Precision Bass At Last Nights Concert

[J Wilson]

But the real question: Was it the guy and the sound of his amp or the skill of the FOH mixer making it walk and talk in that room? I vote a little of the first and more of the latter.

 

[deepestend]

This.
Instead of ‘punching through’ (perfectly fine approach too!) this setup, IME, allows for a thick ‘velvety’ blanket that comes up underneath the band.


Ash/maple P with rounds/tone knob all the way up? Different deal.

It’s almost as if … brilliant commentary alert, never uttered until this exact post … the PBass is … versatile.

At LEAST a ‘TWO trick Tone Pony’.

Really, how many tricks do you need? Not even joking...

 

[getBAK]

In a room like that... it's all about minimizing stage volume. I'd even consider going ampless and sticking the drummer in a fishtank. The only way that room sounds good is if FOH does their job. The less uncontrolled sound is coming off the stage, the easier it is for FOH to adjust

 

[porterbass]

Guess I need a fretless Jazz neck, on a Precision body.

I actually had this. It was killer awesome! I don't know why I sold it but I had 4 or 5 fretless basses at the time and it went out the door in a purge.

 

[chazsundance]

this is probably blasphemy on TB but I've been getting into my custom shop P-bass lately and I've found that 90% of the time it sounds better and plays better with a pick. While my jazz bass plays and sound best with my fingers.

 

[P. Aaron]

View attachment 5066551
I really have to revisit my P Basses on live shows since I can never seem to properly EQ them when we play larger rooms like this. It just always get too boomy. I know FOH engineers have a lot to do with what I was hearing.

Is there a secret to this ?

Less is more. Don't do more than center your amp, reduce any effects and play.

A P-Bass is a like a good steak, DON'T over season, salt & pepper the meat a bit, grill it and have at it.

 

[pfschim]

yeah, I hate to drag on all this Pbass swooning (FWIW, I personally have nothing against P basses) but in a venue of any size, it's the FOH that MOST of the listeners are hearing, with the use of a pic for a bit more attack.

so, hats off to the sound crew.

glad the OP heard a good show ... that's an increasingly rare situation any more with many sound guys loading up on the super low bass freq's and focusing on mixing the kick like a sonic canon.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

View attachment 5066551 I saw the band “The New Pornographers” last night in Brooklyn at a venue called Brooklyn Steel. Large rectangular concrete room with open floor and balcony. No seats.
I expected a terrible bass sound.

The bass player used a Precision Bass for the entire show and played it with a pick.
Very good band .. lots of strong vocal tunes and catchy hooks.

I was surprised at the clarity and greatness of the bass tone.. beautifully EQ’ed with just the right amount of grind. He was using an SVT cabinets with a black faced AMPEG.. couldn’t ID the exact model.

I really have to revisit my P Basses on live shows since I can never seem to properly EQ them when we play larger rooms like this. It just always get too boomy. I know FOH engineers have a lot to do with what I was hearing.

Is there a secret to this ?

Thats odd. P basses are very tight and mid forward. Compared to just about everything except a stingray.

 

[thunderstation]

View attachment 5066551 I saw the band “The New Pornographers” last night in Brooklyn at a venue called Brooklyn Steel. Large rectangular concrete room with open floor and balcony. No seats.
I expected a terrible bass sound.

The bass player used a Precision Bass for the entire show and played it with a pick.
Very good band .. lots of strong vocal tunes and catchy hooks.

I was surprised at the clarity and greatness of the bass tone.. beautifully EQ’ed with just the right amount of grind. He was using an SVT cabinets with a black faced AMPEG.. couldn’t ID the exact model.

I really have to revisit my P Basses on live shows since I can never seem to properly EQ them when we play larger rooms like this. It just always get too boomy. I know FOH engineers have a lot to do with what I was hearing.

Is there a secret to this ?

This is a fairly obvious answer but have you tried a cabinet with 10" speakers. I used an Ampeg V4B with a 15" JBL cabinet. I tried a Marshall with 8 - 10" Speakers in conjunction with the JBL and was amazed at the clarity at stage level. The drummer commented immediately about how well he could hear me. I never used any pedals or outside eq.

 

[Reid-O]

yeah, I hate to drag on all this Pbass swooning (FWIW, I personally have nothing against P basses) but in a venue of any size, it's the FOH that MOST of the listeners are hearing, with the use of a pic for a bit more attack.

so, hats off to the sound crew.

glad the OP heard a good show ... that's an increasingly rare situation any more with many sound guys loading up on the super low bass freq's and focusing on mixing the kick like a sonic canon.

