• 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's wrong here?

B

Buskman

Apr 13, 2007
2,164
44
Jersey Shore, USA
#1
First off, I play in a pretty busy cover band. Mainly four piece (bass, guitar, keys, drums) with an occasional sax thrown into the mix.

The guitarist/lead singer owns & operates all of the PA equipment - we usually run two 15" mains and two 18" subs. With that type of setup you'd think I'd be able to be caving people's chests in - or at least not have a problem being heard, right? :smug:

Drums are right there (good snare & kick) and the vocals, guitar, keys & sax cut right through. But they bass always seems to be way at the bottome of the mix.

For some reason, he seems to put me mainly through the 15" mains... you can barely hear (or feel) my direct signal coming through the subs. He does have a crossover, but I really don't think he's using it properly.

As a result, I feel like I'm pushing my amp (Markbass 121P combo) too hard. So I'm struggling from both an "front of house" and "stage volume" standpoint.

We did a benefit gig the other night at a big local spot where a soundguy handled all of the mixing duties (using the house setup). I've never sounded better (or at least louder :smug:) in my life! I wasn't louder than anyone else, just right in the mix where I should be.

Does anyone have any suggestions I can "gently" offer my frontman to get myself heard without making waves? (he does pay me, you know! :D)

Thanks guys,
Chris
 
#2
Not sure if this would be the right answer, but it's an answer! Perhaps you could do all the research you can on getting the crossover settings perfect and present to the leader in a tactful way? If that is in fact the problem... Or maybe ask the sound guy that you talked about to give some pointers on the PA operations - buy him a beer or something. :D
 
#3
Thanks, Bishop!

Yeah, that's kinda what I was hoping to happen here - have my fellow TB'ers provide me with some tips (crossover info, levels, EQ'ing, etc) and take it from there.

'Cause as unknowledgable as my singer seems to be regarding live sound, I'm even more so! :(:rollno::D
 
#4
I'm going out on a limb here to say...the singer/guitarist/soundman doesn't have a grip on sound reinforcement. Seems as if the subs/x-over aren't being properly employed.

my suggestion is to get with a real sound tech and have him/her dial in your x-over and fine tune the system
 
#6
Could be the FOH (crossover settings, or something else) or could be he's EQ'ed you out of the way of the kick.

Fix? Talk WITH frontman/sound about how much more you feel you could bring to the whole product with better bass sound FOH. No one's sound is perfect, & no one's knowledge is complete. Just an idea, but offering to pay half that sounddude's fee (around here I'd guess at $100 to $150, so I'm talking $75 max) might go a long way to indicate your dedication & seriousness towards the issue.

And no, it's not your job to pay that half. Call it a contribution to a good gig. &/or a resume item; sounddudes easily know who's looking for a good bassist.
 
#7
Check the channel on the board that you are in and make sure the HPF (High pass filter) is not engaged.
It will vary from brands but most HPF will cut anywhere from 80-100hz down from your signal if it is engaged.

Most subs are run 100hz down, the HPF should be engaged on vocal mics, guitars and most other instruments but should never be used on Kick or Floor drum or bass guitar.

Or........your soundman just does not have a clue.


Just something to check.
 
#10
And check and make sure any "pad" buttons didn't get pushed.... I drove myself nuts for about 5 minutes trying to figure out what happened to my volume one gig. That pad button is *tiny* and hard to tell when pushed in.

You didn't say which PA setup you have... brand? Might be a secret to that particular brand someone may know.

Check any limiter knobs.....level knobs...etc too :)
 
#12
Reminds me of years ago, I was playing in my church worship team and people always telling me they couldn't hear the bass in the house.

One day no one else was around and they had left the board uncovered so I wandered over and looked at the settings on my channel. There was a switch called LOW CUT, and it was engaged. So I asked the sound guy, "doesn't it seem a little odd to have the LOW CUT switch engaged on a BASS instrument?" and he just shrugged his shoulders and said something like, "well, we've been having low-end feedback problems and that switch was the easiest way to fix it."

This really happened. No kidding.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back