Let's welcome the low watt guitar amp movement!

[Psycho Bass Guy]

The pastor is the lead guitar player and the first one I've EVER encountered who doesn't overplay ANYTHING. He's got a respectable effects setup with pedals into a newer Fender 1600 amp and can play great- and he's been playing his Black Epi LP, so we match. He's a bit older than I am, not by much, just enough that our tastes in music are different. He's more into 70's- 80's AOR and classic rock, and I'm from the pissed off school of music informed by Motown and never forgetting that I'm smack dab in the middle of the East Tennessee mountains.

After practice today, we started jamming on old Van Halen tunes. I stand with him and the drummer on one side of the stage and the praise and choir leader stand on the other with (plugged into the PA) acoustic guitars and the piano. My bass fills the room and provides the glue for the drums and guitars and is never more than a single click (Trace used stepped pots) on the input gain or master volume away from being perfect and still is very touch sensitive. (Of course my "touch" is just a smidge heavy to start with.) I'm not in the PA, but when I went direct before I brought in my amp, it wasn't awful, but I don't want to mess up their monitor mix, which works right now. Did I mention that I LOVE the drummer? First cymbals I've never needed earplugs to be around!

It's funny; I've played hundreds of shows with never a tingle, but playing in church makes me nervous like nobody's business. I've already pissed off God enough as it is!

[gweimer]

Playing in church is very different.  Your audience is, hopefully, not drunk, and they are paying attention.

One of the first times I rehearsed with my church band, the other bass player was running old Alice Cooper songs.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

All my bands have followed the Black Sabbath mantra: if the audience is too drunk to appreciate what you're playing, play at a volume that will force them into submission. I've played in church before, but it was a VERY rural, backwoods church where you were only allowed to play country chords...and time was just a magazine.

[SKATE RAT]

that won't work for what i do. plus i love the "intimidation" factor. i want the other bands to be scared silly.

[Highlander]

... and time was just a magazine.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I'm glad somebody else got that.

[Bargeon]

A propos of the topic

Ya'll'd probably enjoy "17 Watts: the first 20 years of British rock guitar" by Brit session man and bass player Mo Foster.


http://www.amazon.com/17-Watts-British-Musicians-Stories/dp/186074267X

The title comes from the shock and awe inspired by a 17 watt amp someone bought in the early 60s and no one could imagine needing that much power.  The book is a riot to read. Foster is full of stories about the early days  and he's just having fun telling them. He's not out to dish dirt.

Track it down if you can. Your library can probably get a copy for you.

[drummer5359]

This is the clip that I meant to link to before.