SWR fans! I need help!

chad.planet · #1 06-07-2011, 05:02 PM

I finally have all the gear I want, but something isn't sounding right.. Here's my rig current:
pre fender bass 350 chrome head.
powering a swr bigfoot (2x12) that I just got.
Musicman stingray 2005 egyptian smoke.
I have a gk 2x10 and a 4x10 i'm selling because the bigfoot sounds great. A couple of notes on my bass are extra bassy and make the cab fart out sometimes. It's no wolf notes on my bass, I set it up perfectly, tested it on other amps.. I'm thinking it's because i'm underpowering the cab.. Am i? It's rated 500w rms, it's 4 ohms so I should be pushing around 350 watts.. But I just don't feel like it's pushing it enough. I hear it's better to overpower bass speakers than underpower them. And if you think that's the case I need my swr buddies to give me advice on a step up amp from the 350 in power/tone especially! what's a good match? I'm thinking a 400, or a bass 550?.. Help please!!

Von Felgenhauer · #2 06-07-2011, 05:06 PM

You will never underpower your speakers. That is a bad myth. The speaker cabs you have just don't do well with the eq you are using. Dial back the bass and instead of boosting the bass cut treble and add some mids. The wattage rating is only a thermal rating at which the voice coil burns, but even that isn't always correct info.

chad.planet · #3 06-07-2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Felgenhauer

You will never underpower your speakers. That is a bad myth. The speaker cabs you have just don't do well with the eq you are using. Dial back the bass and instead of boosting the bass cut treble and add some mids. The wattage rating is only a thermal rating at which the voice coil burns, but even that isn't always correct info.

Yeah, that makes sense, but I pretty much have all my settings flat, with that head that usually sounds great. Besides my bass, it's active and I usually have the bass all the way up on the preamp, I guess it could be the room too? We've got bass traps on all the corners and sound pads on the walls, acoustic treatment and ceilings.. I feel like i've tried everything in the book with the eq's, so you think the head has nothing to do with it?

Gearhead17 · #4 06-07-2011, 05:14 PM

You are going from a 210 and 410 rig down to a 212 cab. You will lose low end and volume with your new setup. The tone will be different too mainly because you are dealing with a completely different cab company and design. More speakers equals more low end and more volume.

I suggest you do not boost anything below 100hz on your bass or the amp when using just one cab. In fact, turn the Bass knob to 4 or 3 on the head and you might be alright.

If you like the 212 a lot, I think you should get another since you already had a "610" previously. If you think the 212 is going to replace a 210 and 410, you might be dreaming. There are some AMAZING 212's out there, but there is a limit to how much a speaker can handle.

Gearhead17 · #5 06-07-2011, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chad.planet

Yeah, that makes sense, but I pretty much have all my settings flat, with that head that usually sounds great. Besides my bass, it's active and I usually have the bass all the way up on the preamp

Are you crazy? The Stingray's bass boost knob goes all the way down to 20hz and boosts up to around 100hz. Put the bass knob on the Stingray back to the middle setting and try everything out again. I think your problem is solved. You are pushing way too much bass into the head and the cab can not handle it.

Since you like low end, try boosting around 80-150hz instead for a thicker/bassier tone. You will surprised how good it will sound. Getting a big response down in the 30hz-60hz range may sound cool when you play by yourself, but in a live situation, it will sound like garbage and will not help you or your band mates hear what you are playing.

Von Felgenhauer · #6 06-07-2011, 05:21 PM

Like Gearhead said, don't boost anything under 100hz. Most people think they should boost a frequency when they should really be cutting the frequencies they don't want to hear. Since it's a new speaker set-up, you will have to re eq your amp. You should really change your eq for different things like different rooms, different cabs, sometimes even different bass. The trick is to listen and trust your ears, they will guide you correctly.

chad.planet · #7 06-07-2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

If you like the 212 a lot, I think you should get another since you already had a "610" previously. If you think the 212 is going to replace a 210 and 410, you might be dreaming. There are some AMAZING 212's out there, but there is a limit to how much a speaker can handle.

