volume question

[buldog5151bass]

I've been auditioning for a Motown/blues band. I played with the vocalists, guitarists, drummer, and keys (no horns yet). Good musicians, especially the drummer, but one big concern. I was in a rehearsal room with a 250w Hartke and 4x10. I had the thing turned up to 6 just to hear myself- not well. I've played live on stage significantly quieter.

Am I missing something, or is this CRAZY loud?

 

[Gearhead17]

The volume knob is not a good indicator of how loud you really are. The EQ structure is more important - did you have the 200hz to 600hz zone reduced or cut? This this zone is where you can be heard in nearly any band situations, especially with Motown. Make sure you have a good response between 200-600hz and don't start adding low end until you hear actual midrange tones. Low end is great, but midrange frequencies will allow you to hear yourself.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I'm talking in general. Isn't really loud for a practice situation? First time in a while I needed my earplugs, which has always been an indicator of bad things for me.

 

[Moley13]

I'm talking in general. Isn't really loud for a practice situation? First time in a while I needed my earplugs, which has always been an indicator of bad things for me.

Could be the room. Little room + drums = nobody hearing themselves clearly

 

[buldog5151bass]

More worried if it seemed the band itself was too loud for a practice situation, or if I am not used to that kind of band. Same thing last week on afull stage in a sound studio.

 

[Winfred]

I play in a Motown/Soul band. Regular gigs. We rehearse in a small room. Drums are loud, but he's a great drummer.

I use a 20w 8" Drive amp. It's cheap. I put it on a shelf, and point it right at my head. Literally, straight into my ears. I can hear it perfectly. And I'm about 3 feet from the drummer.

P.S. As mentioned, crank the mids and low mids. That's your sonic space. And tell the keyboard player to stay out of it, if he wanders in.

 

[Red Mulch]

I played in a situation like that for close to ten years. Yes, pump the mids to be heard. And wear your earplugs! Learning to play with earplugs takes time, as you have to relearn how to listen. It cuts the highs significantly, and many bassists never get used to hearing the sonic spectrum without the highs. Earplugs can also make you feel disconnected and even disoriented. Work past that, and you will never go to a practice or gig without them. I used to love getting in my car at the end of a four-set gig, pulling the earplugs and being able to hear the radio at normal volume for the drive home. Good luck with the band, that's some great music to play!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Thanks - I guess I got spoiled. The two bands I have played with lately:

1. Jazz quintet - never gets too loud.
2. Four piece country/blues band - can talk to each other on stage at gigs at normal volume - everybody just knows about volume control.

 

[ArtechnikA]

If the 4x10 was on the floor, lift it up - your knees can't hear. The 'Husky' stand looks intriguing and not expensive. 250W may not be that much for Motown, depending on the efficiency of the cab.
I'm always concerned about the 'hear myself' thing with fretless, so I've invested in IEM's for personal monitoring - and hearing protection.
If the rest of the band can't hear you, especially once the horns show up on the scene, you may have a volume issue.

 

[MegaSwing]

Two-hundred-fifty watts should be enough for ANY rehearsal, through any cab. Perhaps you should politely suggest that everyone throttle it back a little just so everyone can be more sensitive to the textures. It's so easy for a player to get seduced by his/her own volume—add them all together in a weird room and you WILL have a genuine racket, regardless of how well everyone plays.

Sometimes I wonder how Jamerson managed to be heard to any great extent with the low-wattage bass gear that was the norm in his heyday, but there is no doubt that he WAS heard (by the whole world, one might argue). So, the real answer is everyone needs to find a collective balance, a sweet spot, that doesn't rely on high volume levels. A little of this stuff goes a long way—and always has.

 

[rtslinger]

maybe the room as others mentioned, if you want to know get yourself a sound meter and see what the DB level is. I hate to say it but, in my findings Blues guitarist have some big ego's and they set there amps to be the center of attention.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Not even close to crazy loud, it's borderline loud at best. You would cry if you had to play with my drummer, that rig wouldn't even be heard. That being said, I completely agree that your practice was too loud, how do you think I feel about my own?

 

[duff beer]

Learning to play with earplugs takes time, as you have to relearn how to listen. It cuts the highs significantly, and many bassists never get used to hearing the sonic spectrum without the highs.

Good quality musician earplugs don't cut the highs, but the cheap foam ones will.

 

[xgator4u]

The volume knob is not a good indicator of how loud you really are. The EQ structure is more important - did you have the 200hz to 600hz zone reduced or cut? This this zone is where you can be heard in nearly any band situations, especially with Motown. Make sure you have a good response between 200-600hz and don't start adding low end until you hear actual midrange tones. Low end is great, but midrange frequencies will allow you to hear yourself.

THIS.

 

[mellowinman]

Of course it's too loud.

 

[INTP]

I'm talking in general. Isn't really loud for a practice situation? First time in a while I needed my earplugs, which has always been an indicator of bad things for me.

It's too loud.

 

[thunderstation]

adjusting the mids. before the bottom is always a good idea - raising the speaker up to a least waist level is another - I like to keep 10 to 12' away from my cabinet.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Doesn't matter. We agrred to disagree. Too bad, the music was good. Just not worth the headache (literally).