Thanks, TB'ers

[mellowinman]

My wife and I run sound for our band. We try to use our own gear, and run sound from the stage whenever possible. Whether running our own sound, or using a house soundman/system, there are some universal truths to getting a real mix, and I have been honing our skills for quite some time.

One reason I joined this forum is that google searches took me here a lot, and here are some things I have learned.

1. We both play bass. I play a Fender Jazz, and she plays an Ibanez SR700. I have taken to really listening to both of our tones, and discovering that even though she is active and I am passive, we can match them up fairly well, and in doing so, we have utilized the best of both instruments. They are growly and clear, without giving up too much bottom end. We have EQ'd them fairly flat, and let the instruments do their own magic, and we are both going direct, even though she has a really nice cabinet, and my Fender Rumble 60 watt actually has some great characteristics, too.

2. More importantly, we've been watching for the other instruments robbing us of some of our bottom end punch. Guitar player turning up the Bass too high on his Marshall Stack? Check. Got that tip right here on this page.

5. Learning to count. I have been counting much better since posting here.

5. OK, I have discovered that technique is just as big a part of overall sound too, and have adapted my playing to better fit the sonic landscape of the band. I can't get too specific here, but I will say that when the instruments understand their relationship to each other, they do make a more pleasant noise.

6. Strings. We both got better strings, and have reaped the dividends right out of the package.

That's all for now.

 

[mellowinman]

And then I read this thing on here about intonation. D'oh! I set up both my bass and my wife's Ibanez. After reading about intonation on here, I thought I'd better check mine with a tuner. I was flat at the 12th fret on three strings. I have a Badass II bridge, and it was a matter of five minutes, and it was set perfect.

My wife told me no way was hers out, and then I checked it, and she was sharp on all strings. I said, "no wonder when you play 'Sweet Emotion,' it sounds kind of off."

We're just the kind of people who have always picked instruments up and played them. If there was setup, or adjustments to be done, we took them to pros, and threw away money.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

We're just the kind of people who have always picked instruments up and played them. If there was setup, or adjustments to be done, we took them to pros, and threw away money.

I wouldn't be so harsh. When you didn't know how to do the job , that wasn't money wasted. Now that you know how to do the job yourself, you needn't hire someone to do the job.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

We both play bass.

Do you cover big bottom?

 

[mellowinman]

Do you cover big bottom?

We've tried a few "funny" songs, but they're never as funny as they should be. A lot of people don't get musical jokes, it seems. I was doing "Earache my Eye" by Cheech & Chong, and yeah, there would always be one stoner in the crowd thanking me for it, but overall, it was lame.

I have more to thank TB'er's for, though. Now I'm moving my right hand all over, DURING songs, changing tones bassed (SIC) on what the guitar player is doing.

When he's chunking big chords, I'm up by the neck, getting the max sound out of my neck pickup, and it's nice and round and boomy, and then when he jumps out to leads, sometimes I'll get way down by the bridge, and really attack the crap out of the strings, and get that more "progressive" Jazz sound. I'm still dialing in my pickups pretty even, with just a little bit off the tone control, and EQ'd pretty flat.

The big thing is, my wife is a far more experienced bass player than I, but now I'm talking to her about ghost notes, and changing up the tone, and her eyes are opening to how playing 80's rock kept her using one approach, when there are so very many.

I'm really glad I found this place. I don't know when I became a bassist, but it's a lot better than being a singer who fills on on bass once in awhile.

 

[Thor]

Wow. Good post.

It echoes my experience back in 2003.I have learned so much, and listen with totally different ears and perception now. This place has totally changed my approach to the bass. I think I am a much better bassist now, and have had a lot of tips to help me grow.

Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate that, and I know a lot of others do as well. I know we can seem a bit funky to start, but there are lot of really helpful people here, as you seem to have found out.

Keep on growing brother!