Vintage SVT & P Bass too boomy - need advice on settings and more

yeahman · #1 10-19-2011, 06:00 PM

I'm basically a guitarist turned bass player and while I've always had a bass lying around until I started playing bass more seriously I never paid too much attention to details. Now for example string to string balance is driving me crazy

This is gonna be a longer read as I hope that the knowledgeable people on here will either be able to help or plain tell me that I'm overfocused on a bunch ofthings (or that the problem simply can't be solved..). Here we go:

I mainly use P Basses and have picked up a few great ones over the years (70's USA and 80's AVs and Fender JVs and most recently a beautiful '63) and bought and sold many more. I'm fairly certain I have experimented enough with pickup height and different string makers that I should know already, but whatever I do, I always end up with a few frets sounding overly boomy, mostly in the same areas (ie. from G on upwards on the E-string, or sometimes the whole E-string, but it gets boomier the more I approach the 12th fret) while others (notably the A-D notes on the A-string) seem to lack the same heart-shaking frequencies. It always varies a bit, but I never get a constant balance in the lower frequencies. These basic symptoms always remain, no matter what I change (strings, pickups, pickup height or the bass, or amp control settings - well, I can take all the bass out but that's not really the point

). In my living room I use an old B15 (now running perfectly thanks to many great inputs on here on getting the cab rattle-free!) and I 'test' the problem by simply resting a foot lightly to the grill. I can feel the boomy notes when my foot shake (BTW I don't think I'm talking about dead spots, there is never an audible difference in volume or sound itself unless it's in band context where the boomy notes obviously stick out). With the band I'm lucky enough to have been able to get a '76 SVT I once helped an old bass player buy back after a few detours. It's plugged into a 2003 AV 8x10 cab. I just found out that these aren't exactly sought after because of the OSB construction but I couldn't really complain about it either (on a recent tour overseas I used a LOUD SVT AV rig and experienced the same problems) - but I did actually think I was buying a plywood cab at the time, oh well.

Anyways, however I set the tone controls on the SVT (or the B15 for that matter), the problem remains - or seems to remain. Which is where all you guys' experience comes in: is there maybe a setting I haven't thought of or is it possible that I always place the amp so wrong in a room that it acts as described? It might have to do with sound projection? Or am I simply trying to get something perfect that can't be done? Thanks for any advice!

Ps. here's a pic of the rig to render the long read less painful

**garmenteros** · #2 10-19-2011, 06:06 PM

I wouldn't worry about it. Nothing you can't fix with EQ or a more balanced string set or slight technique change. No one can tell in a mix and after all that experimenting and tweaking most people won't be able to notice with the bass isolated either.

will33 · #3 10-19-2011, 06:52 PM

Some of it is just how a bass plays. For example, play a B, 7th fret on the E string and a B, 2nd fret on the A string. Same B, different sounds. One is a fatter string vibrating over a shorter distance, the other a thinner string vibrating over a longer distance, different harmonic content, totally different sound even though it's the same note. One way may work bettef for one song/style, the other better for another song/style.

Not saying that's your whole problem but it's just how a bass works. Keep at it. Assuming everything is working good you've got a helluva a nice rig there, shohld be fine. Try different things and post more questions/problems/solutions/settings, etc.

James Judson · #4 10-19-2011, 07:08 PM

You have just described a P-bass into Ampeg gear. Your gonna rattle windows, If you look at your beer on the table you'll think a T-Rex is comming. The whole room is gonna pulse to your bass line. No trouble in the mix cuz nobody else is down there. Simple design that just plain works. Thats why so many bass players love that combo.

Me??? I like a Jazz bass into a little more contemporary system (GK, SWR, Eden). When I play a line I want my audience to hear the melody I'm laying down. But I always remember my job is rattling windows and making people look to see how close T-Rex is.

That rig you got, many people would die to get there hands on.

will33 · #5 10-19-2011, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Judson

You have just described a P-bass into Ampeg gear. Your gonna rattle windows, If you look at your beer on the table you'll think a T-Rex is comming. The whole room is gonna pulse to your bass line. No trouble in the mix cuz nobody else is down there. Simple design that just plain works. Thats why so many bass players love that combo.

Me??? I like a Jazz bass into a little more contemporary system (GK, SWR, Eden). When I play a line I want my audience to hear the melody I'm laying down. But I always remember my job is rattling windows and making people look to see how close T-Rex is.

That rig you got, many people would die to get there hands on.

+1

Very well put.

JimmyM · #6 10-19-2011, 11:37 PM

I've had very good success with a Precision and an SVT/810 using what I think are pretty close to near-flat settings....treble at 2:00, bass at 11:00, mids at 3:00 with the selector in the middle position. This will vary a bit with different SVT's and cabs, but I've found it to be a pretty cool starting point.

walterw · #7 10-19-2011, 11:52 PM

it's a big ol' tube rig with a 50-year-old design bass pumping through it!

you're obsessing over minor details IMO. if each string is in general the same volume (something you adjust with the pickup height) and the low notes are in general the same volume as each other and the high notes (something you adjust for the room you're in with EQ), then just play the thing, confident that you're kicking butt with glorious tone, and stop worrying if one frequency happens to excite a room mode a little more than another.

you've got the les paul-thru-marshall of bass rigs; don't worry about it, rock it!

smo · #8 10-20-2011, 03:12 AM

Like they said.....

