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What comes first, the amp or the gig?

#61
CallMeAl said:
Hey everyone!

I've got this internal debate going on, and I'd like to bounce it of the more experienced players.

I'm an experienced trumpet player, and no stranger to the stage. I have dabbled on and off with bass for 20 years. I've decided to go all in with bass, and have been playing with a paying cover band for the past 2 years. I love it, and am looking ahead to the future.

My band has a low stage volume, and I can use a Rumble 100c. (Drummer plays a cajon.) We do our own PA, and I always have line in when we need it. My BL specifically told me I dont need anything bigger; Yet I find myself GASing for a Rumble 500c. I tell myself it would prepare myself for future possibilities. I would love to play with a kit drummer again, maybe in a big funk and soul band.

I'm not talking about going pro here. It's a hobby, but I take it seriously. I want to take a "part time pro" mindset.

So my big question: should I get the amp first to prepare myself for landing possibilities, or should I wait til i get a gig then buy the amp? Do bands expect players (on this level) to be equipped right out of the gate, or can I just say "I'll buy the amp when we need it?"

TIA!! I have very much appreciated the support and advice from TB thus far in my journey! :)
Click to expand...

Uh, rumble 500 is a great combo. Add another 410 bassman in the future and you are set for life :)
 
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#62
There's 2 trains of thought and validity to both.

1. Small amp used as a personal monitor. Face it to the front if you're playing a small room or an acoustic set. If you're playing a larger/louder gig, tilt it back in front of you like a monitor and send the direct out to the PA. Keeps you from fighting with the sound guy on how loud you should be. If you want more bass volume, you can adjust it yourself, sound guy mixes the direct signal, and since your amp isn't behind any mics, bleed through problems are minimized. Your Rumble 100 would perform this action quite well, and be easy for load in/out.

2. Scalable rig: either a powerful head or combo and a variety of extension cabs on standby. If you find out the gig you'll be playing has a good PA with sub support, bring one small cab to tilt back as a personal monitor (maybe 2 for other musicians on stage if they want it) and send a direct out signal into the PA. A loud amp can be turned down easier than a quiet amp can be cranked up louder than it wants to play. If the venue doesn't have a good PA and you need to carry the room with your amp, either several small cabs or 1 or 2 large cabs serve backline duty. Volume is adjusted to the rest of the band. Get someone you trust to walk around the room while adjusting levels (or use a wireless). Personally, I think high watt heads are better for this type of setup, but combos can work if you're willing to lug them plus additional cabs around. I would look at the Rumble 500 and 800 heads if this were the route I was going to take. Cabs are going to be to taste, but plenty of wonderful options on the used market for very affordable prices.
 
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#63
CallMeAl said:
The BL/guitarist said, "see? That's all you need anymore. No one needs a monster rig these days."
Click to expand...

CallMeAl said:
His main complaint is that the Rumble 100c is "boomy, or muddy."
Click to expand...

Sounds like the BL is trying to get you to drink the Kool-Aid... yet doesn’t like the way it tastes.

As a guitarist that plays bass, the last person I’d take advice from about bass amps is a guitarist that doesn’t play bass.

The 500w amp comes with a volume knob. If it’s too loud it’s user error.
 
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#65
CallMeAl said:
Hey everyone!

I've got this internal debate going on, and I'd like to bounce it of the more experienced players.

I'm an experienced trumpet player, and no stranger to the stage. I have dabbled on and off with bass for 20 years. I've decided to go all in with bass, and have been playing with a paying cover band for the past 2 years. I love it, and am looking ahead to the future.

My band has a low stage volume, and I can use a Rumble 100c. (Drummer plays a cajon.) We do our own PA, and I always have line in when we need it. My BL specifically told me I dont need anything bigger; Yet I find myself GASing for a Rumble 500c. I tell myself it would prepare myself for future possibilities. I would love to play with a kit drummer again, maybe in a big funk and soul band.

I'm not talking about going pro here. It's a hobby, but I take it seriously. I want to take a "part time pro" mindset.

So my big question: should I get the amp first to prepare myself for landing possibilities, or should I wait til i get a gig then buy the amp? Do bands expect players (on this level) to be equipped right out of the gate, or can I just say "I'll buy the amp when we need it?"

TIA!! I have very much appreciated the support and advice from TB thus far in my journey! :)
Click to expand...

