Need HELP Understanding Tone Setting With An Active P/U Bass and Ampeg Rig

[Motherlode1]

I don't understand the basics of setting tones on a bass rig.

Gear—
Bass: Ibanez SDGR SRX2EX2
Head: Ampeg SVT-450 (Solid State) 450 RMS
Cab: Ampeg Classic Series HLF410 500 RMS
Pedal: Boss Equalizer GEB-7
Genre: Blues/Rock
Cables: Monster Bass Prolink


1. I purchased an active bass with bridge and neck humbuckers.

2. Guitar EQ p/u setup as follows:
Volume, Pan (for neck-bridge p/u), Bass, and Treble knobs.

3. Head has Gain-Bass-Ultra Mid-Treble-Master knobs with a
9-band EQ (40-80-150-300-600-900-2k-5k-9k).

4. Boss GEB-7 EQ (50-120-400-500-800-4.5k-10k).

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I notice some compression ability with the Boss EQ pedal (or maybe it's because of the way I have it set-up?).

Concern 1:
I'm seeking is sound advise as to how to approach setting my tones and having the option to go to my pedal when I need a preset tone/volume for a particular sound or segment within a song.

Concern 2:
I am a guitar player turned bass player and am having somewhat of a transition weening off my use of a pick. Should I be expected to use either or do I simply pick a style and roll with that?

Concern 3:
Am I over complicating things with all the EQ ability or have simply given myself lots of options?

Thank you all for any help!


Wayne

[RickenBoogie]

Ok, start with everything flat. Everything. Now, use your amp's, OR your bass's eq controls to very gently "tweak" until you achieve your desired tone. Set the eq pedal to either cut or boost certain frequencies to be used as a sort of 2nd channel. Done. Yes, you seem to be making a bit much of it all, just remember this, NEVER use any extreme eq settings, and sometimes cutting is better than boosting.

[M0ses]

No you don't need the EQ pedal. Don't sell it yet, though, because you could end up liking it a lot. For now, though, you'll probably want to ignore it and make sure your amp's EQ is doing what you want it to. The pedal would only be for, like RickenBoogie said, temporary alteration, not as a permanent component of your sound.

Now, how to set your basic EQ - leave the mids alone, cut bass and treble to taste.

[JimmyM]

so concern 2: playing with a pick is great sometimes, but you might find people who would rather you play with fingers. so if you're comfortable with limiting opportunities to play with others (some people are and that's fine), you can stick with pick only.

[lowfreq33]

EQ pedal is good for switching styles. For example, I use a thick fingerstyle tone modt of the time. If I have to slap on a song I kick in an EQ pedal with the mids cut and the treble boosted.

[Motherlode1]

Thanks all for your advise. It is "very" much appreciated!