Ampeg B200r problem.

[shughey]

this is a common problem i've had with my amps in my bedroom, I can always get a good live sound but the sound of my amp in a "bedroom setting" lacks. Usually this isn't the case with most players but my sound is usually a little thin and there are many overtones that mask the boominess of my bass. I usually for the most part leave my EQ flat and maybe very slighty attenuate High mids, I also just have a 4-band EQ. If I use the 'mid scoop' option I can always get a decent in bedroom sound. I know theoritically why that is but i'm trying to make a compromise between leaving my settings relatively flat, as I do live, and 'mid scooping', which I don't like doing. Has anyone encountered this problem with having an amp sound 'thin' in their rooms, I need a solution.

 

[Moreno_IV]

How do you mean, "thin"? What kind of bass are you playing?

 

[HappyCakeOven]

I think I know what you mean,
on low volume everything sounds thin, but if you crank it up, it starts sounder better,
but unfortunatly, that's too loud to play in a bedroom.

 

[shughey]

I think I know what you mean,
on low volume everything sounds thin, but if you crank it up, it starts sounder better,
but unfortunatly, that's too loud to play in a bedroom.

yes, that's why it sounds good in a live band, or even soloed at loud volumes. What I mean by 'thin' is that there isn't a lot of thick 'bass' to the sound. If I stand to the side of the speaker, instead of directly in front it helps mask the mids. I play a Fender MIA Jazz Bass (stock), w/ DR High Beams. Amp is a 220w Ampeg B200r... but i have this problem with all amps. In my opinion, it's harder getting a good bedroom sound a reasonable volume. When I play a low A, for example, in my bedroom the overtones mask the typical low rumble of that note. As I mentioned cutting mids will always help but I feel like I shouldn't.

 

[Moreno_IV]

Are you adjusting the gain up high enough? With that Ampeg, you've got to get the gain up on the tube preamp no matter how loud you want it. Adjust the gain to the point of almost clipping and then adjust your master volume to the actual audible volume you want. Let me know if you are already doing that.

 

[shughey]

Are you adjusting the gain up high enough? With that Ampeg, you've got to get the gain up on the tube preamp no matter how loud you want it. Adjust the gain to the point of almost clipping and then adjust your master volume to the actual audible volume you want. Let me know if you are already doing that.

yeah, it's not maxed at '10' but it's at '7' currently. the master is at '3'. (These aren't o'clock values, but the number values given on the rotary knobs.)

 

[Gabu]

Maybe you can't hear lower frequencies as well as the higher ones, so you actually need more volume in order to perceive it?

 

[Moreno_IV]

yeah, it's not maxed at '10' but it's at '7' currently. the master is at '3'. (These aren't o'clock values, but the number values given on the rotary knobs.)

Right, right. That is weird. I use that same combo and I normally don't go above 3 or 4 on the gain and then adjust the master up between 4 & 6. But, I do have an active bass and I use the -15db input.

When you're playing, is the red light by the gain knob flashing a lot?

 

[shughey]

Maybe you can't hear lower frequencies as well as the higher ones, so you actually need more volume in order to perceive it?

well, i've tried but in my room the High Mids sound is still strong. I don't have big problems with the Highs but the mids/high mids make it a little thin/nasally/boxy. When I stand out of the way of the speaker and back up like 5 feet it helps. When I play with my fingers you can hear the mid overtones, and when I use it pick I can also tell as well... and it doesn't sound smooth due to the fact that I can hear the high mids over anything else in my bedroom.

 

[megadan]

If it sounds good scooping the mids in the bedroom, do it. That's fine.
Just don't do it live.

Having two totally different settings for bedroom and live makes total sense.

Ever seen the "loudness" button on a stereo?
At low volumes, the ear hears sound differently than at louder volumes. Those buttons on stereos boost the treble & bass to compensate for this.


c.f. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher-Munson_curves

 

[shughey]

If it sounds good scooping the mids in the bedroom, do it. That's fine.
Just don't do it live.

Having two totally different settings for bedroom and live makes total sense.

Ever seen the "loudness" button on a stereo?
At low volumes, the ear hears sound differently than at louder volumes. Those buttons on stereos boost the treble & bass to compensate for this.


c.f. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher-Munson_curves

yeah, i've read into the Fletcher-Munson curve theory before. I've never seen the 'loudness' switch on a stereo but it makes perfect sense why there would be one. I guess I am mainly wondering if this is a common problem among those who've tried playing through a bass amp, in a bedroom, with a flat signal (nothing boosted or cut).

 

[Lync]

The low mids knob does wonders on my B100r. Sounds crappy alone, but by not cutting or even boosting them live, the bass sits right there and you can hear yourself.

