Need some advice

merrill2121 · #1 11-21-2010, 03:18 PM

Ok guys,

I'm looking for some of your opinions here. I am looking to spend about $200, and don't need to put it towards a new bass or amp. My question is what do you think is the best way to spend this money towards being able to shape/improve my tone? I am looking for specific items, and I figured the answer would probably be some type of pedal or preamp, so I posted in this forum.

I'm not looking for a specific tone (overdrive, wah, octave, etc), more something to enable me to shape and improve my raw tone, and maybe provide the ability to get a really crunchy distorted tone, but not too much. Sorry if I'm not being clear, I have a hard time translating sounds to words haha.

I have been looking at the sansamp bass driver di, and have heard good things about it.

What do you guys think?

EDIT: thread resurrected, new question below about MXR m-80

Insouciance · #2 11-21-2010, 03:21 PM

That is a great place to start. The BDDI gets A LOT of praise here on TB.

ga_edwards · #3 11-21-2010, 04:20 PM

Sorry if this sounds rude (like you say, can be difficult putting things into words sometimes) but I'm confused. But you say you don't need to put money towards a new bass or amp which infers you're happy with those items, yet you want to spend money on improving your tone, which tells me you're not happy with your tone.

If you're not happy with your raw tone, then I would seriously look at changing a component of your rig, either bass, amp or cab rather than buying a box to try to give you the sound you're not getting.

However, if you like the general sound you have but you're finding your amp's controls aren't flexible enough to dial it in 'just so', perhaps a parametric eq might be in order.

merrill2121 · #4 11-21-2010, 05:28 PM

Well your right, I did contradict myself haha. I guess I feel like my rig is in the intermediate range at best, and I just don't have the money right now to take it to the next level. I'm playing an LTD b-254 through an early 90's (I think) peavey tnt 130. I'm loud enough to be heard but my tone is what I would call decent.

I feel like upgrading my gear to the next level is out of my financial means, and so I'm kind of looking for an "easy fix". Maybe the best thing to do is save my money until I can get a nice bass or amp (would be at least 5-6 months), but I just started playing with a couple guys (drums and guitar/vocals) for the first time in awhile and I'm just not completely happy with the sound I'm putting out.

ga_edwards · #5 11-21-2010, 05:34 PM

As someone who has spent a small fortune on 'easy fixes' I really would advise saving money and waiting till you can get what you really need and live with what you've got for the time being.

merrill2121 · #6 11-21-2010, 05:57 PM

Yeah I see what you mean. I have heard in most cases an amp will influence the tone produced much more than the bass itself. What do you think about this?

Based on the rig I am using, would you recommend a bass or amp upgrade, because I will only be able to afford one if I'm going high end.

ga_edwards · #7 11-22-2010, 05:54 AM

I've never used either your bass or amp type so I couldn't comment. But for me, that amp would be underpowered. For small gigs it's probably fine, but up against a powerful drummer and couple of guitars it's going to struggle. If you find it sounds great at home but struggles at gigs/band practice, this may be a reason you're not happy with the sound. Pushing it harder than it's 'optimum' operating parameters is going to have a detrimental effect on it's tonal quality.

Also, how do you use the amp's eq? It seems to be quite flexible for tone sculpting with a parametric mid. My old amp had a similar eq section. What I used to do is crank up the mid level, and turn the frequency knob till I found a particularly horrible sound - you know, that horrible nasal, resonant boxy sound - if not, you'll know it when you find it. Once you've dialed that in, reduce the mid level to bit below 12.00 to cut it out. Your tone should sound sound a lot more pleasant.

Another tip when buying amps (or basses and effects for that matter). Set all knobs to their neutral position. If you don't like the inherent, natural sound of it, move along. It really is a waste of time and effort trying to dial in a sound that the amp doesn't naturally produce. Also, if you have to crank a particular part of the amp, say one or the eq knobs to get 'that sound', you're not going to have much wiggle room when you try and dial in a similar sound at a different venue. To paraphrase spinal tap, if it's turned up all the way, where can you go from there?

merrill2121 · #8 12-25-2010, 08:10 PM

So I got an MXR m-80 for christmas woo!

