Bedroom VS Stage Bass Tone | “I Can’t Hear Myself” | Thomann

[@NateNavarro]

Love the jams! Y'all sound great together. Julia's always killin'.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey Nate, what a nice surprise to see you here! 🤗 Thanks a lot brother, next time you’re around we‘ll have a jam too! 💪 Cheers //Kris

[@ghosttownreview1531]

Adding a little distortion can help create clarity in a live setting too. The settings on my amp are usually 50% for bass, 70% mids and 60% treble and it cuts through amongst the drums, keys, electric guitars and acoustic guitar. When I add just a little bit of grit to the sound it has much more tonal clarity. On it's own at home, it sounds like a crappy, mid-rangy guitar running through a cheap fuzz pedal. Live it sounds clean, clear and big and sits well in the mix.

[@captbuscemi]

+1. I don’t like distorted bass much, but adding some grit when playing live helps a great deal.

[@petougao]

To contrast the video, this is an actual advice one can start witht, thanks!

[@ToneCaster-1]

yes indeed. A little bit of Grid/Saturation helps a lot to make a bass "hearable" in a mix.

[@Axterrix]

Thanks a lot

[@MadMagicPaul]

Definitely. Listening to isolated bass lines in famous songs shows how distorted they really are when heard alone. But in a mix they sound full and clean. John Deacon’s P bass is particularly fuzzy and farty in the mids on the Live at Wembley but in the mix it sounds huge but doesn’t get in the way of the other instruments.

[@stratfanstl]

Between this bass example and the guitar example, the real lesson is virtually ANY instrument sounds better individually with a "smile" EQ but every instrument gets LOST in a mix if mid frequencies aren't boosted. The mids are really what human hearing anchors on to distinguish between instruments. This also is a great illustration of the alchemy of recording and mixing music. You can have eight tracks that all sound PERFECT in isolation but didn't get recorded with enough EQ to allow them to MIX together and still provide distinction and separation. There can be other times when something sounds bad in isolation but unexpectedly fits PERFECTLY in a mix. It can take years of playing and recording experience to know how to override those first instincts to record a track for better mixing in the first place.

[@r.rajabally1865]

Agreed!

[@edgryff]

Thanks man - insightful!

[@electrolytics]

This is what I've wanted to see on this channel. Jamming. Thank you.

[@miguele.antonetti9999]

Indeed! 👊🏼

[@stefanfyhn4668]

They aren't even jamming

[@BassClefCity]

Great subject! Wish this type of free education was available when I was starting out. Bass is the strongest wave in most indoor environments. This is where wireless is helpful - walk around and listen to the mix - typically there is more bass happening than what you hear on stage. The other cool thing to notice - this drummer is playing with good attack, great groove, and not over smashing his drums, enabling the music to find its tone. Great stuff! Keep it coming.

[@user-gj8uq8kq1e]

Es ist viel mehr eine Sache der Toneinstellung/Mischen ALLER Instrumenten in der Band. Das heißt, kein anderes Instrument (Gitarre, Klavier, Drums, etc.) darf in den Bassfrequenzen (~30-200Hz, besser noch höher) spielen, ansonsten kann man keine Bassgitarre mehr raus hören, egal wie laut diese spielt. Hier höre ich über das Close mic Sennheiser e902, dass 1. Die Gitarre auf zu viele "Bässe und Low Mids" eingestellt ist. 2. Die Bassdrum darf kein Ton erzeugen (ist ja auch keine Pauke), sondern nur Druck. Hier höre ich ein A heraus in der Bassdrum, da kommt Freude auf, wenn die Band/der Bass in E7 spielt, die ganze "Mischung" bricht zusammen, es wird mulmig. Das hilft wiederum nicht einer Bassgitarre. Fazit: Überall, bei allen Instrumenten die Bässe runter, der einzige, der mit Bässen "spielen" muss und soll, ist der Bassist. Nur meine Meinung.

[@ronviejo4994]

NEVER turn down the bass!! NEVER!!