Buy the amp. I understand the volume control does go all way to no sound, so this should not interfere with your current gig. That said, it will open up your marketability as a bassist.
 
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#66
Better to have and not need than to need and not have. And while you have time maybe play with the options of different heads and cabs. Of all my trips into Ithaca I don't think I've seen a music store. If there is one let me know, I'll be at the haunt on August 3rd. Remember more watts isn't always more volume. Surface area and air movement brother.
 
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#68
CallMeAl said:
You guys are like the angel and devil on my shoulders! :roflmao:
Click to expand...

Problem with a lot of bass advice is that more often then not fifty things need to be said simultaneously and then immediately qualified across the board. That’s because a lot of things with bass are situation dependent. So there’s very little advice you can offer where the exact opposite would be equally true if one minor detail were to change.

But I’ll chance it.

If the amp you have is ok for what you’re doing right now then I’d just keep using what you’ve got. You can always get another amp if you need it. Don’t worry. They’ll make more if you need to get one.

If your amp is straining, or distorting, or you’re routinely pushing it very hard I’d first consider putting a high pass filter (HPF) in your signal chain if the amp doesn’t gave one already built in. If the HPF doesn’t fix the issue then I’d consider getting an amp with more wattage.

If its not loud enough I’d first consider getting more and better speakers before I got a higher powered amp.

How much wattage do you need? Hard to say. My rule of thumb is I like my rig to be running at no higher than 50% of what it’s got. But I prefer a clean amp and don’t use much by way of effects. So I’m more interested in headroom (how loud it can get before it starts breaking up) than the actual wattage. Some amps (by design) will breakup at lower levels than others. So it’s not just watts. It’s how the amp is designed as well.

In my case, 300W into an efficient cab will very adequately handle any gig I’m likely to be playing. But that’s me and not you.

So…would a Rumble 500 work for you? About all I can say is it’s a very nice amp and I’d be surprised if it didn’t.

Do you need it? Or is it a wise thing for you to buy one right now? That’s something only you can really answer.
 
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#69
If what you've got covers your current gig, then wait. It's an incredible time for buying bass amps and there are plenty of amps around, and they are getting cheaper (in the relative sense) all the time. By the time you need something bigger there may be a bunch of other amps you like better.
 
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#70
A combo from several reputable manufacturers with a 4X10, 2X12, or 1X15 and around 300 SS watts @ 8 ohm with the option to go around 450-500 SS watts by adding another 8 ohm cab turning your rig into a 4 ohm big rig ready for even large theater and outdoor stages would not be unreasonable.

And the volume knob on all of these combos goes all the way down to zero! So don't worry about too much rig, especially since the brands I'm thinking of are all loaded with neodymium speakers and pretty light. But if you ever end up with a loudazz drummer or on a big stage, you'll be loaded for bear.

Having a rig ready for the occasion might inspire you to get involved with different types of projects. At the very least your GAS will have been addressed.
 
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#76
Get the amp you want dude.

And a big cabinet.

Nothing beats the feeling of covering a tight amazing loud drummer. Digging in and hearing and feeling the paper wallop of a awesome amp and tone.

If you enjoy the band that's awesome.

Otherwise seen a Casino gig the other day and the stage volumes were whisper quiet and the mains sounded like low level background music.

I'd probably kill myself lol

Get the amp you want
 
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#77
CallMeAl said:
His main complaint is that the Rumble 100c is "boomy, or muddy."
Click to expand...

If you are running the amp on the floor, try elevating it. This causes cancellation from boundary interference, which can reduce some of the output in the low mids. The cancellation occurs at the frequency where the distance from the sound source to the boundary is equal to 1/4 wavelength.

See attached Frequency Wavelength Chart for reference.
and here's and article on boundary interference: Speaker Placement 101: Is Speaker-Boundary Interference Killing Your Bass?
 

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#79
_Some Dude said:
Sounds like the BL is trying to get you to drink the Kool-Aid... yet doesn’t like the way it tastes.

As a guitarist that plays bass, the last person I’d take advice from about bass amps is a guitarist that doesn’t play bass.

The 500w amp comes with a volume knob. If it’s too loud it’s user error.
Click to expand...
Oh that 1st quote was from an audition I didnt land. My current BL was a bass player for a while. But he is indeed old and may be half deaf :woot:
 

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