Will bass amps ever be obsolete?

[bucephylus]

I would think the answer depends on the gig.

The music is still hopefully evolving, and who can say where it will go. As the PA's become more sophisticated, yes, I suppose that the bass can be specifically accommodated for some situations with no amp. As players, we should be open to this as a possibility and figuring out where to take it.

However, for a straight up blues gig, roots rock, or classic R&B, it will always be the self standing amp behind the player; because that is a part of the form, plain and simple. Not that you can't play, for example, blues with a sophisticated PA setup and no amp; just that isn't part of the form. And, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[Michael Vee]

Will bass amps ever be obsolete?

Not until we bass players think they are, and let others tell us they are.

Personally, for me, I will ALWAYS use an amp. I will not take a gig where some arrogant sound tech or engineer says I cannot.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

I just played a gig where there was pro sound and pro soundguys running the show. There was an SWR 2*10 combo (which I thought lacked greatly in volume, and I suspected some amp issue), but the monitors had very, clear, punchy bass signal in it, and I didn't need the amp at all. I'm pretty sure one of these monitors could have easily served as a stand-alone bass cab if required. I had to tell the soundpeople to turn the bass/signal DOWN a bit, even to my bass-friendly ears. It's gigs like this where I believe or have the belief reaffirmed that it is possible to play gigs without bass amps, and that they are not necessary, even in the context of a high-energy rock/variety band.

 

[thewickedcool]

I wouldn't but I would tell them to get rid of the stupid druid robes.

I would generally agree with you, part of the reason I never really got into metal was because metalheads/bands always seemed to take themselves too seriously. But if I'm correct in assuming that this is Sunn 0))), IMO they can do whatever they want, they're amazing.

Back on topic, I know personally for my local scene that I couldn't play many shows without my amp simply because the PAs are, quite frankly, horrible. I also consider my amp to be a large part of my tone. However, if someone likes their tone uncolored and play in places with a decent PA, go for it! To each his own.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

So, just about everyone who HAS run amp-less through a professional-level sound system with adequate monitors and a competent sound engineer has LIKED it... in many cases liked it enough to go strictly that route.

The only real problem seems to be that you need 1) an professional sound system, 2) adequate monitors, and 3)a competent sound guy.

I personally never got to the point that I always had all three of these... sometimes I did, and it was amp-less sonic bliss... but sometimes just two of these components , sometimes just one... frequently none.

Then, I needed a bass amp.

 

[DanielleMuscato]

if you appreciate good tone, amps will never be obsolete

fender_mod, $20 says that you couldn't tell me with appreciably better than 50% accuracy (i.e. guessing) which is which in a double-blind A/B listening test of recordings of a bass guitar in a mix which was going through

A) a mic'ed vintage Ampeg fridge and

B) a Line6 Bass POD model of the same

I'm totally serious. I bet I could record 10x 30-second samples in 5 different styles in a mix, and you couldn't tell me with greater than 6 out of 10 accuracy which 5 were the POD and which 5 were the amp (presuming I decided not to try to trick you and actually record 5 of one and 5 of the other, and not some other combination of the two).

You know, I might just have to book an hour of studio time and do this for everybody's edification. I'll let you guys know and start a thread for sure if I can fit it into my schedule.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

You're right. I couldn't.

Write THIS in stone... From your other thread:

When Bose figures out how to bring the price down on their L1 towers, it's all over for amp makers...

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

The only real problem seems to be that you need 1) an professional sound system, 2) adequate monitors, and 3)a competent sound guy.

I'd say #2 and #3 are essential, bass amp or not. Item #1 is negotiable. I've heard non-pro PA systems that sounded good when #2 and #3 were present. I'm not sure there is a real money issue, as I know real pro PA costs money, but decent sound can be had with reasonable money and soundpeople who care about sound. though surely, money can help even if it's not a guarantee of good sound.

 

[seamonkey]

fender_mod, $20 says that you couldn't tell me with appreciably better than 50% accuracy (i.e. guessing) which is which in a double-blind A/B listening test of recordings of a bass guitar in a mix which was going through

A) a mic'ed vintage Ampeg fridge and

B) a Line6 Bass POD model of the same

I'm totally serious. I bet I could record 10x 30-second samples in 5 different styles in a mix, and you couldn't tell me with greater than 6 out of 10 accuracy which 5 were the POD and which 5 were the amp (presuming I decided not to try to trick you and actually record 5 of one and 5 of the other, and not some other combination of the two).

You know, I might just have to book an hour of studio time and do this for everybody's edification. I'll let you guys know and start a thread for sure if I can fit it into my schedule.

+1
You know, you'd just be taking peoples money, but hey it'd pay for studio time.

 

[Kindness]

I gigged with amps for a decade, gigged without amps for about a year and will never gig without an amp again. No chance. The amp is part of my instrument, part of my expression. That's like asking if I'd gig without a bass. No thanks!