Hats off to the sound crew, indeed! I won't disagree with you, but the FOH can only do so much. They can help polish it up a bit, but they can't make you play more proficiently, or illicit better tone out of your gear. The "musician" (and I certainly use that term loosely sometimes), however, definitely CAN make the engineers job at least a tiny bit easier. So, in all actuality, it's a two-way-street. Hate to be cliche, but teamwork makes the dream work definitely applies here.

p.s. I haven't played bass with a pick since I was like 14 (40 next month). I have 0 issues with attack/sustain, tonality, or getting through a mix.

 

[MrLenny1]

I say P Bass and a good FOH engineer.

 

[FullumMusic]

Perhaps it's more about where you were standing. Especially if you were close enough to get in that zone where you're hearing lots of the stage amp and the FOH sound in a bad spot. Possible he was too loud onstage too, mucking up the FOH sound. I have played plenty of punk shows on big stages and yeah, lots of these bands still like to crank it onstage (I mean, loud is fun after all.....)

Very this. ^^^

Every venue has a couple of sweet spots. One is usually right in front of the FOH mixer, if the put the booth in the right spot. The other is usually up front, but just far away from the stage to be at the focal point of the mains & center fill, maybe 10% to 25% of the way back, depending on the room shape. Sometimes you can find another random sweet spot wandering around too.

 

[pfschim]

Hats off to the sound crew, indeed! I won't disagree with you, but the FOH can only do so much. They can help polish it up a bit, but they can't make you play more proficiently, or illicit better tone out of your gear. The "musician" (and I certainly use that term loosely sometimes), however, definitely CAN make the engineers job at least a tiny bit easier. So, in all actuality, it's a two-way-street. Hate to be cliche, but teamwork makes the dream work definitely applies here.

p.s. I haven't played bass with a pick since I was like 14 (40 next month). I have 0 issues with attack/sustain, tonality, or getting through a mix.

all I meant was that the use of a pick MIGHT add some clean attack. I mostly was going after the idea that it's a P bass and an SVT that make the sound clear (as if that's the only possible combination that does that). It's mostly the FOH.

I'm also generally a finger style player, but I do use a pick for additional percussive attack when that fits the song better than fingers.

anyway, back to your normal programming

 

[Reid-O]

all I meant was that the use of a pick MIGHT add some clean attack. I mostly was going after the idea that it's a P bass and an SVT that make the sound clear (as if that's the only possible combination that does that). It's mostly the FOH.

I'm also generally a finger style player, but I do use a pick for additional percussive attack when that fits the song better than fingers.

anyway, back to your normal programming

I'm with ya man. I was just saying that everyone has to do their part for it to all come together. Also, any gear, even bad gear, can sound pretty darn good when it's in the right hands and pushed by a good engineer.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

View attachment 5066551 I saw the band “The New Pornographers” last night in Brooklyn at a venue called Brooklyn Steel. Large rectangular concrete room with open floor and balcony. No seats.
I expected a terrible bass sound.

The bass player used a Precision Bass for the entire show and played it with a pick.
Very good band .. lots of strong vocal tunes and catchy hooks.

I was surprised at the clarity and greatness of the bass tone.. beautifully EQ’ed with just the right amount of grind. He was using an SVT cabinets with a black faced AMPEG.. couldn’t ID the exact model.

I really have to revisit my P Basses on live shows since I can never seem to properly EQ them when we play larger rooms like this. It just always get too boomy. I know FOH engineers have a lot to do with what I was hearing.

Is there a secret to this ?

No secret, just know how to set the EQ. I set mine flatter than most with a slight boost at 165hz. Then I set the bass and treble to taste. I also use round wounds

 

[Admiral Akbar]

So to sum this thread up, for great bass sound you need:

- a proficient player (plays the bass cleanly, his lines are musical and interesting, and yet not overly busy… economy of notes!)
- a good instrument, set up well (action at a comfortable level, not too much string noise, intonation on point, pickups at optimal height)
- amplifier and cab set to the room (the right EQ for the room to let the bass speak supportively but without muddiness, also plenty of headroom)
- good FOH soundman (understands separation of frequencies between kick, low end of guitar, keys, and how they relate to the bass guitar)
- a good room
- a P bass (debatable, but according to this thread discussion, a P bass is a must have, probably with tort, a pick, and Ampeg SVT and 8x10 sealed cab)

 

[retslock]

This.
And the band works with the room instead of against it. So all players have to try not to beat the sound man.

It’s surprising how many older musicians with many years experience don’t get this very simple concept. Play to the room. I know several.

 

[Hort Elvison]

More P Bass clarity..

I own one of his custom P’s. Killer instrument.

 

[pbass2]

So many on TB don't seem to understand that when you go to a concert of any size like that, you're not hearing the onstage amp AT ALL, unless it is mic'd(which isn't typically the case). It's there as a stage monitor, and, for looks.

 

[ctmullins]

in a 2019 vid on YT he's playing p bass thru svt & 8x10, and with a pick. there's your answer.
not crazy about the band.

I’m not crazy about a P bass.

But I love TNP! Jealous….