• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What do you consider "Professional Gear"?

K

Kgoodrich

Feb 6, 2008
673
2
Minneapolis, Minnesota
www.myspace.com
#1
I'm currently rocking a little practice amp and using my Guitar players amp for practicing.

However I have been approached by a local band with a little more, let's say "establishment" and they are looking for a new bass player, one problem though, they are wanting someone with "professional" gear.

If you were an established band looking for someone with "pro" gear what would you want them to show up with?
 
#2
It doesn't need to be top of the line or boutique. It needs to sound good, be reliable, and have enough power to fill the room. You can find some nice deals on Ebay or Craig's list. You could get a Behringer or Peavy head relatively cheap, and match up a cab and you are in business right away. I use SWR despite the haters. It has suited me fine. Try stuff out, see what you like. I'm sure many TB'rs will scoff at me for calling Behringer, Peavy, SWR gear proffessional, but if it works and sounds good who cares. If you can afford it get the best gear you can, if not get what you can afford!
 
#3
To me, First thing, it means you have good sounding, reliable, maintained gear.

Secondly, it means the ability to play any environment. That means if you're in a Small to medium nightspot with only P.A. support for the vocals you have enough reliable gear to play the room. If you're in a medium to larger spot and you need an onstage monitor, but need to DI to the P.A. you can do that effectively. If you end up playing the enormo-dome and need to use IEM's you're prepared for that as well.

Just my $.02
 
#6
All good advice thus far, though I would also caution you against any Behringer gear. You're looking for a solid high powered head, and one or two good speaker cabs in whatever configuration you want, there's tons to choose from. Some combo's would also work, but for the price, a head/cab set up is a better option. Good luck.
 
#8
I think it also depends on the type of band. For instance, a pop group might consider pro gear to be a 1x15 combo amp and a Fender bass, a jazz band might want the same but with a 5-string bass, a metal band might consider pro a refrigerator-sized stack - 8x10 Ampeg or 1x15 plus a 4x10 - plus head, an indie band pro gear could be anything that works.

For amps, I would say you would need an amp that puts out about 4x power than what the guitar player is using. Generally a 50 Watt guitar amp will be much louder than a bass amp of the power rating. 250 Watts should be the smallest you consider. Just make sure it is a respectable brand that is reliable.

As for basses, I've heard some stories from some pro sessions guys here in NYC that got passed up on gigs because they weren't playing the "artists" favorite bass. But, if you are dealing with a local band that shouldn't be an issue. Make sure you have something reliable, that sounds good, and more important, you are comfortable with.
 
#9
+1 to the above. I think what they are trying to communicate is that they want someone with a rig and bass that will sound good and be loud enough for the types of gigs they do. Don't worry about brands, etc., that's not what they are trying to communicate there IMO and IME.
 
#10
Here's a sample shopping list of things in the TB classifieds :D This list is best suited for bars and medium-sized clubs.

For reliability, I don't think anyone would say that the GK 800RB isn't reliable. It's been a popular backline choice for clubs for years due to how rock-solid they are. The 800RB (like any amp worth its weight) has a DI, which a lot of soundguys look for IME. Oh look, here's one: Here's

Avatar makes some pretty awesome cabs for next to nothing. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=438384 a B210N for damn cheap, and has a tweeter upgrade. Get yourself a 1x15, 2x12, or some other wacky combo to fill out the stack.

Maybe this gave you some ideas, but it sure helped me kill time during the work day :D
 
#11
Most bands will not scoff at ANYTHING you have as long as you sound good playing it.

That said a minimum 300 watt amp/system is necessary for a bassist IMO.

I use:

Sansamp RBI
QSC 1450
Avatar 4 ohm 4 x 10 rated (1400 watts)the old HEAVY thing not the new LIGHT cabs(get the light ones)
 
#12
Pros will use anything from peavey to fodera and everything in between.. my bud is doing a huge tour now and he is using a pawn shop special KAY electric bass.. another is out on a major world tour with a sadowky p5 and ampeg gear. mmmm but it works real well.. and he is a pros pro..
amps too peavey , ampeg, custom racks, genz benz, mark bass, epiphani , aguilar,,, just as long as it works 100% of the time all the time and is consistent.. to me consistency is ALWAYS the key. I don't like that to be a variable..mmmmmmm

Whatever makes your boat float and like i said consistency..
 
#13
aurian4parker said:
Anything in a rack looks professional to a guitarist :P

just kidding.

Just something that isn't a practice amp.

I'd say 300+ W(unless you are playing in arenas...then you'd need something much louder)
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. If you're playing metal you might need more, but I regularly play arenas with a 300w amp (sometimes I use a 30w amp as well) and since there's always a great PA, how much the amp puts out is a non-issue.