 

[Lowbrow]

Here are my "performance" settings for the B200R; try and see how it sounds, and adjust volume to suit bedroom:

Ultra low: IN
Ultra Mid: IN
Ultra High: OUT
Gain: 8
Bass: 8
Low Mid: 6
High Mid: 8
Treble: 5
Volume: to suit room.

Now it could also be just trying to get a good low-volume sound out of a stage-wattage amp.

If trouble persists, buy an Acoustic B20; its 12-inch speaker makes it one of the fullest-sounding low-wattage amps I've heard. Less than $200, and this week I think it's on sale for $119.

 

[wildcard]

I'm running mine at these settings for practicing in my music room, with out that problem.
Ultra lows in
Ultra med in
Ultra highs in
Gain 4
Volume 2 or 3 {depends on if the wife is home or not }
Bass depending on the instrument { usually on my Gibson T-Bird, & 62 Jazz around 7 , with the Les Paul usually a little bit more bass}
Low meds 7
High meds 4
Treble around 3 or 4
Mine sounds nice , warm, & fat. I'm very happy with mine , but as they say { what works well for some, doesn't always work well for others. } Also on those Highbeams , they're stainless steel strings, so they're going to be somewhat brighter anyway. I use the nickel Sunbeams , so there warmer, & not as bright as the Highbeams.

 

[Lync]

Cool-pretty much my same settings...

I'm running mine at these settings for practicing in my music room, with out that problem.
Ultra lows in
Ultra med in
Ultra highs in
Gain 4
Volume 2 or 3 {depends on if the wife is home or not }
Bass depending on the instrument { usually on my Gibson T-Bird, & 62 Jazz around 7 , with the Les Paul usually a little bit more bass}
Low meds 7
High meds 4
Treble around 3 or 4
Mine sounds nice , warm, & fat. I'm very happy with mine , but as they say { what works well for some, doesn't always work well for others. } Also on those Highbeams , they're stainless steel strings, so they're going to be somewhat brighter anyway. I use the nickel Sunbeams , so there warmer, & not as bright as the Highbeams.

 

[Boogie B]

The problem doesn't originate in your amp but in your ears. The human ear is much more perceptive to mid-frequencies (the range of the human voice), in relation to other ones, at low volumes than it is at high volumes, so it appears like there's a lot more mids when your amp is played quietly. Obviously, because it's your ears, any amp will do this in any environment, so the kind of amp doesn't enter into it. You have to turn up the high and especially the low frequencies (or cut the mids), to compensate for that change in perception.

 

[shughey]

I'm running mine at these settings for practicing in my music room, with out that problem.
Ultra lows in
Ultra med in
Ultra highs in
Gain 4
Volume 2 or 3 {depends on if the wife is home or not }
Bass depending on the instrument { usually on my Gibson T-Bird, & 62 Jazz around 7 , with the Les Paul usually a little bit more bass}
Low meds 7
High meds 4
Treble around 3 or 4
Mine sounds nice , warm, & fat. I'm very happy with mine , but as they say { what works well for some, doesn't always work well for others. } Also on those Highbeams , they're stainless steel strings, so they're going to be somewhat brighter anyway. I use the nickel Sunbeams , so there warmer, & not as bright as the Highbeams.

this problem probably isn't apparent in your room because you cut the High mids/Treble, boosted bass/low mids, and on top of that boosted bass, cut mids, and boosted highs again by pressing all the 'ultra' switches in.

 

[wildcard]

I use this amp to gig with , & for band practice also . Not only just in my room, for self practicing . The only difference, is when I'm gigging , I use the XLR out & go to the PA . When I practice with my band, I don't use the XLR out, & the amp still holds its own very well. Even with my aggressive loud drummer, & my loud guitarist { A Fender Telecaster with a Fender Deluxe Reverb}. My Ampeg still holds it's own, & sounds really good. I change the gain , & the master to suite the situation, but I keep the low-mids still around 6 or 7, the high-mids still around 3 or 4 , & I keep the treble at about 3 or 4 . Still no problem. My amp sounds great { Still nice lows , fat , clear, & nice highs} . My band mates love this amp, & I'm very happy with it also.

 

[Gearhead17]

Simply put - the acoustics in your room versus live are vastly different. If it is a dorm room - you have beds nearby, carpet floor possibly, and more things around that will absorb certain frequencies of your tone. The room is probably sucking up the low end, while live tones are good because the amp is on a hard surface that is transmitting your bass tone in a pleasing way.

Do what you have to do to get a good tone out of your rig in the bedroom setting and be done with it. It's the only way.