javi_bassist Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 (edited) Hi guys! I just wanted to share with you something that happened to me last weekend. I have been playing some wedding gigs (which I actually enjoy) with some great musicians. There are a lot of good and very talented people there. I am subbing (I think that's how it's written) for a friend who is really busy gigging with a top artist. Anyway, I had played with them 8 gigs. I always play my Yamaha BB735. However, I have been playing my Yamaha BB605 in other projects I have so I took this bass to the last wedding gig (besides, my 735 needed some adjustment and I didn't have the time). It was a disaster. I don't think it was because of my bass, but since it was the only different aspect, the BL thought it was. So, we don't use amps. We all have our own tiny monitor and everything comes out from the PA. I use my Line 6 HX Stomp and my passive Radial DI. Same preset as always. But the BL started saying that my signal was extremely weak. I thought that was strange since the 605 has more signal than my 735. But ok. I tried to push the HX. Then, he realised that there was a 20db pad activated in my channel, but he claimed that it is always on in every gig. He then set 0db and it was better. But again, the other musicians couldn't hear me in their monitors. The boss looked at me a said "please, don't bring that bass again". I just said "ok". I always take care of my equipment and I take time to prepare and set everything, so I don't think it had to do anything with the bass. What is more, I used that exact bass the night before in other project and it worked perfectly. After the gig, the drummer complained that he couldn't hear neither the bass nor the guitar. I think that made the boss realised that it was not my fault (he didn't say anything) but that there was something about the sound. After the gig, everyone complained about the sound and no one said anything about my bass. Anyway, my 735 is ready again to hit the road. Edited September 30, 2022 by javi_bassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 I feel for you. Head case MD won't admit any fault. Not much you can do in that situation except plug away and hope he gets his kaka together. It might pay to get another simple DI pedal like a Sansamp as backup that you can sub in. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 (edited) I was once told that my bass was causing feedback through the PA (which I wasn't going through). The guy on the desk was an amateur (he was actually an orthopedic surgeon not a sound engineer who had bought a very expensive PA and desk he had no idea how to operate) ) and his wife was the singer, I told him he was wrong but he insisted he was right. So to avoid making him look like an idiot in front of everyone, I didn't argue, I just turned my bass down to zero volume. He didn't even notice that there was no bass in the on stage mix at all. I mimed through the whole gig and made a decision that he would never be let near a desk again, while I was in the band. Edited September 30, 2022 by gjones 2 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 I was once told not to play a 5 string as it wasn't a real bass..... 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 tis annoying working with people that dont know what they're doing. I played a fairly well known gig in Watford with my Police tribute. QSC pa system, great I thought Sound guy didn't have a clue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javi_bassist Posted September 30, 2022 Author Share Posted September 30, 2022 47 minutes ago, Downunderwonder said: I feel for you. Head case MD won't admit any fault. Not much you can do in that situation except plug away and hope he gets his kaka together. It might pay to get another simple DI pedal like a Sansamp as backup that you can sub in. Yes, I will always bring my Markbass preamp just in case. However, we even try to go straight to my passive DI without the HX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim2291 Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 1 hour ago, javi_bassist said: But the BL started saying that my signal was extremely weak. If the band leader can't compensate for a slightly weaker signal from one of the instruments then why is he in charge of the sound? You set your sound on the HX stomp, he is then responsible for the level, if it needs more, he just needs to boost it. Sounds like he isn't changing any settings between different gigs which is worrying, every room is different! Bassists tend to get the blame a lot for their volume, I've had guitarists who have too much bottom end, keyboard players who aren't used to full band situations so add in all the lows... it's always the bassists fault though! 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 11 minutes ago, Tim2291 said: Bassists tend to get the blame a lot for their volume, I've had guitarists who have too much bottom end, keyboard players who aren't used to full band situations so add in all the lows... it's always the bassists fault though! We're an easy target. I remember getting blamed for some weird feedback at one gig, turned out to be the hearing aid loop. 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 (edited) The music industry/world is littered with such happenings. Every bass player needs a DFA switch on their bass and a 'boutique' DI box (with a straight bypass through it). I did a gig and the in-house engineer seemed to have the hump with me from the off and he was unhappy with everything I had brought and played through. He was complaining that my cab was causing masses of bottom end boom in the room... I politely pointed out that at the time I was simply going from bass to HIS DI and my amp was still on stand by; any issues were down to him/his PA. Oh I felt smug but I swear he didn't even put me through the PA during the gig. Edited September 30, 2022 by warwickhunt 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 (edited) I joined a Soul band and they took one look at my Gibson EB0 (the only "pro" bass I could afford at the time) and told me to play the Danelectro Longhorn the singer owned. I totally agreed with them. The Danelectro was a much better bass for that gig. 6 months later I bought my Fender Precision and never again had a negative comment. Edited September 30, 2022 by chris_b 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 Sound engineer? More like person behind the desk with shot hearing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 Wow, he said please. