My live sound is really bad. We can't hear the D and G strings and the E and A strings sound like a techno-rap synth and they are way too loud. The sound-tech is a singer (you know how those guys feel about the bassists)so he won't do much to correct it other than practically muting the bass. I have tried with a DI and a mic in front of my amp, I have tried different basses, different pedals, differnent PA system, different strings, active and passive basses, etc....The problem will not go away.
Hopefully you guys can help me sort out this problem.
Basically I'm looking for a sound similar to Dirk Lance (INCUBUS). It's a very crisp, yet very warm-funky sound. The main thing is to get a clear distinguished sound through the PA. Any tips on amp EQ, console EQ, use of pedals, etc....would be very appreciated. In terms of equipement, I usually use a Fender BXR 100 amp, a Godin active 4-string bass, a Vintage passive 4-string, and a compressor pedal.
Thanks for any advice...

Overhang

Hey Overhang,

Dirk Lance is one of our (Warwick's) endorsing artists. He owns a few Streamer Stange II 5-strings, and I will try to find out what his amp and outboard gear is. One work of warning, though: The gear is a small factor of how a player gets a sound. The perfect example is a story I read a long time ago about how Ted Nugent loved Eddie Van Halen's guitar sound. Ted met up with Eddie at a Van Halen sound check and asked if he could play through Eddie's rig. Eddie said that it was okay and Ted used Eddie's guitar, Eddie's wireless, Eddie's amp system and all of Eddie's out board gear (set exactly as Eddie liked it)...and Ted said that the tone he got sounded nothing like Eddie's classic "brown sound". If fact, he said it sounded just like his own tone!

With all that said, I may be able to get you a list of Dirk's set-up so you can see what he uses and how he uses it.

I hope that will help!


Dale Titus
Warwick Product Specialist