Saturday, November 9, 2024
BassBass Amps

Are Bass Guitar Amps Dead? 4 Reasons Why…


Are bass guitar amps dead?

This video looks at 4 reasons why it might be time to ditch your bass amp and switch to a bass DI and in-ear monitors.

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#Bass #Guitar #Amps #Dead #Reasons

Originally posted by UCXhP5YgHEm7UYleg94RU1VA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etNUT7sybKs

30 thoughts on “Are Bass Guitar Amps Dead? 4 Reasons Why…

  • I've been recording my music through my tube amp and a Captor X. The Captor X has bass cabinets and I really loved the sound of my amp through that. Way better than just plugging into the GarageBand DI or a GarageBand amp, although those are nice. My guitar tube amp has a nice warm sound. But then TwoNotes, the makers of the Captor X, came out with the GENOME plugin and holy crap, that is what I now use for my bass sounds.

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  • I tour and play sessions full time all over the world. Most recently with the Motown group The Miracles. Can’t remember the last time I played through an amp live. Still use them on studio work though. When I record tracks in my own studio for clients I’ll sometimes use a combination of amp and dry in addition to just providing a direct track. Amps will always have their place but if I never use one live again I’d be fine with that.

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  • Im fussy. I like an amp near me so i can feel the air. Plus I dont trust many unknown sound engineers. i have turned gigs down because life is too short to not use an amp.

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  • Big heavy heads definitely are obsolete. But having a cabinet onstage is good for monitoring if you don’t use IEMs, and can give you a more signature sound miced.

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  • you have to bring guitar and bass amps where I play… the "PA" is usually two shitty Harbinger powered 12" speakers left/right for vocals only.

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  • For me, there is an aesthetic component to what we do as musicians.
    The sight of a bassist plugged into an vintage SVT, Acoustic 360 or Ampeg SVT while playing a quirky bass like a Gibson EB1 or an old P bass imparts a vibe that is necessary for the things I do.
    Nevertheless, tonight I’m playing and plugging into a direct box and using in ear monitoring. I don’t prefer it, but that’s what the people who are paying me want.
    This is a great video , and the lesson learned is that we must utilize the best of the new technology while incorporating the more modern ideas.

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  • Nope. Especially if you're using an acoustic drummer. And, I need to hear me. Running a stage amp saves wear and tear on monitors. The list goes on.

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  • Bass amps sound very lively and character full – DI cannot compete – in recording situations- but you need to mic properly often with 2 mics on an expensive cab. Otherwise you are right

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  • Bass amp on a live gig, if I have PA support and monitoring, is only for looks.

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  • Bands using ampless rigs sound inferior. Just the way it is. It's physics, not prefrence. So yeah, quality will prevail.

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  • My Barefaced cabs weigh maybe 25 pounds, Aggie Head maybe 4 pounds. It's really not that big of a deal. Bass amps will never die, nor decrease amongst bass players because most venues are not providing the capability (with exception of the higher end venues). If you are speaking on the level of a touring band, that's another story but for us mere mortals that own and set up our own sound system, the price of admission is not even close to being worth it. At least in my area (Pittsburgh) you can only play Hardrock, Crafthouse, Jergals…etc so many times. The rest of the shows is bringing your own PA and getting paid ok at best. We provide some great music at a great price point, when we have to start investing thousands into good IEMs and pro level PA with a sound guy we would basically price ourselves out of playing.

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  • Every local band I have seen has a bass amp on stage. Some of the bands even have more than 5 members with elaborate PA systems.

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  • I use a DI for the low end and a real amp/cab for mids/highs. I've tried all modelers and they do NOT sound as pleasant as an amp for the mids'highs.

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  • There are hundreds if not thousands of small / medium venues with live music but not a lot of them have a sound system that allows for amp free backlines. The future of bass (and guitar) rigs is assured for some time to come ????

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  • Bands like Metallica and Mötley Crüe and Guns N' Roses are never gonna use that stuff because the arena rock sound is the amp

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  • Waaagh! I'm too much of a wimp to carry a few pieces of equipment.
    There's no way in hell bass amps are dying out. You can't beat the sound of an old school tube amp. You young people think you know everything.
    You kids don't know shit.

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  • Pubs and small club gigs are probably where about 95% of bass amps are still used. The raw experience of playing with backline amplification along with a live drummer is still the easiest and most practical way to do a gig in a pub. Bass amps are not dead, any top band you see will still be using bass amplification, It's usually the support act who have to use monitors because it's less hassle for the sound engineers and they don't care about the support act as much. You'll know you'll have gone up in order of importance when the sound engineers are accommodating your needs and not the other way around. Why do you have to set your bass gear up in the house after gigging with it? You can plug into anything for practice or how about investing in a small practice amp in the house for practice? That way you can find a storage solution that saves you dragging your bass gear up and down the stairs.

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  • I feel amps are typically pretty dead due to the listed reasons, but I will always drag around my 4×12, even if turned down to 3-4. I find having moving air and a rumbling floor is a tactile response that allows me to feel my playing instead of just hearing it, in turn making it easier to focus on and adjust how i'm playing instead of trying to hear every minute detail and adjust what i'm playing.

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  • I still use amps on every gig. I don’t care what anyone else is doing, but I’m not giving up my amp.

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  • Guy complains about carrying an ultra light weight bass cab. Yawn. I’ve had fights with sucky sound guys over my bass amp. I win every time. I get my bass sound from my amp. Good sound guys understand this and work with me. Easy peasy.

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  • Remember its meant to be a show. Big shiny drum kit, wall of amps, cables, boxes, things people don't see everyday. It adds to the audience excitement. So you have to carry a few bits to gig. That's part of the job. Keep music live in sound and experience.

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  • OK ,looks like the overall consenus is that yes, we do need bass amps. There are many ways to achieve sounds whether in the studio or live. There's nothing like the sound of great bass amp.
    So. I would have to agree that bass amps are not dying a slow death.

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  • Being a musician is a massive pain in the ass. Doing low-budget gigs is all about hauling gear to and from your house for next to no money. Spend more time hauling stuff than playing. Next we'll be complaining about having to leave our house to play a gig and how we should live stream from our own lounge room instead ????

    Reply

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