Problems Cutting Through The Mix

[TomRichards]

You have 700W at your disposal, which is huge in power. You should be able to actually blow him literally off the stage, like in the movie "Back to the Future."
I believe you are basing your comments on what you can hear, not what the audience hears. Unless your guitarist has 500W, which I'm doubting he has, you should be able to be heard just fine.

Tilt your cab a little so you can hear it like a monitor. If you don't like what you hear, then I am going to suggest something a little different then most.

Switch your string guage. Thicker, heavier strings have less definition, seem to muddy. I have a set of Hartke Mediums on my Peavey G Bass, 50-70-85-105. I'm a punk/pop artist, so I get really boomy sound but can get a little muddled with the guitar player when I'm doing songs that sound like Social Distortion and have guitar parts that are in the lower end.

I found that when I want to cut through but still sound like a bass, I go to lighter guage. For example, my Jerry Jones six-string bass has an E string that is 82. My older Danelectro's have vintage LaBellas on them with the E at 79. Through my Hartke LH500 and 4X10 HyDrive cab even they boom like bass, but have a cleaner, more defined sound. So you can tell they are there but still bass.

So, go lighter. I would suggest a lite set of 40-60-75-95. Don't worry, you are and will be bass, but you will be better heard in the mix.

A good preamp is essential too. I would suggest either a SANSAMP or a Hartke VXL Attack. I have found those two to have the best tone shaping of the pre-amps out there.

tom richards

[OptimusBass]

Hi TomRichards,

Thanks to replying to my thread. Since I posted this thread I have come to realise what you have previously mentioned. I was not hearing what the audience hear. After hearing some video that was shot of us playing live I was pleasently surprised by how much I really cut through the mix.

Also after a long discussion, the guitarist has agreed that being a three piece metal that the bass is very important in filling out the sound and adding character. Not only that but I play alot of intricate stuff in which the guitar just plays basic chords and the odd fill so its important he drops off some bass so that what im playing is carried though the song nicely.

Since then I have been able to add some more low mids, hi mids and a tad more bass. I can now honestly say that I am very happy with my sound! The next thing is convincing him to put the guitar down for a song and sing over the top of me playing tapped chords and a bit of melody to do something a bit different for a change. Im sure he won't mind though once I play my idea to him!

Thanks again
James

http://www.myspace.com/fallenfromuk