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Using Subtractive EQ On Gigs - Anyone Else Trying This?
- Thread starter Hugh_R
- Start date
I'm glad to read things like this. Really glad. I think at times the people who we ask and/or get our bass help from may not be the best for info.
Although I'm addicted to this wonderful forum, I see a lot of bad advice and info given that hurts more than helps for desired goals. I wish that more bassist would do like you guys are saying and ask and "listen" (big difference between hearing and listening) to soundman, other bandmates, and even non-musicians about our craft and/or performance goals.
FF
Thanks for the kind words! I always find it's so easy to dismiss things. Whether they are tips, advice, music or anything else. Whilst I do think that a lot of musical learning can be expressed in a clear and correct methodical terms, I do also think that it's always up to you as a person to investigate something and find the value in it. If someone suggests something then why not give it a chance and at least check it out. It may turn out to be incorrect or a bad suggestion or it may be great. Either way, if you give it a chance, you'll know for sure!
Think of it this way:
If you're making a bowl of soup and it's too salty would you add more pepper?
Forget about the knob position and make it sound good to you.
OTOH, I have found that good cabinets, amps, and basses usually don't produce tones that are extra heavy in bass, mids, and treble.
The room you are in may change these conditions dramatically especially on the low end.
If you're making a bowl of soup and it's too salty would you add more pepper?
Forget about the knob position and make it sound good to you.
OTOH, I have found that good cabinets, amps, and basses usually don't produce tones that are extra heavy in bass, mids, and treble.
The room you are in may change these conditions dramatically especially on the low end.
Totally! I've found myself just using this EQ technique rather than trying to develop a particular unique sound. There are so many things to consider when getting the tone you want out of your gear. The music, the room, the other players etc. It's all about being pragmatic I think!
I'll tell you Bro,
the best bass advice I ever received on bass was from a keyboard player when I first started learning the bass. He was gigging at an Barnes and Noble book store helping promote his bands new album release. From the front of the store, it sounded like there was an ultra funky bass player
so I made a B-line to see this man in action. I arrived and to my surprise, no bass player
. After the wonderful set they played, I had to communicate with the man responsible for putting yet another bassist out of work 
. In short, he said somethings that I'll never forget and TRY to maintain in my musical journey....When asked why they don't have a bassist, he stated "We tried for 2 years to find a BASS PLAYER but couldn't". I told him I find that hard to believe with all of these guys I see around Atlanta playing bass and looking for gigs
. It's what he immediately replied that rocked my world. He stated, "THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT PLAY BASS, BUT THERE IS NOT MANY BASS PLAYERS OUT THERE!" He future submitted to me, "If you wanna go far in music as a bassist, be a bass player, not just someone who plays the bass". I'll admit, I took me some time to truly grasp what he meant. But in maturity, I got it.FF
I'll tell you Bro,
the best bass advice I ever received on bass was from a keyboard player when I first started learning the bass. He was gigging at an Barnes and Noble book store helping promote his bands new album release. From the front of the store, it sounded like there was an ultra funky bass player
When asked why they don't have a bassist, he stated "We tried for 2 years to find a BASS PLAYER but couldn't". I told him I find that hard to believe with all of these guys I see around Atlanta playing bass and looking for gigs
FF
That's very similar to my experiences. I've learnt huge amounts from studying with keys players, working for string arrangers and so many other things besides just playing bass. If anything now so much of my practice is looking at music as a whole rather than just the bass. I enjoy it way more on gigs, recordings or anything else to be a part of a complete sound with other people. I can be the focus when I play alone at home so when I get the chance to be a part of something with other musicians why waste the opportunity. As I was once told be a very wise person "know the music, not just your part"
I love that!
I've seen that as bassist, if we do it right (subjective ofcourse), every song or should I say groove is our solo or spotlight.
But just like in life, it seems today that everybody wants to score and no one wants to be the goalee. Hahaha
FF
I like to average out the plus/minus ... to keep the gain structure about the same
Hahaha that's a good way of putting it. Someone's gotta do it but the more and more I think about it the less I think music is a case of appealing to everyone. Some will love that you do that and some won't notice but it's not a matter of appealing to everyone. It's a matter of finding the like minded people in some ways
Generally, it's a good rule of thumb with a tube amp to cut the lows and low-mids when turning up the volume and then bump them up when playing at lower volumes.
This is false.
Signal is signal. The shape of that signal doesnt matter as long as it doesnt exceed the headroom of your pre amp section, the power amp section, and the capabilities of your cab.
Apologies for my remarkably poor wording! Not much of a gear guy! Someone else kindly pointed out that I was referring to headroom so I take it back
With the way the gain stages work on my Eden wt-550, subtractive EQ is really the only logical option on that amp. Definitely took a while to get into the philosophy, but it's definitely useful to use once you get comfortable with it. Add bass by turning down treble and mids, etc.
I was told this by a recording engineer years ago..."its *always* better to cut rather than boost frequencies", I still do this to this day, or if I do boost anything it is slight
I've been doing that for years! It made sense to cut the frequencies I didn't want, rather than try to boost the ones that were problematic.
Over many years I've found that there is only one way to get the right tone for live settings:
1) Use my remote to listen from the audience.
2) In ears to monitor my tone on stage.
With that, I've found that I have to adjust my EQ and volume for every room. The other band members make their own adjustments. There are no hard and fast rules.
1) Use my remote to listen from the audience.
2) In ears to monitor my tone on stage.
With that, I've found that I have to adjust my EQ and volume for every room. The other band members make their own adjustments. There are no hard and fast rules.
wmhill
Inactive
- Aug 20, 2012
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that greatly contradicts my method ........................
