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List of EQ frequencies to accomplish diff things on bass?

mikeddd

mikeddd

Nov 12, 2009
2,161
63
San Antonio, TX
#1
Awhile back someone posted in a thread here (yeah, descriptive, I know) a list of EQ frequencies to cut/boost in order to accomplish different things. The list was very descriptive. Something along the lines of (freqs not correct, obviously)

100Hz cuts "woof"
80Hz adds depth
Cutting 1K reduces gank
Boosting 800Hz "does this"
Boosting 2KHz adds "tingle" to slap

Real descriptive like that.

I go into EQ meltdown when trying to adjust the tone controls and parametric on my HBP-1. I get a good sound, but then I want another type of sound and spend the next week trying to figure things out. A list like I described would be helpful...I've seen it here before but can't find it now.
 
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#4
I have found this guide to be quite useful.

30Hz - 80Hz: The sub-bass region. Be careful when boosting in this range; your speakers might not be happy if you boost too much.

80Hz - 150Hz: The bass region. Boost and cut in this region to change the amount of bass in your sound.

150Hz - 500Hz: If your bass sounds too muddy, try cutting in this region. If it needs a little warmth, try boosting in this region.

500Hz - 900Hz: Boosting in this region can add mid-range growl to your tone. Cutting in this region can make things clean and pristine.

900Hz - 3kHz: Boosting in this region can bring out attack. Cutting in this region can help create a rounder tone.

Above 3kHz: Cutting can bring down the noise without much effect on the signal. Boosting can add a sense of air and space.

:cool:
 
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#6
30hz to 60hz: MOST bass rigs CAN NOT do this range of sound too well. Some bass rigs can. Boosting here will add more depth to your tone, but can easily push your rig to the max if you are not careful. Best to not boost this zone too often, if at all.

200hz to 400hz - The magic zone for bass players. Thickens up finger style bass lines. Too much here will cause your tone to sound really muddy. Just enough here will allow you to sit in the mix quite nicely.

500hz to 800hz - Between nasal and string growl. Hard to explain, but do not cut too much here if you are trying to CUT THROUGH a mix. However, reduce this range if your guitarists are midrange heavy players and instead focus playing with the low mids and low end of your bass.

900hz to 3khz is the edgy and bright attack range that will allow your finger style notes to have definition and will allow your pick playing tones to stand out.

4khz to 10khz: Adds fingerboard noise along with more clarity on high notes. Comes through your tweeter. Sounds terrible with a distortion effect pedal - for some, this is a desirable effect.

Start with EQ knobs at the flat position for that particular amp. Small adjustments will get you what you want tone wise.
 
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#8
IvanMike said:
Here ya go -

just remember, there are no set in stone rules. Your bass, amp, speakers, and style will have an impact on the tone. Also, not all eq's are created equal, some do a much better job than others.

Lows - 60 Hz - 120 Hz. This is where the fundamentals (lowest harmonics) of your bass notes are. Most of the power and depth of your tone is here too. Boosting at the low end of this range can give you a lot of depth, but may be too much for your cabinets. Boosting at the upper end of this range can give you a “full” tone, but often becomes “muddy“. Cutting the lows can tighten up your sound, and give you more room to turn your amp up.

Low Mids - 120 Hz - 600 Hz. Boosting somewhere in the 120 Hz - 360 Hz range can give you a rounder, more present and defined tone. These are the fundamentals of the high-register notes on the bass. Too much can get “cloudy” sounding. Scooping 120 to 360 Hz can tighten tone down low, but might make upper-register fills disappear in the mix. From 350 Hz - 600 Hz there can be a lot of “quack” and “honk” and a lot of people cut here a bit. However, boosting 500 Hz with the bridge pickup soloed can give you a great “jaco” tone.

High Mids - 600 Hz - 3 kHz. Boosting somewhere from 600 Hz - 1 kHz can bring out higher harmonics add some growl and edge, and help you cut through. Sometimes this gets too harsh though. Cutting there can open up the tone a bit. Boosting around 1 kHz - 3 kHz can add string noise and get harsh as well, but can add a lot of definition and snap. Cutting here “mellows out” the tone.

Highs - 3 kHz - 20 kHz. Boosting around 4 kHz can add a lot of brilliance and presence, but finger noise can be a bit much. Likewise, cutting here can remove a lot of “clatter”. Boosting above 4 kHz usually adds “sparkle” and “air”, but can get noisy and add a lot of hiss. Unless you use a tweeter, you wont hear much from this range anyway.
Click to expand...
:bassist:
 
#9
Your Demeter HBP-1 has tone controls that are not 'flat' set at straight up noon. But you probably knew that. During the time that I owned (and enjoyed) mine, I called James himself and got his recommendation for as close to a 'flat' setting as possible.

