Adding Warmth to my Chain

santucci218 · #1 01-15-2008, 05:26 AM

Don't really use effects pedals or rack gear. Simple setup here.

MTD Z6--Monster Cable--GK1001RBII--Speaker Cable--Avatar4x10

I was wondering what you guys would use to add warmth to tone. I love the GK growl, but if it was just a bit warmer it would be perfect for me. I dont want to do anything drastic like get a new bass, head, or cabinet. I was hoping there was maybe an effect, or tone box that i could use?

Tony G · #2 01-15-2008, 05:34 AM

Sounds like some simple eq'ing could help the situation, as well as just adjusting your playing position. Try dropping the highs just a bit and slightly boosting the lows, and moving your hand position closer to the neck pickup rather than the bridge pickup.

santucci218 · #3 01-15-2008, 05:46 AM

Leave my bridge pickup!? well...ill look into it, but im not promising anything. I really like the added tension for my fingerstyle...

Kenny Allyn · #4 01-15-2008, 06:09 AM

Here is a little device that may be just the ticket ...

Originally designed to add warmth to very sterile electronic keyboards ... it works just as well for guitar and bass. They can actually be set for no increase in gain or to add mild overdrive.

Usually can be found on the auction site pretty cheap

... Used this one for years and it's still going.

santucci218 · #5 01-15-2008, 06:14 AM

hmm seems cool, wish i could hear it though.

is there any like..Tube eq pedals for bass?

Geddyfleaharris · #6 01-15-2008, 06:20 AM

I added a Tech 21 RBI to get a little warmth in my tone (GK 1001RB-II). Really like what the RBI has added to my sound. Could have fooled with the EQ too probably but.. well... you know....GAS. But then if you go that way you will need a rack and if you buy anything more than a 4 space rack (2 spaces for the GK, 1 for venting the GK fan and 1 for the RBI) you will wonder "what else should I put in my rack?". It's a vicious cycle.

Atomicant · #7 01-15-2008, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

hmm seems cool, wish i could hear it though.

is there any like..Tube eq pedals for bass?

http://www.ehx.com/ehx2/Default.asp?...06%5FTube%5FEQ

santucci218 · #8 01-15-2008, 06:29 AM

i saw that one, but its advertised as guitar. The EQ's chosen will reflect different on bass, correct?

also, anybody ever used one?

XtraLongScale · #9 01-15-2008, 07:06 AM

I use a Music ElectroniX Submarine pedal at the end of my effects chain to warm certain sounds up right before my D.I./amp. You might want to look into one of those as well. This might sound dumb, but have you tried increasing the bass on your GK?

bongomania · #10 01-15-2008, 07:16 AM

There is a small mountain of tube preamp units you could try. Dozens. The ones that seem to get the most love here on TB are the EHX English Muff'n (with lower-gain tubes swapped in), the EBS Valvedrive, various DHA boxes, and (on the much cleaner side) the Presonus tube pre.

Personally I am a bit sick of preamp tubes for my own sound, and prefer to just give a boost in the low mids with an EQ and play near the neck pickup. That said, the fattest EQ I've heard was an ART parametric tube EQ- they're not on Ebay all the time but when they do show up they sell for super cheap.

santucci218 · #11 01-15-2008, 07:23 AM

Thank you guys, and thank you Mr. Bongomania. Ill definitally look into that stuff.

JanusZarate · #12 01-15-2008, 11:08 AM

Here's a tip you probably didn't expect to hear in this forum:

You may also want to consider looking into a different cabinet. It's easy to overlook just how much the cabinet can influence the final product.

A personal example: I salvaged an old Crate CR-60B a while back. Beat-up bass head, but still runs like it's brand new. With some cabinets, it's rather sterile, which is what I expected from an old SS Crate amp. But through my GK Neo 212, it's actually warmer and bassier. Still bright, but not as harsh as before.

Tony G · #13 01-16-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

Leave my bridge pickup!? well...ill look into it, but im not promising anything. I really like the added tension for my fingerstyle...

Yeah, why not? There is a lot of tone in your hands and where you place them, how you pluck the string, etc...however, it just sounds like you are looking to buy something to solve your problem. I'm not saying I'm not guilty of doing the same on occasion, but there a lot of cheap, or free things you can do to change your tone.

First, you could do as I suggested and just try different hand positions to see how it affects the tone. Second, if you want to buy something, strings are cheap in comparison to pedals, heads, cabs, etc. Get a nice nickel strings if you currently use Stainless, or find a warmer set of nickely strings if the nickel strings you use are too bright for your tastes.

JohnDavisNYC · #14 01-16-2008, 09:51 AM

all technique...

don't be afraid of leaving the bridge pickup... it'll be ok... we'll be here for you...

john

kesslari · #15 01-16-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Presonus tube pre.

I just picked one of these up on ebay for $30 and put it in front of my GK backline.
I really, really like the difference it made, which I would definitely describe as "warmth".
I also like that it's only 2 knobs (gain and drive) and doesn't add a whole 'nother set of EQ controls into the chain.

JanusZarate · #16 01-16-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

Leave my bridge pickup!? well...ill look into it, but im not promising anything. I really like the added tension for my fingerstyle...

Not sure how I missed that post.

Try strings with higher tension, or even a higher gauge. If your strings are flopping around like mad any time you leave the bridge position, you may want something more resilient.