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Adjusting To Backlines (Ampeg Owner Advice Requested)

L

LBass

Sep 23, 2008
80
0
Los Angeles
#1
I am always really grateful when clubs I play at have a good backline. Just show up with my bass and I am good to go!

As you might guess a lot of the clubs have Ampeg gear, which is nice, but I always seem to have a hard time getting the sound I want. Unfortunately a lot of times I only get a "line check" rather than a proper sound check so I don't have the luxury of really experimenting with the settings.

I find that the lows (and mid-lows probably) tend to just get away from me and things get really boomy. When I pull back on the lows and/or low-mids it seems like all of a sudden the mids get really tinny. How do I get a deep, but focused sound on an Ampeg set up?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know there is a lot of variety in this, but if anyone out there has a default ampeg head setup I would love to hear what it is so I can try that as a starting point.

I use Markbass cabs and both an F1 and Eden WT-405 heads. I mostly use a 70's slab p-bass with flats. I don't think it is the room either as I have found this phenomenon in a number of venues and have not encountered it with my rig or with SWR and Aguilar backlines. Also, one club here has an 8x10 Ampeg cab and no head. This cab sounds GREAT with the F1 or the Eden.

Thanks TB Braintrust! (sorry for the long post too!)
 
#2
I know the feeling. I used a lot of rented Ampeg rigs as well. But I don't like the 810e cabs since 2002 because they're really boomy and have very little high end. I like the older ones much better. And I'm familiar with the sound you've got as well because I use P's sometimes with flats, and I've played a lot of Markbass and Eden stuff. Anyway, what I would do is to roll off the bass knob to taste, put the mid selector straight up (straight up is 800 hz for both the CL and VR), and boost that a bit, then boost the treble a little to taste. Markbass cabs seem to have a big 800 hz hump so boosting that on the SVT will help get a little more of that sound back.
 
#4
Thanks Jimmy, glad to know I am not alone! Great point about 800 hz bump, I think that will be useful.

BTW, I totally agree about the older 810e cabs sounding a lot fuller. The club in town that has just the cab is an older 810e and hookin' that up to my Eden or Markbass is such a pleasure. The newer ones are all boom.
 
#5
Yeah, they do it so they can make them handle 1000w heads, but they crapped up the sound bigtime. They also lie about the specs. There's no way those cabs do 5khz on the high end. Not even close.
 
#8
Resist the "Ultra-Lo" switch.

99% of the issues I've seen people having with SVT/810 rigs sound muddy can be trace to the Ultra-Lo switch, which is actually a low mid (i.e. 200Hz) cut. Leave it in the "0" position and adjust the low end level with the bass EQ knob.

Sometimes with the CL and the newer 810s I've found it useful to put the mid selector in the middle position turn the mid knob up to about 2:30-3:00. Brings back that mid presence that real SVTs have naturally. ;)
 
#10
Often what the clubs have running the 810 is the problem more than the cab. A poorly balanced big tube head will perform exactly as you describe. I always bring my Shuttle 6.0 with me now. I carry it a briefcase and just set it on top of whatever head they have. I usually don't even ask if they have it run through a separate DI (not one from the house head), I just plug it in and soak up the stage tone compliments when the set is over. Sometimes it's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.
 
#13
JimmyM said:
I know the feeling. I used a lot of rented Ampeg rigs as well. But I don't like the 810e cabs since 2002 because they're really boomy and have very little high end. I like the older ones much better. And I'm familiar with the sound you've got as well because I use P's sometimes with flats, and I've played a lot of Markbass and Eden stuff. Anyway, what I would do is to roll off the bass knob to taste, put the mid selector straight up (straight up is 800 hz for both the CL and VR), and boost that a bit, then boost the treble a little to taste. Markbass cabs seem to have a big 800 hz hump so boosting that on the SVT will help get a little more of that sound back.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#14
JimmyM said:
I know the feeling. I used a lot of rented Ampeg rigs as well. But I don't like the 810e cabs since 2002 because they're really boomy and have very little high end. I like the older ones much better. And I'm familiar with the sound you've got as well because I use P's sometimes with flats, and I've played a lot of Markbass and Eden stuff. Anyway, what I would do is to roll off the bass knob to taste, put the mid selector straight up (straight up is 800 hz for both the CL and VR), and boost that a bit, then boost the treble a little to taste. Markbass cabs seem to have a big 800 hz hump so boosting that on the SVT will help get a little more of that sound back.
Click to expand...

Man, if I ever buy an Ampeg rig, I'm talking to you first.
 
#15
JimmyM said:
I know the feeling. I used a lot of rented Ampeg rigs as well. But I don't like the 810e cabs since 2002 because they're really boomy and have very little high end. I like the older ones much better. And I'm familiar with the sound you've got as well because I use P's sometimes with flats, and I've played a lot of Markbass and Eden stuff. Anyway, what I would do is to roll off the bass knob to taste, put the mid selector straight up (straight up is 800 hz for both the CL and VR), and boost that a bit, then boost the treble a little to taste. Markbass cabs seem to have a big 800 hz hump so boosting that on the SVT will help get a little more of that sound back.
Click to expand...

Totally agree.
When I've had to use Ampeg on backlines I leave everything flat but boost the mids and the selector in position 3. That seems to help somewhat.

As others have said, you could take your portable amp too. Just plug it to the backline cab and be ready to go.
 
#16
Sten said:
Really, why?
Click to expand...

Wild guess here, but I'm going to say it's cause their lazy-a** sound guy doesn't want each band bringing in their own bass rig cause then he'd actually have to spend a little time and effort to mix the bass. He and/or the club have an idea how the bass "should" sound (irregardless of bassist, band, or style), and by using a house rig and allowing no exceptions the sound guy basically doesn't have to spend any time on the bass besides setting the level.

Of course the downside is, every bass player that plays at that club probably winds up sounding about the same.

Personally, I think it's a BS requirement. If you're in a festival setting and running 8 or 9 bands through in 12 hrs I can totally understand using a backline amp... but if a band is giving your club a 4-hour show the least you can do is accommodate their choice of gear.
 
#18
My band occasionally rents rehearsal space that employs Ampeg in some of the rooms, and I dislike them (solid state heads, 6x10 in one, 8x10 in another). I really don't know if it's the heads or the cabs, but I can't seem to work out tones with either my Zon or my Jazz. We specifically request the other room (with GK) so the guys in the band don't have to hear me bitching.
 
#19
agreatheight said:
Something to remember - soundmen often have a lot to do during the changeover in between bands, and they have zero time to do it in. Keeping on schedule is very important, so: the less the have to do, and the more familiar it is, the more time they will have to do it right and get you a good mix FOH.

Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Like I said initially, I'm fine with a "house" or "backline" configuration when you have multiple bands and you're running a tight schedule with minimal turnaround time.

It's the club that hires a band for a 4-hour show, as the only band on the bill and then says oh by the way leave your amps at home, you have to use ours. That's the situation I have a problem with.

And interestingly enough, just last weekend I was at an outdoor jazz/blues festival where the bands had 20-30 mins turnaround time max, and every band used 100% their own stage gear (including drums), and the FOH mix was absolutely stellar for every band. So it can be done.
 
#20
jaywa said:
And interestingly enough, just last weekend I was at an outdoor jazz/blues festival where the bands had 20-30 mins turnaround time max, and every band used 100% their own stage gear (including drums), and the FOH mix was absolutely stellar for every band. So it can be done.
Click to expand...

The SF Jazz and Blues fest is some of the best stuff in the nation. Those FOH sound guys are pretty darn good.

BOB
 

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