Maybe try using a smaller gauge E string and lowering the pup. Other than that, I'm sure you've tried EQ'ing so we wouldn't be able to help you there.
Because the ol' SVT's have so much bottom end, I do find you have to be really careful on where the cab goes.........no corner's!

I rock the same setup minus the 8x10 (sealed 4x12 instead) and it is a very P-bass like thing as far as I can tell.
After trying Stingrays and a few other basses, I always come back to the P. Just love the huge bottom and top end more than any other bass out there.
I guess it's just inherent in the setup you have.....

Sinomis666 · #9 10-20-2011, 04:03 AM

Yeah try adjusting the pup heights I use the 57 pup & it makes the E & A string a lot closer in bombiness then just try raisin D&G pick up to it's even sounding, but otherwise pj set ups are the best option thoughI'm not a huge fan of the pj ( lose to many mids)

yeahman · #10 10-20-2011, 05:12 AM

Wow, thanks for the enouraging advice!

So I pretty much have a confirmation that I was obsessing over a minor/natural thing.
I noticed placing the SVT away from corners and not close to any walls in general helps elminating some of the boomyness.

The one thing that will continue to bother me a little bit is the 'intra-string' preceived volume/frequencies (ie. the C on the A-string is mostly not nearly as bassy as the E on the same string), as everything else I can work around with settings, different strings and pickup height, but I suppose there's no remedy to that one?

4-string · #11 10-20-2011, 05:18 AM

P-bass and SVT is a pretty safe recipe for boomy though, IMO.

A cut around 100-180hz or so might be worth a try.

yeahman · #12 10-20-2011, 05:24 AM

Haha, don't get me wrong - I like boomy! I would just like it to be similarly boomy over one whole string

I'm gonna try the 100-180hz cut, thanks!

Crater · #13 10-20-2011, 06:13 AM

You might try a compressor to even out the volume difference between strings. The new MXR bass compressor is supposed to be a good one, but I have no experience with it personally.

Jonyak · #14 10-20-2011, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I've had very good success with a Precision and an SVT/810 using what I think are pretty close to near-flat settings....treble at 2:00, bass at 11:00, mids at 3:00 with the selector in the middle position. This will vary a bit with different SVT's and cabs, but I've found it to be a pretty cool starting point.

I have a 62 reissue p bass and a 74 SVT/810e and I always set mine up with treble at 12, mids at 2 (selector in the middle position) and bass at 12. Seems to work really well for me.

I recently picked up a SVT-cl with a 410HLF and have had to rethink my setting. I usualy set the bass at 11, with the mids and treble at the same as my other svt. I find the HLF a very boomy cabinet.

Russell L · #15 10-20-2011, 06:29 AM

I've had that boominess before, even in my Markbass rig the other night. It felt like only the notes on the E-string did it. What helped was to roll off some bottom.

DRafalske · #16 10-20-2011, 06:31 AM

Bah, don't listen to any of these guys. The only real solution to your problem would be to send that rig to me for proper, um, disposal. Yeah.

JK. You've gotten a lot of sound advice. I've nothing to add except that's certainly a rig to be proud of!

D

nysbob · #17 10-20-2011, 06:41 AM

I think what you're describing is more attributable to the P bass than the amp. There are basses that will give you a more "even" response from top to bottom...but quite honestly I love the P bass for it's anomalies. As stated above, a lot has to do with what part of the string you're playing on and it's harmonic characteristics.

You're playing a benchmark rig, but it might not be the best for YOUR tastes.

Randall · #18 10-20-2011, 08:27 AM

It is something you can use to your advantage. The sound of a open "a" string is quite different than "A" played on the "E" string. Same note different feel and vibe.

jmpiwonka · #19 10-20-2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I've had very good success with a Precision and an SVT/810 using what I think are pretty close to near-flat settings....treble at 2:00, bass at 11:00, mids at 3:00 with the selector in the middle position. This will vary a bit with different SVT's and cabs, but I've found it to be a pretty cool starting point.

sounds about right to me...

coreyfyfe · #20 10-20-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I've had very good success with a Precision and an SVT/810 using what I think are pretty close to near-flat settings....treble at 2:00, bass at 11:00, mids at 3:00 with the selector in the middle position. This will vary a bit with different SVT's and cabs, but I've found it to be a pretty cool starting point.

That's about the same settings I use, a little less treble and a little more bass since I'm using stainless rounds and have a very aggressive sounding 70s p-bass, but basically the same thing. The SVT definitely delivers a lot of low end if you let it get out of control.