Thunderfunk Growl

[Jirishman]

I was wondering if anyone can recommend EQ settings to coax some good growl on a TF550b. I have tried different settings (all with good results) but wouldn't say I've hit the nail on the head.
Playing a Gibson Thunderbird through two TC Electronic cabs.
Thanks for the help!

[RickenBoogie]

Not real familiar with ThunderFunk, but I believe they are known for super Hi-Fi clean tones. You might consider a light overdrive pedal in front of the amp.

[4-string]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Not real familiar with ThunderFunk, but I believe they are known for super Hi-Fi clean tones. You might consider a light overdrive pedal in front of the amp.

+1. I found nothing but clean in the TF I had. For me, that is entirely a good thing, but for those who crave some dirt a pedal is it.

[Jirishman]

Let me rephrase: Can anyone recommend TF EQ settings to enhance the inherent growl of a Thunderbird?

[Wes Whitmore]

Does your Thunderbird growl how you want it when plugged directly into a PA, test mixer, or right into the efx return of the TF? Preamps do mask/change EQ curves, so make sure you are happy with what you are starting with, then go from there.
Wes

[Jirishman]

Does your Thunderbird growl how you want it when plugged directly into a PA, test mixer, or right into the efx return of the TF?

I actually just had new Thunderbuckers placed in my 90s tbird, so to be honest I haven't given them a full test drive yet. I did run the bass through headphones and found they do produce a very nice ringing, piano-like growl.

However when I plugged it into the Thunderfunk yesterday at practice, I couldn't quite duplicate that sound. I understand the TF550 is clean, but I figured with its powerful EQ I would able to coax something out of it.
I'm not worried about the dirt part, I have a VT bass pedal for that, but I would like to achieve that piano growl with the pedal switched off.

[Wes Whitmore]

Try through the efx return and see what you get, then report back. I have a hard time using headphones because bass sounds bad in most of them. What kind are you using? Is your cab "growl" proven?

[watspan]

Chef had a setting where you turn the enhance all the way up, timbre two clicks to the left, boost the 40hz and one other high hz setting I forget--maybe he'll weigh in.

[otherclef]

I had TBF550A for while... punchy clean all the way up.
I replaced it with a Demeter VTBP-201 and QSC.
I would have loved to hold on to it though..

[Jirishman]

Definitely no problems with the cabs, I usually run the amp through a TCE rs212, very rich sounding for how small it is. However we have a big show tomorrow and I think I'll use my rs210 as well for added punch.

Normally this problem would be solved with my Terror Bass, but honestly I'm a little wary of it because it was cutting out last practice. I'd rather just not chance it and the TF has always been reliable.

[GBassNorth]

I've only been able to get clean, deep deep clean tones out of my Thunderfunk 420. Now with a VT pedal it's a different story. However, I don't have a Tbird to run thru it so no help there. I can try a number of settings with my Warwick Thumb tonight to see if I can get it to growl like it does in my SVT-VR rig, but I kind of doubt the Thunderfunk will get that nasty.

[Lync]

I get what you are saying, you want to hear the growl of the instrument, not from the amp. The T-funk is good for that. Try using your headphones from the amp itself. Could be the cab is limiting you?

On my 420, I keep enhance all the way off and bring it up slowly depending on the bass. Then, I use Timbre to add heft to the tone without getting too boomy. That's it. Everything else flat.

[Jirishman]

I get what you are saying, you want to hear the growl of the instrument, not from the amp. The T-funk is good for that. Try using your headphones from the amp itself. Could be the cab is limiting you?

Thanks for the tip! It just occurred to me I didn't think to adjust the coaxial tweeter on the RS cabs. Perhaps if I open it up some, that will help.

[RickC]

How high are you running the preamp volume? I keep mine at 3:00 for passive instruments. Enhance at 12:00. I also like to add some boost on the leftmost parametric halfway between 60 and 80 and the next one in between 150 and 180; the amount of boost tweaked depending on the bass, cabs, and room but always at those frequencies. I have no trouble getting growl with those settings.

/rick

[Jirishman]

Perhaps boosting low mids would help obtain some growl? What frequencies would I want to boost? Thanks for all the help.