• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Other bands thinking my gear is theirs.

#41
decay said:
I didn't have a gig yet, so no experience in this area, but is it rare that someone only brings his/her own amp and borrowing only the cab of the main act's bassist? This way there is no messing with the other bassist's EQ and you have more of your sound from the rig.
Or is this bulls**t??
Click to expand...
I don't really like that idea, combining different gear like that is a bigger risk than allowing people to just change settings, and it is also more time consuming.

What I have done though the few times I've used another bass player's rig is to first try to keep his settings and adjust the EQ on my pedalboard and bass. If that leads to too big changes and a less than good sound then I have to check with the amp owner and tweak settings on his rig too.
 
#43
This has been an issue for me in the past as well, on both sides of the fence.

-I think it needs to be agreed on beforehand when the guy who's offering the head does not want anyone changing settings.

-When i play through someone else's amp i check the settings it is in - if it's good, i leave it. I like my tone rather dark and boomy, so when the amp's owner likes it bright, i need to change it.
But when i borrow something i hand it back the way it was when i borrowed it. So i snap a pic of the amp's settings and set them back when i'm done playing.
Since we're living in Class-D times, i usually bring my Tonehammer 500 anyway - it fits in the gigbag. If there is a decent amp on stage, i use that and if there are any issues - an owner who does not really like his amp used/touched or an amp i don't like i set up the Tonehammer on top.
 
#44
It seems the OP has bailed. Back when I used to play on multi band bills we used to do alot of cabinet sharing and everyone just hooked up their own head. If you loan someone your gear, set out the terms beforehand. If you dont want your settings changed just tell the person up fron "you can use my gear but I need everything left the way it is".
 
  • Like
Reactions: spaz21387
#46
I often provide my amp as a backline, and do so on the knowledge that people will want to change the sound to fit their style - I like a bright tone, but wouldn't want to force that on every other bassist on the bill. I've had to suffer through this before, where I was made to slap through an amp that was set up for dub reggae because the guy wouldn't let me touch his 'settings' (bass up, treble off).Why be so precious? After all, on my own amp, with which I am pretty familiar, it'll take me all of ten seconds to switch them back to how I want them. Plus, people will most likely return the favour! Sharing is caring, y'know?
 
  • Like
Reactions: odineye and hintz
#48
Broadbandcorpse said:
I can see that other people are cool with it but I don't like people touching my stuff as I have had to replace a couple of amps due to bands being drunk and crashing into stuff (We played with this band whose bassist got drunk before playing and fell into my amp, well let's just say it could not be fixed it was that badly damaged for the bassist falling into it with drink in had and the headstock of his bass through the speaker of it).
Click to expand...

But that can happen even if the opening band is not using the headlining band's gear because it is gonna be on stage anyways...
 
  • Like
Reactions: odineye
#49
Broadbandcorpse said:
I can see that other people are cool with it but I don't like people touching my stuff as I have had to replace a couple of amps due to bands being drunk and crashing into stuff (We played with this band whose bassist got drunk before playing and fell into my amp, well let's just say it could not be fixed it was that badly damaged for the bassist falling into it with drink in had and the headstock of his bass through the speaker of it).
Click to expand...

If you fear that sort of thing can happen then simply don't put your amp on a shared stage.

And seriously, if you've had to replace "a couple of amps" then you should have figured this out a long time ago. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: odineye, hintz, Eidolon0274 and 1 other person
#51
Yep, you're weird on this one. You should be able to plug into anything and within 30 seconds get your sound.

If it's your own amp, it should take you no time. Unless you're jumping on stage and playing immediately it shouldnt be an issue. If I were in the other bands position, I would ask you like he did and be grateful that you're a cool guy about it.
 
#55
Gaolee said:
I have let people play through my amps on occasion, and they always change the settings. It doesn't bother me, since I can always change the settings back. As long as they don't do any damage to the equipment, it isn't much of a problem. If I don't trust them, they don't play through it. Full stop. If I trust them, they can twiddle with the knobs and I don't mind.
Click to expand...
Let me guess? Originals night? ;-)
Back on topic- If you agreed to provide the backline- I believe they should be able to change the settings within reason. You have the right to over-ride them if they get out of control and to supervise these changes. Now I am not talking turning your master up to 11 and diming the bass as well. I am saying polite tweaking. (As in- I want a little more mids).
When I share an amp with someone, I typically find they have it set for ALL bass with a huge thud, with absolutely no definition (usually because they are in a 2-guitard with keys band). I play in a power trio, so that doesn't work, I like top end, mids AND some low-end.