[@dmitryaslamov9719]

Need more of videos about adjusting bass sound, volume in comparison with the guitar, drums, vocals or keyboard! it is the most important thing when you play in front of people.

[@ImYourOverlord]

Everyone should balance volume against the drum volume.

[@trublgrl]

One thing I tell bassists on a stage, is just step away from the amp/cabinet. Move closer to center stage and you will get a better sense of how you sit in the mix. The cabinet is designed to project, you're not hearing it right when you are standing right in front of it.

[@billsmith2212]

Generally if the cabinets are in the corner or on the outer ends of the lineup , the low end bass increases . Move to the middle for less bass . All rooms are different based on many physical characteristics . The sound person mixing is not hearing what you hear 3 feet in front of the amp . Most low end is in the back of the room and the highs are less .

[@bobgreen8142]

It helps if you have a wireless setup, you can jump off stage and see how you sound in the mix from the audience perspective.

[@georgecovetskie6717]

Thanks for posting this topic. It's a surprisingly common issue with Bassists. I been playing bass since 1975. Learned a ton of things about Bass along the way but the one thing that seldom gets discussed is You Tone For The Audience. I also did Sound for years and started to notice the Bassist himself, is the hardest to please. They seem to be set in their ways and expect the sound guy to just give them what they got. I would work with them and most of them finaly get it when playing in a room that they are Not Standing In. They are right in front of their rig. In short, the guys that finaly get it, are the ones that cleaned up their tones and had a happier show because of it. I have to admit, I beeing a Bassist learned this doing the sound myself. Thanks for posting this. I sure makes a difference when you pay attention to everything around you. 🙂

[@6minus3minus2]

Great demonstration and example! So many gigging bassists recommend high-pass filter for this reason. If you cut the ultra low bass, which a high-pass filter can do, you end up with a clearer tone that cuts through. You'll probably also annoy your neighbors less.

[@maxvockner]

Having a long cable or a wireless setup can really help move around to hear your own sound on stage / room etc.. standing away from your bass cab can also help head your self better as the low frequency’s have time to develop. Played lots of shows where I was too loud but could not hear my self because I was standing right next to bass cab. Also under standing that an empty sound check is much brighter than that same room full of people. Love sound is very tricky and can one of most difficult and most important parts of playing out.

[@ImYourOverlord]

It's important to know what tone stack one's amp has in the EQ section, because "noon" on the knob isn't always halfway up or "flat," yet flat EQ is the best starting point for the amp in the low/bass, mid, and high/treble settings. An example of this is an amp on which flat EQ is 0 bass, 10 mid, and 0 treble. It's not intuitive, but we can either just use our ears, or learn which tone stack we're dealing with, and use that knowledge to help guide us in dialing in our sound. Get a good flat setting, with slight adjustment for the room, then customize tone on the instrument, changing as needed.

[@ElveyGooch]

Yes, Fenders have a very scooped response, for example.

[@barrydouglas6276]

I applaud what many others have contributed. What does not seem common on this thread is subtractive equalization. I have found it useful to consider positions prior to noon to achieve a balanced sound. Also if you don't have stage monitors (or the luxury of a personalized mix) ensure that every member is within the direct scope of each instrument's output. Please read this comment twice - the lessons were lost on me too often and too long.

[@MichaelSheaAudio]

The crazy part is that on my monitors, I don't really hear any difference when jumping back and forth in the video. Perhaps it was actually different in the room, but it's pretty much the same in the recording. I can hear the extra mids on the slapping section, but once the rest of the band comes in it still sounds similar. I guess it depends on what you're going for. I'm a Geddy Lee kinda guy so I like a lot of mids and some distortion to make the bass really stand out.

[@mycofairbanks3321]

Hear Hear. Same here.

[@r.rajabally1865]

Indeed... for me the sound was beautiful on both scenarios.

[@jimwilson7528]

WOW! You can truly hear the differences. These vids are super informative and really fun to hear y'all jam.

