Buttons on my Amp

[1dgbass]

Hey,

There are three buttons on my bass amp and I'm not sure what they are for. One is for passive/active pickups, ground lift, and mid scoop. What do they all mean? I have passive pickups on my bass so obviously I'll use the passive option. The bass is louder when I don't press the passive/active button. Does that mean I'm using the passive option?

Ground lift and mid scoop?

I often just choose a combination that will make get a good sound.

Can someone help? By the way, the amp is a fender rumble 100. I think it's 100 watts. I paid 400 for it.

Douglas

[R. Laevinus]

A manual might help. Try fender.com or a Google search if it didn't come with one.

...I mean, yeah, I could tell you - but this way you'll remember!

[DUC1098]

I have the Fender Rumble 150.

The mid scoop does just as it implies, it cuts the gain on the middle of the EQ settings. So you will get a "boost" in the high and low ranges, while the middle range will be lowered.

Not sure about "ground lift". Sounds like it might reduce the voltage going to the guitar?

I don't remember getting a manual, or at least I misplaced it if I did.

Destructions, who needs destructions? I prefer the "what does this button do" method of learning. Just remember not to release the "magic blue smoke", it is a bitch getting it back in.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by DUC1098

I have the Fender Rumble 150.

The mid scoop does just as it implies, it cuts the gain on the middle of the EQ settings. So you will get a "boost" in the high and low ranges, while the middle range will be lowered.

Not sure about "ground lift". Sounds like it might reduce the voltage going to the guitar?

I don't remember getting a manual, or at least I misplaced it if I did.

Destructions, who needs destructions? I prefer the "what does this button do" method of learning. Just remember not to release the "magic blue smoke", it is a bitch getting it back in.

You don't want to engage the ground lift. Please keep your amp grounded unless you have a very good reason not to.

[R. Laevinus]

...oh, fine. Here ya go:

Originally Posted by 1dgbass

The bass is louder when I don't press the passive/active button. Does that mean I'm using the passive option?

Yes. Active mode reduces volume - we call it engaging a pad - that helps to even out active and passive basses, as actives usually have hotter output signals. IIRC, the Rumble series have a -6dB pad, which means that in active mode, the signal is attenuated by 6 decibels.

Originally Posted by 1dgbass

Ground lift and mid scoop?

Ground lift doesn't actually have anything to do with the sound coming out of the speaker. It has to do with isolating - lifting - the ground connection on the Direct Inject (DI) XLR output of the amp. This can often reduce hiss and hum on the DI line... which is used to connect your amp to a mixing board or audio interface for PA support or recording, respectively. It doesn't have anything to do with the amp's grounding.

Mid scoop, like DUC says, cuts mids!

[LiquidMidnight]

The "Mid-Scoop" button should really be called the "Fall Completely Out of the Mix" button or the "Sound Awesome in the Bedroom, Sound like Crap on Stage" button.