Double Bass set up issues

[billface]

Hi, i was wondering if anyone could give me any advice about where to go with my set up.
I have a cheap stentor double bass (my first) which i got about 6 months ago. I bought a realist pickup for it, and i have a small gallien krueger combo (MB150E-III(112)). Acousticly the bass sounds sweet but i can't get the sound through my amp in a rehearsal scenario. I play in a soul trio (with a drummer and guitarist/singer).
We play quite a lot of pub gigs where you bring your own PA, and even bringing an extension cabinet for my combo and putting the bass through the pa i cant get it loud enough to satisfy the audiences (they tell me to turn it up) without it feeding back. I am doing the obvious things like facing all the speakers away from the bass except my amp which i have pointing at my ears not the body.
We also play some proper music venues with sound engineers, who also say they can't get the double bass sound from my set up and advise me to get another pickup.
I don't know whether to invest in another pickup (maybe a mic to supplement the realist) and/or a preamp(maybe the lr baggs) feedback control). and does phase switching really inhibit feedback?

 

[TimoMetzemakers]

Hi!

I think that your problem is not where you think it is. If you can't be heard in a rehearsal situation with an amp, chances are that something is very wrong---either with your bass or with your physical approach to the bass. If that is indeed the case, throwing technology at the problem is not going to solve it.

There have been many excellent posts by Ed Fuqua about this subject, you really ought to search the forum and read some of them. Here's one to get you started.

Good luck!

Timo

 

[Sippy]

Hi!

I think that your problem is not where you think it is. If you can't be heard in a rehearsal situation with an amp, chances are that something is very wrong---either with your bass or with your physical approach to the bass. If that is indeed the case, throwing technology at the problem is not going to solve it.

There have been many excellent posts by Ed Fuqua about this subject, you really ought to search the forum and read some of them. Here's one to get you started.

Good luck!

Timo

Great post by Fuqua! Not only does technique have a lot to do with Bass volume, but also the actual setup of the instrument. If you have a proper luthier in your area I'd have him/her take a look at it. A simple adjustment of the soundpost will really amplify the sound of your bass, if it is currently "misplaced". Rufus Reid does a hell of a job showing you the proper right hand technique, using his forearm, shoulder and wrist muscles. You'd be surprised how little effort it could take to get a great amount of volume if you do it correctly!

 

[billface]

thanks for the responses. i may have confused you, i can be heard in rehearsal but i cant seem to get the acoustic sound charecteristics of the bass to come through my amp, it just sounds kinda muffled. I bought the bass second hand from the local luthiers so it should be set up well, and i am getting lessons with a very good double bassist,who has enhanced my volume, but maybe i should take my amp to my next lesson.

 

[TimoMetzemakers]

Ah OK, well that's different.

How do you EQ your amp? I used to own a GK, too, and I learned that the sound you hear on stage is very different from the sound out front. Usually, when it sounds nasty and aggressive on stage, it's just about right for the audience. Maybe you could have a band member listen to your sound from a distance during soundcheck.

And of course, bringing your amp to your next lesson is a great idea!

Timo

PS: Merry Christmas, everyone! I turned down all Christmas eve gigs in order to spend the day with my family (and also reading TB ) for the first time in years and I must say that it's great!