[@deanmentjes7774]

Awesome video, thanks Julia! For me, what works best is playing a good bass guitar, keeping everything about at noon to start, and just bumping the bass and high on my pre-amp slightly (bass +10%, treble +20%). Very similar to Julia's approach. Sits well in the mix and gets compliments in clubs.

[@firemarshal2629]

One trick I use is setting the low mids a little higher than the bass eq. Dial in just enough bass that you can feel it then use the mids to fill it in. Most sound guys just turn up the bass until the stage starts rumbling which doesn’t necessarily mean you will be heard in a mix. So by keeping the bass eq a little lower the sound guy will have to turn you up a little more to get that “big bass” sound. And with your mids a little higher you can be assured the audience will hear you as well as feel you.

[@r.rajabally1865]

Such a glorious-looking bass! Amazing feel & finish (judging with the eyes).

[@javiermatres3183]

I am never happy with the sound of my bass. I can't configure it to my liking, it's a big battle but I will follow your advice. Thank you Julia!!!!

[@bobgreen8142]

I use a Rumble amp, Mustang bass and roundwound strings. For my own sound I find that keeping close to flat on all 4 eq controls works for me, maybe backing off on the bottom end at higher volumes, depending on the room. Also sometimes back off the tone control on the Mustang by about 25-30%, again depending on the room. Also, where you play can make a big difference - up closer to the bridge will tighten up the sound, whereas further away from the bridge makes the sound deeper but slightly less focused. I play with my fingers, but I think the same would apply playing with a pick. I can't comment about slapping and/or tapping since I don't do it. I was taught many years ago something which may sound counter-intuitive, which is if you want more top end, don't increase the treble, instead reduce the bottom end. Likewise if you want a bit more bottom end you can try cutting the treble a little.

[@Rob_Dekker]

Funkyyyyyyy! Love this channel. Especially the timing of these Friday videos is excellent. I just finished work and now I'm starting the weekend with you guys. Thanks!

[@jimpaull731]

Well Julia, I bought my first bass (on Amazon) we'll see how this goes. You make it so cool! I'm a realist so I don't expect much; wish me luck!

[@simonroy-x7q]

sweepable mid freq on the amp is the key for me. bass and treble flat, and a bump in the mids around 250hz helps the bass guitar to be heard

[@unclemick-synths]

The bass is affected by the room more than any other instrument. I don't gig these days but when I did I would adjust the low end to the room. Especially important for reverberant or echoey rooms. It wasn't always the perfect bass sound but the room always wins if you fight it.

[@petougao]

Nice! The room always wins.

[@r.rajabally1865]

I can relate to that.

[@kevinturvey8213]

genius advice! world of difference between what sounds good at home and on stage, which i only recently found out myself (P bass). you really need a stage sound that's a good deal more aggressive/mid range boosted than you'd think...

[@elrafa782]

Can’t understand at all, cause I got no friends and play alone 😂 But I CANNOT miss a vid with Julia ❤

[@r.rajabally1865]

Right? Just seeing her makes me happy, not to mention the great quality content.

[@ElveyGooch]

Thanks Julia. I tried your tips out in a jam session with about 10 other instruments. (I'm the only bass.) I was able to dial in a decent sound that wasn't too boomy or too thin. Elvey.

[@Barry101er]

Nice to see how tall you all are, in relation to each other

[@ToneCaster-1]

Very good topic! Thanks for adressing this! I also find it important not to stand to close to the Speakers. You will usually hear the bass much better when standing around 2m away from the speakers (depending on the room).

[@MrDaneBrammage]

True. Also I have almost never been on a stage big enough to get 2m away from the speakers.

[@gary999t]

I have the same bass, and do exactly that with the pick-ups. I usually end up almost fully on the MM pickup, and just tweak it slightly towards the P pickup to add some thump. Amp EQ always all at noon, very rarely need to adjust. I also use some light compression, and bring in OD or fuzz if the song needs it.

