Why does my rig sound so dead?

[Electricblue]

My rig (Ashdown Mag300 head, Ashdown Mag410, Ashdown Mag115) sounds really dead and uninspiring, no matter how I EQ the thing.

My Jazz has new DR rounds, and sounds nice and clear when recorded direct into my PC, so it must be the amp.

I've disconnected the tweeter due to using it as a guitar cab too, but it was really muddy to start with, just with added finger noise. All my cables are of good quality as well.

Any thoughts?

[B-string]

Maybe input set too low, compressor?

[MuzikMan]

Does it sound better with one of your cabs unplugged?

[Electricblue]

No compressor capabilty, Input is always set on max. Both on the bass, and the amp.

EDIT: Nope, it sounds no different, with both of them at ear height.

Apart from the 115 being quieter than the 410, by a small margin.

[Amok]

Wow, I don't have one of these amps, but I have never run an amp at max input setting. Hardly ever go above half (5 on scale of 10) but usually around 3. Dont see why this would give you the problem you described though.

[Electricblue]

I never have clipped it like this, so I run it I only clip it if I run full gain + stupid EQ settings :P

[JKos]

What's the VU meter indicating while you play? Sounds odd to have the input turned up all the way.

Are you plugged into the correct input? Plugging a passive bass in to the active input of this amp would definitely cause a problem. The active input has a much too low of an input impedance for passive basses. It could also explain why you need the input control all the way up.

- John

[Electricblue]

I have a passive Jazz, plugged into the Passive input. The VU meter indicates Noon while playing with my normal technique.

I only clip it a little if I put it into Series mode and really dig in.

[HeadyVan Halen]

Could be the pilot and not the plane.

[JKos]

I have a passive Jazz, plugged into the Passive input. The VU meter indicates Noon while playing with my normal technique.

Something just doesn't seem right about that. Tell us all the settings on the bass and amp, everything.

- John

[B-string]

Maybe Ashdown is not YOUR sound?
Maybe your setup on your bass or the pups (recorded will not reveal this).

[Syco_bass]

Have you tried A/B'ing it with another bass? Active/passive? Have you tried different cables? (both instrument and speaker cables) Are you using the correct speaker cables from amp to cabs, or are you using instrument cables as speaker cables?

There are many, many possibilities. You'll have to chase it down somehow. I am not familiar with your amp head, does it have tubes? You could have a capacitor going bad or it is a tube head, you could have a power tube going bad.

I would also try spraying some contact cleaner or some deoxit into the inputs/outputs. That might help as well.

All of these things are hit or miss. Hopefully you can track it down.

Good luck.

[KeithPas]

Try plugging in the active input. I use a MAG300 as my primary gigging amp and it is a very lively sounding amp with my basses.

[Electricblue]

Right.

Bass = Two jazz pickups, one master volume, one master tone, series/parallel switch. All fully on, usually in parallel.

Amp = Passive input, turned all the way up, flat EQ.

My speaker cables are nearly 2cm thick, I doubt they are instrument cables

The setup sounds just as dead when I plug straight into the effects return.

[steddy2112]

Ok, so far we get that when the EQ is flat, the bass sounds flat lol.

So am I reading correctly that you

A) have used your cab as a guitar cab?

B) have the Pre(gain, whatever you wanna call it) at max, so what about your post?

C) are you saying it plain doesn't sound good, or are you saying it's quiet?

[JKos]

What does your bass sound like plugged into a different amp setup? What does your rig sound like with a different bass?

- John

[Electricblue]

Right.

Bass = Two jazz pickups, one master volume, one master tone, series/parallel switch. All fully on, usually in parallel.

Amp = Passive input, turned all the way up, flat EQ.

My speaker cables are nearly 2cm thick, I doubt they are instrument cables

The setup sounds just as dead when I plug straight into the effects return.

[JKos]

Right.

What does your bass sound like plugged into a different amp setup? What does your rig sound like with a different bass?

- John

[BassmanPaul]

Well you've disconnected your high range drivers. You are using the poor match of a 1x15 and a 4x10. Try just the 4x10 with the tweeter connected.

[crguti]

Originally Posted by Electricblue

My rig (Ashdown Mag300 head, Ashdown Mag410, Ashdown Mag115) sounds really dead and uninspiring, no matter how I EQ the thing.

MAG... that's the problem. You should have gotten an ABM instead. Both, head and cab.