I have hosted many open jams, and I always turn on the -10db when ever another bassist comes up- which isn't that often. Mainly because I play with a medium touch-passive bass and I find many haven't evolved beyond beating the crap out of an active bass.
 
Last edited:
#56
Broadbandcorpse said:
I was wondering if any of you have ran into this and what your response was.

I was playing a gig the other night and I had my backline set up and it was agreed since we were the headlining slot that the other two band's bassists would use my amp, it get's to sound check and my band does a sound check and then the next band gets up to do a line check and that goes through with no hitch, the final band (which opened up the show) get's on and the bassist says to me "come on stage and write down your settings so I can change it to mine" so I said "you're not touching my amp, just plug your pedal board in and line check" and he starts ranting at me and the sound guy puts him in his place so the bassist just storms out.

I have had a couple of bands say to me that they are changing the settings on my amp, it's completely wrong for someone to do that.

Any of you guys had a similar experience?
Click to expand...
I think both of you over reacted. As you were providing the rig you should have anticipated some twiddling of knobs - at least to get the gain to match his bass/pedalboard, otherwie, as others have said you shouldn't have offered your amp for the others to use. AND he did ask, even if he did so in a slightly douchy way.
Having said all that, as the "other acts" who are using the closers' equipment, I would say that's life for the other guys, when you are the opening act you don't get the sound you want - you get the "headliner's" sound with minor adjustment. Also, since the sound-guy has set up around your band's balance it is silly of him to mess with things as it isn't likely to sound as good as the sound you are at. He (the other guy) needs to realize that when it's his turn to be the main act then he gets his own settings, until then the sound is going to be a compromise and if he doesn't like it he can (as others have said) get a good preamp and put that directly into the DI.
In the end, you have a right to let the guys know they need to be respectful of your equipment and that you won't tolerate abuse (and some guys think that blowing up amps is totally "rock and roll"), but within the realm of appropriate use, you have to expect a little knob twiddling.
Also - people get too hung up with their settings. If you can't get your amp to within 10% of "your tone" even before you've plugged in your bass, then your settings are far too elaborate and you are either using crap equipment which needs that much tweaking or the wrong equipment for your needs. In all my nearly 30 years of playing I've never had any amp that I couldn't set up within 1 minute - because everything was close to 12 o'clock - with most modern amps I leave the EQ alone and turn the "character" knob until I hear the tone I want (also usually close to 12) with conventional setups - a very slight smile (bass 1:00, mid 11:30, Treble 12:00 or 1:00). Seriously, if you can't get a slightly lifeless version of the one you want going straight from your bass to the DI, you have bad or the wrong equipment.
Back to the original point - let the guy tweak a bit, but give him the stink-eye if he goes too far in any direction.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Broadbandcorpse
#57
NYCbassist said:
If you don't want people touching your stuff then you shouldn't offer your amp up at all to be used. Honestly you gotta let a person try to get "his/her" tone so they can play their very best. Being a douche to him would just screw up his/her Mojo. Sorry if I sound harsh...just being honest.
Click to expand...
+1

I always let the opening act change my settings. I take a pic with my cell phone after our sound check so I know exactly where it was. It only takes a second. As an opening act I've only had one person tell me not to change their settings. I was cool about it, but I was thinking, what a douche; he says I can use his amp but then when I get there tells me I can't change any of the settings. If I had know that I would have brought my own rig.
 
  • Like
Reactions: odineye and hintz
#58
Broadbandcorpse said:
Let me just add, I alway contact the bands before the gig and ask them if they are bringing their own bass amp, if they say no I tell them...
Click to expand...

Why on earth would you do that? Especially if you're OCD? I've played around 2000 gigs in my life, and I never once contacted other bands asking if they were bringing an amp and offering mine. I can't imagine a single valid reason for doing that.
 
#60
I can't imagine voluntarily supplying a back line and then telling the bass players they had to plug and play without touching any of the settings. There is likely no way I would be able to jive with your settings. If I was gong to a gig expecting a back line and then the sound guy said I can't turn some nobs, I would be pissed too. Not "storm off the stage pissed," but I'd be pissed ask why this information wasn't supplied to me in advance. If I had a different rig available, you can bet that I'd use it.

If changing your settings is that much of a travesty to you, then maybe you should rethink sharing your gear.

Furthermore, what is so special about your settings that's not repeatable?

When I toured heavily and many openers used my rig, I would tell them to turn nobs until their hearts content. I printed up some front panel layouts of my Eden WP100 that I could use if I had an unfamiliar eg settings in a particular room. This not only helped me remember my settings, but it also helped me in rooms that I gigged often as I had a reference of where I ended up the previous time in that room.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Andy_Madison and odineye

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back