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Amp setup not pushing as much as I'd like it to

xnogoodjackx

xnogoodjackx

Guest
Dec 20, 2013
8
0
#1
Hey guys, lately I've noticed that the current amp setup I have now is not doing it for me as much as I'd like it to (or really as much as I expect it to). Right now, I'm running an Orange TB1000 with an Ampeg Classic Series 8x10 with a MIM 2013 Fender P Bass. Pedals I have now are Sansamp 3-channel Driver and a Wren & Cuff Tall Font Russian fuzz. As you can imagine, you'd expect this rig to be loud as all get out. I've noticed that a lot of the low end is not present as much as I'd like it to be. Some notes come through with practically sub-woofer depth, while others don't. I bought the cab from Craiglist but everything is in working condition. Let me know if I need to elaborate any further. Thanks!
 
#2
Not sure of the details on your 810, but IIRC certain ones had very limited low end response. Some of the ampeg guys can give you better details I'm sure. I'd check into that before I looked anywhere else. Second stop would be gain structure. I've heard tb's be quite deep, so it could lie in how your gain/EQ/volume are adjusted.
 
#4
strictlybass_ic said:
Not sure of the details on your 810, but IIRC certain ones had very limited low end response. Some of the ampeg guys can give you better details I'm sure. I'd check into that before I looked anywhere else. Second stop would be gain structure. I've heard tb's be quite deep, so it could lie in how your gain/EQ/volume are adjusted.
Click to expand...

I am sure that Mr @JimmyM can give you info on whether that is to be expected or not from the Ampeg.
 
#8
Do the battery test on your cab:
Link Removed

Then plug straight into your amp & add effects one at a time.

You're right, that SHOULD be a loud rig, by any objective measure of the word "loud"...

Amp settings will be critical:
  • The P-bass gets its snarl in the midrange
  • The 810 cab sounds great because it ignores the fundamental and instead delivers the 1st harmonic (starting around 80 Hz on up)

So if you are running a "scooped" EQ [cutting mids while boosting lows] on your amp, you will be fighting against the signature tones of your bass and your cab.
 
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#9
groovaholic said:
Do the battery test on your cab:
Link Removed

Then plug straight into your amp & add effects one at a time.

You're right, that SHOULD be a loud rig, by any objective measure of the word "loud"...

Amp settings will be critical:
  • The P-bass gets its snarl in the midrange
  • The 810 cab sounds great because it ignores the fundamental and instead delivers the 1st harmonic (starting around 80 Hz on up)

So if you are running a "scooped" EQ [cutting mids while boosting lows] on your amp, you will be fighting against the signature tones of your bass and your cab.
Click to expand...

This is pretty much where I was going with my questions. The SA and the TB1000 are both notorious for killing the mid range as well, so it may be easy to loose yourself in the mix. I dont have any experience with that particular fuzz, but you do have to be careful with those in general to not loose low end.
 
#10
Try the fuzz on a blender pedal so you can mix some dry signal back in. Any time I use fuzz I find I need some dry mixed back in or it just sounds too much like a guitar.

Also, if there is a mix of buffered and true bypass pedals in your chain, impedance issues could be causing tone suckage.
 
#11
The TB1000 is notorious for killing midrange? Granted I don't have any experience with the TB, but I own the AD200b and it's not mid-shy.
Are you always running the Sans Amp? If so, that would be my guess as to where your problems start. The Sansamp do their own tone and in my experience are a scooped response wherever they sit. The TFR is a slightly scooped tone, but it's MEATY in my opinion, so I wouldn't expect your problem is with that pedal in particular. If you are using the Sansamp all the time, I would probably reconsider.
 
#12
P-oddz said:
The TB1000 is notorious for killing midrange? Granted I don't have any experience with the TB, but I own the AD200b and it's not mid-shy.
Are you always running the Sans Amp? If so, that would be my guess as to where your problems start. The Sansamp do their own tone and in my experience are a scooped response wherever they sit. The TFR is a slightly scooped tone, but it's MEATY in my opinion, so I wouldn't expect your problem is with that pedal in particular. If you are using the Sansamp all the time, I would probably reconsider.
Click to expand...

Fender tone stack, mid cut only.
 
#14
Stacking mid scoops into a cab that doesn't go low is not gonna leave to with much but midbass. Apparently a narrow enough band to make notes noticeably uneven. AD200 is mid scooped at the tone stack but has the valve power section breakup to put them back, 1000w class D module won't do that. Its why sticking a pre for a valve amp on a SS amp is a bodge for marketing.
 
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#15
P-oddz said:
Sure, mid cuts only... but isn't "killing midrange" a little exaggerated for a Fender tone stack?
Not trying to be argumentative, just pleasantly disagreeing ;)
Click to expand...

Since it is impossible to boost the mids, yeah it kills them. There are too many players that dont understand how that EQ works. Anything other than the mids all the way up, and the bass and treble almost off is a mid scoop. Even with the mids all the way up, and the bass and treble at noon is a significant scoop. Too many players look at the position of the dials, and listen with their eyes.
 
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#18
CL400Peavey said:
Since it is impossible to boost the mids, yeah it kills them. There are too many players that dont understand how that EQ works. Anything other than the mids all the way up, and the bass and treble almost off is a mid scoop. Even with the mids all the way up, and the bass and treble at noon is a significant scoop.
Click to expand...
This is not how these EQs work, especially not the Orange, which is voiced with a huge mid bump, from which you then cut with the mid knob. If you leave it full on all you get is mid salad. At noon it is pretty much balanced.
 
#19
Sorry guys, just been at work since early this morning. I just set my amp up to practice with the band. Just noticed that the speaker end of my speaker cable is a tad bent. Not sure if that's my problem. The instrument going from the head to the board is a Monster; the one from the board to bass is a Mogami. The two patch cables in between the SA, TFA, and my polytune are cheap, $5 ones. Right now the EQ on the head is set at 9:00 Volume, 11:30 treble, 10:00 mid, 2:00 bass, and 10:30 gain. I attached images of the pedal settings that I'm currently using. Thus far, I've somewhat winged it on the settings on the SA due to more recently trying to get a better sound. Any pointers and/or criticisms are definitely considered.
image.jpg
image.jpg
 
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