Low end distortion. So frustrating!

[Garrett151]

I've got a Fender jazz with Quarter Pounders that I'm running into a Mesa MPulse 600 with matching Powerhouse 410 cab. Whenever I hit the low E with some force, I get a nasty, flubby, distortion. I tried to turn down the gain, and that decreases the distortion, but the rest of the frequencies become more dull. I'm currently thinking of switching to a lower output pickup, which I think will help, but do any of you know a way to reduce this distortion without sacrificing tone?

[Duckwater]

Try plugging into the active input, or lowering your pickups. If those don't work or change your tone too much then try a compressor.

[MuzikMan]

It sounds like you're asking too much from your cab.

[Garrett151]

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

It sounds like you're asking too much from your cab.

I thought the same, but it's rated for 600 watts (head puts out 300 at 8 ohms), and I wasn't pushing much volume at all!

[Garrett151]

Originally Posted by Duckwater

Try plugging into the active input, or lowering your pickups. If those don't work or change your tone too much then try a compressor.

I did both :/ active input helps a bit, but I can get a similar effect by turning down the gain, which I want to avoid. I may try lowering my pickups (just raised them recently). And I tried the compressor. It didn't help much, but I probably wasn't using the right settings (compressor newbie ).

[MuzikMan]

The cab's 600 watt thermal rating doesn't tell you anything about its mechanical limits. It might be limited to 150 watts at 40hz for all we know, and unfortunately there is no published information on your cab to know for sure. Bottom line: Use your ears because that's the best you got!

[Garrett151]

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

The cab's 600 watt thermal rating doesn't tell you anything about its mechanical limits. It might be limited to 150 watts at 40hz for all we know, and unfortunately there is no published information on your cab to know for sure. Bottom line: Use your ears because that's the best you got!

Alright. I'm still kinda skeptical because this cab is known for how deep it can go. Hmmmmmm maybe I'll make another post on this subject. Thanks for the advice.

[JimmyM]

You can count on losing about half the published rating of that cab to mechanical limits, as MusikMan pointed out, maybe more. That would leave you with enough wattage to easily make your rig go flubby on the E, especially since you're capable of putting out twice the RMS wattage of your head. The only thing less powerful pickups will do is move the point you're flubbing out to a higher point on the volume dial.

So you have a couple options...back down on the gain and see if that helps, turn down, or get a second 410.

EDIT: Oh, and cabs that go really low usually require more power from the head to get to the same volume as a cab that doesn't.

[Von Felgenhauer]

Is he boosting the lows too much? Try cutting high frequencies before boosting the lows.

[chillerthanmost]

I think it's the cab. I play in C# standard and 10" speakers break up when playing some lower notes. You can always try lowering your pickup a little but I always get the same thing when I play out of 10's no matter how clean I set the head or what wattage the speakers are. I've moved to 12's and 15's.

[MuzikMan]

Originally Posted by Garrett151

Alright. I'm still kinda skeptical because this cab is known for how deep it can go. Hmmmmmm maybe I'll make another post on this subject. Thanks for the advice.

I agree that your cab is quite capable but it does have its limits like any cab. I really don't know if the cab is the culprit because I'm not there to check it out. I'm just going by your description of the problem. The fact that only your lowest note(s) are causing a problem is telling. Would you mind trying to turn down the bass EQ and posting whether or not it helps?

[JimmyM]

BTW, don't make another post on here. Just use this thread. That's what's known as double posting, and we all hate it.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by Garrett151

I thought the same, but it's rated for 600 watts (head puts out 300 at 8 ohms), and I wasn't pushing much volume at all!

That's a thermal rating, where it will burn out the coils. It's not unusual for a low E to fart out a cab at 1/4 the thermal rating.

[Garrett151]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

You can count on losing about half the published rating of that cab to mechanical limits, as MusikMan pointed out, maybe more. That would leave you with enough wattage to easily make your rig go flubby on the E, especially since you're capable of putting out twice the RMS wattage of your head. The only thing less powerful pickups will do is move the point you're flubbing out to a higher point on the volume dial.

So you have a couple options...back down on the gain and see if that helps, turn down, or get a second 410.

EDIT: Oh, and cabs that go really low usually require more power from the head to get to the same volume as a cab that doesn't.

Sadly, more speakers isn't an option. I'm playing some gigs at a small club backing up a semi-famous singer. He already looked at me weird when I brought the 410 onto the small stage. Furthermore, I'm 16 and can't afford one!
P.S. Thanks for all you do on Talkbass Jimmy!

[Von Felgenhauer]

I still think its an eq issue. The more you boost the lows the quicker you run out of clean headroom. I have no problem shaking my house with a stock peavey 410.

[JazzbassArt]

If the're SCN pickups, mine does the same thing. It seems the larger, vibrating pitches will cause the tone to distort. It's not limited to open E, either. If you pluck the string agressively, at a low volume, you can still hear an almost cancelling, fuzz sound. Lowering helped, but didn't eliminate it. FYI, when I use my Peavey Fury, the problem goes away. If I never dig in, problem also goes away.

Sorry, man. I didn't seem to comprehend that you AREN'T using SCN pickups. I was typing the response, as the future ex, was entering to nab some items, so I'm EXCUSED. :-)

[Calaverasgrande]

I am not familiar with the EQ on that head. But I would research how the EQ works. Read the manual. I had a Mesa Bass 400 (totally different head) and was "using it wrong" for a few years before I was hipped to the oddball eq on that amp. If you get the eq to flat, then make adjustments to the midrange from there, it will likely sound better.

[TomB]

Definitely lower the pickup first and make sure you're not physically hitting it in the heat of live playing... it's easy to do and not realize it. Sorry if that's not even possibly an issue... I can't see from here .

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Garrett151

Sadly, more speakers isn't an option. I'm playing some gigs at a small club backing up a semi-famous singer. He already looked at me weird when I brought the 410 onto the small stage. Furthermore, I'm 16 and can't afford one!
P.S. Thanks for all you do on Talkbass Jimmy!

Thx bro...Backing a semi famous singer at 16 is pretty good. Anyway, trust me on this...semi famous singers almost always love it much more when the bass is a little too quiet than a little too loud

[Selta]

Originally Posted by chillerthanmost

I think it's the cab. I play in C# standard and 10" speakers break up when playing some lower notes. You can always try lowering your pickup a little but I always get the same thing when I play out of 10's no matter how clean I set the head or what wattage the speakers are. I've moved to 12's and 15's.

I just... wow. There's so much wrong in here.

I agree with the folks saying to try backing off the low EQ a bit and see what that does for you, if anything. I don't know that amp... is there a clip light on it at all? If so, is it coming on at the same time you're getting this distorted sound?