Bob1062 wrote:Have you tried a shallow mouthpiece and going "contrabass trombone," as someone once described these horns, on it?
Or asking your buddies to tone it down?
I've tried a bass bone mouthpiece .. however it's just not a tuba anymore! The 621's are small horns, but they definitely pack a punch when required. Even if I bought a new horn, it'll only be a small 4/4 - something with projection.
The problem really is that I'm having to overblow to hear myself, which is losing tone and knackering my lips really. Turning down the rest of the band is difficult as 1) they're guitarists/vocalists and 2) the drummer can only play so softly, so need to match sounds. Generally it sounds fine to the outside world, I'm just tired of never hearing myself at gigs, or overblowing to do so! Thanks for the advice thus far.
I used to own a Hartke 2115 200-watt Amp.....nice (especially if you get casters for it...it's a little heavy.
And I just sold a Ampeg BA-115 100-watt amp that sounded beautiful....even though it is one of Ampeg's intermediate amps it still has a very compact and characteristic sound....it would be more than enough for you as a monitor.
Both are combo amps...and since you are looking for something to act as a monitor I would suggest the Ampeg...it's a tiltback.
Good Luck!
AVC
Allen V. Carter Eastman 836
MW 2145
MW 45SLZ
XO Bass Bone
I play amplifed a lot... probably at least 50% of the time... especially on gigs where there is a drumset involved.
I usually use the same GK that Art Hovey mentions (which is usually an acoustic bass amp). It works well, and most of all it is quite portable. The XLR out is nice too... if I trust the soundman. I also will use a modified Peavey geetar amp too once in a while.
I am considering switching to Hartke though. I like their new line.
"When you control sound, you control meat." -Arnold Jacobs
Just an update for anyone interested .. I went in to try various amps. Without a preamp, my signal is really quite rubbish when used with an amp. Huge amounts of hiss. THe only amp that got any decent sound was the Markbass 121P. I'm unsure of whether to buy a separate preamp or go for an acoustic amp like the Markbass AC101. I assume it's less powerful, but then really if I want some huge power I could always add in another cab. The Markbass sound is amazing though - really superior to any others I tried.
Does anyone know of a reason that going for an acoustic amp would be worse than a bass amp? If anything, I think it would more accurately reflect the tuba sound (as there seem to be far more high frequencies in a tuba than a bass guitar). Any further thoughts welcomed. Check out http://www.markbass.it .. just delicious.
(Somehow I've convinced myself that I really need to spend that much on an amp. Sigh)
Bruce
