How can I get a good sound with my set up? HA2500

leftyleftleft · #1 09-22-2011, 08:23 AM

Hi there,

I've only been playing for just over a year and I think I'm doing pretty well in the technique department, but the problem is - i cant find a good sound.

I play a Squier VM Jazz through a Hartke HA2500 into a Marshall 2x12 400w cab.

Any tips on the HA2500? I've played my bass through other amps and it sounds killer, but I think all the graphic EQ on the HA2500 is just overkill and mostly confuses me. Any tips on the EQ or does anyone have any recommendations for good settings? I play mostly punk and hardcore (Matt Freeman style)

Cheers

leftyleftleft · #2 09-28-2011, 06:40 AM

HeadyVan Halen · #3 09-28-2011, 06:55 AM

I've found a 10 band eq to be too much for me as well. New Hydrive (and Fender Rumble series) has a 3 and 4 band which is perfect for me.
How's the cab?
I always thought Marshall's stuff was overrated for Guitar and Bass...sounds thin to me.
Mess with the EQ. Do some research on different settings....
MORE IMPORTANTLY:
Identify what your sound is missing...Bottom, mids, thickness, is it boxy etc...find what you want first and then find how to fix it.

Hope this helps

Gearhead17 · #4 10-01-2011, 12:37 PM

Understanding what each knob does on your amp head, is the key here. The trick to learning is putting your bass's volume at 100%, the tone knob all the way up so you have plenty of high end and then adjusting each knob on the amp head one by one. Put all of the sliders at the flat position and adjust one by one. Boost a slider, then play, boost it more and play some more. Learn what each slider of frequencies does for your tone. That is how I learned.

Bass_Pounder · #5 10-01-2011, 12:52 PM

Does Marshall even make a bass 2X12 cab ?

If not, there is a big chunck of your problem.

grendle · #6 10-01-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Understanding what each knob does on your amp head, is the key here. The trick to learning is putting your bass's volume at 100%, the tone knob all the way up so you have plenty of high end and then adjusting each knob on the amp head one by one. Put all of the sliders at the flat position and adjust one by one. Boost a slider, then play, boost it more and play some more. Learn what each slider of frequencies does for your tone. That is how I learned.

#1

Here's what I do. Run the controls on the bass up full. Use only the tube pre on the amp, ss to 0. Compressor at 12:00, green light on .Turn the graphic eq off. Tweek the hi / low filter knobs to get get what you like. Turn the graphic eq on. Leave all the sliders flat and move them slowly 1 at a time to get a feel for what they sound like. Then go back and adjust them 1 at a time to tweek your tone how you like. It is sometimes helpful to start with the mids first.
If its not sounding quite how you want. Switch the graphic off to hear where you started, set the sliders flat , and start over to get what you want. You can get just about any tone under the sun with the amount of eq available there.

BassmanPaul · #7 10-01-2011, 02:08 PM

An amplifier is just like learning where to plop your fingers on the fretboard and where the notes are on your bass. You have to invest time in finding out what your amp can do for you. The advice already given is good but you have to search to find the amp's mojo.

Joe Nerve · #8 10-01-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Understanding what each knob does on your amp head, is the key here. The trick to learning is putting your bass's volume at 100%, the tone knob all the way up so you have plenty of high end and then adjusting each knob on the amp head one by one. Put all of the sliders at the flat position and adjust one by one. Boost a slider, then play, boost it more and play some more. Learn what each slider of frequencies does for your tone. That is how I learned.

+1, but with different preferences than grendle. I don't own that head, but I've played through them lots and lots of times and like them a lot. What I usually do is start with everything flat, then use mostly the solid state gain, not the tube. I keep the tube at around 3, the solid state between 5 - 8. Compression btwn 2 - 4, and then add low and high pass slowly. That gets me my basic sound and then I use the graphic a little at a time to tweak. I usually find myself boosting the 2nd and 3rd just a wee bit, and the 8th and 9th.

LegoBass · #9 10-01-2011, 02:26 PM

The HA2500 is a great amp, my first real head. It fit my style perfectly, but probablly not yours. It is designed to be very transparent, adding no characteristic amp tones, just the pure sound of your bass. With punk, you probablly want that Ampeg high gain, overdriven sound. Why don't you look into something like a Sansamp BDDI or RBI preamp. This could add that little bit of gain and grit you could be looking for.

jgroh · #10 10-01-2011, 02:30 PM

I had a HA2500 and thought it sounded too vanilla...until...I played it with the band. Then it sounded very good. Are you playing yours in a band or just at home? I agree that the cab might not be helping, and to set everything as flat as possible and then pull out the frequencies you dont like.