Precision Bass At Last Nights Concert

[57pbass]

I

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

Who built it ?
Never knew he had a signature bass..

 

[Hort Elvison]

I

Who built it ?
Never knew he had a signature bass..

it’s not a signature model, just one built for him by Chopper Anderson in Nashville. He owns Alien basses and apparently has been good friends with Willie for decades. Chopper played with Reba I think. Longtime Nashville bassist.

 

[DaveParker39]

For me it's:
P-Bass (even with flats)-> a relatively squishy compressor -> a little teeny tiny bit of grit

If I need more growl I use one of my basses with the reverse P setup (usually one of my Spectors) but they have other things that make them sound different too.

 

[Killing Floor]

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.

Oh me too. And I’m even on board with being loud IF it’s mixed for the room. We’ve all had 1 person who didn’t get it.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Order of importance for great bass sound live:
1. Player
2. Other band members
3. Sound engineer
4. Instrument choice

If 1-3 are amazing, 4 barely matters.

 

[Aidenn7]

p bass full open.. pick.. ampeg is minimal in that mix.. acting just a little comb filter.. but I'm betting it was DI instead..

 

[tvbop]

Yet after all is said and done there is awful this current trend towards booming BD with barely any bass guitar.....what is going on FOH dudes?

 

[BAG]

Is there a secret to this ?

A Pbass with flats played with a pick is a good start. Having a soundman that knows what they are doing is the icing on top.

 

[JFScheck]

I found larger venues that a little mid does wonders, then if I’m soloing or predominate in a portion of the song I’ll scoop my mids then bring back in, particularly when the keyboards a present or both guitarists.

 

[dsteinschneider]

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.

DO NOT salt your P-Bass - it can corrode the wires! Please keep the instrument away from excessive heat also.

 

[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.

The concept of playing to the room is quite uncommon even amongst some very experienced players that I know.
The "Am I too loud enough yet?" approach is still common mostly amongst guitar players but also some keyboard players I've worked with. I like to think of it as the Basil Fawlty School of Music method where the attitude seems to be that playing gigs would be fine except we're expected to please the customers.

 

[Killing Floor]

The concept of playing to the room is quite uncommon even amongst some very experienced players that I know.
The "Am I too loud enough yet?" approach is still common mostly amongst guitar players but also some keyboard players I've worked with. I like to think of it as the Basil Fawlty School of Music method where the attitude seems to be that playing gigs would be fine except we're expected to please the customers.

I love loud. But there’s a point where a band can make a sound tech check out and that’s the point any band will sound like a mess.

 

[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 ?

I've been playing PBs with VT controls wide open live sent direct to the board ( with rounds) for the last 40 years . My stage rig is reasonable flat, and not overly loud. You have no idea how many complements I get from sound guys. It may or not be the greatest sound in the world, but is sure makes their job a whole lot easier.

If you have FOH support, set your volume and treble open wide on your bass sent a pre effect send to the board.Your on stage amp should be set at flat, do not boost bass or treble. You may and to boost some low mids around 160-170 hz. and rollback the treble a click or two to taste.

 

[tvbop]

Secret? As said already a FOH dude that knows his stuff. I always used to send the bass with tone rolled back an iddy bit (dead chromes) into a flat rig di'd to the board and if the dude was on point out front would be the grindiest mid range bark possible. Beautiful. Ive also played shows where the play back sounded like I was playing an Alembic with the bass rolled off and the treble dimed! FOH dudes? Good Bad and F'ugly.