Fdeck's HPF

[caeman]

Ahem. Product Transfer Assistance Provider. Thankyouverymuch.

[staccatogrowl]

PTAP: It's fun and games until someone gets an eye poked out. . .

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by Jim C

Thanks Ken,
Curious to hear your opinion on:
Is 12dB at 35Hz enough?
And if so, wouldn't a series 1 be pretty close to a series 3 at say 50Hz with the only difference being 24dB of filtering at 35Hz?

BTW, I'm sold on a series 3, the metal case and headroom is a deal for $50 or whatever it is. Just curious about my question as well as if it would offer much for use with an SVT head into a full range cabinet (like a Berg HT322).
TIA

Jim, I haven't been ignoring you.

But unfortunately the deep down honest answer about Series 1 & 2 (same filter in both) versus Series 3, is that I don't know. The difference between the filters is as you describe. Series 3 has the additional 12 dB/oct starting at 35 Hz.

I designed Series 1 in response to discussions about problems with upright bass amplification. I'm mainly an upright player, and my electric bass playing tends to resemble my upright playing, i.e., jazz through small amps at moderate volume. I just haven't experienced the full diversity of approaches to electric bass amplification. Everything I know, I've learned from players.

I came up with the idea for Series 3 in discussions with Mike Arnopol, who asked me if I could come up with a 24 dB/oct version. His basis of information was that some folks in the fEARful crowd were experimenting with DSP settings and were recommending that the added slope was beneficial for electric bass use.

So far, I haven't heard from any customers who feel that the extra cutoff at 35 Hz is problematic, even for 5-string bass.

My guess is that the SVT is not one of the "problem" amps with regards to low frequencies. First of all, it is "only" 300 Watts. Second, the preamp voicing is relatively flat if you don't fiddle with the rocker switches. Third, a tube amp is inherently AC coupled.

So I hope that helps a bit.

[Jim C]

Thanks Francis
I (we) appreciate the information

[MuthaFunk]

I've been trying to run lighter these days and only bringing what I need for gigs. I typically throw the HPF in with my cables and whatnot for the occasion that I need it. I've been gigging with my Eden WTX500 and Berg AE410 lately and the HPF successfully gave me a bit more volume and last night it was a savior for room boom.

I was on a rather large stage made of wood and it was booming big time during the sound check. My guitarist made note of it right away and said something... I said,"Oh, I can fix that!" Out came the HPF and volia! Like magic, it just sounded great! I got some great compliments specifically on my sound from fellow musicians in the crowd which always feels good.

I initially told myself I'd only use this on the gigs that needed it but I find myself using this HPF on just about every gig...

[caeman]

You might as well just velcro the thing to your amp and be done with it.

[Chef]

I just always use mine anymore.
At 35hz, you can't "tell it's there," and if I need it to be there, it's so easy to turn the hz knob.

[Jazzdogg]

I've started calling my HPF/Pre "Amex" because I never leave home [for a gig] without it.

[Peredur]

There is a lot of love for the HPF that this does (with good reason), but no one seems to be mentioning that anything passive just sounds so much better through one of these. It is a sweet, sweet front end.

[Chef]

I can't really speak to that.
I don't play passive basses very often.
When I do, I usually put an LR Baggs paracoustic DI in from of them to add some presence; it has a nice low end trim on it.

[Doug Parent]

It really cleans things up nicely, revealing rich midrange detail that was covered up with much lower frequencies. I get a good result (using the HPF) and then adding back 80-100 with a parametric EQ if needed. Punchier.
edit: This is pretty easy to accomplish with the Shuttlemax series

[Chef]

Huh. I'll have to give that a try sometime...

[Doug Parent]

If I was a P Bass owner, I think this device would almost be a must-have in any scenario, tighten up those big bulbous lows.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Doug Parent

If I was a P Bass owner, I think this device would almost be a must-have in any scenario, tighten up those big bulbous lows.

I actually find the P Bass low end to be above the highest setting on the FDeck hi pass. Don't feel the need for it with a P. With an active J that puts out significant signal below 50hz, with some deeply voiced cabs and/or heads without good internal hi passing or a nice low start point on a shelving bass control, it can really improve the definition in the midrange.

That being said, if you are looking for that grindy 'metal' type of P tone with very little true low end, chopping off everthing below 100hz or so can help bring that out a bit more. +1 there.

[TimWatson]

Originally Posted by Doug Parent

If I was a P Bass owner, I think this device would almost be a must-have in any scenario, tighten up those big bulbous lows.

I'll have to concur and confirm that theory, as a P-Bass player, but probably not for the reasons you say. The thickness you are talking about live well above the HPF filter, around probably 100 Hz, like Kjung says. The F-Deck does clean up the attacks on the passive P with flats, like mine. That moment when your finger pulls off the string gives a touch of very low messiness, a thud on the attack, that only us with HPF-Pres would notice. I put a series 3 out front and set it at 35 and it is clean. No sub thump on the attack, just thumpy thump. No mess. My particular P-Bass does not need extra tightening on the lows IMO as far as the actual tone goes, but to my ears the filter certainly does clean up the attack. FWIW.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by TimWatson

I'll have to concur and confirm that theory, as a P-Bass player, but probably not for the reasons you say. The thickness you are talking about live well above the HPF filter, around probably 100 Hz, like Kjung says. The F-Deck does clean up the attacks on the passive P with flats, like mine. That moment when your finger pulls off the string gives a touch of very low messiness, a thud on the attack, that only us with HPF-Pres would notice. I put a series 3 out front and set it at 35 and it is clean. No sub thump on the attack, just thumpy thump. No mess. My particular P-Bass does not need extra tightening on the lows IMO as far as the actual tone goes, but to my ears the filter certainly does clean up the attack. FWIW.

+1 IF you have an amp that is not particularly well controlled way down low, the FDeck, set to its lowest level (with the III, that hard drop-off at 35hz) can really improve everything a smidge, regardless of instrument. GREAT unit! Totally love mine with my Rob Allen (huge piezo low end) and my Audiokinesis cabs, which can actually reproduce some of that extension. Brings out the 'wood' in that instruments tone much better than the shelving bass control, which reduces too high of a frequency at its start point, and not enough sub-base in general.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by Peredur

There is a lot of love for the HPF that this does (with good reason), but no one seems to be mentioning that anything passive just sounds so much better through one of these. It is a sweet, sweet front end.

The piezo p'ups on my DB, and my P-bass, never sounded better than they do through the HPF/Pre; Compared to the Fishman Pro Platinum, the HPF/Pre is like removing a heavy, wet, blanket from my cabs. Won't speculate as to whether the difference is attributable to the super-clean pre-amp, the HPF, the high input impedance, or all of the above, but the improvement isn't subtle.

[bassfran]

You guys are killin' me- just when I thought my GAS was getting under control...

[caeman]

Today was my first day with the Series 3. I was playing into a Peavey TKO 115. I was filling in at the church and didn't take my own amp...because it weighs 70 lbs. The series 3 tamed my Gretsch and the amp stayed clean and clear, just the way I like it.

[DirtPoorRobins]

Ken, I've been using my VP5, AE112, and shuttle 9.2 on a hollow stage at church, yet I'm still getting a ton of boom on stage, according to your take on this setup, the hpf wouldn't help at all as all of those items probably don't have any really low end in them anyways right? The pbass doesn't have sub freq, neither does the ae112, and the shuttle already has a high hpf built in.