So Now My SVT-VR Is Too "Midrangy"

PolkaHero · #1 07-10-2011, 09:35 PM

This should start another interesting discussion. I played a gig last night with my SVT-VR/Bergantino NV610 rig and was told by an audience member that my tone was too "midrangy". I had the EQ on the SVT set pretty much flat, just a touch of treble boosted.

I ended up cutting the midrange to about the 9 o'clock position and didn't get any more complaints. Granted, I'm playing a Fender P-bass with roundwounds which has a "midrangy" sound to begin with, but that's what allows it to sit so nicely in the mix, right? Maybe it's time to start bringing the Roscoe Beck signature to more gigs. . .

I just can't win when it comes to tone/volume issues lately. Still waiting for new volume pots for the SVT so it has a more gradual taper. Actually got the volume to about 10:00 last night with no complaints, but this was during the last set when everyone was drunk and didn't care anymore.

**jmattbassplaya** · #2 07-10-2011, 09:44 PM

CL owner here - I actually bump my mids to around 3 o'clock on my amp. Was the person describing your tone someone who has an ear you can trust?

**SVE** · #3 07-10-2011, 09:53 PM

I may be biased because I love mids and tend to turn them up a lot, but I don't see how too much midrange can be bad. I mean it makes you have a cool sound and cut; on top of that, I feel like too much treble will hurt my ears, and too much bass can cause problems. Although, on second thought too much of anything can't be good.

jelwood · #4 07-10-2011, 09:54 PM

I love my low mids like no one else. I've never had someone tell me that my tone was too "midrangy." If they told me that I'd probably respond with, "too bad." Your amp is for YOU. Do what YOU want with it. As Feynman always said, "what do you care what other people think?"

Mirios · #5 07-10-2011, 10:04 PM

I assume you were running your amp without PA reinforcement? Times like those are the ones I always wish I have a wireless system, but I can never bring myself to buy one. Would sure be nice to hear what your "too much midrange" sounds like from the crowd.

But I'm a skeptic by nature so when someone tells me something like that I always want to know what my ears have to say.

PolkaHero · #6 07-10-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirios

I assume you were running your amp without PA reinforcement? Times like those are the ones I always wish I have a wireless system, but I can never bring myself to buy one. Would sure be nice to hear what your "too much midrange" sounds like from the crowd.

But I'm a skeptic by nature so when someone tells me something like that I always want to know what my ears have to say.

Negative, I had an XLR cable running from the amp into the house PA set Pre-EQ. Must be my P-bass although it's loaded with a SD 1/4 pounder which is supposed to have less mids, right?

PolkaHero · #7 07-10-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

CL owner here - I actually bump my mids to around 3 o'clock on my amp. Was the person describing your tone someone who has an ear you can trust?

Didn't know the guy, probably some hack. . .

Mirios · #8 07-10-2011, 10:15 PM

If you were running into the PA then I would worry even less about it. Was there a sound person working or did you guys set it and then get behind the mains?

If there was a sound guy who was half way decent you were where you needed to be.

I also doubt it was your bass.

PolkaHero · #9 07-10-2011, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirios

If you were running into the PA then I would worry even less about it. Was there a sound person working or did you guys set it and then get behind the mains?

If there was a sound guy who was half way decent you were where you needed to be.

I also doubt it was your bass.

Clueless sound guy was running the PA. Everyone said the mix was terrible. . .

One Drop · #10 07-11-2011, 04:40 AM

If you were in the FOH with a pre-EQ DI, what possible difference could it have made if you had turned your mids down at the amp?

Does not compute.

It seems your problem is with your sound guy, not your amp or bass.

If a guy I didn't know complained about my sound, I might try to find out what was wrong myself, but I'd never take his word for what the problem is. Too mid-rangey for what? His taste? The way he would want his band to sound? etc. etc.

DLEE · #11 07-11-2011, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

CL owner here - I actually bump my mids to around 3 o'clock on my amp. Was the person describing your tone someone who has an ear you can trust?

I'm usually between 2 & 3 o'clock myself @ 800 with a mid 70's SVT, 12 o'clock treble & bass. Cuts like a knife with plenty of low end.

staindbass · #12 07-11-2011, 05:24 AM

just for fun a few weeks ago i ran pink noise thru mine with a real time analyzer on the 2x10 speaker. flattest response was with the bass on noon, mids at 9, and treble at 11.

rodl2005 · #13 07-11-2011, 05:35 AM

I can't remember the last time I actually took an audience members opinion of our sound seriously.
I'll surely take MANY audience members views into account, talk to our/the sound engineer/other trusted people's opinions, but never one person, especially one I don't know.
Heck they may have mids missing from their hearing!
What did YOU think of your tone, that's most important imo.

jgroh · #14 07-11-2011, 05:57 AM

In my current band, a cover band Ive been in for 3 years now, I have yet to play a gig where I didnt get some comment about being too loud or too midrangy (i.e. not enough bass). Its unbelievable. I played for 20 years before that with nothing but compliments...that was mostly in original bands though. But, the moral of my story is that you cant rely on an audience member because people hear what they want to hear. Alot of people want big round bass and think thats how it should be, and thats not my style at all.

bassgod0dmw · #15 07-11-2011, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PolkaHero

Clueless sound guy was running the PA. Everyone said the mix was terrible. . .

Then a doubt it's your fault that it sounded bad...

thumpbass1 · #16 07-11-2011, 08:58 AM

I wouldn't let the comments from a stranger rattle you as towards your general tone preferences. However, I know I have to tweak my tone and e.q., volume, etc, to meet the needs of the gig and the condition of the room or venue I'm playing in, and yes I do try to work with, and get along with sound techs. Still I sound like me at most gigs, and I'm usually happy with the sound I get. I think most of us here however, have had our not so good gigs where some house sound techs really should have looked for another line of work.

Nuff said about that.

One Drop · #17 07-11-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staindbass

just for fun a few weeks ago i ran pink noise thru mine with a real time analyzer on the 2x10 speaker. flattest response was with the bass on noon, mids at 9, and treble at 11.

Interesting! What frequency was the mid selector on?

PolkaHero · #18 07-11-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

Interesting! What frequency was the mid selector on?

I want to know that as well. I always set mine in the middle.

**jmattbassplaya** · #19 07-11-2011, 11:06 AM

My EQ is similar to JimmyM's, which he consistently has said sounds like the flattest SVT setting:

Bass: 9.5-11 depending on the venue/stage
Mid: 2-3
Treble: 1-2.5 or to taste for the song on hand

I'm not sure what his mid switch is set to, but mine is in the second position with the ultra low engaged and ultra high disengaged. I get a lot of punch with a full, round bottom with this setting. The high is adjusted for extra sparkle and clarity up top. I use a Fender P with chromes and a EBMM Ray with rounds.

dmusic148 · #20 07-11-2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PolkaHero

Clueless sound guy was running the PA. Everyone said the mix was terrible. . .

I think we're about done here?
As an aside, there will be spots in any room where the low end is weak, due to cancellations. This has the effect of making the mids and highs sound stronger. There's nothing you can do about this. The audience member who spoke up may have been standing in one of those spots.