Anybody else hate tweeters/horns

skunky36 · #1 08-08-2011, 04:03 AM

What's up with tweeters? I've owned cabs with a tweeter in them since the mid-90's I turned them down ever since. I listened to recordings of local bands, mostly they're playing jazz fusiony bass styling, the bass sounds like garbage and these bassists have spent more on their rigs than I've spent on my car and my boat "well it is a 14 foot John" but still. They crank up these tweeters and decide to pop some notes and you can hear this tin-twang in the background and the mid is scooped out, so it's this sub bass that sounds more like a keyboard. I see this crap live all the time. Somebody plays some $4000 7 string through a $6000 rig tweeter blasting. One of the guys asked me how his new rig sounded and I told him some good things but I also told him "I hate tweeters, and I love low-mid which you don't have much of" He replied "that's a 4000 dollar bass" it emphasizes the total sound spectrum" I told him yeah, but you're a BASS player so why do you need to do that. He got all made and huffy at me. Anybody else feel this way?

Marty Forrer · #2 08-08-2011, 04:07 AM

Yep, I'm with ya.

4-string · #3 08-08-2011, 04:14 AM

I love tweeters, and wouldn't own a cab without one.

Contrary to what many people seem to think, tweeters don't produce anything...neither hiss or clack or string noise...

And you can have all the mids in the world even if you use a tweeter.

aus_bass · #4 08-08-2011, 04:27 AM

Count me in ! I hate tweeters BIG TIME. I always disconnect or disable them, if I have one.

Eugene Festus · #5 08-08-2011, 04:28 AM

I agree with Mr. 4-String.

Btw, I play a seven string and I love the low mid sound you're talking about.

callingltu · #6 08-08-2011, 04:42 AM

Why do you have to sound like bass guitar if you play one? What about synth effects, etc. I hate tweeterless 15" cabs. Sounds so dull.

alec · #7 08-08-2011, 04:52 AM

I like my tweeter. It adds depth to the sound. Maybe my cab was designed with it in mind.

Essen · #8 08-08-2011, 04:54 AM

I hate piezo tweeters, but I don't mind cab with neo/ceramic tweeters, as long as I have the option of turning them off when I need to.
I like tweeters for some styles, but throughout a set I'll play fingerstyle, with a pick, slapping, and at the same time turning on/off overdrive for certain parts. While it works for slapping and fingerstyle for the most part, It sounds terrible with overdrive. So I just leave it off to get a decent all-round sound.

darylchan · #9 08-08-2011, 04:54 AM

my tweeter's on max. zing FTW

BagelBruin · #10 08-08-2011, 06:43 AM

When operating on one 410 cab, I leave my tweeter close to off. However when I use two 410 cabs, I turn the tweeter on the upper cab to 50%, while leaving the bottom one slightly on.

I noticed the same thing about overdrive too, Essen!

BTW, I use Avatar 410 Neo cabs.

staindbass · #11 08-08-2011, 07:23 AM

the tweeters in todays rigs are of horrible sound quality. thats probably why you dont like them. i have seen home stereo speakers with better tweeters. most are fostex? they all stink lol. something like a jbl 077 has much better fidelity. those are about 200$, the fostex are probably 35$. no wonder. but if you dont like treble, you wouldent like any of them.

AwkwardLoudness · #12 08-08-2011, 07:40 AM

The far majority of tweeters suck horribly even in some expensive cabs. However, there are some good ones out there. I liked the tweeters in my Genz Benz XB2 6x10 cab, Low down Sound 15/6/1, and my pair of Avatar TB153 cabs. Of course, you never want to have the tweeter on with a distorted signal....that can damage them. Cleans only. All tweeters will sound terrible with overdrive; they are NOT meant for overdrive / distortion.

The Mouse · #13 08-08-2011, 07:47 AM

It's not that I hate 'em. I've just never had a cab with a decent one..

I have been using Hartke and SWR cabs..

bjabass · #14 08-08-2011, 07:53 AM

tweets reproduce the sounds I make that I like the LEAST....finger, fret and string noise. If I could stop making those noises maybe I would like tweeters.....but I can't so I don't.

VisualShock · #15 08-08-2011, 08:11 AM

I only realised a few days ago that the tweeter in my 2x10 has blown. Not sure how, or even when it went, but I've not had any problems with my sound, so it doesn't bother me, and I'm not going to replace it.

jimmydean · #16 08-08-2011, 08:19 AM

Tweeters are okay ,it's the users. Set the level at half ,anymore and your just asking for distortion and surprise ,a blown tweeter. I can't tell you how many blown treeters I've heard at music stores. It's gotton to a point where some stores are posting signs or having the staff ask patrons not to turn them up. Like most things,only good in moderation,just a thought kiddies!

runmikeyrun · #17 08-08-2011, 09:20 AM

I play with distortion so a tweeter is DEFINITELY not what I want in a cab.

dhomer · #18 08-08-2011, 09:48 AM

Midrange, yes, tweeter (by itself), no.. Im most applications theres too much of a response gap in the midrange. There is some merit in a 3-way cab, but a lot of guys find the highs sufficient w/a good mid..

billfitzmaurice · #19 08-08-2011, 11:32 AM

So buy a cab with no tweeter. If you don't like someone else's tone just don't go see his band again. Much ado about nothing.

DWBass · #20 08-08-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

So buy a cab with no tweeter. If you don't like someone else's tone just don't go see his band again. Much ado about nothing.

+1

To answer your question? No! I like tweeters in my cabs!