Nashville Gigs and Bass Volume

[bongostealth]

I just got back from another fun weekend in Nashville with my wife. But it seems to me that every bar band I heard barely had any noticeable bass volume. Each bass player played with a very light touch and their volume was extremely low. It was almost as if they were trying to not be heard at all. Even if they had a 4x10 cab, you could barely hear it or feel it. And it's not that the other instruments were so loud that they were drowning out the bass.

Is there some unwritten rule in Nashville that the bass cannot rumble and/or be too audible?

 

[bass player 53]

I've been to the touristy bars in Nashville many times. Many times you hear the gun slinger guitarist types featured.
That bachelorette kind of wild thing…
It is what it is. Of course, there's also
world class music to be found, of all types, too.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

With all the music going on in a town like Nashville, its probably to prevent sound bleeding between businesses. Bass travels through walls pretty easily.

 

[JonathanPDX]

With all the music going on in a town like Nashville, its probably to prevent sound bleeding between businesses. Bass travels through walls pretty easily.

Yeah, if there's any scene where bass players are going to both know their stuff and not push the venue rules, it's Nashville!

 

[J Wilson]

In a word, Yes.

 

[pbass2]

With all the music going on in a town like Nashville, its probably to prevent sound bleeding between businesses. Bass travels through walls pretty easily.

For sure, on the main drag, is there any bar that doesn't have live music going on practically 24-7? It's pretty wild. Can't say I've experienced the low-volume-bass thing though. I always heard decent enough mixes in most places. For example in rooms where they don't mic any drums, the bassists always seemed to be playing the appropriate volume for that scenario (unlike most rock players!).

 

[carsonchilders]

most of those bars have capable (or even high end) PAs. Theres a good chance the bassist on stage was being a pro with appropriate stage volume, but FOH was making the creative decision to keep it down. Even if the FOH person isn't visible, a lot of times they'll have one person bouncing around multiple stages with an iPad.

 

[pfschim]

FWIW, I was able to hear the bass player well enough in the YT vid above (Jimma Nashville's Finest Guitar Slinger).
I have not been to Nashville in years, so I have no first hand insights on volume levels though.

 

[FightMilk]

I'm beginning to forget what a fun weekend even is anymore

 

[edwinhurwitz]

I haven't played in Nashville in a decade and a half, but I sure turned it up! No complaints.

 

[J Wilson]

I once got called to play with a former major labor country 'artist' who'd had No 1 records in previous years, but that was more than a few years ago. Did some band only rehearsals where I was advised said artist was a little funny about bass. . . .

So a few days later we load up the bus for a single show, there and back. Set up, count it off, and we're in.

The minute the guitar solo starts, he whips around, walks right by me, turns every knob on the amp. Now I can't hear me at all, and it's just as well, he screwed up the tone completely. I had a good blend, fit right in volume wise, but nope, there he goes.

I somehow contained the homicidal rage, kept my mouth shut, didn't touch a thing and finished the show. It was a LONG ride back.

I go pick up the check a day or two later, cash it, then called the band leader and quit on the spot. He actually said 'You'll never work in this town again!'.

He was wrong, I did.

 

[JonathanPDX]

I once got called to play with a former major labor 'artist' who'd had No 1 records in previous years, but that was more than a few years ago. Did some band only rehearsals where I was advised said artist was a little funny about bass. . . .

So a few days later we load up for a single show, there and back. Set up, count it off, and we're in.

The minute the guitar solo starts, he whips around, walks right by me, turns every knob on the amp. Now I can't hear me at all, and it's just as well, he screwed up the tone completely.

I somehow contained the homicidal rage, kept my mouth shut, didn't touch a thing and finished the show. It was a LONG ride back.

I go pick up the check a day or two later, cash it, then called the band leader and quit on the spot. He actually said 'You'll never work in this town again!'.

He was wrong, I did.

I had the same thing happen, except he was a nobody that no one had ever heard of and never had any success in the biz outside of the local bar scene.

 

[CryingBass]

Fascinating. Really. Deep topic me thinks.

 

[pbass2]

I once got called to play with a former major labor 'artist' who'd had No 1 records in previous years, but that was more than a few years ago. Did some band only rehearsals where I was advised said artist was a little funny about bass. . . .

So a few days later we load up for a single show, there and back. Set up, count it off, and we're in.

The minute the guitar solo starts, he whips around, walks right by me, turns every knob on the amp. Now I can't hear me at all, and it's just as well, he screwed up the tone completely. I had a good blend, fit right in volume wise, but nope, there he goes.

I somehow contained the homicidal rage, kept my mouth shut, didn't touch a thing and finished the show. It was a LONG ride back.

I go pick up the check a day or two later, cash it, then called the band leader and quit on the spot. He actually said 'You'll never work in this town again!'.

He was wrong, I did.

Yep, you don't have to work for kooks, and it's bad for your rep if you continue to drag that out!

 

[logdrum]

Not in Nashville but my experience is if the song is the main focus, a boomy bass is frowned upon, I almost lost a gig with a touring singer because they did not like the StingRay SR5 which had too much bass unless you thinned it out like a guitar. Glad I had a passive jazz as backup.

Also if venue after venue has live music like in Nashville, it is not a bad to keep the bass low as it will travel through walls and the next wall and even across the street.

Maybe next time, go to Vegas for vacation. Or head on to the nearest ska and reggae festival to get your bass needs met

Now I have to ask if the Noble preamp is a standard pedal in Nashville?

 

[CryingBass]

I do not think it is the bass. It is the subs and/or the foh. Imho

 

[bongostealth]

Now I have to ask if the Noble preamp is a standard pedal in Nashville?

I couldn't get close enough at any of the bars to see exactly what the bass players were using. Some had pedal boards while others did not. It's always fun to see what's on a bass player's pedal boatd, though.

 

[bongostealth]

I once got called to play with a former major labor country 'artist' who'd had No 1 records in previous years, but that was more than a few years ago. Did some band only rehearsals where I was advised said artist was a little funny about bass. . . .

So a few days later we load up the bus for a single show, there and back. Set up, count it off, and we're in.

The minute the guitar solo starts, he whips around, walks right by me, turns every knob on the amp. Now I can't hear me at all, and it's just as well, he screwed up the tone completely. I had a good blend, fit right in volume wise, but nope, there he goes.

I somehow contained the homicidal rage, kept my mouth shut, didn't touch a thing and finished the show. It was a LONG ride back.

I go pick up the check a day or two later, cash it, then called the band leader and quit on the spot. He actually said 'You'll never work in this town again!'.

He was wrong, I did.

Why are some people against bass like that?? That has never made sense to me. The bass is fundamental unless a certain arrangement specifically does not require a bass, such as a solo instrument piece.

 

[five7]

What was the volume of the bass drum?

 

[bongostealth]

What was the volume of the bass drum?

Every drum set was clearly audible. The bass drum was not overly audible but definitely audible enough.