I've been messing around with it and am very happy with the tone but I have one disappointment: plugged into headphones I'm only getting sound from the left side. I compared this with a small practice amp that I have lying around, plugged it in, sound comes great through headphones from both sides.

Then, I plug into the m-80 with the same headphones, same cable and only sound from one side. This is strange, any ideas?

FunkyBassline · #9 12-25-2010, 08:17 PM

Just as a suggestion check into a Mesa Walkabout... I got mine used for 500 here on TB, I never thought I would find such a cheap amp for my dream tone but it absolutely NAILS it. It even does a freakin' awesome overdrive tone.

EDIT: It's loud enough for small gigs and loud drummers, my current one is the loudest ive played with, and I don't have any problems being heard... it also has a nice DI and bare minimum eq controls, which after owning an SVT 3Pro is a blessing in disguise

cultrvultr · #10 12-25-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merrill2121

Then, I plug into the m-80 with the same headphones, same cable and only sound from one side. This is strange, any ideas?

The M-80 is not a headphone amp, it's a preamp. You'll need to plug it into something else (amp, mixer, interface) to use headphones.

ilovenofrets · #11 12-25-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merrill2121

Well your right, I did contradict myself haha. I guess I feel like my rig is in the intermediate range at best, and I just don't have the money right now to take it to the next level. I'm playing an LTD b-254 through an early 90's (I think) peavey tnt 130. I'm loud enough to be heard but my tone is what I would call decent.

I feel like upgrading my gear to the next level is out of my financial means, and so I'm kind of looking for an "easy fix". Maybe the best thing to do is save my money until I can get a nice bass or amp (would be at least 5-6 months), but I just started playing with a couple guys (drums and guitar/vocals) for the first time in awhile and I'm just not completely happy with the sound I'm putting out.

Another guy here recommended a parametric EQ. I would be inclined to agree. If not, possibly try a Boss ODB-3 Bass Overdrive. You can get a nice edge in your tone, or keep the gain at a lower setting to get some oomph. This pedal also features a 2-band EQ, which most overdrives don't offer, and will obviously help to shape your tone as well. And don't be afraid to experiment with strings. Roundwounds(pure nickel, nickel plated steel, stainless steel), flats, half-rounds, nylon tapewounds. That choice, like any gear or accessory, is a matter of trying them out and finding your personal preference. Hope this helps. Cheers!!!

Lowbrow · #12 12-25-2010, 11:17 PM

With $200 I'd try a regular SansAmp VT Bass. It's a great tone shaper and optional overdriver, right in your price range.

WaldoNova · #13 12-26-2010, 06:47 AM

I love buying new effects pedals but didn't start doing it until I had quality basses and amp.

The Sansamp bddi or vt, a radial tonebone, an EQ or even a Source Audio Multiwave Distortion pro would help control the front end of your sound so you could reduce the harshness that your Peavey may be producing and some would provide a quality DI(like the M-80 which from what I hear is a quality unit). Good Luck

cheapbasslovin · #14 12-26-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaldoNova

I love buying new effects pedals but didn't start doing it until I had quality basses and amp.

I only mostly agree with this. I have a EHX English Muff'n that has become my preamp. It doesn't matter what I plug my bass into, I like the way it sounds better with the Muff'n before it.

Right now I am using a Genz Benz combo, a Peavey Combo 300 and an old Bassman 10, depending on my mood. I like the sound of all three of them with the Muff'n in front. I am using the Genz to gig because I don't need much volume and it has the most versatile sound. The point is maybe a preamp with a specific set of properties may help him in a way that a new amp wont.

Having rambled on about that, an inadequate amp is an inadequate amp, and the preamp search should definitely come after the adequate amp search. If you are barely keeping up or are looking for a broad, even sound, I would suspect the Peavey isn't the right choice for you.

To the OP, M80 isn't a headphone amp, you need to run it into something else for full headphone function, as cultrvultr said earlier.

merrill2121 · #15 12-27-2010, 09:15 AM

Thanks for the help guys.

It would be ideal if I could get full headphone functionality out of my m-80, what is the easiest and/or cheapest way to get this? (my amp does not have a headphone jack)