Peavey Basic 112 and Tech 21 VT Bass DI

[Mo Boogs]

My band has picked up a monthly gig at a popular restaurant/bar downtown. We’re a classic R’N’R cover band. Although the venue is quite large, and pretty packed, the owner would like the band to keep it down pretty good so people aren’t blown out and bartenders can hear their drink orders. The floors are hard wood and the walls, brick. My two guitarists are using Princeton’s and the drummer a small 18” kit. So for these gigs I’m leaving the V-4B at home (tears) and using my little 2000-2004ish Peavey Basic 112 and Tech 21 VT Bass DI to shape my tone.

The issue I’m having is couple friends of the band that came to our gig last week were saying the bass was either two loud or two boomy. I had all the eq’s set to flat on the amp and the VT’s bass about 10 o’clock, mid about 3 o’clock and treble maybe at 1 o’clock. I rolled
Off the low eq on the amp itself until it satisfied the band’s friends, which took the “feel” right outta the amp from where I was standing. Can anyone recommend some good eq’ing techniques with this equipment or similar stuff? Also I was using my P-bass. I’m considering using my Ric next time for a totally different sound.

 

[WayneP]

I’ve had that experience too, where when it sounded great to the audience it sounded like crap to me where I was standing. It was a long time ago so I don’t remember what the solutions was.

The only thing I can think of is maybe getting an amplifier stand. Maybe with the cabinet decoupled from the floor it would reduce the “boom” everyone’s complaining about, and getting the speaker closer to your ears would sound better to you, too.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Tobias Club #133

 

[Mo Boogs]

I’ve had that experience too, where when it sounded great to the audience it sounded like crap to me where I was standing. It was a long time ago so I don’t remember what the solutions was.

The only thing I can think of is maybe getting an amplifier stand. Maybe with the cabinet decoupled from the floor it would reduce the “boom” everyone’s complaining about, and getting the speaker closer to your ears would sound better to you, too.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Administrator, Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
Pedulla Club #45
Tobias Club #133

Man that’s a good point! I can’t believe that a 50 watt solid state, 12” practice amp keeps up with two 15 watt tube amps and a drummer but somehow it does.

 

[FatBoutedGirls]

I would suspect that the room full of hard surfaces isn’t letting low frequencies decay and a buildup of bass is the boominess heard out in the room. How many people were in the room when you got complaints? I would expect this effect to be worse with fewer attendees.

 

[Mo Boogs]

I would suspect that the room full of hard surfaces isn’t letting low frequencies decay and a buildup of bass is the boominess heard out in the room. How many people were in the room when you got complaints? I would expect this effect to be worse with fewer attendees.

It was pretty packed the night we played. There’s two rooms roughly the same
Size, parallel to each other with a couple of archway doors across from us and then a wider open area into the other room down by the bar. The complaints we’re coming before people got up dancing in front of the band but even then one of the bars in side sits about 4-5’ right in front of the band. The person complaining about boominess was sittin in a corner off to the front left of the band so they might have been getting those amplified frequencies from corner.

 

[juggahnaught]

Stage sound is always different from sound in audience.

1. Amp stand if you can make that work with your stage setup.
2. Amp positioning - make sure you aren't set up in a corner or too close to a wall, if you can make that work with your stage setup.
3. See if you can get some distance from the amp - change where you stand, if you can make that work with your stage setup.
4. Graphic or parametric EQ, to have more control over your sound without cutting out too much (like with the 3-band EQ you're using on the VT) - but ONLY if the VT EQ ends up sounding bad out front by cutting too much. (If it sounds bad on stage, you'll live.)

Stage plots are hard, but you'll always have a different sound if you have stage coupling and the amp cones are facing the back of your knees. Even if you can get a really long cable and check your sound in the audience, that's a win. Luckily, with a monthly gig, you'll have a lot of opportunities to get it right. Good luck!

 

[AGCurry]

"Boomy" to me implies an excess of midbass. This is to be expected of the Peavey's small-for-a-12 cabinet; you won't get much fundamental below the octave E.

 

[Mo Boogs]

GOOD TO GO for tonight.

 

[Downunderwonder]

The person complaining about boominess was sittin in a corner

there's your (non)problem. Ask them to kindly vacate the corner where all the bass collects. Or just ignore them.

 

[Mo Boogs]

there's your (non)problem. Ask them to kindly vacate the corner where all the bass collects. Or just ignore them.

No kidding! And they sat in the same spot this weekend but I had my amp up on the stand and it did the trick.

 

[JGbassman]

I'd borrow a wireless and do a stroll through the audience area during soundcheck, and maybe once the room gets full.

The bass was boomy on the walls, that will happen as stated. If you cut it there, I'm wondering if there was anything in the middle of the room at the focus point.

 

[Mo Boogs]

I'd borrow a wireless and do a stroll through the audience area during soundcheck, and maybe once the room gets full.

The bass was boomy on the walls, that will happen as stated. If you cut it there, I'm wondering if there was anything in the middle of the room at the focus point.

I’ve got my amp aimed towards the doorway into the next room. There’s no one sitting directly in front of it. I did use my new amp stand the other day and Whatta difference.