Help with BX500 settings

akflyer · #1 10-17-2010, 10:23 AM

I just received a new BX500. It is my first amp with contour, compressor, equalizer etc., and I am hoping some of you BX500 owners who have found settings they really like may be willing to share them. I have been trying lots of different settings on my own, but feel like I am sometimes trying to use different features that effect the tone in ways that conflict with each other. I would love to have a few "proven" places to start fine tuning from. Any help will be much appreciated.

I am using a G&L SB2 and L2500 with it through 1 Avatar 2x10 and 1 Avatar 1x12.

RickenBoogie · #2 10-17-2010, 11:13 AM

it's gonna depend on many factors, not the least of which being you and your bass. But, for starters, disengage the compressor and contour, and set all the eq flat. Play with that, then tweak a little bit at a time, to familiarize yourself what each control sounds like. Bassically, a flat amp should be all you need.

akflyer · #3 10-17-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

it's gonna depend on many factors, not the least of which being you and your bass. But, for starters, disengage the compressor and contour, and set all the eq flat. Play with that, then tweak a little bit at a time, to familiarize yourself what each control sounds like. Bassically, a flat amp should be all you need.

That's more or less what I have been trying to do, and so far it is not working out for me. I feel like I am "fumbling around in the dark". Thats why I was hoping to get an idea what other BX500 users had found that worked for them, so I had some other starting points than just flat.

Phalex · #4 10-17-2010, 11:28 AM

I love the compressor! I have mine around 4.5 on the dial.

I have the bass turned up just a hair, and I aimed for about 800hz on the mids.

I just kept screwing around with it until I got a decent stage monitor sound. It's easy to get crazy with the high end IME.

akflyer · #5 10-17-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

I love the compressor! I have mine around 4.5 on the dial.

I have the bass turned up just a hair, and I aimed for about 800hz on the mids.

I just kept screwing around with it until I got a decent stage monitor sound. It's easy to get crazy with the high end IME.

Thanks! Regarding the 800 on the mids, was that boost or cut? How much? Any contour? Do you have the Eq off?

prokfrog · #6 10-17-2010, 12:11 PM

the beauty about the BX500 is when everything is flat, you're basically hearing You, the bass (guitar) and the cabinet. I have the tube engaged with the drive on 3.5. I set the low Para-mid at 100, and the High Para-mid at 350. Contour is flat, and compressor on about 3ish. My usual set-up is an EdenD112XLT, and an Epifani PS112. The PS112 sounds absolutely perfect to me dead flat (not including drive and comp), and I usually roll off 800k when using the Eden alone. Depending on the room, I start flat, and season to taste with the EQ point settings mentioned. I rarely, if never use the graphic. In the confines of my practice area, I actually need to roll off bass, keep the para-mids flat, roll off some treble, and knock down the 800k a bit on the graphic to tame the Eden. Good Luck it's a great amp.

Gearhead17 · #7 10-17-2010, 12:37 PM

The key to working with so many knobs is small boosts and cuts. Before you do that, make sure your Drive knob is up high enough so your bass does not sound quiet. Once the gain is set right, keep your bass controls flat and run your Tone knobs all the way up. Keep the Contour knob on the "Flat" setting. Read the manual, carefully! Boost one knob at a time and play your bass - decrease the knob and reapeat the process.

Memorize what the frequencies sound like - over time you will be able to create nearly any tone you need to live. Every show you do will give you a different tone - the key is to turn the knobs to get a tone you like and can hear on stage.

Phalex · #8 10-17-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akflyer

Thanks! Regarding the 800 on the mids, was that boost or cut? How much? Any contour? Do you have the Eq off?

The contour is the one I adjust on the fly. I tend to have it at maybe 3 or so.

I usually have the boost/cut at 12:00 (0db) and have the center freq at 800.

akflyer · #9 10-18-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

The contour is the one I adjust on the fly. I tend to have it at maybe 3 or so.

I usually have the boost/cut at 12:00 (0db) and have the center freq at 800.

On the paras, If the boost/cut is at 0db, it is not changing anything regardless of where the freq is set, correct?

craig.p · #10 10-18-2010, 12:32 PM

Correct.

Phalex · #11 10-18-2010, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akflyer

On the paras, If the boost/cut is at 0db, it is not changing anything regardless of where the freq is set, correct?

I guess you're probably right! Like I said, it's easy for the highs to get out of hand. I imagine I must have set them back to 0 when I was tweaking. So pretty much a little extra on the bass, and most every thing flat....

Good catch!

mounsen · #12 10-18-2010, 08:57 PM

I've had the BX500 and a Carvin BRX10.2 Neo for over a year and a half. The BRX is longer NEO though. I use a Seymour single coil quarter pounder in one P bass and a Seymour Split coils in the other P bass, non quarter pounder (scpb-2 I think).

What I have found is that they really like to be scooped. I have tried numerous EQ settings on it and it just sounds best to me with contour set to full (at least half or 3/4) and the Para set flat. You can then boost some highs if you want. I can actually get a good slap sound out of it although I don't use slap on stage. The cab probably plays a large part in this and I am thinking the Avatar 2x10 is similar to the Carvin, both are ported with tweeters which I turn off on mine.

I also recently put Eminence BP102 speakers in the BRX and it improved the sound but it still likes the scooped sound that the contour knob gives you. I would say the midrange that's there is a bit more pleasant and with your Avatars already having Eminence in them that they would have a more pleasant midrange as well.

On the graphic EQ I boost the lows and cut the 500, just like the contour does. This is where some players mess up. They turn up the contour and then boost 500 on the graphic which is a conflict. I actually cut the highs. Many players will boost highs and create a smiley face EQ curve. You might find that you like that. We have 2 or 3 guitars and keys so I just stay out of their EQ range as much as possible and hold the bottom. I also turn off the tube drive but I am thinking of trying some different tubes to see if can actually produce something I like. You can always have smiley on the graphic and something more flat on the para, bass and treble and use a footswitch for a boost.

These settings also have a lot to do with where your cabs are placed on stage. Mine is near a corner so the walls reinforce the bass response so it really sounds huge if I want it to. When a 2x10 cab is in the middle of a room it will not have the same bass response and will usually leave you wondering what's wrong.

Briefly I put the BX500 through my 2 early 70s Ampeg SVT 810s, it will do 2 ohms. Those cabs did not make the amp sound like an SVT. It still sounded like the Carvin, clean and articulate...modern.

With all that said YMMV and others may have had a differing experience. Some of the advice you have already received is great. Hope this helped some.

akflyer · #13 10-18-2010, 10:24 PM

Thanks to all for the great advice so far. I have also found that I like the paras flat and the contour on about half. My G&Ls have pretty aggressive pickups, so that is certainly a factor for me.