Frequency controls-Is it just me?

[no-logic]

Or does anybody else feel that they are confusing. I mean....give me the normal tone controls and that's it. I used to have a AMP BH420 and it had way too many controls. Now it seems like everyone has these on their amps. Don't get me wrong. I know what they do but are they really necessary?

[M0ses]

You mean like a parametric EQ? It's not a bad thing, but I definitely wouldn't say that I rely on it, or use it to it's maximum potential. It's tricky to use, with so many choices. It is nice to have a simpler setup, I think it's a matter of opinion. Some people have a very exact idea of their sound, and spend a lot of time twisting knobs, other people plug a bass into their two-band SUNN and leave it flat.

[SurferJoe46]

Freq controls in, like - Notch control?

The EQs are pretty much just attenuating or boosting whatever freq is in their own design, but I feel the only real "control" is a notch filter.

I live with those necessary "controls" as every room/venue needs different attenuation and if I find just one or a couple of freqs get the room oscillating, then I notch it a little to stop the glassware or the pictures on the walls from vibrating.

Just for kicks and giggles, try to see if you can make an adjustment for playing in QualCom verses your tiled bathroom without these unnecessary knobs and switches.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

I live with those necessary "controls" as every room/venue needs different attenuation and if I find just one or a couple of freqs get the room oscillating, then I notch it a little to stop the glassware or the pictures on the walls from vibrating.

Just for kicks and giggles, try to see if you can make an adjustment for playing in QualCom verses your tiled bathroom without these unnecessary knobs and switches.

Yep. If you are just thinking in terms of "tone", then hardly any EQ is needed at all, if you have a good bass and rig. But if you are thinking in terms of correcting for room acoustics, then a simple "tone knob" just won't cut it.

[jnewmark]

I'm more of a less knobs guy. The more knobs, the more I tend to turn them, and the worse it sounds. OTOH, once you find your sweet spot, the knobs don't vary much after that, imho.

[R Baer]

It's always a matter of opinion. Some players want to just turn one or two knobs, while other like being able to make more precise tone adjustments. Personally, I prefer the extra tone shaping to compensate for differences in instruments and venues.

[no-logic]

I think you got it. Specify what I mean is having like a low mid and high mid knob each with a frequency knob.(parametric) Much more than I need personally.

[jokerjkny]

bass is on the trickest things to sonically manage and handle.

once i figured out how to deal with those parametric EQ's, my experience onstage has been that much more easier and fun.

if i had regular monitor mix guys, roadies to carry around that '71 SVT stack, and a HUGE stage where i would need such guys cause i can barely hear the keys, guitar rigs and drum kit without them in my monitors, then i would be more than happy with just treb, mid, bass knobs.

[rpsands]

The demeter hbp-1 is pretty much the best preamp section in the world imho; conventional 4-band, defeatable 2-band fully parametric.

I find that most of the time I can get my tone without needing parametric or graphics, but some rooms are really filthy.

The reason I am a huge fan of parametrics is that there are a huge number of bass heads with an inability to dial in certain things;

For example, most amps out there cannot give you the sound of a boomy bass cabinet (which some folks like) -- that is, a boost ~120-150hz. why? because they have 50hz, 350hz, 800hz and 2500hz type knobs that are fixed.

Similarly, dialing down room boom is accomplished at that same range (upper bass) very often.

Bottom line: for some situations it's extremely helpful. I'd rather have it than not (anyone want to trade an F500 for my F1?

[JimiLL]

You dont have to touch them if you dont want to

[no-logic]

So in the case of a mid control with an accompanying frequency control, what would you set first? I am assuming the actual tone control is just a sweep of the set frequency, correct?

[rpsands]

Originally Posted by no-logic

So in the case of a mid control with an accompanying frequency control, what would you set first? I am assuming the actual tone control is just a sweep of the set frequency, correct?

The level control is usually a fixed bandwidth boost, with a center frequency of whatever you set it to (although some are not fixed bandwidth, and some are shelving).

So you set it to X frequency and then boost it.

