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Live sound solution for excessive bass stage volume?

#62
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...

You cheapest option is run a powered speaker from your line out and put it out front of the stage … turn the powered speaker up and turn your amp down.

The best option is a big pa system with in-ear-monitors, big mains and big subwoofers.

You have run into a classic problem that you can get with small amps … when you turn up they get boomy and bassy and the mids and high end get lost in the boominess
 
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#64
I'm gonna say a different amp entirely would get you much farther...

Sure speaker placement and height is important, but this could mean a boatload of tweaking at every new venue just to get you what a more qualified amp could with little effort. I have found the baked-in frequency response of the new Rumble series to be rather lacking in clarity and cut, the amp heads from the same line don't help much either.

Are you set on using a combo, or would you be open to a head/cab solution? I get the feeling a nice 1x12 or 2x10 cab could get you what you are looking for. I'd go for a quality 2x10 as you'll likely get get cleaner bass response with more drivers. I would also suggest avoiding the Rumble stuff.
 
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#65
Better Amp.... if you have tried all the tone and towel or stand options.
upload_2020-3-3_10-58-42.png


BTW I use an isolation board.
auralex_greatgramma_ii_19x30x1_75_greatgramma_v2_1415870447_1096376.jpg
 
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#66
Kmonk said:
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.
Click to expand...

I agree to turn down your low freq on the amp and DI the bass anyway. Hopefully, FOH should pump in some lows through the mains to add to your stage volume.

May also check everyone else's volume levels.
 
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#71
One other suggestion that I didn't see mentioned (apologies if I overlooked it)...I believe it was stated the amp was EQ'd flat, but what about the Bright/Contour/Vintage buttons? If the Vintage button is depressed (engaged), it's possible this could be contributing to some of the boominess...
 
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#73
This week’s gig at a local casino has provided PA. I use a Zoom B3 for the tuner, chorus on one song, treble boost on one song, and a little distortion on a few. I’ll give the PA guy a feed from the B3’s XLR, and send a full-range signal to the Rumble on an amp stand with the volume, bass and mid-bass turned down.

That should do the trick! And no HPF needed.
 
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#74
Didn't read the responses but.

The simplest thing is to turn the "Bass" knob down. I know that sounds counter-intuitive, but that is where I start.

Other than that, get the amp off the stage floor by a foot or so.

If that doesn't work, turn the amp down to monitor level on stage and DI through the PA as much as needed .
 
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#75
Hambone70 said:
This week’s gig at a local casino has provided PA. I use a Zoom B3...no HPF needed.
Click to expand...
Mo'Phat said:
...the AcBsPre effect on the Zoom B3 is a very serviceable high pass filter. I believe the Depth control (0-10) cuts off all frequencies below....something.

I read somewhere on TB that a setting of 3 cuts off everything below 30 hz. 10 is anything below 100 hz.

Might be worth a try.
Click to expand...
 
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#79
Gravedigger Dav said:
It is not a myth, it's physics. SOUND FREQUENCY & WAVELENGTH CALCULATOR
Click to expand...

Here's a physics experiment, then, to test the hypothesis that you need to be about a wavelength away from a speaker to hear the sound from that speaker.

1. stick an earbud in your ear.
2. Play some music, and listen.

Audible frequencies all have a wavelength of at least a centimeter or two (A440 is closer to a meter), and your ear canal is probably more like 25mm. So, if you can hear anything, then we've gotta reject the hypothesis.
 
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