So you run sound, too...bully for you. That doesn't mean your word means any more than anyone else, nor does it mean we should all cowtow to what your idea of good tone is because it's the way you think it's supposed to be done. The best soundmen I ever worked with can make ANYTHING sound good, and they do it in a way that respects the musicians, and the worst soundmen I ever worked with are the "my way or the highway" types who think they're going to save you from yourself by forcing you to use their janky little $40 DI instead of the rig you spent big money on trying to carefully craft a sound that works for their band. If that $40 DI works for you, go do your own gigs and use it. Don't tell me what to do on my own gigs, though.
Just pipe down already and realize there's a whole big world outside of your narrow little mindset where bass players might dare to have a different idea of what good sound is than you. Quit trying to tell other bass players what they should do.
Ha! We've had this argument before Jim. And my mind hasn't changed at all. There are a couple things that SOME bass players do NOT get.
1) Physics. "Your sound" is not going to produce the same way through massive 2-18 subs, 2-15 mids, and massive horns the same way it comes out of a sealed 8-10. So it will not even CLOSELY resemble what is coming out of your amp, EVEN IF you mic it.
2) Context. "Your sound" may sound like the left hand of God on a 20 foot Steinway (with just the right amount of angelic fuzz) in your bedroom, your practice room, even on your album. But "your sound" may just sound like a 5 gallon bucket of steaming crap in the mix, through the PA, in a club that has all the acoustics of a small gym.
3) Business. MY REPUTATION is ALSO on the line when I run sound for you. And many club owners, band members, and even music fans think that we are magicians. If something sounds horrible, WHO are they going to look at with that annoying "What the ****" look on their faces? Not the guy with the 15 distortion pedals running into the 15 gigawatt amp and 7 8-10 cabs. They are going to look at ME! So, I DO have somewhat of an obligation to protect MY company, MY reputation, and MY mix. Especially if I am running sound for more than one band, I have potential customers standing around the room all night. And, again, they are doing long division in their heads. If something sounds "wrong" they think I suck...... simple as that. But, I can't polish a turd. Crap in = crap out. And if I can help it, crap out is not an option.
So, sure, some sound guys have not learned anything new since 1983, and have bad attitudes as well. But it is the HEIGHT of overgrown 4 year old whiney wussy EGO TRIPPING DIVA-hood for ANY musician to simply say "I don't care WHAT you think. This is MY SOUND. YOU make it work."
So, your comments will have lots of fans here in the bass universe. But in context, they aren't very useful at all. All that being said, I understand you have tons of experience and talent. And I am sure you are also smart. But I also (based on several threads) think you are going through a bit of a chip on your shoulder stage over having "played it safe" and pretty much "did what you were told to get work" for most of your career. I get it. You are encouraging young players do "do your own thing" and "don't let anyone tell you any different". There is some wisdom in that as well.
But, there HAS to be some middle ground between the direction your knee jerks and the direction mine does.