Parametric: off
Presence: off
Treble: 11:00 o'clock
Mids: 3:00 o'clock
Bass: 1:00 o'clock

For me this was a great starting point in getting to know that preamp. :)

M. M.
 
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#11
I cut'n'pasted this ages ago from somewhere. It's for recording, but it could give you a few ideas to try....


E.Q.ing
Start by rolling all the bottom off (from 100Hz and lower) then use the "low-mid" E.Q. to find the bass sound you want. Then slowly dial back the low frequencies to taste. Most of the "punch" comes from the "low-mid" range.

Cut "highs" during mixing. A bass track that sounds good "soloed" is NOT appropriate for many mixes. Cut the deep lows (150Hz and below.) They can swamp the playback equipment. Boost 1 to 2kHz for "fret noise" (may sound ugly "soloed" but adds articulation in the mix !) Try to cut and bring level up rather than boost. Make sure "kick" & "bass" aren't in the same area of the spectrum.

The lower the volume the quieter the low frequencies. Check mix at different volumes.
E.Q. settings should be finalized in the context of the complete mix.

BEATLE BASS - Boost 100Hz by 2 or 3dB, (if you don't use a pick then boost 3kHz by 3 to 6dB.) To make "smoother & warmer" cut 12 to 18kHz ("hi eq") by 6dB.

SILLY LOVE TONE (McCartney) - (Similar to Beatle Bass with more warmth.) Boost 100Hz by a few dB then boost 500Hz by 6dB or so. Cut 300Hz by about 3dB and cut 12kHz by 6dB. [Good for ballads, rockin' blues or shuffle.]
BASS IN YOUR FACE (Aggressive John Entwistle sound.) - Boost 1 to 2 kHz by 6 to 9dB. Cut 200Hz by 6dB. For more "brittle" sound cut 100Hz by 2 or 3dB. This will help a busy bass line to slice through the mix.

TWANG THANG (C&W"ish") - To accentuate "twang" : Cut 200 to 250Hz by 6dB or so. (Good for reducing "mud".) Boost equivalent amount of 1kHz for "twang". Boost 100Hz by 1 or 2dB.

MO-BETTER MOTOWN (OR REGGAE) - (Smooth muted tone.) Cut 1kHz by 5 or 6dB. Boost 200Hz by 3dB. Boost 100Hz slightly. Cut high end ("hi eq") by 6dB or so. For "reggae" sound - boost a few more "dB's" of "low end".

MOTOWN (More punchy and aggressive.) - As above but instead of cutting 1kHz, cut 5kHz by 6dB or more. (Both the "mo-better motown" & "motown" sounds work nicely in a mix cluttered with mid-range elements such as guitar, piano & horns.)

JACO JAZZ (Jazz sound) (also good for fretless bass) - Boost 1kHz by 6dB or so. Cut 200Hz by as much as 9dB or more. Boost 100Hz by 1 or 2dB. Cut 12kHz ("hi eq") by 1 or 2dB. For "Marcus Miller" sound - cut at 800Hz rather than 200Hz.
 
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#12
Many bass amps have a built-in notch around 400-500 Hz, e.g. the classic "Fender tone stack", where the best approximation to "flat" is 1 bass - 10 mid - 1 treble. This is a range where other instruments (and voice) dominate, so you don't need or want a whole lot of it to fit in the mix.

I personally don't care for amps with that built-in cut. I want to be able to adjust the depth of the cut, occasionally (but not often) dialing it out altogether.
 
#15
Actually, I did NOT know that, so thanks very much, blowinblue!

Great posts so far. Thank you everyone.

blowinblue said:
Your Demeter HBP-1 has tone controls that are not 'flat' set at straight up noon. But you probably knew that. During the time that I owned (and enjoyed) mine, I called James himself and got his recommendation for as close to a 'flat' setting as possible.

Parametric: off
Presence: off
Treble: 11:00 o'clock
Mids: 3:00 o'clock
Bass: 1:00 o'clock

For me this was a great starting point in getting to know that preamp. :)

M. M.
Click to expand...
 
#17
I always liked the way some manufacturers do it, where they give you the settings for that device to his a certain sound, like page 19 here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] or pages 4 and 5 here Invalid Link Removed. Of course, these "presets" don't give you the knowledge to do troubleshooting (like how to cut rumble or cut hiss, for a couple of obvious ones), but they do give most people what they want.
 
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#20
It can help to practice with recorded music you know well through headphones or speakers you know well too. 31 bands are cheap, and even though not as precise as a good para can really give you a feel for each freq.
 

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