[@TechnoBoomer]

Thanks Julia. You're the best ! François

[@explorer8454]

This is a great video, Julia! Very informative. Thank you!

[@willowmusic5]

You all make a great band! Thanks for continuing this subject with the bass. It is my main instrument these days. So I will pay more attention to my tone while playing live.

[@Covinaman-00]

To my ears, her bass tone and volume mix sounded really good throughout.

[@richsackett3423]

Excellent point. Those tones do different jobs. I rarely do the latter type of playing.

[@jonathanchevallier7046]

Thank you for this good advices. I leanrn to like setting up my amp at noon too. I like the sound of my passive PB like that.

[@trianglerecords]

On a passive bass you can only remove frequencies so on active instruments you just have to put all at twelve to manage from the bass. After years of questing the sound (I am a Peter Hook and JJ Burnel fan) I found my settings : bass 0, mid +3 and high -2 (Passive bass)

[@doctorquestian]

What you got going is an equalization (?) problem. (actually, I think most bands would kill to sound as good as you guys did on the first run there) Try running pink noise through all the amplifiers inputs to find the zero mark. Put the microphone that's doing the calibration out where the listener is, hooked up to a real-time analyzer. And then set all your amplifiers-instruments accordingly. You don't want to get an undefined wall of sound and you want to keep a sound stage three dimensional with sources being right, left, front, and rear. And, we gotta do more unnecessary zooms, with the camera to Julie's face, because she is such a sweet babe and she's got it going on! I could so much fall in love with her! Number one fan boy here.

[@olymoon2008]

Thank you Julia, this will surely help a lot of newbies. Low mids, is where the bass should find it's definition. But for that you need good pickups. I also play a Sandberg, and really, they are fantastic for this.

[@hazardeur]

do it for metal please. way more challenging in a metal bandroom setting to get a good sound

[@andrewpinner3181]

Thanks Julia, thanks guys, a cool funky jam !

[@helldeirch]

I actually like the "you can feel but you can't hear the notes" sound

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Very important video for some young bucks who aren’t aware of this yet, this is why I prefer a stingray that humbucker is always ready to bark, I rarely go past 6:00 on bass and usually go 9:00 on mids and like 11:00 on treble, in my room I can have any tone I want lol but love scooping them mids your lost unless your cranked like flea which can work just keep that bass pulled back

[@degeneralist3.088]

two easy things when mixing a bassguitar in the foh mix; put a highpass filter on the bassguitar (>90/110hz). If that doesnt work; put a sidechain on the bass channel; steered from the kickdrum channel.

[@charlescdt6509]

Lady J drops a video, Its going to be a good day. I still want an autograph.

[@lucasuperpuffs]

Right, noon is a great starting point but sometimes the thing that needs changing is not the EQ or the set up, is a band element, like the guitar player who always plays too loud

[@TLofHTown]

Good video that is equally valuable (if not more) for soundmen. I played a gig last month where I was not allowed an amp (or my SansAmp Bass Driver pedal), and so my bass guitar (Brubaker jazz style bass) was plugged directly into the board. The sound was not good - too much boomy low end and no definition other than the very clicky-clacky high end that a bass speaker normally attentuates. As soon as the drums came in, the bass guitar was buried completely in the mix. That can work for a dance-pop or reggae band but it does not work for any other kind of music (I was playing 90s rock).

[@jomamma1750]

Very accurate call. On a P-bass(or deluxe P like what you have here) setup you need lots of mids or something is just missing. With a J-bass you're usually better off scooping the mids out. Humbucker setups vary but seem to me to eq better with a fair bit of mids too, 'tho perhaps a bit less than a P-bass. Nice vid! Cool groove too, Julia, you're starting to come into your own a little bit. Nice to see. Peace.

[@Rick-pi9zn]

would say the opposite: turn down bass and mids for a p, and definitely add mids to a jazz. MM you can cut some mids usually

[@jomamma1750]

@Rick-pi9zn Your ears don't work properly, I suggest you repair them... P.S. There are a LOT more combos with humbuckers than just MM's. Check out Heavy Metal once.... That's what I meant when I said those setups VARY ie. are Variable as in different depending on setup - single or dual Humbuckers and pickup mounting position.

