Author Topic: Where is the best place to stand relative to your bass rig? (Read 329 times)

jazzyvee · « **on:** October 05, 2014, 06:01:19 AM »

Have you found the sweet spot on stage to stand relative to where your bass rig is located?
When I was playing guitar live I tried to have my guitar cab about 6 to 8 ft behind me raised up if possible so that I could hear a better sound rather than have it blowing my trousers.
However I've yet to find the sweet spot for a bass rig. Sometimes I have the space to locate it about 6 to 8 feet behind and i can hear it's sound better.

However this sometimes causes a problem as I stand with the keyboard player on my left and drummer on the right and the stage guys are worried about the bass spilling into the drum mics due to my rig being in line with where the drummer is sitting on his riser and the keyboard players vocal mic. So usually it's slightly forward of the the snare drum. I tried JJ's suggestion of going DI and getting the bass through the monitors which is good however the bass on stage wasn't ideal for me.

One solution I've seen is when I saw Steel Pulse in concert this year and the bass player's rig was on the far corner of his riser but facing him. On face value I think this seems good as the cab facing me would mean the volume could also be lower and with it pointing towards the back of the stage there would be less pickup on other microphones. I'm not sure how the sound would be affected for the rest of the band though.

mike13 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2014, 08:11:01 PM »

I've been using my cabs on the side for a long time in different bands,FOH guys love it,no spill etc,they have zero bass sound out front from the amp,bass is completey in the PA

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2014, 10:07:08 AM »

I've been going direct and using an angled wedge monitor facing up at me. I can place it directly in front of me or to the side - usually between 3 - 6 feet away, depending upon stage size.

Zero volume complaints from sound people / band mates and I can blast myself with as much bass as I want.

Plus the PA functions as my bass rig = less gear to schlep.

bigredbass · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2014, 04:24:46 PM »

Back in the day it was easy to find: The singer, the guitar player, the keyboard player, ALL said I was killing them it was so loud, but me, standing dead in front of it on-axis couldn't hear myself. So, any of those spots should work !

J o e y

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #4 on:** October 08, 2014, 06:43:15 AM »

I like to position the rig bout 6' over my left shoulder, or at about 8:00, with straight ahead being 12:00. Most of the time, it's just for stage monitor, with DI going out to house mains.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2014, 06:29:29 PM »

I set my combo facing sideways away from the drums angled up so it is easy for me to hear & the sound doesn't bleed into the drum mics or affect the FOH. It works great for me & the band & sound man don't complain about me being too loud as they did when I used my Eden rig facing out front. The focal point of the combo is much closer to the amp than my Eden stack was so I can stand closer & hear it well without having to crank it.

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2014, 12:45:18 AM »

Now that is a great pic Rusty !

rustyg61 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2014, 05:35:24 AM »

Thanks Wolf!

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2014, 12:49:27 PM »

That's a happy bunch of Weekend Warriors if I ever saw any! Nice!

rustyg61 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2014, 02:54:18 PM »

Thanks Gregory, we do have a good time!

bigredbass · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2014, 05:19:01 PM »

Which illustrates a point made to me by an old music store manager of mine, pointed out grimly one morning over a pot of Louisiana coffee (Community, natch!) as we looked out into the gathering, gray light:

If they ever figure out they spent 80 grand to make $100 a night, we're out of business !

J o e y