Band Amp Settings

freshcelery · #1 07-08-2010, 08:52 PM

Hi There,

A friend of mine had a list he found on ultimate-guitar of a bunch of bands specific Amp settings(for guitar), and I was wondering if any of you had seen a post or found a list like this for bass because I was looking into setting up my amp specifically for certain Bands I enjoy covering. My amp is an Ampeg B-2RE.

Rick Auricchio · #2 07-08-2010, 09:02 PM

It's unlikely to work for bass. There are far too many variables. You would need the exact amplifier, speakers, bass, strings, playing technique, instrument settings. Even if you matched everything, you can't remove the effect of the room on bass frequencies.

And remember that 99% of the recordings you hear have had the benefit of extensive studio equipment, something that just isn't going to be available in a live situation.

Over time, you'll find a few tones that are useful and easy to achieve, either by technique or amp settings.

freshcelery · #3 07-08-2010, 09:28 PM

Okay, thanks anyways I just started to really get into bass (been playing off and on for a few years) and have been searching for a good setting but I guess I'll just spend more time fooling around with it and find something nice

Tim C. · #4 07-08-2010, 09:34 PM

Find your own sound, man. What's good is good. Don't try to reproduce any celebrity bassist's tone - you won't anyway.

To me, good tone is an extension of good technique and good ear training. Become a good player and a good listener and good tone will follow. Good?

coreyfyfe · #5 07-08-2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshcelery

Okay, thanks anyways I just started to really get into bass (been playing off and on for a few years) and have been searching for a good setting but I guess I'll just spend more time fooling around with it and find something nice

Start with everything flat (turn your controls to noon) and then see how cutting/boosting each sounds. Just remember that how it sounds solo is not now it will sound in a mix. And how it sounds quiet in your bed/living/whatever-room isn't exactly how it will sound at a gig/rehearsal/outside/on mars.

rodl2005 · #6 07-09-2010, 01:30 AM

TOTALLY!!!! BAss is SO reliant on room acoustics/where the rig sits. one place where we gig regularly, I really cannot take my NV610- it's just TOO bassy!!!!

I take same 200w tube amp but with 2x 112's- seems to do the job well in this place.

But in other places, the 2x112's will be lost, & the NV610 absolutely KILLS it with great bass sound!

I aint saying U need 2 rigs- just gotta take into consideration the acoustics -SO MUCH!!! & sometimes the bass may sound RUBBISH up close onstage- but 5 feet away it'll be sounding fat & huge.... sometimes the other way around....

Walk around with a long lead/wireless, or get someone else to play thru yr rig at gig levels while YOU walk about the venue taking in what U hear.

badboy1984 · #7 07-09-2010, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

Start with everything flat (turn your controls to noon) and then see how cutting/boosting each sounds. Just remember that how it sounds solo is not now it will sound in a mix. And how it sounds quiet in your bed/living/whatever-room isn't exactly how it will sound at a gig/rehearsal/outside/on mars.

Took me a good time to realise it. After taking the facts and start playing with flat EQ setting and cut/boost now and again. I feel the best sound is do nothing on the EQ and let the bass and technique do all the work ........

It may sound weird but that generally works well on most places i play so far.

Rick Auricchio · #8 07-09-2010, 10:31 AM

I think it's more important for a guitar to achieve a close tone match for a song, but not as much for bass.

With my Stingray, I can get a wide range of tones simply by changing my hand position. The fingerstyle tone varies widely between bridge and neck---as it does on any bass---but on the 'ray it seems more noticeable.

At my usual four-piece gig, we cover everything from standards to Santana, Johnny Cash to John Hartford, Louis Jordan to Lou Reed. It's more important for me to play an appropriate bass part than to nail an exact tone.

A few tones tend to cover it all. I'll also mute notes to simulate a string-bass when it's appropriate to the tune.

**IvanMike** · #9 07-09-2010, 11:38 AM

+1 on guitar tone being more important than bass tone on a lot of cover songs. Sorry, but there are a few standard bass tones on 99% of recordings, not so for guitar.

Go check out the EQ thread in the FAQ sticky on the top of this forum. The important thing is for you to learn how to be able to get "the sound" in a variety of places. This involves knowing what you are looking for, adn being able to hear what is missing or is too much in any given setting. This takes education and practice.

Also, you have to listen to the amp from the audience area. I use two long cords with my tuner in between and take a walk as far out as I can. It takes a few times walking back and forth, but the effort is worth it. Be prepared for your sound on stage to not sound as good as the tone in the audience area. A fatal mistake all musicians make is setting their tone to sound right on stage - classic blunder. 99% of the time when you do that, it sounds horrible to the audience. A big part of being a mature musician is being able to live with crappy on stage tone in order for the audience to experience the best show possible.