[@audibletapehiss3764]

So many venues where it doesn't matter what you do with your amp, because the entire stage is swimming in so much low end from the subs. I've had decent results in that situation by high passing *before* my DI goes to those clowns. I can't do anything about the kick drum, but at least I can keep my own sound from being hot garbage. IEMs are sometimes an actual necessity, even though I don't like them.

[@trevormason]

Excellent content! Interesting & helpful.

[@charlesrutledge647]

Nice Advice and Nice Bass

[@modernmusicstudio303]

This was really helpful, great video!

[@jackv2244]

You guys sound awesome, the close one I can hear you clearly

[@ruskasielu6261]

We really need the same kind of video but for metal. It's so insanely hard to get a good live sound with this kind of music, so any help would be welcome.

[@scottbubb2946]

If you're gonna ask somebody how it sounds, try to find someone who knows something about music, if possible. They don't have to be a musician, but it's good if they can, at least, tell which part is which. Even more important is to ask someone who isn't just going to say it sounds great, either to be nice, or because they don't know what sounds bad. Try to ask someone who is gonna be honest with you.

[@matzer8846]

Well ... i have to admit me spent over 30 years on bass solely ... mostly butchering in opposite to Julia. Julia is such a great "feel" bass player" and i love to hear her bass. Drums and guitar are just like a backing track to me in this video ... sorry Chris I like Chris a lot when its about Teles, but THIS is about bass Oh yeah ... Chis can play ... me is butchering on guitar too

[@pleasantlindsey33]

Nice Sandberg bass!

[@brunobarcone8345]

Buona sera Julia! ❤❤❤ (Un saluto a tutti, e buon w.e. a voi 😊)

[@N0B0DY_SP3C14L]

So a big piece of advice: If you can, when playing a gig, KEEP YOUR STAGE VOLUME AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. Send a dry direct signal to the house, pre-EQ, and always talk with the front of house engineer, as well as the monitor engineer so that you can get a sound out of your monitors that will satisfy and inspire your best performance, as well as building your confidence in the FOH to give you the sound in the mix that you feel is representative of your contribution to the music. Your amp rig should be as quiet as possible, and be close mic'd. If you have in-ears, trying looking into a Bass Board from Eich amplification. VERY useful. Why? Because the LAST thing you want to do is interfere with the sound coming out of the mains, but being able to feel your low end permeate your body through your feet is more inspirational. Gotta try it yourself to believe it.

[@NikolaiUA]

Reading through the comments I now understand why Flea's isolated lines sound like played on a clothes line with some added highs

[@jeanpariche8374]

Would it be silly to say that the amp EQ is for the room and the bass knobs for the playing ?

[@jerpratt]

I tend to lose the highs in the mix when playing my bass. Would using a compressor help with that?

[@michaelanthony9068]

Common problem. Thank you !

[@andyhightides]

Great! Now do it again with a SVT.

[@francescodefendi3201]

Some RHCP vibes in this groove...I liked it: couldn't stop my head and my neck... "doing the lip"! 🤟🏼🤟🏼🤟🏼🖖🏼😊😊👍🏼👋🏻

[@Thurgor_Supreme]

I like to break it into 4 mids, but Bass is always too warbly/boomy to me and Treble is just noise IMO. 120-130 Hz: sounds like a stale low end, but helps you and the drummer to not step on each other 400-600Hz: ugly in the bedroom, but blasts through in a live mix 750-900 Hz - raw and metal-ish. puts an edge to your tone 1200-1500 Hz: adds "air" and provides balance

[@mauricemusician7636]

Our basses are nearly identical! I just put a Musicman pickup in my P-bass.

[@johnwallace7694]

I also put a active musican , I have. A p" special" . And the boards crap out 😭, ,So far so good , it's more. Punchy.

