Metal bass players with Ampeg PF500

[Neiler]

Hello all...im new to TB and have been searching/reading posts looking for some suggestions to get a mean tone...

i run an ibanez SR500 and a PF500 with a 1x15 fender cab (i think the cab was custom built by the previous owner to beef up his fender bxr200 amp and get it down to 4 ohms) plus i recently (3 days ago) purchased the much talked about Tech 21 VT Bass V.2 which, so far, has me very satisfied with the purchase....im not, nor ever have been, an effects guy, i like keeping it simple and straight forward, but damn that vt sounds good.

So heres the deal...any PF500 owners play metal? My band gets compared to Pantera alot (which is fine by me cause Pantera was my inspiration to start playing guitar in the first place) and im looking to get a that nice clear/dirty/punchy/aggressive/growl that Rex gets (best example would be the intro to 'I Cant Hide off' of 101 proof... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xztlw0zFXQY)
I have only been able to go thru the headphone jack of the amp so far because i leave my cab at our jam spot, so i know the settings im using now will be useless once im going into my cab.

if anyone can make any suggestions about settings on both the PF500 and the VT Bass i would like to hear them..all of them.

also id love to hear from any metal heads in general, send me some links of your band im always looking to find new bad a$$ bands

cheers \m/

[musicman666]

If your going to play Metal ya gotta get an Ampeg 810.....That's the rules son!
Welcome to TB! You should do fine for that tone with the PF and VT. Good luck!

[JimmyM]

You don't know that your settings will be useless once you go into the cab. They may not. They might just need a little tweak and you're off to the races. Anyway, half the fun is finding your own sounds so just plug it in and let it rip.

[cliff em all]

im a metal bassist using a pf500 too but i cant offer any advice because i recently got it and havent set up a good tone yet for it

[truecanadian04]

Rex has a video on you tube. Just search rex brown bass rig.

[bassboysam]

Settings mean nothing on their own and you need to hear how the entire combination of bass, pickups, strings, effects, amp, cab, band and room sound. Just experiment there are no wrong settings so just turn knobs until something works.

[Neiler]

Originally Posted by musicman666

If your going to play Metal ya gotta get an Ampeg 810.....That's the rules son!
Welcome to TB! You should do fine for that tone with the PF and VT. Good luck!

If I had the cash I would use nothing but an SVT CL and an 810...i work at a music store and usually borrow either a 810 or 410hlf for gigs in town, but when we hit the road, thats not an option due to space limits of our "tour" van ha

Originally Posted by truecanadian04

Rex has a video on you tube. Just search rex brown bass rig.

My band recently opened up for Kill Devil Hill and Rex was running 2 810 cabs (i think one was just for show cause it was a smaller venue) and an ampeg SVT CL...but im pretty sure it was the co-headling band that provided the back line cause Rex was havin troubles dailing in his tone at sound check...but did he ever tremble the house during his set! loudest bass ive ever heard in a venue that holds maybe 200 people...was awesome

Originally Posted by bassboysam

Settings mean nothing on their own and you need to hear how the entire combination of bass, pickups, strings, effects, amp, cab, band and room sound. Just experiment there are no wrong settings so just turn knobs until something works.

on my way to band practice tonight so ill have a chance to play with it...i was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions of combinations that work for them that i could try out

[Tractorr]

Don't scoop the mids whatever you do.

[subbasshz]

Originally Posted by Tractorr

Don't scoop the mids whatever you do.

this. moderate amounts of bass (less then you think you need trust me) lots of low mids lots of mids little lower on the low treble then a punch up with the top end for that sparkle.

thats what I would try. . . sounds like a BRAND new set of bright ass roundwounds too. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ8rg3S3vpI

[musicman666]

+1......I lost a dear friend to mid-scooping. If ya must scoop just do a little at a time. Remember it's ok to just say no to the scooping.

[Neiler]

after some tweeking ive found some killer tones, even with my 1x15 cab...this VT bass really is a great pedal. Ive been hearing some great things about the Darkglass B3k but i have yet to find a dealer around my neck of the woods...and with a $250+ price tag i would really like to try before i buy.

[subbasshz]

one of my good friends just bought one. apparently its the bees knees. kicked A LOT of other stuff off his board

[chaosMK]

The PF and a VT or BDDI will be fine for metal. It should be pretty straightforward. Dial plenty of mids and low mids on your head (enough that it sounds like almost too much), add a dash of sparkle and klang on the Sansamp and blend it moderately.