Need bass rig help - Page 2

FunkyMonk88 · #21 01-02-2013, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Are you sure the battery in your bass is good?

Try turning down that contour knob. I call it the "disappear" knob, because that's what it does in a mix with a band.

Basically you're saying that your tone is too bassy, that it has no highs, no "cut" to cut through. Am I right?

Ditch that contour knob completely. Cut the lows to 10 o'clock. Boost the high mids to 2 o'clock.

And get back to us on that battery test. I have a feeling something is up there. Especially if these cabs sound great by themselves but horrible together.

Thanks about the contour knob because I had no idea what that really did. You worded the tone issues better than I could, when I get some time to mess around with it more tomorrow I'll get back to you. The battery in the bass is brand new and gave it a good lick just to double check. Oh and I just looked up the specs on the SR305M and I'm pretty sure it has two passive humbucking pickups, but with an active EQ. Probably why the tone knobs are a so touchy feely. Still thinking that the Backline 600 being an entry level bass head has a lot to do with the tone issues, they may not be the same cabs, but the match up on everything but the horn

FunkyMonk88 · #22 01-02-2013, 02:14 AM

Thanks for all the help and advice all, just did the 9V test on both cabs and all speakers are pushing outwards on both cabs and none look to be out of phase.
However the MBX cab seemed to have a cleaner "pop" sound whilst doing the test rather than the BLX cab. (Just an older cab maybe?)

Now I think we're at least getting somewhere, the horn also seems to be working fine on the MBX. The speakers definitely aren't blown because well that's common sense obviousness. But from what I was originally told about the "underpowering" a rig myth is that you can blow the voice coils in the speakers if the power rating from the head to cabs doesn't better measure up, and that's less detectable. I don't know if that's true or not just going based on what I was told. I'm thinking with the cabs I have, a slightly better 700rb or even a 1001rb head will give me more headroom to find my tone without having to overcrank the volume on the BL600. Also putting the MBX on the top for the higher notes. Thoughts and opinions?

Downunderwonder · #23 01-02-2013, 02:39 AM

Forget about underpowering.

If you can get either cab sounding good by itself there is nothing wrong with the amp.

I would turn off the horn on the lower cab. They will either sound big and loud or sound yuk or all three.

Gotta P · #24 01-02-2013, 02:47 AM

You could also take the amp to a music store and plug into various speaker cabs. It might show better compatibility tonewise with another brand/model speaker cab. Then you might wanna swap the 2 4 10's for something else.

scottfeldstein · #25 01-02-2013, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkyMonk88

what I was originally told about the "underpowering" a rig myth is that you can blow the voice coils in the speakers if the power rating from the head to cabs doesn't better measure up

You'll blow the paper out of those speakers well before you fry a voice coil. And neither of them are going to happen by putting too little power through them. They'll happen when you are pushing them really hard.

two fingers · #26 01-02-2013, 08:30 AM

Sounds like you have tried a lot of things suggested here (all great suggestions). Did you ever check out (or swap out) the battery in your bass? If so, and the problem still exists, i would take your bass and head to the nearest store and do the following.
1) Hook up your bass AND head to a similar 4-10 cab.

2) If the problem still exists, try another bass with the SAME setup.

3) If it is still happening, you have at least narrowed things down to your head. If not, you have narrowed it down to your bass. Go from there.

B-string · #27 01-02-2013, 11:05 AM

The pop should be just as clean sounding on both cabs. If the BLX made a fuzzy pop or with scraping sounds you have a blown speaker. Yes to putting the MBX on top.

FunkyMonk88 · #28 01-02-2013, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by two fingers

Sounds like you have tried a lot of things suggested here (all great suggestions). Did you ever check out (or swap out) the battery in your bass? If so, and the problem still exists, i would take your bass and head to the nearest store and do the following.
1) Hook up your bass AND head to a similar 4-10 cab.

2) If the problem still exists, try another bass with the SAME setup.

3) If it is still happening, you have at least narrowed things down to your head. If not, you have narrowed it down to your bass. Go from there.

Could it be the new 5 string is too much for the new 5 string I have? I'll look into that, I've tried the bass with different rig setups at guitar center before buying and was actually complimented on the bass, not just by employees. Maybe im just overworking the head with both cabs plugged in and need the -10db pad pushed in in that case. I don't really need that much power (right now) but figured I'd have some fun will the full rig while both of the cabs are at my house

FunkyMonk88 · #29 01-02-2013, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

The pop should be just as clean sounding on both cabs. If the BLX made a fuzzy pop or with scraping sounds you have a blown speaker. Yes to putting the MBX on top.

Tried the battery test again just to make sure none are blown because I was half asleep when I did it before. Both seem to sound just as clean with the same amount of movement in each speaker. It's gotta be something in the head or the way I have it equalized. Do you normally have the bass EQ knobs flat with the EQ set on the head first? Or vice versa with active pick ups on a bass to get your tone? It only sounds bad when I play at higher volumes, which I need to do with the kind of music I play and the guitarist/drummer I'm in a band with

B-string · #30 01-02-2013, 11:31 AM

Higher volumes might indicate you are running out of clean headroom from the amp head. The 700RB II will do 480 watts at 4 ohms which will only help some, The BLX does not use power sent it efficiently. A second cab with higher sensitivity like a NEO or MBE (series one so the grills match) should be your next step. IMHO

wcriley · #31 01-02-2013, 11:33 AM

If I'm reading right, each cab sounds good by itself, but not when both cabs are used together.

So....

My quess is that the problem is phase cancellations caused by having mismatched drivers/cabs.

FunkyMonk88 · #32 01-02-2013, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Higher volumes might indicate you are running out of clean headroom from the amp head. The 700RB II will do 480 watts at 4 ohms which will only help some, The BLX does not use power sent it efficiently. A second cab with higher sensitivity like a NEO or MBE (series one so the grills match) should be your next step. IMHO

Definitely something I'm considering, should I go with another 4x10 cab, 2x12, or even a 1x15? Down the road anyways, moneys tight right now

FunkyMonk88 · #33 01-02-2013, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

If I'm reading right, each cab sounds good by itself, but not when both cabs are used together.

So....

My quess is that the problem is phase cancellations caused by having mismatched drivers/cabs.

That could be true but I'm not that good on the technical side of things. Any suggestions?

B-string · #34 01-02-2013, 12:33 PM

I am not a fan of 410's so I am a bit biased. I own the NEO212 II and it slays, the staggered arrangement of the 12"s works pretty well. Add a second like cab later. No benefit from adding a 115 unless you start with a 115.

The actual speakers in the BLX and MBX are different so you may well have some cancellation.

scottfeldstein · #35 01-02-2013, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

I own the NEO212 II and it slays

Likewise ^^

B-string · #36 01-02-2013, 12:53 PM

Oh yes forgot the eq question. Start with the bass's eq at center.

FunkyMonk88 · #37 01-02-2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Oh yes forgot the eq question. Start with the bass's eq at center.

Thanks for all the help you two, when I get some time to further mess around with the EQ and the cab arrangement switch (swapping the MBX on top) I'll let you know how it sounds, and any equipment changed later. Rock on!