But 300w is a good minimum wattage to shoot for.
 
#14
JimmyM said:
Not necessarily. If you're playing metal you might need more, but I regularly play arenas with a 300w amp (sometimes I use a 30w amp as well) and since there's always a great PA, how much the amp puts out is a non-issue.

But 300w is a good minimum wattage to shoot for.
Click to expand...
I almost made mention of this earlier, but didn't.
I agree with JimmyM. It seems to me that I need the "bigger" rig in the smaller/medium sized clubs where I get less PA support. The bigger/huge venues, I can get away with less amp, even just a sansamp. I end up DI'd to the FOH and using IEM's. I don't need an amp at all for that.
 
#15
TL5 said:
I almost made mention of this earlier, but didn't.
I agree with JimmyM. It seems to me that I need the "bigger" rig in the smaller/medium sized clubs where I get less PA support. The bigger/huge venues, I can get away with less amp, even just a sansamp. I end up DI'd to the FOH and using IEM's. I don't need an amp at all for that.
Click to expand...

Yes, if there's decent stage monitoring, having a big amp on stage is not needed with the help of PA support. The mixing engineers will also like you, as they have a decent chance to balance the bass with other instruments then. --Kent
 
#16
TL5 said:
I almost made mention of this earlier, but didn't.
I agree with JimmyM. It seems to me that I need the "bigger" rig in the smaller/medium sized clubs where I get less PA support. The bigger/huge venues, I can get away with less amp, even just a sansamp. I end up DI'd to the FOH and using IEM's. I don't need an amp at all for that.
Click to expand...

This is a topic that interests me, and there have been some good threads about it.

I don't think it's that 'cut and dry'. It all depends on what type of monitor system you have. For the very large corporate gigs I play with huge front of house, the band rarely gets more than two, and at most three separate monitor mixes. Guess who doesn't get his own mix:D In those cases, where the stage is huge, I end up needing a bigger rig than I typically do when playing moderate sized rooms without PA support, since the horn section might be 75' away from me on a huge stage in a convention hall type room.

Anyway, the point being, it's not as cut and dry to me as 'the bigger the PA, the less the amp'. It all depends on the quality of the monitor system, and if you can really dial in a bass tone that you like using just monitors. IME there... just another viewpoint and context.
 
#17
Kjung, I have seen that as well, just not n a long time. In Ear Monitors seem to be really taking over.
It is a good counterpoint though and well worth mentioning.
otoh, if you're just using your amp as a monitor, you should still be able to use the same amp/rig you'd use in a medium sized room.
 
#18
KJung said:
This is a topic that interests me, and there have been some good threads about it.

I don't think it's that 'cut and dry'. It all depends on what type of monitor system you have. For the very large corporate gigs I play with huge front of house, the band rarely gets more than two, and at most three separate monitor mixes. Guess who doesn't get his own mix:D In those cases, where the stage is huge, I end up needing a bigger rig than I typically do when playing moderate sized rooms without PA support, since the horn section might be 75' away from me on a huge stage in a convention hall type room.

Anyway, the point being, it's not as cut and dry to me as 'the bigger the PA, the less the amp'. It all depends on the quality of the monitor system, and if you can really dial in a bass tone that you like using just monitors. IME there... just another viewpoint and context.
Click to expand...
Are you using your own PA or hiring out as a band or does the venue provide it? It seems odd to me in this day and age that people still have to get by on two monitor mixes in your situation. I would think if your band gets hired for sweet corporate gigs, the least they could do is give a mix to everyone in the band.
 
#19
TL5 said:
Kjung, I have seen that as well, just not n a long time. In Ear Monitors seem to be really taking over.
It is a good counterpoint though and well worth mentioning.
otoh, if you're just using your amp as a monitor, you should still be able to use the same amp/rig you'd use in a medium sized room.
Click to expand...

+1... also, I'm just a freelance journeyman player, so most of the time, even the larger gigs are bands put together for that night. So, it's not quite as organized or planned as a more 'concert' situation or even a 'B' touring type group. We typically show up, get a quick sound check, and that's it!
 
#20
JimmyM said:
Are you using your own PA or hiring out as a band or does the venue provide it? It seems odd to me in this day and age that people still have to get by on two monitor mixes in your situation. I would think if your band gets hired for sweet corporate gigs, the least they could do is give a mix to everyone in the band.
Click to expand...

My deal is pure freelance. The PA is usually contracted through the planning agency, and the band has little to do with it, from what I understand. Again, very different, I'm sure, from a set band that plays more 'concert' type gigs versus the private/corporate stuff that I do.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back