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Stripped back sound for acoustic gig - help!

Guinness20

Guinness20

Jan 24, 2013
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Liverpool, UK
#1
I'm in a pop-punk band that does occasionally does some heavier stuff. It's all very driving 8th notes. They're now saying they want to do a stripped back acoustic set in a trendy little cafe in London. Rhythm will be playing an acoustic guitar, drummer will be playing a cajon, not sure about the lead but know he will have a harmonica.

Is there any room for a bass in that setup?
 
#2
I occasionally play electric bass with a group that is 2 acoustic guitars plus cajon. Any bass will pretty much work, but I have played a cheap Hofner violin copy strung with flats with them a few times. I didn't like the horrible balance of that bass though, so I recently bought a semi-hollow body Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat. I use a TC BG250-115 if space isn't an option - if it is I use a GK MB200 head with a Eden EX112.
Note that this is playing traditional Irish folk stuff with some classic rock mixed in. The vocals, guitars, and cajon are all run through a small PA.
 
#7
Yep. You won't believe how nice lower stage volume is... Nuances that are not possible at high volume are set free. I take a small amp. Acoustic Bass Guitars, fretted or fretless, maybe a kala UBass... I always look forward to those gigs.

Last one I took a single QSC K10 powered speaker and a nice preamp. Sounded sweet!
 
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#8
Downunderwonder said:
Absolutely. And you won't believe how the mix cleans up just by hitting the highpass on the acoustic guitar channel.
Click to expand...

Yeah, in that setting everything but the bass should be high pased IMO. I don't have to highpass a lot as I run aux fed subs but when the subs are home, mic's and acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjo's, uke's ... All that stuff gets an hpf. There can be a lot of rumble in mic stand basses...
 
#9
Sure! I'd just bring your usual bass, small amp and cab.
Stealing Heather -- conspiracy (acoustic version)
Here's a song of mine taken from guitar pop to acoustic setting. Nothing is mic'ed at all. I think the acoustic bass is barely audible here. That's why I suggest yer usual bass plus an amp. No need to change things up, just be mindful of your volume and playing style.

I'm not in the video, but I co-wrote the song.
 
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#10
4Mal said:
Yeah, in that setting everything but the bass should be high pased IMO. I don't have to highpass a lot as I run aux fed subs but when the subs are home, mic's and acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjo's, uke's ... All that stuff gets an hpf. There can be a lot of rumble in mic stand basses...
Click to expand...
not wrong. I mentioned the guitar because your common garden variety genus guitardo acoustico guitardedus really really likes the boom in his big bad acoustic.
 
#11
I used to play a lot of old country with two acoustic guitars, sometimes drums but a quiet jazz set played by a drummer who could control his volume. I would just bring the combo amp and put it on a chair. Like 4Mal said, it was really nice having a low stage volume.
 
#17
I do these kind of gigs all the time. I use one of my Precisions and a little Ampeg BA-108.
-3.jpg
The BL generally has me drop a mic on it so we can keep the stage volume down. Lots of fun.
 
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#19
for this very reason I invested in a PJB Briefcase amp.......I had only played in full-on rock and punk bands until three years ago when I started gigging with a acoustic guitarist a violinist and myself playing bass and a vocalist,no drums ,which for me at first I felt very scary as I had always somewhat relied on the kick drum to gauge tempo, I never missed the crash cymbal tho!!! ..........anyway ,you wont believe the room you have when playing in a acoustic type band , for myself it gave my bass more space and I could actually hear my mids and highs for the entire set and better than that I was able to express my ability as a musician and be more creative because I could ,and for that matter the rest of the band could hear what I was playing and also my timing improved tenfold .....so go for it and enjoy it .

PS
I never went acoustic though , I use my American Deluxe Jazz Bass and my PJB Briefcase Bass Amp, I have nothing against acoustic bass guitars ,I just thought for the same $$$ I could spend on a midrange acoustic bass guitar I could buy the briefcase bass amp and thus retain the tones that my Jazz bass and amp and my heart creates .

and yeah!! I don't miss the ear plugs or the ringing in my ears.......kai ora
 

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