[@Testing-123]

I always adjust my bass to the room... and the settings may not be the same a month later in the same room.

[@AndersRomin]

Awesome topic! Can you do one for us keyboard players too?

[@andylee6228]

Julia is playing American Deluxe P-bass copy (humbucker at bridge, although split pickup is reversed). Who makes this, and does anyone else make American Deluxe P-bass copies.

[@ileutur6863]

Its not a copy, its a Sandberg California which is leagues above anything Fender makes in terms of material and build quality

[@acprado67]

Another GREAT problem is the fact that some bands has members wich have NO IDEA about dinamics! If you play with the pros you will probably have much more facility for listen your bass too

[@michaelmaas6460]

Good topic!

[@ThaiThom]

The "bad" really wasn't bad at all at least on the recording.

[@stallionblacklord]

Not for me I have two Fender Valve State Heads 100 Watts RMS one left and the other right side of drums set, over 4x10 cabinets, some heads roll!!!

[@davidsoto1706]

What bass is Julia playing?

[@damasterkarej]

I have an Eden Terra Nova 2252 and I can't get it sound nice. I used to have EBS Classic Session 120, that was an amazing amp. I will try again with eq. What's your preferred cab config? Do you find some more fit your style or that doesn't make any difference?

[@anonymousradioshow]

I usually just set the volume to 8 and control from my bass volume controls. Plus 8 x 10" cabs can correct anything. FORGET FOH !!!

[@rusbomber]

Do I wanna hear any give instrument, be it guitar or bass? Well? maybe...Or just a song?

[@SausageFingers-qc4mk]

I loved the first sound! But then I was listening in my bedroom so ..

[@dwightmccartney2576]

Are you running compression?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Nope, no compression, just the bass going straight into the amp.

[@raykewin3608]

Good Vid.

[@diegoestevez4287]

It actually sounded better when it was supposed to be "bad", lol! . That shows that it is just a matter of taste.

[@johnridley1656]

You ought to sort out the positions first, get the sounds all coming from one direction, I'm hardly surprised it all sounds messy

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

Kann ich nur bestätigen, genau so hat's ausgesehn 😂

[@RonnyBGoode]

Wie riefen wir in den 90ern immer: 'LAUTER!' 'SCHNELLER!' 'MEHR BASS!'

[@ChrisJohnsonChannel]

“Where’s the F ing Bass?” Said Jason Newsted

[@Bluestomiv]

How to hear the bass in your band: Crank the Mids

[@erikr968]

Too much bass frequencies will kill any mix, especially in a live setting. It's fascinating how many pro sound engineers fail to understand this, even at the top levels.

[@wtcornet]

A tone deaf house mixer can ruin a bassist's live sound too. Sometimes the bassist needs to send them a signal that the mixer can't screw up.

[@erockscott1184]

I heard no bass on my phone

[@glennfelise2755]

Ya need to play more bass than 3 notes...and more intricate ..and dig in more and if u can't hear your bass with 3 notes and a beginer funk grove .u need a new bass and amp..it's kinda like take the word bass out and put tomtoms ..and play a ac/DC grove INSTED of a gadd or Neil peart fills/grove

[@joacimwennerberg8310]

😍

[@cskeise]

💙👊😎💙👊😎💙👊😎

[@richsackett3423]

You're doing one critical thing correctly which you don't mention. Get the speaker off the ground. Scout around the bar for a suitable chair when you are setting up. The higher the better.

[@artrogers3985]

Julia please. Why the pineapple 🍍

[@veejay-Vee_Jay]

the guitar and the drums are too loud at the end. In this way Julia plays for herself near the amp

[@fromaggio7654]

Boost 1k with a narrow band

[@lexzbuddy]

The drums dominate everything. Nothing else was focussed.

[@nycshelbygt500]

#JuliaHofer rocking 108dBs HaHa #What? The #Bassonator

[@EricT43]

EQ is responsible for millions of bass players screwing up their tone. Set it flat and most problems go away.