Bass rig is so important to getting the right sound!!

[jwright9]

As for Behringer stuff; walk away...there is a reason all the Behringer stuff sells cheap when used; only suckers buy it new, and gamblers buy it used...hoping it'll still work.

Well said. That may as well be their company motto!

[bigredbass]

The most hit-me-right-between-the-eyes comment / suggestion I ever read here in the AC was Mica's observation that (Your Instrument = [bass guitar + amp/speakers]).

Either exists in a silent vacuum without the other, and together it's either magic or a big Not Right.

[jazzyvee]

Glad the Barefaced stuff is doing it for you.  My One 10 still is.
Funny stuff, bass rigs.
I started with a Linear Conchord, then a Fender Bassman and an Acoustic 360.
I used Trace for years and years - virtually every combination but never nailed the Graphic Equaliser.
EBS was good but heavy.  The small Gallien-krueger Mb200 combo was so bad for me that I took it back to the shop the next day!
Mark Bass never worked for me (too boxy) and Ashdown wasn't bad but I heard bad reports at the time of reliability.
The Bergantino HD112s I still have are superb.
Amp wise, I just have the GenzBenz Streamliner 900 and Genzler 350 - both superb.
TC Electronics, as you know, is used by Mark King and probably suits the slap part of his style (he is one of my all-time heros....I can't slap at all or sing at the same time as play!!)  I tried it in shop but found it a bit thin.
I think I am settled now.
Glynn

After a recent dep gig when packing my BF Cab into my smart car, one of the band members commented on how it was hard to believe I could get something that put out that much sound into the back of a smart car! 

[bigredbass]

Barefaced are becoming very highly regarded, excellent cabinets from what I gather.  Here's a link of Jazzy's cabinet, I gotta admire a builder that lists 'pistonic sensitivity' on the spec sheet !

http://barefacedbass.com/product-range/Big-Twin-2.htm

[moongerm]

In my experience the power amp plays such a crucial part including pairing it with the right speakers. I have tried so many options/combinations and have settled recently on using the Ampeg SVT-4 Pro (as a stereo power amp only) paired with my favorite preamps (interchangable: Grace, Alembic, or the Helix) along with the Ampeg Pro NEO 15" cabinet and an Accu Groove 2×10 cabinet.

[hieronymous]

I'm going to a rehearsal at one of the local Guitar Center practice rooms - apparently they have a bass amp there but I'm really tempted to bring my GK MB-112 II rather than have to play through something crappy and inadequate.

Ended up taking my GK - left it in the trunk and used the Acoustic amp with the 8X10 (?!!) cab that was in the room - partway through I went and got the GK. One of the guitar players was psyched and thanked me - afterwards too he commented on how much better the GK sounded.

[Twocan]

I am a big fan of Markbass heads and cabs. They are known for their "transparent" sound, which is exactly what I want for my Alembics - an uncolored amplification of the Alembic electronics & wood. I use a parametric EQ from [SFX] sometimes to scoop my mids, but it does not add color.

I've often thought of getting an Alembic Pre + Power Amp (which I'm sure would sound even better), but with the amount of gigging I do I prefer the portability/ease of the small amp head + 2x10 cab.

[edwin]

I am a big fan of Markbass heads and cabs. They are known for their "transparent" sound, which is exactly what I want for my Alembics - an uncolored amplification of the Alembic electronics & wood. I use a parametric EQ from [SFX] sometimes to scoop my mids, but it does not add color.

I've often thought of getting an Alembic Pre + Power Amp (which I'm sure would sound even better), but with the amount of gigging I do I prefer the portability/ease of the small amp head + 2x10 cab.

Not to be needlessly contrary, but I've had the opposite experience with Markbass. All of their amps I've played have reminded me of Ampegs to one degree or another, which is to say, very difficult to get a completely clean, uncolored sound. It's a great sound for a certain tone and feel, but compared to a rig that really is straight wire with gain (Grace Felix into a power amp), it's very different.

[alembic76407]

these speakers will change you life, my 2 Phil Jones Bass C8s, they will handle 1600 watts,  my search for the perfect amp is over!!!!

[tomhug]

The one rule of thumb that I've found helpful when dealing with any borrowed / rented / provided backline is to go a flat as possible (eq-wise). If there are issues, try to subtract instead of add. For example, if I feel a rig needs more mids, better to slightly cut low and high, than to boost mids.

A huge factor is the resonance of the floor the rig is sitting on.

Most venues I play use DI, so this really just impacts my onstage sound.

My go-to rig is a DNA 1350 over 2 DNA DNS112C's. Since I usually haul my own gear, the modular cabs get the nod. Very transparent, and the best class-D implementation I've heard.


When I have to go 100% organic, an all-tube Mesa Prodigy over a Powerhouse 410 is the platform for tubey-goodness. Not too heavy either.

[Glynn]

With resonant and hollow stages, I find this product Auralex Iso Series™- Instant Sound Optimisers does actually live up to it's claim.
I have the GRAMMA (£89) and it does tighten up the sound.
Glynn

[edwin]

With resonant and hollow stages, I find this product Auralex Iso Series™- Instant Sound Optimisers does actually live up to it's claim.
I have the GRAMMA (£89) and it does tighten up the sound.
Glynn

+1. The Gramma is very effective.

[tomhug]

I just bought an Auralex GRAMMA, based on these comments above.

We have a gig this Friday, and not only is the stage constructed like an acoustic guitar's sound-box, the sub-woofers are also under the stage.

I was thinking of going with a DIY solution, but by the time I got the materials together...

[Glynn]

Good luck with the GRAMMA. Hope it works for you and please report back as I guess you would.
Glynn

[tomhug]

Good luck with the GRAMMA. Hope it works for you and please report back as I guess you would.
Glynn

So here is the GRAMMA report:

1) I play house bass at a Blues Jam every Thursday at the Legendary Wooden Nickel. This is a venue that I know well. A frequent interaction with one of the guitarists is that I need to turn down. Last night, he said I needed to turn up. Mind you, I set up using the same rig, same settings, but the cabs on top of the GRAMMA. I also asked another bass player to evaluate if he noticed any differences, without telling him what to look for. He didn't notice anything dramatic, either plus or minus. But other people did say that my rig sounded more focused.

2) We also had a gig at a venue here in Evanston, which was the original reason I bought the GRAMMA. Unfortunately there were so many other issues with the sound engineer messing with the mix, that I don't have anything useful to report in using the GRAMMA in the wild, based on that gig.

So I think think the first test is pretty interesting - especially the fact that the #1 griper was suddenly asking me to turn up. My ears told me that there was a bit more definition when the other bass player was playing as well.

I wish I had more useful things to report on the 2nd gig, but that whole night was plagued with bad sound and bad sound engineering.

On night#1 the signal chain was 1968 Franken-Precision -- > Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12.0 --> 2 x DNA DNS 112C (all on the Auralex GRAMMA)
On night#2 the signal chain was 2004 Alembic Essence -- > Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12.0 --> 2 x DNA DNS 112C (all on the Auralex GRAMMA)