Double Bass When do you use an amp?

[mr.hughes]

Excuse the derail - in response to using in-ear monitors - I've just entered that world and I love it. And I'm not playing crazy loud music that necessarily requires them - I'm playing with one acoustic guitar, three vocals and my double bass in 100-300 seaters.

Why the in-ears? Because sometimes those venues have the worst acoustics for hearing yourself. If the venue is an old church or looks like Picasso was the architect, then I know my bass and amp are going to get lost in a sea of low-end rumble no matter how high I set my high-pass filter. Also, the guitarist (and frontman) has his guitar pretty loud in his monitor, so I find his high end obscures my high end, resulting in plenty of "am I in tune?" moments.

So the in-ears for me are a perfect solution, albeit an extreme one (I mean, I'm only playing against one guitar and 3 voices, one of which is my own!). All in it's cost me £220 for a hard wired belt pack, a power supply and a cheapish set of headphones. I still bring my amp, treating it as the main body of my signal and the in-ears as a glorified personal tweeter. If the other members need more bass they can get that through their monitors. I only wear one in-ear, leaving the other so as to hear what else is going on. Also, I'm in control of my signal, taking it from the DI out on my amp, rather than the FOH. I can hear everything else fine, just needed more clarity from me.

After the first gig the bandleader said - "Don't take this the wrong way, but you're playing better and more in tune than I've ever heard you". It was vindication for going to such an extreme.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

So the in-ears for me are a perfect solution, albeit an extreme one (I mean, I'm only playing against one guitar and 3 voices, one of which is my own!).

If I were singing, I'd want some serious monitors as well. Singing and playing DB is a ***********.

 

[Marc Piane]

If I were singing, I'd want some serious monitors as well. Singing and playing DB is a ***********.

Singing and playing chop is hard enough. I played in a Rush cover band for a little while. I got a new found respect for Geddy who was already at god-like status at the time. Kudos to ya mr. hughes.

btw I totally had the hots for Ally Sheedy after I saw Breakfast Club.

 

[Bijoux]

I always leave my little GK in the car in case I need it. I have the Golden Trinity mic on my bass and the Revolution solo II. I usually send a mixed signal in case that there is a sound engineer and that's always good enough.
I even play with a big band and nobody has mentioned anything. The guys that need it in the monitor just ask for it, and I can hear myself well enough.
I don't think of amplifier as to project sound to the audience. In my opinion who does that is the sound guy. I view my amp as my personal monitor.
If I am playing in a small club that doesn't have sound system, I'll bring my amp inside.
other than that, if the band is playing with acoustic piano, I'll play acoustic bass, but if they are playing with electronic keyboards, guitar, and everything else micked (...how do you spell micked???) I'll try to play electric bass.