Stingray clipping amp

DrewGK · #1 11-03-2010, 07:17 PM

Hey all

I recently got a Ray and its my first active bass. I LOVE it. However when I use it with my GK 700rb-II i run into some issues.

Ive used the active pad, but it seems to suck some tone out of the bass (let alone the massive volume drop) but when I play it without the pad on, hard playing will clip the amp, even when the volume knob on the bass is turned down.

What would you recommend I do? maybe my settings on the amp are causing this?

ihixulu · #2 11-03-2010, 07:25 PM

How is your eq set on the bass and the amp?

DrewGK · #3 11-03-2010, 07:34 PM

flat on both pretty much

the pad takes care of it but at -14db it really sucks tone

i thjk its a matter of me understanding the difference between the volume and boost on GK amps

funkybassinator · #4 11-03-2010, 07:44 PM

it's not volume or boost. -14db doesn't suck tone, it just lowers the gain threshold. to set input level (gain), you should be using the volume knob near the input jack. That's the gain knob on the 700rb. The boost is some IC that just introduces some harmonic stuff and other things. Tweeter and boosters are a split master knob.

KJung · #5 11-04-2010, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewGK

Hey all

I recently got a Ray and its my first active bass. I LOVE it. However when I use it with my GK 700rb-II i run into some issues.

Ive used the active pad, but it seems to suck some tone out of the bass (let alone the massive volume drop) but when I play it without the pad on, hard playing will clip the amp, even when the volume knob on the bass is turned down.

What would you recommend I do? maybe my settings on the amp are causing this?

You are misusing the controls. The pad is to lower a very hot signal prior to it hitting the pre gain circuit in those rare cases when you turn the pre gain almost off and still hear distortion. When you engage the input pad, you will have to crank the pre gain to bring the signal back up to the optimal level. That's what the knob is for.

If you are clipping the input that hard, my guess is you have the bass control cranked on your MM... typically not a good idea tonally in a mix anyway.

That being said, just crank the gain to 'make-up' for the 15db input signal drop... that's how it works

Gasman · #6 11-04-2010, 05:56 AM

Never dime the volume on a stingray. It took me a long time to figure this out, but doing so will result in a buzzy, overdriven sound. Not necessarily clipping, but take the volume down 10% and see what happens.

bassgod0dmw · #7 11-04-2010, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gasman

Never dime the volume on a stingray. It took me a long time to figure this out, but doing so will result in a buzzy, overdriven sound. Not necessarily clipping, but take the volume down 10% and see what happens.

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you on this one. I've never gotten an unwanted buzzy/overdriven sound from having my volume on full, and I've owner quite a few Stingrays. You can easily get that tone if you want to, but it's usually attributed to the EQ or a dying battery.

In either case, I don't think that's the OP's problem.

KJung · #8 11-04-2010, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you on this one. I've never gotten an unwanted buzzy/overdriven sound from having my volume on full, and I've owner quite a few Stingrays. You can easily get that tone if you want to, but it's usually attributed to the EQ or a dying battery.

In either case, I don't think that's the OP's problem.

+1 Used my 76 MM and 90's era 5 string wide open with no problems.

Gasman · #9 11-04-2010, 07:43 AM

I agree that it's not what's causing the OP's problem, but I actually got the tip from the EB forum from Sterling Ball himself. It worked for me, but if it's not an issue for you, that's even better!

KJung · #10 11-04-2010, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gasman

I agree that it's not what's causing the OP's problem, but I actually got the tip from the EB forum from Sterling Ball himself. It worked for me, but if it's not an issue for you, that's even better!

The good news is with the active pre, you won't lose any top end by dialing it down just a touch, so I agree... if it works better that way for some, zero issue

Bassmec · #11 11-04-2010, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you on this one. I've never gotten an unwanted buzzy/overdriven sound from having my volume on full, and I've owner quite a few Stingrays. You can easily get that tone if you want to, but it's usually attributed to the EQ or a dying battery.

In either case, I don't think that's the OP's problem.

I had an old 2 band stingray that went open circuit on one of the pickup windings in the middle of a gig.
The volume dropped quite a bit and then it sounded quite like a very early telecaster bass.
most of the stingray's that turn up in the studios are capable of running out of headroom in the onboard pre amp with the volume dime'd and of course then you often discover the eq has also been used as a volume control.
Things can get quite clipped, before it even leaves the bass guitar, new batteries not withstanding.