boundary Interference Killing Your Bass?

Another key is to find the right balance of mids and lows. A mistake many people make is cutting their mids too much. This tends to sound great up close, but in the distance your sound can turn into a boomy, incoherent mess. When someone tells you, you are too loud, you may just need to turn down your bass control.
 
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#17
I always say that it takes more power than 100 watts to have a good clean bass sound, with that said don't be afraid to roll off some bass or low mid. Take it down in little steps roll up a little toward the treble side on your bass guitar. You have four tone controls on the amp and one on the bass, use them. Maybe try rolling up a little high mid or treble on your amp. Try scooping by rolling both low and high mid down. You have to experiment to find the sweet spot.
 
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#20
Hambone70 said:
I’m currently playing a P Bass through a Rumble 100. There is plenty of volume for the gigs we’re doing, although I’m not a fan of the tone, which I describe as “cardboard”. I realize I need an amp/cab or combo upgrade. Or do I?

Only the vocals are going through the PA, and everyone uses floor wedges, which are also vocals only. The problem is when I crank the Rumble to a decent volume, the bass swamps the stage, goes all boomy, and nobody can hear the monitors clearly. My only solution at the last gig was to turn the bass down, which meant very little bass was getting out to FOH. I just ordered a Broughton HPF to help, but I don’t think that’s the only solution.

So I’m thinking that the bass has to get off the stage. The current PA isn’t beefy enough to DI the bass straight from a preamp or model to the mixer.

So how can I clean up the stage volume without putting the bass through the PA? I like the idea of running a modeling preamp like the new POD Go straight to the PA. So rather than buying a better bass amp/cab or combo, I could spend the cash on adding a powered sub to the PA. The mixer only has a single aux send, so everyone has to listen to the same vocals. I can’t put the bass through the monitors.

Any solutions appreciated!
Click to expand...

Did you try tilting the amp back a bit (use an amp rack that tilts back). Bass freqs are pretty omnidirectional but if the amp is pointing up a bit, pointed at you, you'd still hear it but the stage wash may be lessened a bit
 
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