Gigging Rant

[DeezDemos]

Yep, drummers with zero dynamic control sucks big time! I've been lucky over the last ten years. The two drummers I played with were very soulful & dynamic & I got spoiled....... The guy in the "Corporate/Wedding Project" I'm in now is "All Basball Bats, All The Time"! He's basically ruined the last two high dollar private parties we've done. We're at the point that he either has to get an electronic kit or we're going to replace him.

As far as the clubs go, seems the only "LOUD" that anyone wants to hear anymore is the "Wobble Bass"......

 

[billm408]

As always, drummers dictate volume. Ours hits hard but not bombastically so. He's padded the inside of the kick and tapes the bottom heads on his toms which helps and still allows me and the other guitarist to sneak into that sweet spot w/o reaching uncomfortable levels. But a big part of our show is lights, smoke and an 80's Metal concert experience... and volume comes with that. I'd shoot myself before I end up gigging with e-drums and modelers. Our solution is to find the kind of bars that want a live band and not background music. It means fewer places to play, but we do this for fun not for the money. And when it stops being fun, then it's time to move on. YMMV.

 

[rupe]

Good feedback so far. As for the drummer, he is not a hard hitter...actually there have been times (prior to this "too loud" issue) that I've wished he would bang a bit harder on certain material. He's very a versatile and dynamic drummer and "gets it"...he's actually teaches percussion at Clarion University. Still, plexi panels for him (or an electronic kit) may be what we need to satisfy the bar owners.

That said, I gig for fun and not money even though we're well paid...playing at conversation volume levels doesn't seem like it would be too fun.

 

[Bob Savage]

That said, I gig for fun and not money even though we're well paid...playing at conversation volume levels doesn't seem like it would be too fun.

You may have just answered the real question.

 

[strungup]

I've recently run into an odd situation where two of the clubs where my blues rock band plays have said that they don't want us back because we're too loud. I've been gigging well over 20 years and have never really had this issue...not sure why its a problem all of a sudden?

I'm already at the point where I can just barely hear myself over the drums, and the same for the keyboard player. I don't like my guitar coming back at me through the monitors so I try to avoid that (although it may be my only option). I'm even using plexiglass panels so there's no beaming issue going on either. I tried some lower wattage amps (Deluxe Reverb, vintage Epi Pacemaker) but those didn't go over well either...wtf??? It seems as if they now want the band to play as background music so patrons can still easily talk to each other. I just don't get it...we are NOT that loud.

Does anybody have experience with the Two Notes Torpedo products? I'm considering going that route if I have to hear my guitar through a monitor.

If you're barely audible over the drums it sounds to me like your drummer is the "problem." Perhaps plexi panels around the drummer is what you really need so that everyone else can turn down?

My drummer gets cool rods for Christmas. He didn't like them at first but loves them now. It helps keep are volume down.

 

[romain_gril]

Does anybody have experience with the Two Notes Torpedo products? I'm considering going that route if I have to hear my guitar through a monitor.

This is one of the reasons for designing the Torpedo products, actually: Keep your sound as good as it is through amps and speakers, but manage the level as you like, or use IEM, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKsbHIvr ... 9768D08707

I would invite you to contact Two Notes here for more info.

Cheers!

 

[racerevlon]

My new small club rig is my Jet City JCA22H + JCA24S. I can still get over the drummer, the other band members can hear me, and we don't destroy the place. I did one show with the Splawn Quick Rod in half power mode and a 2x12. Barely able to crack open the amp, even at 50W.

 

[guitarmike]

Good feedback so far. As for the drummer, he is not a hard hitter...actually there have been times (prior to this "too loud" issue) that I've wished he would bang a bit harder on certain material. He's very a versatile and dynamic drummer and "gets it"...he's actually teaches percussion at Clarion University. Still, plexi panels for him (or an electronic kit) may be what we need to satisfy the bar owners.

That said, I gig for fun and not money even though we're well paid...playing at conversation volume levels doesn't seem like it would be too fun.

My son drums in my band and he has 2 kits, an old 70's Slingerland and a newer mid grade kit, I forget the name. The new kit is way louder than the older one, I did not realize how much difference the actual drums can make on the sound. The first thing I would do if I was in your spot is pick up a used set of plexi panels. Many churches use them, if one of your band mates goes to a church that uses them, perhaps you could try them at one gig before buying.

Secondly, do not have any amps pointing towards the crowd, put them all on the side of the stage. I only have 100 watt amps and I never have volume issues whether I am at church or a bar.

Third, use in ear monitors for the whole band. That alone will lower stage volume if for no other reason than everyone can hear themselves.

Torpedo products look good but it looks like you'll spend $1000+ per guitar and still have to deal with everyone else.

Good luck!!

 

[rupe]

Does anybody have experience with the Two Notes Torpedo products? I'm considering going that route if I have to hear my guitar through a monitor.

This is one of the reasons for designing the Torpedo products, actually: Keep your sound as good as it is through amps and speakers, but manage the level as you like, or use IEM, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKsbHIvr ... 9768D08707

I would invite you to contact Two Notes here for more info.

Cheers!

Thank you...message sent

 

[philb]

Does anybody have experience with the Two Notes Torpedo products? I'm considering going that route if I have to hear my guitar through a monitor.

This is one of the reasons for designing the Torpedo products, actually: Keep your sound as good as it is through amps and speakers, but manage the level as you like, or use IEM, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKsbHIvr ... 9768D08707

I would invite you to contact Two Notes here for more info.

Cheers!

Very cool product!

 

[billm408]

Does anybody have experience with the Two Notes Torpedo products? I'm considering going that route if I have to hear my guitar through a monitor.

This is one of the reasons for designing the Torpedo products, actually: Keep your sound as good as it is through amps and speakers, but manage the level as you like, or use IEM, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKsbHIvr ... 9768D08707

I would invite you to contact Two Notes here for more info.

Cheers!

Very cool product. I didn't read through all of the specs yet, but wonder if you can split the output signal to FOH and an actual cab.

 

[sysexguy]

There's 2 ways to send a signal to a monitor and to FOH, 1) just take a "y" from the output, to the FOH and a full range monitor (alternately, if either can accept a digital signal, use that instead of a y). Many full range powered monitors have a thru jack so that can easily be routed to FOH. 2) connect a guitar cabinet to the thru jack next to the speaker in, this signal will not be attenuated so you may need an attenuator depending how loud the amp is running.

You could also use a parallel f/x loop send to the Torpedo and run your amp as a monitor

Andy