Super filter and F1-X suggestions

[hammer]

Im doing some playing with bluegrass/new grass band. When I started playing with them I purchased a Rob Allen Fretless and for practices have been using a little combo amp since no one else amplifies at them. Now that we are ready to play out some where others will be miked my little combo won't be enough. So I brought my F1-X and SF-2 along with one of my main cabs to our last practice session but just couldn't get a really good tone. Tweaked the SF-2 constantly and the tone was either mush of missing so much bottom it sounded more like a guitar than a bass. Nothing like this has ever happened with any of my Alembics where it relatively easy to use the super filter to get exactly the tone I need.


Has anyone else ever used their Superfilter and f1-x with a Rob Allen or Tuner Fretless? I'd love some suggestions as to settings I should start with to get sufficient bottom but not kill the kids and highs.

[elwoodblue]

... to get sufficient bottom but not kill the kids and highs.

Always an admiral goal ! 

[gtrguy]

I have tried playing out with them but it took to much time and effort to dial in the right tone. I did an outdoor country gig earlier today with my Stingray straight into my SWR workingman 12 and the sound guy used the signal pulled off the direct out on the amp and it sounded fine. We had 15 or so minutes to set up. At times I really think less is better...

[mica]

Remember to start with the F-1X at the flattest setting of about 2-10-2 (bass-middle-treble). What are some of the settings you are using on the SF-2? are you using it after the preamp or in the effects loop? Using the bandpass mode and adjusting the Q to change the width of the band may be useful in not overpowering the highs or lows, depending on where you set your center frequencies. Make sure to keep the original sound high in the 3-way mixer if you are happy with it.

Speaking of that, does the bass acoustically give you the highs and lows you are after? Filters are subtractive, so they take unwanted things away. If your original tone is lacking in the upper frequencies, then you'll need to use a different EQ approach.

Also, what strings are you using? I cannot overemphasize the contribution of the strings to the overall sound.

[keith_h]

Have you tried just the F1-X by itself? Sometimes with the more simplistic approach it's easier to get the results you are looking for.

[hammer]

I'm using the FX-1 at the flattest setting with the SF-2 after the pre-amp. I'm using
the strings that Allen recommends to use with the bass (Labella nylon coated). The response I get is so different than with any of my Alembics with their being a definitive break point so to speak between a muddy low end and no low end at all...no sweet spot in between. Nothing like I have experienced with my little combo amp that sounds great at practices but just doesn't have the power to be used for other purposes. With the small combo amp I get a nice balance between highs and lows it's just not powerful enough. I'm therefore thinking it must be the settings I'm using. I'll try the FX-1 on its own the next time we get together to see if that makes a difference.