Author Topic: Using Bass Tone control - Guitar or Amp (Read 536 times)

bsee · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2011, 02:30:20 PM »

The only time I have ever used an RTA is in setting up a sound system. When you have a four way or five way setup, an RTA and a 31 band EQ goes a long way toward balancing a system that puts out what goes in with no peaks or holes around crossover points. That's a concern for a home stereo or a large venue PA system, but I don't see it as pertinent to recording or a bass amp.

sonicus · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2011, 04:23:31 PM »

An RTA is very useful in a recording studio to tune the room. Standing waves and the such can be kept to a minimum through an assortment of methods . An RTA is also useful in analog to digital restoration , etc ... ...

bigredbass · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2011, 11:42:27 PM »

It's an endless crapshoot when it comes to bass tone.

First, there's the lucky guys who have one setting, it sounds great wherever they play, no problem. They are lucky beyond words.

Me, I hear everything. I've been around this block so many times the city made me pull over so they could re-pave and re-stripe the street.

First, my ears are different every day. So it never sounds the same.

Then, the settings I finally hammered into place today WILL sound like hell tomorrow.

These strings went dead since yesterday???

When I gigged, every room sounded different. The band sounded different. I sounded different. So I chased it and chased it. Where's the Tylenol?

I tried really high-tech rigs. They sounded high tech, but thin.

I tried old school stuff. They sounded lumpy.

I worked with a PA company. We'd shoot the room with the RTA to get a baseline, and it was horrible. Flat, beautiful on the scope, and as unmusical as could be. Could NOT imagine the horror show of shooting an SVT or SWR cab.

The only thing I never did, as I just never worked up the courage, was to try an old subtraction-only EQ from the old days.

But, I've never tried a SuperFilter, who knows?

All I can tell you is EQ would get away from me fast, and generally the less I used the better.

But obviously, what the hell do I know. I'm getting ANOTHER headache thinking about it.

J o e y

terryc · « **Reply #18 on:** February 04, 2011, 02:05:54 AM »

Maybe we are all just too damn fussy, I mean, you never hear a keyboard player searching for the elusive tone 'cos he has so many to choose from(synth players of course)
I know one guy and it doesn't matter if he plays a Gibson or Fender or some cheap crappy catalogue guitar..he still sounds like BB King for gods sake..can anyone explain that??

sonicus · « **Reply #19 on:** February 04, 2011, 06:26:48 AM »

Did Jaco say , it's in my hands ?

bassman4 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2011, 06:53:37 PM »

I gotten some of the highest compliments from folks whose ear I respect...on days when I felt that I was playin' like crap...go figure...

Start flat, and then adjust...and then try your best to work back towards flat...as long as it sounds warm...

Glynn · « **Reply #21 on:** February 11, 2011, 10:12:59 AM »

I started the thread - thanks for all the comments. I found that adjusting the amp for tone and leaving the bass guitar flat works best - giving plenty of scope for adjustment on the guitar whilst playing. After all these years(45) of playing, I often question the way I do things so it is very good to share. Much appreciated.

David Houck · « **Reply #22 on:** February 22, 2011, 06:45:38 PM »

Joey wrote:
First, my ears are different every day. So it never sounds the same. Then, the settings I finally hammered into place today WILL sound like hell tomorrow.

That's me every day practicing. My ears do indeed seem different every day; and it never does sound the same. So I'll tweak for a while til I'm really enjoying the tone; and then I turn the rig on the next day, and have to start all over again. (Well maybe it's not as bad as I make it out to be; but it does seem to be an everyday occurrence.)

Glynn · « **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2011, 01:14:06 AM »

I had a repair done on one of my amps last week and the bass playing chap who repaired it (a top man at the well respected manufacturer) said the volume should be high on the bass guitar as should the bass tone control before anything hits the amp. This is the opposite of what I had decided February 11 !! So the last post is quite right in that things (especially opinions) change from day to day - I guess it keeps us thinking (if not quite sane!)

sonicus · « **Reply #24 on:** February 23, 2011, 01:25:15 AM »

That is correct , this was only that chaps personal opinion . Did he ask you if you played an active or passive bass? The problem that I see with having the volume all the way up on the bass is that it limits your adjustment from the instrument and you will be running back to your amp again should you need more volume . I like 3/4 total volume on the instrument with room for 1/4 more. Here we go again _ MY opinion _ LOL ___

(Message edited by sonicus on February 23, 2011)

Glynn · « **Reply #25 on:** February 23, 2011, 02:14:45 AM »

Yes - he asked and I said active. I like your 3/4 idea.

5sicks · « **Reply #26 on:** March 02, 2011, 07:31:59 AM »

If it sounds good, it is good--Famous man

rjmsteel · « **Reply #27 on:** March 02, 2011, 08:08:46 PM »

Run my Elan electronics all the way open. Filter to 6K and Q switch off.

Thats when the SuperFilter kicks in.
All the tonal adjustments are there and I can SEE where my settings are going in any room.
I just leave the settings on my amp head alone and tweak my tone from the Superfilter.

I surely must admit I agree with Joey and Dave on the daily- never sounds the same, or as dialed in like it was the day before phenomenon but with the SF it appears to make it easier to dial in that room/on that day and have a general starting point from settings I know I can work from and pretty quickly have a working tone in most any room.

Last weekend we did a local cable shoot in one of their studios and my rig was literally backed into the corner - along with heavy drapery and setup off to the side of and slightly behind the drum kit.

The low end was...well...thunderous: tweaked the low-pass side (channel A of the SF) to about 500hz with the Q to around three and quickly was able to cut through. Leaving the Hi-pass, (channel B run in series from channel A), side settings alone.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #28 on:** March 03, 2011, 03:56:11 AM »

5sicks quoted:

If it sounds good, it is good

But you have to keep in mind that something can sound good against a particular room acoustics, as cuting off some lows and turning up some highs in a dark sounding room. But this doesn't means it will record good or will still sound good in an other acoustic enviroment.

That's why Sonicus and me where chating about RTAs and some ways to recognize and learn on how a specific Cabinet, Amp and Room may sounds like (and interact each other).

Glynn · « **Reply #29 on:** March 10, 2011, 04:50:33 PM »

Guess what? - just decided to go back to what I have been doing..... decent settings on amp with sensible boost on bass guitar but allowing headroom for adjustment. Basically, using these old, old ears and using the knobs to turn for the sound on the night. No point having controls if you don't use them. Very useful comments from everyone. I would summarise that one well-meant settings plan won't work every night and there is no shame in tweaking (as long as it doesn't get in the way of playing). Glynn