Carvin BX1200 + T40 = boomy

[crikker]

I'm all messed up here. I have the above setup and I can't find a setting to sound good to my ear. What I'm searching for is more of a thump sound. Does anyone have a good setup? I've found posts here that say to start with a flat setup. What are the setting for that? I'm trying to stay away from the boomy trebbly sound.

[paganjack]

flat setup usually means all the EQ knobs are at 12 o clock. Start with that.

[jeff7bass]

What's a T40?

[rpsands]

It's a Peavey bass.

Please post a couple examples of tone you want.

Also please include what cabinet you are using. Bass cabs are a common source of boom

[Gearhead17]

Don't touch the EQ - switch it off for right now. Turn the Compression and Contour knobs all the way to the left - that will be the falt position for them. Turn the gain knob up to at least 5 and let us know how that sounds. The head is VERY versatile in the clean tone department - try those settings, then mess around with the bass.

[MNAirHead]

What are you looking to do...

Also.. is this bedroom practice or playing with a band.. totally different situation.

[crikker]

Lets see if I can answer some of these.

I like the James Jamerson sound I guess. I'm trying to shy away from that trebly sound you get when you just touch a string with your fingers. Hard to describe.

Cabinet is an Avatar B212.

Tried it like this Gearhead (if this is what you were talking about):
Graphic EQ OFF
Drive 7
Contour Flat
Bass +5
Lo Mid and Hi -12
Treb -12
Comp Off
Didn't sound bad. Got rid of that boomy A note on the G anyway.

MNAirHead-this is basement playing.

[jeff7bass]

Most of Jamerson's sound comes from his aggressive technique and high action. Very "athletic" player, like many of the old classic players. Every sound you could want is in that head but it's complex for a reason. "Cutting" certain frequencies is usually the way to find the sweet spot.

[crikker]

I give. I'm not sure if it's the bass or the amp or the cab. I can't get rid of that high treb sound. I tried dialing down the treble on the bass. No luck. I tried different settings on the head. No luck. I read some about the BX1200 on line and like Gearhead17 said, it's rated as very clean sounding. Could this be why I can't find what I'm looking for? Is it time to get rid of T-40s and pursue something else?

[crikker]

Not a fan of the type of music but I'd like to get that tone.

http://www.youtube.com/user/scoorieb.../4/oHSgEH3EIxo

[Destructobot]

Neck pickup, tone rolled off on the bass, FLATWOUND STRINGS, and adjust the amp to taste. Make sure the strings are all nickel too. You want them to get grungy and lose high end.

[crikker]

This stinks. I can't get rid of the sound that I guess you could describe as hollow. B on the A sounds real hollow. E string sounds boomy. What gives? Bass? Strings? Amp? Speaker?

[JLS]

Originally Posted by crikker

This stinks. I can't get rid of the sound that I guess you could describe as hollow. B on the A sounds real hollow. E string sounds boomy. What gives? Bass? Strings? Amp? Speaker?

Have you turned the tweeter in the B212 off?

[MNAirHead]

I'm leaning toward strings.

I've so wanted to like a t40.. just can't dial in the sound.

====

I've found Pbassish gear with tapes give the sound you're looking for... with the low end boosted and high end cut.

[39-Bassist]

Having used a Carvin BX1200 for 3yrs and using Carvin for 15yrs, I found that to utilize the head in it's full capacity, you "should" get another 212 or a 210 and run that baby dual power amped with crossover. That amp LOVES to be run that way and you can get GREAT tones. Also (not sure if anyone said anything yet) change out your pickups, the Peavey could use something with more punch and better tones. T40 basses could sound better and is part of problem for tone you want. That amp can get just about any tone you want.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by crikker

Lets see if I can answer some of these.

I like the James Jamerson sound I guess. I'm trying to shy away from that trebly sound you get when you just touch a string with your fingers. Hard to describe.

Cabinet is an Avatar B212.

Tried it like this Gearhead (if this is what you were talking about):
Graphic EQ OFF
Drive 7
Contour Flat
Bass +5
Lo Mid and Hi -12
Treb -12
Comp Off
Didn't sound bad. Got rid of that boomy A note on the G anyway.

MNAirHead-this is basement playing.

I own and use a BX1200. Lots of versatility tone-wise, if you know how to use it.

You said you have the Lo Mid and Hi set at -12 and it's still too trebly?

What are the corresponding frequencies set to (the dials under where it says Lo Mid, Mid and Hi-Mid)? THAT sets the frequency you adjust. Those are Parametric EQ dials and not just tone controls. You may be dialing OUT the very frequency want IN. The bottom dials (that say FREQ above them) allow you to set which frequency you want to dial in or out.

The Lo-Mid frequency range goes from 50Hz to 600Hz. The Mid from 200Hz to 2kHz and the Hi from 800Hz to 8kHz.

For starters, set the Lo-Mid frequency dial (FREQ) to 150Hz and then the LEVEL knob directly above it to +2, or even +3. Then set the Mid frequency dial to about 400Hz and then the LEVEL knob directly above it to -3.

Set the Hi-Mid LEVEL knob to something extremely low, like -9 and sweep the Frequency knob below it from 800Hz all the way to 8kHz and listen to what you might like to subtract from the high mids. When you set any of the LEVEL knobs to one extreme (boost) to the other (cut) and then sweep through each LEVEL knob's corresponding FREQ knob, you'll see how much control you have over the mids on this beast.

For the sound you want, you need to boost some of the upper bass/lo-mids more (like 150Hz to 200Hz) and cut back a tad on the mids and hi-mids a bit.

By the way, putting the bass at +5 is a great way to blow your speakers at higher volume and/or waste all the power of that head. after you get the MIDS dialed in try cutting back a bit on the BASS setting. You can always fine tune it after with the Graphic EQ as well.

The BX1200 can be a bit on the bright side until you figure out how to use it. But I can verify it has tons of power and will deliver enough low end to throw your speakers through the grill.

[bassgrooves2]

I have had my BX1200 for afew years now and am still amazed everytime I tweek something at how versatile this amp is. I personally have not had much luck,however with doing the crossover thing. I tried it when I first got it with a BR410 and BR118 cabs. Did not particularly like how the 410 respoded to the high end frequencies produced by the crossover, but it is somehting i may play around with again in the future. I am currently running the amp almost completely flat only cutting slightly on the treble control(about 2db) and rely on the tone controls of my Spector Euro4LXEX35 or my Zon Sonus RTK basses. I am utilizing the graphic EQ for a 4db boost across the spectrum (slightly less on the treble end) for use as a boost or when I switch basses as the preamp in the Spector is Duper Hot!! I am planning on switching both preamps for something new, likely the Aguilar obp3, but we'll see about that when the money comes.
This AMP is extremly versatile and can do almost any type of sound. I thought it was a bit harsh sounding when I first got it, but didn't really know how to tweek it to make it sound different. I was a little taken aback by the number of knobs and switches. I have had issues with getting my Tech21 VT pedal sounding acurate through this amp though. Sounds great running directly into my DAW, but sounds a bit like a chicken scratching a tin roof through the amp
Anyway, I guess this is not a very informative or helpful response, but just keep fiddling with it until you find what youre after. Also be prepared to retweek that when you change venues