 

[JimmyM]

fender_mod, $20 says that you couldn't tell me with appreciably better than 50% accuracy (i.e. guessing) which is which in a double-blind A/B listening test of recordings of a bass guitar in a mix which was going through

A) a mic'ed vintage Ampeg fridge and

B) a Line6 Bass POD model of the same

While this is probably true (although I don't know about the Line 6 modeler..hasn't impressed me in the past), I can sure tell the difference when playing. That's why even though I own an amp that weighs 5x less than my B-15 heads and about 15x less than my SVT head and sounds great, the differences as the player in a live setting are stunning.

 

[biff malibu]

but i dont believe a bass straight into the board can sound good in the first place, so IMO, it will NEVER be good in the monitor unless it came from a mic'ed amp.

unfortunately for you chances are that 80% of the bass tone you hear on records and on stage are direct. no matter what you see on stage.

furthermore, you can have a full schroeder bass rig with all kinds of gadgets...but its still up to the soundman to make it sound good. he can make a 4k dollar rig sound like butt if he sucks, just the same as a $400 POD can sound like gold. might as well travel light. it all depends on the PA and who is running it no matter what gear you bring.

 

[biff malibu]

So, just about everyone who HAS run amp-less through a professional-level sound system with adequate monitors and a competent sound engineer has LIKED it... in many cases liked it enough to go strictly that route.

The only real problem seems to be that you need 1) an professional sound system, 2) adequate monitors, and 3)a competent sound guy.

I personally never got to the point that I always had all three of these... sometimes I did, and it was amp-less sonic bliss... but sometimes just two of these components , sometimes just one... frequently none.

Then, I needed a bass amp.

also notice that all the guys saying they would never give up their amps, live out in the middle of nowhere.


in the big city where things happen you dont need an amp.

 

[biff malibu]

I gigged with amps for a decade, gigged without amps for about a year and will never gig without an amp again. No chance. The amp is part of my instrument, part of my expression. That's like asking if I'd gig without a bass. No thanks!

im surprised how many guys say they have to rely on an amp to sound/play decent.


if you are playing somewhere worth playing in stead of the VFW hall and you give the soundman some ability to work with, you should have a better chance at sounding good in FOH. IMO.

 

[somegeezer]

I remember playing sans-amp many a time. 2 that really pop out are one time I couldn't take my cab because it was broken and another time I couldn't take any part of my amp and had to go straight DI. The latter which my tone still sounded amazing anyways and I could hear myself clearly.

 

[Korladis]

I run an overdriven tube amp.

You could say it's as much a part of my sound as my bass is. Maybe more, because switching basses makes a lot less of a difference in sound than switching amps does, for me.

DI it doesn't sound the same. Period. I mean, it still sounds like me, but like me playing through some sterile, overly polite thing.

Can I get a similar sound with a pedal? Yeah, I can. But it's not the same. I don't know why.

So yes, I will continue using an amp. For other people it may work fine to go amp-less, but the sound I like practically requires one.

 

[D.M.N.]

As long as I can haul my amp and cab to a gig, I will. It's part of my sound. Big fat tube head into K140s. Of course the audience probably wouldn't know the difference between me playing through that or DI'd, but I would notice, and I would feel the lack of those big speakers pushing the air past me. I know the modelers are getting better and better, and SS/Digital is getting closer to nailing the tube sound, but it still hasn't achieved the response to dynamics I get when I dig in or play lightly through my big pile of obsoleteness. I can't overdrive a DI like I can a valve amp.

Just last week I played at our county fair, and we had (finally!) a good soundman, and a very sizable PA. My dad was recording the performance, and when we finished, I switched my amp into standby. When we went to do our encore, I spaced on turning it out of standby. You could DEFINITELY tell the difference. Without the stage amp, and just using the DI out of the preamp into PA, there was a lot of crunch and beef missing. So while I do understand how for many, going DI without an amp is just fine, for some of us, part of our tone, of our entire sound, is in the amp and speakers. Scoff at that if you will, but as long as there are people such as us, amplifiers will remain relevant.

 

[Mike M.]

I'll say this: At 57 years old and with an ever worstening knee problem it's nice to go to my church gig with just my bass in one hand and my coffee in the other. I go direct and get a great sound out front.

 

[mongo2]

I have had many gigs where all I needed was my SABDDI through the FOH and I have no complaints. I love that kind of gig.

 

[megadan]

Generally I find people that like 'clean' tone (just the sound of my bass, as flat as possible!) are fine with going DI.

Those that prefer growl or overdrive are generally going to stick with an amp.

Personally I don't know where the whole ultra clean, only the sound of the bass style came from, but it's not for me. Guitarists would never do it, and neither would I. If I'm not playing through an amp then I'm not filling the role I want to fill.