Live sound solution for excessive bass stage volume?

[Stumbo]

Try elevating the Rumble with an amp stand or milk crate. Does that help reduce the boomy stage sound?

I’ll try that. Thanks!

I suggest waiting for the HPF before doing anything else.

A stand and HPF may be all you need because the bass amp tone controls will react differently.

Also, go wireless or get a long cord so you can hear how you sound in the mix. Adjust from there.

If you can get a bit further from your amp, sometimes that helps too.

 

[Bboopbennie]

Yep 60Hz, good read!! Hey OP can you post a picture of the the amp control settings. this could be very helpful.
Does sound like too much bass and a scoped mid. Too much bass can mask the mids, even though the controls
look about right. If you have not played or recorded much, many players just play too loud. Something you just learn over time.

 

[TommyGunz]

I find my Rumble 100 to be very Low Mid heavy causing it to sound a bit muddy, I frequently find myself turning Bass up a bit and Low-Mid down significantly. Sometimes I up the High-Mid. I find this gives me a nice clean and clear tone while still having a nice rumbly bottom. YMMV

 

[jeff7bass]

If it's not the sound you have in your head, time for a different amp. Might want to look at this affordable 2x8 with a separate 300W head like the Ashdown OriginAL 300.
TC Electronic BC208 2x8" 200-Watt Bass Cabinet Reviews Reviews | Sweetwater

 

[jeff7bass]

This head.
Ashdown OriginAL 300-Watt Lightweight Bass Head Reviews Reviews | Sweetwater

 

[Hambone70]

I would LOVE to get the same headphone tone that I get plugging my P Bass straight into my PreSonus Audiobox USB! That's just straight into the instrument input on the front, and straight out the phones socket in the back.

Come to think of it, is there any reason that I can't use an audio interface as a preamp, as long as I can get USB power into the back?

 

[Jim Carr]

You need clean mids, well dispersed. HPF, EQ, amp stand, all good. Which strings you use? I find rounds EQ better for mid-range.

 

[Hambone70]

You need clean mids, well dispersed. HPF, EQ, amp stand, all good. Which strings you use? I find rounds EQ better for mid-range.

They are rounds.

 

[juggahnaught]

Man....my opinion? If you have the cash to add a powered sub to the PA, I feel as though that would be a much better investment for the band's sake than a bass amp or cab.

There are other options that people have stated above, but I think that having a capable PA system beats everything hands down. If you're gigging on the regular you'll get a lot more use out of powered subs (you can run bass through them, kick through them, full mix through subs and tops assuming the tops you have are good) than any instrument amp or satellite cab. As you stated, you could get something like the Pod GO (or another modeler) or even a good DI and be set, and use your amp for monitoring instead of FOH sound. It's modular - for smaller gigs, ditch the sub and use the tops; for larger ones, bring the sub.

If buying a sub isn't an option for you, then sure - try the highpass, the amp elevation, etc. It's all sound advice and makes sense. But if you were set on buying another amp specifically to address this situation - buy the sub instead.

My two cents.

 

[rockinrayduke]

Definitely get the cab off the ground or tilted back.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Get a boutique rig. You won’t believe the difference until you hear it live in the band for the first time.

 

[tom-g]

I have been using the Rumble 100 for smaller gigs also and I have made the same experience. I cut the lows and low mids severely.
If the amp is big enough for what you need, I wouldn’t invest in anything else. Use the tone controls. That’s what they are there for.
I at least get plenty of low end out front.

 

[Zbysek]

1. HPF
2. new quality (boutique) cab
3. powered sub

I suggest waiting for the HPF before doing anything else.

HPF may help a lot.

If not, I would advice getting quality cab (e.g. Bergantino). I have an experience that this kind of cabs will allow to have huge bass sound without being too loud and without being muddy...

Another option might be powered sub for the FOH...but than you run into the problem with the monitors...

 

[Nevada Pete]

Your getting excellent advise here! I will just second the idea that a large part of the problem is apparently you are confusing the importance of how your bass rig sounds on stage compared to how you sound out in the audience. The only thing that matters is how you sound in the audience. The audience is why your there. Not to get off on how you sound to yourself (if you get the analogy).

There's no hard and fast rules. Every stage and every room is different. But generally, you will find that when you sound big out in the audience you will sound a little thin on stage (for reasons already explained). If your "swamping the stage with bass", you are too loud, your "tone" settings on your rig are not right, or both. That's already been covered too.

Getting your cab off the stage and tilting it up so it points at your head where your ears are at is an excellent idea, but you have to get used to how that sounds. Remember, the idea is to facilitate you being able to properly articulate the notes you are playing with dead on timing. How your bass sounds on stage for you to do that is not going to be the same as what you want to sound like in the audience. Fortunately, what you sound like on stage to not be too boomy in the audience is also what will facilitate your note articulation.

Beg, borrow or steal a wireless set up and get out there in the audience! When you hear the difference out there compared to how you sound on stage, then you'll get it. Good luck. It's a never ending journey. You just try to travel as well as you can.

 

[thanos k]

consider the option of in ear monitors for bass and go ampless... buy a nice floor preamp with some eq options and go direct.

 

[Chickenwheels]

If not, I would advice getting quality cab (e.g. Bergantino). I have an experience that this kind of cabs will allow to have huge bass sound without being too loud and without being muddy..

This.
It’s like the first time you gig through an L’Acoustic PA system. You just can’t believe how much better it is.
And the whole band will sound clearer/better on stage, too.

 

[btmpancake]

Another option you may consider after elevation and HPF don't get you quite where you want to is to upgrade that stock eminence 12''driver. Before I buy another amp/combo, I'd check with the guys in the Fender Rumble club for upgrades, mods and amp settings...it's all there.

 

[two fingers]

OK, let's back up. Everybody take a breath. There's something missing here.

If he has to turn the bass down on a relatively small combo to keep from drowning the stage in bass, I'm going to need clarification on a couple of things.

1) Based on context, I'm guessing you guys are a kind of quiet band?

2) Wjat is the construction of the stage? It seems to me your rig has "coupled" to the stage. And the stage itself is becoming a big, booming sub. If that's the case, you need to isolate it from the stage. There are special pads that do this. Before spending the money on that, I would try a gig with a couple of folded towels under your rig. That will help some.

If that's not it, there's another acoustic issue going on. It could just be a boomy room. As such, you're on the right track with the HPF.

3) What kind of PA do you have? What kind of mains speakers? If they can handle some bass (and the vast majority of modern speakers can), you can still take your rig and simply line out of it to the PA. Then you can turn down the rig on stage and all three (stage rig and two mains) will divide the job of filling the room with bass.

 

[Kmonk]

Adjust your eq settings so you have less bass and more highs and mids. Your bass will cut through the mix better and your sound will be less muddy and less boomy.

 

[TimboZ]

Ask the FOH gut if he has a HPF on the vocal mics. Cut the lows on the vocal mics at about 90HZ. They may be picking up the lows and going back to the stage monitors.