Too Soon To Put My Foot Down?

[Munjibunga]

Are you a team player or not? My drummer says the same thing. I put my rig as far back as necessary. If I can't hear myself, I turn it up. Sometimes I ask the sound man to put a little bass in the monitor.

With all due respect, you don't seem like someone who's easy to work with. In the music business, that's an important consideration. Well, I guess in any business it is.

 

[soulman969]

In bands that I've played in we tended to rehearse in a semi circle with our backline and monitors at our feet. We never had a problem hearing one another that way. I don't know what your rehearsal space is like but unless it's very long and narrow you should be able to get that done.

On stage the drummer always gets some of my bass in his monitor. In addition to that I'm always set up in the middle of the stage next to him amp behind the rest of the front line if needed. Don't know what your stage setup is like but you can add bass into your monitor too if you're going direct. Many ways to skin this cat and I'd try to help him out as best you can.

 

[Bredian]

Yea, like the idea of adding a small combo or powered speaker out the back of the MB210 (Direct out in the patch bay).

I have an older backline 112 that can sit at a 45 degree tilt back. My drummer would be thrilled to have a dedicated bass monitor to fool with.

I have to hear everyone to get cues right, the drummer needs to hear you.

 

[TheArchfiend]

maybe you just dont have a good power cord

 

[ChrisB2]

I really get a chance to do a lot of Col stuff I couldn't do in originals bands.

You've said this is a busy band and you like playing out. I would be very easy to get along with in that case.

That said, they should be easy going as well and work with you to find a solution that fits everyone. Practice spaces can be tricky to get yourself heard and as you say, you're using a smaller and less powerful amp at rehearsals. In my band the guitarists use their gig amps at rehearsal, but I use a smaller unit. I can blow up the stage with my gig rig but the practice amp, no. So it's tricky getting heard and hearing myself. But we all work together to do what needs to be done.

If I were you, I probably would have countered them with "Okay let's get it set up where the drummer and I can both hear it well."

You don't want to tuck your tail and just move back, but I just don't think I'd be "putting my foot down" at this stage of the game.

Good luck!

 

[Floyd Eye]

Get a bigger rig, angle it toward the drummer.

 

[drpepper]

Don't blink on this. If you want to play lead bass instead of background bass, it's all about establishing dominance, position and boundaries early on. It's good that you let them know it wouldn't work for you. I say pee on something in the room to boot, so you really lay the law down.

 

[DONZI97]

Don't blink on this. If you was to play lead bass instead of background bass, it's all about establishing dominance, position and boundaries early on. It's good that you let them know it wouldn't work for you. I say pee on something in the room to boot, so you really lay the law down.

Best answer.

 

[Von Felgenhauer]

Have you tried turning all the amps around so they are I'm front facing everyone? My old band started doing that to hear over our drummer.

 

[RustyAxe]

I've been playing since the late 60's, and ALWAYS put my bass rig back near the drummer. I usually stand back there, too, preferring to be to the drummer's left. If the drummer can't hear the bass it's a REAL problem. I also like being able to communicate (verbally or non-verbally) with the drummer.

 

[PopaWoody]

Your the new guy and YOU want to dictate things? Errr. No thanks buddy, a successful frequently gigging band that got that way prior to your arrival does not need some prima donna telling them how things are going to be now that you are in the mix.

 

[JumboFriendly]

I don't know if it's too soon to put your foot down, but this seems like entirely the wrong reason to.

 

[steven1068]

I don't know how your rehearsal space is configured, but I'm sure that there is some way to place your amp so that both you and the drummer can hear. It is really critical for the drummer to be able to hear the bassist and vice versa. and I wouldn't suggest getting in a fight over something small like that, especially so early on.

 

[ChrisB2]

Your the new guy and YOU want to dictate things? Errr. No thanks buddy, a successful frequently gigging band that got that way prior to your arrival does not need some prima donna telling them how things are going to be now that you are in the mix.

I see what you're saying, but Blue does need to hear himself. And since he brings a new sound, a new amp, and a new personality to this band, I don't think he should just sit down, shut up, and do as he's told. I think everyone should work together to make this work for everyone.

I don't think he's trying to "tell them how things are going to be." I think he's trying to make his place in a band of equals.

I would very diplomatically try to be myself. If they want an employee that they can tell where to stand, they should pay him to rehearse. If they want to be prima donnas and dictate how things are gonna be, without pay, erm, no thanks buddy.

And, yeah, they do need him. This may not be the right fit for either Blue or the band, but let's realize that they needed a bass player and he landed the gig. Now it's time for everybody to get along and play nice.

 

[String Theory]

At our rehearsal space we form a circle and face the amps towards one another. The drums are also on the perimeter of the circle. It has always been easy to hear everyone and promotes eye contact since we all face each other.

 

[walkerci]

That works.

I like to see the kick and lead guitar when rehearsing a new song.

 

[guy n. cognito]

The issue here is minor. Both the bassist and the drummer need to hear each other. Move the amps and people until that goal is achieved. No need for egos, putting ones foot down, or polling the internet for advice.

 

[IncX]

if it were me: i'd move my amp back and move near the drummer or where my amp is.

i practice my stage presence playing along to the tracks at home in front of a mirror, not in a tight rehearsal room

 

[bluewine]

If the drummer is playing more quietly, he's not goiing to be happy. If you're the new guy, then I'd do everything I could, for now, to accomodate them.

Why can't ya just keep your amp in the back for rehearsals and stay back there, then move it up for the gigs when the drummer has a monitor?

Joe, in this rehearsal space I can't hear the guitar parts if I stay in the back.

 

[bluewine]

I'm not sure what you'd have to "put your foot down" about. The drummer wants to hear you at rehearsal. You should be glad he realizes you're in the room.

I guess it's important for all of us to be able to hear each other, not just the drummer.