Shuttlemax Settings.

ErikP.Bass · #1 06-07-2011, 10:55 PM

I am looking for some help in getting the most out of my Shuttlemax. The EQ is probably a bit too complex for me and I am not finding the manual much help. I have searched here and found references to threads talking about setting it up but haven't found the actual threads....

Some things...playing passive four strings, P and J, light touch (hard to get an overdriven sound so far) either an 8 ohm 12" or 4 ohm 2x12". Just picked up an Ashdown EVO II which seem a bit more user friendly to me...in that it is harder to get a bad sound. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

ErikP.Bass · #2 06-08-2011, 11:43 AM

Anyone?

RickenBoogie · #3 06-08-2011, 05:59 PM

That's partly why I don't buy amps with excessive amounts of knobs. Put everything at noon, and make small tweaks from there.

btp · #4 06-08-2011, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Put everything at noon, and make small tweaks from there.

That's excellent advice. The EQ will boost/cut a TON, so it's easy to get honking in the mids, for example. And the two sweepable mids cover a huge range, some of which is in the range of the notes you play, most of which is up in the harmonics. I spent quite a while exploring, just playing scales, sweeping at full boost or full cut, just to get a sense of how 300hz is different from 600hz and so on. For actual usable tones, RickenBoogie is right -- it's gonna be between 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock, or maybe just 11 and 1. It's nice to have the knobs, but I don't know why I'd every want 18db boost/cut.

Also, it depends on strings. I just put Fender 9050 flatwounds on my bass; when I want to get a little extra brightness back, I can boost the upper mids (like 3K or so) and the highs. But just a little -- 2 o'clock or so. Similarly with the low end, if you want that.

Also, I find that the "global signal shape" is pretty useful -- same basic idea, but it can be controlled from the footswitch.

If you want to over-drive it, make sure that your input gain is as high as possible -- push in the gain button -- and crank up the input gain and volume. I don't think it ever gets to fuzz-box tone, thank goodness, but it definitely adds distortion.

JOME77 · #5 06-08-2011, 06:50 PM

Erik,
I've been using a GB Shuttlemax 9.2 for a couple of months now and I pretty much add a slight bass boost (1 o'clock) Slight low mid boost (1 o'clock; Freq=120Hz), upper mid flat and a slight treble boost (1 o'clock pick style; 2 o'clock finger style).

From there I just fine tune everything from my basses (on-board preamp).
I suppose that you could get into some bad venues and use more of the EQ but in the places that I play less is more.

Great sounding amp.

On the subject of overdriving the tube pre, I'm sure that you engaged the "high gain" switch, cranked the gain up full and backed the volume down to around 1-2 (and adjust the overall volume via master). If you can't get an over driven sound with that setting I suppose that you'll have to use a distortion pedal.
For what it's worth, my Carvin SB over drives with that setting in the passive mode.

ErikP.Bass · #6 06-08-2011, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the input guys. I figured when I got it that it would be great because it is versatile but haven't had much luck with getting it set up right. I have tried to explore a bit by focusing on one frequency boosted at a time but really didn't give much consideration to the range I was playing in...strangely enough. Any other suggestions on exploring the amp are welcome. I will definitely be trying the settings mentioned above. I didn't think I would play too light to get the overdriven sound but I think I do.

ErikP.Bass · #7 06-11-2011, 06:50 AM

Bump.

ErikP.Bass · #8 06-12-2011, 09:11 AM

Bump.

ErikP.Bass · #9 06-13-2011, 08:27 PM

Bump.

KsPiNeSh · #10 06-13-2011, 08:36 PM

Are you trying to do anything in particular? Like, are you trying to fill a certain spot in a mix, or just looking for tones to play with while practicing?

ErikP.Bass · #11 06-13-2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KsPiNeSh

Are you trying to do anything in particular? Like, are you trying to fill a certain spot in a mix, or just looking for tones to play with while practicing?