50-60hz - typical bass control,
120-150hz = boom,

~350hz = typical low mid control, (cut for smoother fingerstyle)

~800hz - typical high mid control, (cut for more some slap styles)

1200hz - big frequency for string noise, cut for smoother tones

2500hz - cut for dubby gentle top, boost for more string clickies fieldy style

5khz - cut for old school no tweeter, boost for trebly sheen, will depend a lot on your string choice and how new they are

That's about as high as I care to fool around with, but those are just some good points I've found for starting. What I would do is dial in 3db of boost at a frequency then 3db of cut, then 6db of boost and 6db of cut, and get a feel for what they do.

Shift it subtly up or down in frequency to dial in.


To answer your question very specifically: If you're slapping, I would start around 800hz and sweep from 600 to 1200 with 3-6db of cut to get the right slap tone. If you're playing fingerstyle I would center around 300hz and boost +3db and move from there to up to 600hz and see what you like best. I'd also cut 3db @ 1200hz just on general principles. With a pick, I really like boosting at 120-150hz to fatten it up but that's me.

That's very general of course and will depend on which pickup you use, what your pickups are, what type of strings you use, and so on. Some pickups give you a huge boost in the low mids for example, and you won't need a boost and might want to cut the string squeak zones instead.

[vinxbass]

I have an amp that has frequency para's for low mid, mid mid and high mid controls, it's kind of overkill if you want IMHO. The amp I'm using now only has frequency para's for low and high mids, which I just leave flat and adjust my midrange accordingly.

[David1234]

The following is taken from about half way down this page.

Not enough solid low end...................boost the 40-60Hz range
Midrange is honky or hollow sounding......cut the 600-1000Hz range
Treble is harsh and hurts the ear.....cut the 1.5K to 2.5KHz range
Having trouble cutting through the band.........boost around 200Hz
Not enough presence, lackluster..........boost from 5KHz to 7.5KHz
Too much pick or finger noise.........cut the 5KHz to 7.5KHz range
Need a more dynamic, "piano" sound......cut 800Hz, boost 40 & 6KHz
Want to sound like Marcus Miller....................practice a lot

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A semiparametric tone section is good to have, and it's worth experimenting at home with your amp to see what each band does.

And just because you have it, doesn't mean you have to use all of it all the time. My main amp's EQ usually stays pretty flat, but the ability to tailor a tone to accomodate a different room, different band or too-new or too-old strings is very handy to have.

But yes, it's also good to just buy an amp with simple tone controls that you like and stick to them. My 'other' amp has a fixed 3-band EQ and I love using it, too.

[steelhead2]

i have what is prolly one of the simplest amps a Peavey TNT 100,just 5? knobs(maybe six) and that's all you GET,,good clean reliable power i have seen the thing do a hard slam on the bodyshop floor(backside) after the cord got stepped on=worked perfectly,lives in dust,kicks a!! any time i plug in,,

now if i had a NICE amp head stack whatever i'd sure wish for being able to fine tune,,be grateful for what you have!,if you want dirt simple rugged sound fit for a bass(albeit not grindy or even thumpy by todays standards)get an old Peavey,just a high low mid pre and a shift,,couple plug ins one's 6DB louder, you can hit it with a large hammer and it will prolly get up off the floor and laugh at you

but hey everybody wishes for what's across the street,i sure do

(somebody called em `missisipi mud',more like missisipi concrete),pedals! add pedals!

[naturalkinds]

I wish all amps had an EQ defeat like the Glockenklang Heart-Rock.

[johnk_10]

that's one of the reasons i like to use channel strips as a bass preamp. all of mine have an eq defeat (true bypass) so you can quickly get an idea of where 'flat' is and then shape your tone from there.

i've seen/heard alot of bass players 'paint themselves into a corner' with a parametric (with single or multiple freqs), so unless you're familiar with them, IMO, they can do more harm than good. some of my pres are very basic (like the UA 6176) and have somewhat limited eq, while others very elaborate, like on my ISA 430 MKII or Avalon VT-737SP.
its great to be able to just get a great sound quickly as on the UA, or say, an SVT, but sometimes i like having alot of 'tools' on hand to shape any tone/response that i want in any environment.

2 cents.............