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizontalste Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 I auditioned for a band several years ago & I had put in the effort on the run up & nailed everything they asked me to play. They seemed like really cool guys & I wanted to get the gig. However, at the end of the audition after the whole band telling me they liked my playing & my personality the singist says "what kind of guitar is that"? To which I replied "oh, this is my Musicman Stingray" He came back with, "hmmmmmmm, haven't heard of them, you'll need to play a Fender in this band"! In my broadest black country accent I said "thanks for the jam, t'raaa a bit". 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 Don’t get me started……… 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakforest5961 Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 I don't gig so this is probably a stupid question, but here goes... Since the sound of a band is vital - it virtually defines some bands (think JJ Burnel's bass tone in The Stranglers), and could lead to a bad word-of-mouth when it's terrible - why don't bands have their own sound engineer, someone that they can rely on to ensure the band's sound no matter where they are playing? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 7 minutes ago, oakforest5961 said: I don't gig so this is probably a stupid question, but here goes... Since the sound of a band is vital - it virtually defines some bands (think JJ Burnel's bass tone in The Stranglers), and could lead to a bad word-of-mouth when it's terrible - why don't bands have their own sound engineer, someone that they can rely on to ensure the band's sound no matter where they are playing? Because they need paid? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 3 minutes ago, oakforest5961 said: I don't gig so this is probably a stupid question, but here goes... Since the sound of a band is vital - it virtually defines some bands (think JJ Burnel's bass tone in The Stranglers), and could lead to a bad word-of-mouth when it's terrible - why don't bands have their own sound engineer, someone that they can rely on to ensure the band's sound no matter where they are playing? What size band are you talking about and are you thinking original material or covers... actually as I think of it, it doesn't matter the answer is the same - Money! Pub covers bands likely just do it themselves and it is 1 less person to take a share. Originals bands that aren't established and a success will need to pay someone (unless they have a very good friend who has faith in them), established bands often do have their own engineer/sound person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 Just now, neepheid said: Because they need paid? More succinct than my simultaneous answer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 I was once told not to use my Orange amp again and to buy an Ampeg SVT classic because "that's the industry standard". As far as I know they're still looking for a replacement bassist. 3 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 2 minutes ago, warwickhunt said: More succinct than my simultaneous answer. I hope it didn't come across as "here's a glib answer to what I perceive to be a stupid question". Succinct is a much better word, thanks! I'd also like to add that while sound engineering a massive show with many instruments, full drum kit miking etc. is a serious undertaking, operating a couple of powered speakers and a small (say 8 channel) mixer for a covers band isn't rocket science. In my covers band, the drummer and I do it. We've learned as we go and refined what we do in response to audience feedback. Share our spoils with a knob twiddler? No way 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 I was once told by a member of the audience (!) to 'get rid of that cheap bass and get a Fender'. That cheap bass being a Yamaha BBNE2. It's nearly as annoying as "oo that's a big fiddle mister, can you get it under your chin?" "No I can't, is it OK if I borrow 3 or 4 of yours?" 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 22 minutes ago, pete.young said: I was once told by a member of the audience (!) to 'get rid of that cheap bass and get a Fender'. That cheap bass being a Yamaha BBNE2. Did you? I'm sure if you put an extra couple hundred quid with it you could trade it in for a used Mexican P bass 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted October 1, 2022 Share Posted October 1, 2022 5 hours ago, pete.young said: I was once told by a member of the audience (!) to 'get rid of that cheap bass and get a Fender'. That cheap bass being a Yamaha BBNE2. Having been told by an audience member in the break that we were the best band that'd played the pub, after a set that had been a motorway pile up (forget car wreck) with a band I sometimes stood in with, I have learned just to say "thanks" and walk on, never believing a word said 🤣 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted October 1, 2022 Share Posted October 1, 2022 After a run of gigs with my SR500, I decided to dig out my jazz again. Got told never to bring it again! 😂😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted October 1, 2022 Share Posted October 1, 2022 My band usually gets "Please don't bring that bass player again". 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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