I guess it is a little bit of both. I play with two loud guitars and a heavy hitting drummer...so I am trying to cut through the mix and have a my bass sound full and not excessively middy or thin. I can get a bassy old school tone by rolling back my tone knob and bumping the bass just a hair but that is too wooly and looses definition in the mix. I am mostly playing my RW P with TI flats.

ErikP.Bass · #12 06-15-2011, 05:28 AM

Bump.

KsPiNeSh · #13 06-15-2011, 08:33 PM

For me with my GBE 1200, I've found that it's usually helpful to actually roll off the bass just a bit (or leave it flat) and boost the low mids; with the semi-parametric, I'd aim right around 200 Hz or so. If more definition is needed, cut a bit of treble and add some high mids (anywhere from 600 to 1000 Hz) to taste. You can also engage and boost your LF Boost to lower the rolloff point and add some low end extension without necessarily "boosting" low frequencies, and mixing the preamps with the lows and low mids from the FET and upper mids and highs from the tube can offer a bit more warmth to your top end without flabbing up the low end.

locriansharpsec · #14 06-15-2011, 10:02 PM

remember also that what sounds good in your living room- wont always work in a band setting. I dont have one of these particular amps but Ive dialed in great tone in my living room on a few of my amps many times, but when I use those settings with my drummer and guitarist, Im lost in their wall of sound. Turning up doesnt help and neither does adding more bass. Like you said it just gets muddy. If you want to cut thru in the band setting listen to KsPiNeSH. Mids are our friend! Learned that from the crew here on TB (THANKS!) I used to get real frustrated trying to get rid of the muddiness and be heard. not a problem anymore!

ErikP.Bass · #15 06-19-2011, 08:58 AM

I got to play around with the above setting and the advice definitely helped. I focused on boosting the low mid (120Hz or 200Hz) and also separately/combined the high(er) mid (600Hz or 1K - 3K). I also tried boosting/cutting the highs and lows slightly. I'll admit the mids made the biggest difference to my ear.

Anyone else want to share the frequencies they like to boost or cut? How much of the amps tone is in where the centers are set....could I make the Genz sound closed to the Ashdown (for example)?

ErikP.Bass · #16 06-21-2011, 12:08 PM

Bump.

BassmanPaul · #17 06-21-2011, 12:24 PM

Erik, whenever you get a new amp you have to invest time with it learning what it is capable of. An amp is an instrument unto itself and you have to discover how to get the best out of it for your purposes. By all accounts the Shuttle series of amp are great amplifiers and the EQ that they offer is versatile. That comes with a price for guys who are not that familiar with how such EQs operate. That said not every amp is for everyone no matter what the designers intend. If the Ashdown suits you better then use it. You don't HAVE to use a GB product, great company though they are.

ErikP.Bass · #18 06-21-2011, 05:26 PM

Great points Paul. I think you have really outlined my situation by saying the versatility comes at a price if you don't know what you are doing. I think the Ashdown will be my primary amp due to ease of use for the time being but I am definitely interested in investing the time to get to know the Genz better. The guidance I have received so far has been great and I am looking forward to hearing more. I really think it will be really beneficial to develop a fine tuned sense of frequency....for lack of a better phrase.

Aaron_D · #19 06-22-2011, 02:17 AM

I always start flat in any room and adjust from there after checking how everything sounds given the stage/room etc. I havent found a room that I was unable to get a good sound in due to the extreme EQ. And in most rooms I can not only avoid bad tone, but I can create incredible tone. The above advice about only tweaking a few ticks from noon is a good rule of thumb but dont be afraid to get exteme if the room demands it.

ErikP.Bass · #20 06-22-2011, 06:13 AM

When trying out the amp I did generally start flat and then used some minor tweaks. I guess for me the difficulty lies in reading how a room sounds and knowing what frequencies are missing or too present. Does anyone know of any general guidelines I could read or wish to share about their experience learning this process?