How much should I set the gain?(Amp noob alert)

BrandonBass · #1 01-16-2011, 10:49 PM

Ive been playing for 4years now, and believe it or not I have just grasped the very basics of bass ampflication. and i mean basics.

You see, i live in a area where for the most part we dont lug our personal amps around and we use whatever we get at the studio or venue. I know how the EQs and compression work, but for the most part Id just crank the gain or volume whichever way i want, depending on my mood just as long as its loud enough...

Last time my bass was still passive and I had to crank the gain and volume to past 12oclock to get decent volume, but ever swapping it out for some high output actives, I dont have to crank it that much.

Tips appreciated

rodl2005 · #2 01-16-2011, 11:06 PM

Depends what amp U R using.

Usually- if your amp has a 'clip' light, you set the gain so that it just lights up when ya hit the strings hard, then adjust the volume to suit.

However some amps differ.

What amp/s?

kosmicwizard · #3 01-16-2011, 11:11 PM

Gain is usually how much signal you are sending to the pre-amp, master is usually how much signal is coming out of the power section. Solid State, heads with a tube pre-amp and a SS power section (usually called hybrids), and all tube heads all act differently so I suggest finding out what kind of an amp you are using and then try out different things in order to more fully understand what is happening inside the enclosure. Your ears will be the best guide to find good tone, and experience will help you to find settings that work for you on many different amps. Cheers.

kosmicwizard · #4 01-16-2011, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Depends what amp U R using.

Usually- if your amp has a 'clip' light, you set the gain so that it just lights up when ya hit the strings hard, then adjust the volume to suit.

However some amps differ.

What amp/s?

SS Ampeg gear tells you to do this as well, but from experience (with owning the B4r) I found that I got better results if I disengaged the limiter, maxed the master and then adjusted the over all volume with the gain, I didn't want to overdrive/clip the SS pre-amp. Cheers.

BrandonBass · #5 01-16-2011, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Depends what amp U R using.

Usually- if your amp has a 'clip' light, you set the gain so that it just lights up when ya hit the strings hard, then adjust the volume to suit.

However some amps differ.

What amp/s?

yesterday i ran my bass into a fender bassman, most times its hartke. and on rare occasions ampeg.

I didnt notice a 'clip light', ill look out for one the next time.

Anyways am I right to say that if my signal is boosted and high, generally i wont have to set the 'gain' on my amp too high right?

whereas if i have a low output bass I might have to crank it up?

I heard with tubes, you can get a midly overdriven sound when cranked the gain, is true? If so, how abt solid state?

JimmyM · #6 01-16-2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmicwizard

SS Ampeg gear tells you to do this as well, but from experience (with owning the B4r) I found that I got better results if I disengaged the limiter, maxed the master and then adjusted the over all volume with the gain, I didn't want to overdrive/clip the SS pre-amp. Cheers.

that's how you do it if you want the absolute cleanest sound possible. the problems with it, though, are it can end up being noisy sometimes, and it can often be lacking in the b@11z, especially if you have a tube preamp. not that distortion = b@11z, but i do like a nice toasty warm gain stage that's about as hot as i can get it without clipping it.

BrandonBass · #7 01-16-2011, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

that's how you do it if you want the absolute cleanest sound possible. the problems with it, though, are it can end up being noisy sometimes, and it can often be lacking in the b@11z, especially if you have a tube preamp. not that distortion = b@11z, but i do like a nice toasty warm gain stage that's about as hot as i can get it without clipping it.

how would one achieve that?

JimmyM · #8 01-17-2011, 12:07 AM

by turning up the gain to the point of audible clipping (ignore the lights and use your ears), then backing off of it just a little.

kosmicwizard · #9 01-17-2011, 12:28 AM

Jimmy if you actually read what I wrote I said SS ... that would mean there is no tube in the pre or I would have said hybrid. I got LOTS more out of the B4r than I think most do, part of that was because of mono bridging it and part was the description in my previous post. I added dirt with the VT pedal and it was darn close to heavenly. I sold it without a loss and got an all tube MESA/Boogie BASS 400 I couldn't be more happy. Cheers.

JimmyM · #10 01-17-2011, 12:31 AM

ya, i saw that. but there are some ss pres that you can clip and it doesn't sound bad at all. can't remember if the b4r is one of them since i only get them as backline on rare occasions.

kosmicwizard · #11 01-17-2011, 12:34 AM

It was okay, but the mosfet emulation and overdriven SS pre in that amp are not up to snuff in regards to what is out there now days, I know SS gets closer all the time but adding the VT pedal was the ticket for me until I got all tubes, and even now I still use it sometimes at low volume with the MESA. Cheers.