In this case I beg to differ a little bit, my previous cabs were 8 ohms each. this single cab is 4 ohms, and my head isn't that powerful. I was never using the 2 ten and the 4 ten together because I didn't have a head to power it, I used the 410 as a standalone and I really like the focus it had compared to the boomy 212, but I love the heart thumping lows.. I'd always wanted 12's and they're still pretty precise and responsive.. I also had a question, how's the goliath 3 410? They have one at my local GC and i'm debating trading this in.. I'll try your guys' advice though, thanks for the tips.

Von Felgenhauer · #8 06-07-2011, 05:22 PM

yes, low-mids will be his friend once he finds them...

chad.planet · #9 06-07-2011, 05:23 PM

I really appreciate the advice guys, I know I'm still learning but I'm soaking it all up, Thanks!!!

Von Felgenhauer · #10 06-07-2011, 05:25 PM

Hey man, the only way to learn is to ask and try.

chad.planet · #11 06-07-2011, 05:28 PM

But in your guys opinion, how do you think that rig combo is, i've had all kinds of things and these are what I found sound the best a dn b'ing them in shops and what not for years, would you change anything? Just curious about opinions, and thanks again.

wmheilma · #12 06-07-2011, 05:29 PM

There is a lot of knowledge on this forum. My two cents:

Keep your other cabs if you can, you never know when you'll need them! 6x10 down to 2x12 is a lot less speaker.

chad.planet · #13 06-07-2011, 05:35 PM

I had no idea stingrays bass freq even went that low, that's crazy. Yeah, I'm on this website everyday, thanks wmheilma, sometimes what you need is an outsiders opinion and i'm digging the responses

Von Felgenhauer · #14 06-07-2011, 05:36 PM

That's a really opened question. Not everyone has played an swr 350 or the 212 or even them together. I myself have only played the Swr Bass 750 and peavey T-Maxx. What kind of music do you play? Do you have hopes of gigging soon? What type of venues? That setup could be great for small gigs and maybe jazz all the way up to pop cover bands. But if you want to get into metal or maybe even dub, you might want to take gearhead's suggestion and get another 212 cab. More speakers gets you more volume quicker and easier.

JimmyM · #15 06-07-2011, 08:33 PM

If you feel you need to boost from your bass to get the sound you want, try to make them as small as possible. A little low end goes a long way in a band mix.

knigel · #16 06-07-2011, 08:46 PM

Maybe this is going to sound generic, but I had a Bigfoot with many different heads (my favorite being an Acoustic 370). Never had the 350, but I did have an SM-400.

I found that I got a great tone cutting the low bass slightly but boosting the low mids and mids with most of my heads (frowny face?). Never thought it was suitable for dub, but for most rock applications the Bigfoot had enough volume, and I rarely gig with PA support. I also think that it sits well with a band.

Also, the Acoustic was pushing 125 watts through the bigfoot, and it was bowel cleansing loud (okay, maybe not that loud, but more than enough).

bThumper38 · #17 06-07-2011, 08:57 PM

I have an old super red-head, which I believe is a slightly similar head piece, and I run it through a big bertha 2x15, sounds awesome. Get some more mids going. P.s. I'm jealous you have a big-foot, I have a workingman's 2x12, but am searching for big-foot with the bagend speakers. good luck.

knigel · #18 06-07-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bThumper38

but am searching for big-foot with the bagend speakers. good luck.

They are rarer than hen's teeth! For a while my singular focus was 2 Bigfoot (Bigfeet?) and 2 ohm heads.

Now my singular focus is never carrying heavy crap again.

Gearhead17 · #19 06-07-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chad.planet

In this case I beg to differ a little bit, my previous cabs were 8 ohms each. this single cab is 4 ohms, and my head isn't that powerful. I was never using the 2 ten and the 4 ten together because I didn't have a head to power it, I used the 410 as a standalone and I really like the focus it had compared to the boomy 212, but I love the heart thumping lows.. I'd always wanted 12's and they're still pretty precise and responsive.. I also had a question, how's the goliath 3 410? They have one at my local GC and i'm debating trading this in.. I'll try your guys' advice though, thanks for the tips.

I follow you. I do not have much experience with the Goliath 3 410's - best thing to do is try them out and see what you think. Be careful when trading in gear to GC, they are going to give you barely anything. You have a better chance selling it on your own. Whatever GC sells it for, you are lucky if you will get half of that amount.

bThumper38 · #20 06-07-2011, 09:05 PM

I know the heavy gear is so bad for the body, but it sounds so good with the reggae band.