What am I doing wrong? (adjusting EQ on new amp)

[burymeinsmoke]

The combo amp is a Peavey Tour TNT 115. I am having trouble finding a good sound (it doesn't have to be perfect) that I can play at a loud volume without it sounding like crap. I've done a lot configurations, but I still can't get it right.

I am using a passive bass (Spector Performer) until I get my other Spector's from my parent's house (I have the 2 volume and 2 tone knobs on max). My questions are: When I have the graphic EQ enabled should I turn down the LOW and HIGH knobs and then boost the mids on the graphic EQ? I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Please help. Thanks.

Here is how I have my amp set-up:
Gain = 6

Bright = enabled
Contour = disabled
Crunch = disabled

LOW knob = 1 O'clock
Graphic EQ = enabled

For the graphic EQ I have everything flat except I boosted I boosted the high mids just a little bit.

HIGH knob = 1 O'clock
Compressor = 5 O'clock

Master Volume = 3 - 4
DDT = enabled

[Structure5]

What type of sound are you going for???

[Mr. Foxen]

Being loud with one not amazing 15" speaker is probably your issue. Pull the lowest eq slider down, and point the speaker at your head. Also, favour one pickup, rather than both on max, it will give you stronger mids, where the hearing volume is.

[greenboy]

Cool looking amp, dude - there should be MANY good sounds there!

Avoid the graphic EQ until you have a good soud in the other EQ section. Once you've done that, treat the graphic EQ as a way of "channel-switching" to get an alternate tone for other songs, or solos or slapping or whatever.

Don't think in terms of rules so much. Just start conservatively from "flat" and simple for awhile, until your ear becomes attuned to what is actually going on. Then experiment more until you understand what can do what, and which you like to hear in the context of your current band. You'll find your sound[s] and it will be Good : }

[burymeinsmoke]

Thanks for the quick replies! I would like a Pantera sound, but I doubt I have the right set-up for it. I want something suitable for metal. I don't want scooped mids. I would like to have some distortion or overdrive. I think the "crunch" option on the amp isn't that great. I appreciate the advice. I am going to try out whatever suggestions anyone has for me. I am not trying to sound like a pro musician. I just want to get a good sound from the amp that I worked my behind off to purchase.

[bongomania]

If you want it loud, you will be best off adding a second speaker cab. Nothing wrong with the combo as-is, but even with the supposed 600 W, you won't be able to get the kind of loudness you'd expect from that wattage without enough speaker surface area to do an effective/good-sounding job of turning the watts into sound.

Aside from that, start with all EQ flat. Then visualize what the sound is "missing". A little more upper mids? Just nudge up the upper mids. A little less mud in the lows? Nudge down the lows. Don't start off with the two EQ's fighting each other by scooping the mids with one and boosting the mids with the other.

If you just want more loudness, generally that's not something an EQ can do for you--but there is one trick: sacrifice the lows. The low frequencies eat up most of the wattage, and they also tax the speaker hardest, and they are hardest to hear well in a gig (without enough amp/speaker support). So if you want loudness, you can trump those three problems by turning down the lows. This will direct more power into frequencies that can be heard better and can be handled better by the speaker.

[burymeinsmoke]

Originally Posted by bongomania

If you want it loud, you will be best off adding a second speaker cab. Nothing wrong with the combo as-is, but even with the supposed 600 W, you won't be able to get the kind of loudness you'd expect from that wattage without enough speaker surface area to do an effective/good-sounding job of turning the watts into sound.

Aside from that, start with all EQ flat. Then visualize what the sound is "missing". A little more upper mids? Just nudge up the upper mids. A little less mud in the lows? Nudge down the lows. Don't start off with the two EQ's fighting each other by scooping the mids with one and boosting the mids with the other.

If you just want more loudness, generally that's not something an EQ can do for you--but there is one trick: sacrifice the lows. The low frequencies eat up most of the wattage, and they also tax the speaker hardest, and they are hardest to hear well in a gig (without enough amp/speaker support). So if you want loudness, you can trump those three problems by turning down the lows. This will direct more power into frequencies that can be heard better and can be handled better by the speaker.

Thanks. That's great advice. I appreciate the help.

[Mr. Foxen]

Also, the Pantera bass sound is pretty Ampeg, so a sansamp will head the right way.

[username1]

+1 for pulling down the lowest 40hz slider. Most larger amps cant produce that frequency without mud and especially a combo unit.