anybody else hate tweeters?

[UPTHE1RON5]

don't like tweeters. they pick up all kinds of ugly noise

 

[Pilgrim]

I have three cabs - a 1x15, a 2x15, and a 1x12. None of them have a tweeter, and I haven't felt the need for one.

 

[Brendan]

Y'know, I was gonna say "nope, thanks," or something else, but then I realized, except for one cab that had a mid-driver, any of the cabs that I've had a tweeter on, I turn it off, out of habit. I actually have no idea if I like a tweeter or not, come to it...

 

[bobyoung53]

i really do.

hissy and feedback quick with any real kind of gain.

No they work fine in my stereo, I'm a bass player so never felt the need in any bass cab if that's what you mean.

 

[r379]

I consider myself to be in the "vintage" or "old school" (I'm getting tired of those terms) tone category. Having said that, I don't turn my tweets completely off nor do I use flat wound strings. The tweet(s) in my cabinet(s) add just a little definition as do the round wounds. Cuts through better, too; not that I'm trying to use tone to dominate the mix.

 

[KJung]

This is actually kind of a cool thread. It just points out how many different 'worlds' there are in the bass playing community. In my world of freelance pop/funk/jazz type playing, virtually every player I personally know not only uses tweeter loaded cabs, but uses those upper frequencies as at least a somewhat important part of his/her tone.

However, obviously, there are tons who go for a more traditional tone, I assume in more rock settings, more straight ahead jazz settings, and old school R&B.

While I kind of chuckle at the 'judgemental' nature of many posts (i.e., if you don't do it the way I do it, then you suck), but it's still interesting to me that there are many ways to generate a great bass tone.

I'll tell you one thing... my life would be a lot easier and my gear would be a lot cheaper if I didn't like that full range tone. Lot's of money on new strings and fine tuning a rig to project a clean pure, full range from the top to the bottom tone that doesn't get eaten up in a mix. I'm still working on it, and on occasion throwing money at it

 

[JGR]

I hate them. Hate them. HATE them.

I can't see needing more treble than my Bag End's or SWR 12-Packs/Stacks produce on their own.

Different strokes for different folks, but I wish manufacturers would offer more models with the option to not have them. It's cool that the DB112 for instance is offered without one.

JR

 

[washburnfan]

Not a big fan... I keep them off whenever possible... And combos that dont give the option annoy me...

 

[EpicSoundtracks]

I don't hate 'em, but I don't use 'em either. It's all about the right tool for the job.

 

[jpark369]

will it create probelms with overheating or other issues if you keep your tweeter all the way off? ive heard of peoples cabs catching fire or melting the attenuator. is there a way to avoid this? keeping the tweeter on real low or off ok, or will it cause probelms? also, how hard would it be to disconnect the tweeter and is this smart?

 

[r379]

I can't see needing more treble than my Bag End's or SWR 12-Packs/Stacks produce on their own.

JR

Just my opinion, but I'm not sure whether we should be calling it more (or less) treble. To me, it's about the CHARACTER of the treble being produced by tweeters. Or not being produced without tweeters.

 

[r379]

will it create probelms with overheating or other issues if you keep your tweeter all the way off? ive heard of peoples cabs catching fire or melting the attenuator. is there a way to avoid this? keeping the tweeter on real low or off ok, or will it cause probelms? also, how hard would it be to disconnect the tweeter and is this smart?

I think I remember Bill Fitzmaurice posting that, to do it properly, you would have to disconnect the entire circuit including the crossover.

 

[Kelly Lee]

I haven't heard a tweeter yet in a cab I have liked hence my cabs have none! My "highs" fix comes in the form of a TE 4052h Bright Box (4x5") and it is much smoother than any tweeter I have had the pleasure(?) to hear.

 

[JGR]

Just my opinion, but I'm not sure whether we should be calling it more (or less) treble. To me, it's about the CHARACTER of the treble being produced by tweeters. Or not being produced without tweeters.

Fair enough. Let's call it high frequency content!

JR

 

[THB_bassman]

"Hate" is such a strong word...


But naw, I don't hate. Just don't have a use for them, and to each his own.

 

[Mr_Dave]

*snip*

I'm not pushing back at all on those who prefer a pure paper cone sound... I get that. What I don't get is 'tweeters suck'. For the many of us who like a crisp, clean, modern tone, having high quality crossovers and tweeters in cabs like Epifani's, Bergantino's, etc. is a revelation, and allows our stage sound to much more closely mimic the front of house tone through a DI (PA's have 'tweeters', and they don't seem to hiss or sound 'harsh')

I'll also post again, that a lot of 'tweeter hiss' and harshness is due to user error.. i.e., thinking that the arbitrary 0db, 'flat' or 'neutral' label on most attenuators is actually 'flat' or 'normal' operation. For most circuits that I'm familiar with, 9 o'clock sound very balanced and natural... anything over noon in some circuits can quickly get 'non-musical' and harsh.

Agreed. A cranked tweeter sounds horrible, but one that's on to just tastefully add a little tiny touch of high end shimmer sounds great, even in more old school settings like my bands. It's called an attenuator...use it!

+1. All these people saying damn, 'i hate tweeters - my cabs are plenty bright enough' might think that because i like using a tweeter i must like a really bright tone... Just because you have a tweeter in your cab doesn't mean you need to have your tone control cranked to full and your tweeter on 10... I like having a tweeter because i just like a bit of sizzle on the top of my tone, and some crisp articulation. To get that, i have my tweeter no higher than 9 o'clock and the tone control on my passive jazz usually no higher than half - that gives me the little bit of crispness on top of my sound but isn't ripping everyones heads off...

All i'm saying is i get the vibe that people think guys who use tweeters must have a really bright sound. Guys using P basses with a pick and roundwounds through SVT stacks probably have more treble in there sound than me. It just sounds different... all IHMO, IME, etc etc

 

[makaky]

Useless inside a bass cabinet and it sucks to pay for it and turn it off. Most high quality cabs have them built in

Sure they sound good when you play alone but they are as usefull as an ashtray on a motorbike when playing with a full band.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Count me in, I see no use for tweeters or horns in a bass cabinet.

 

[jim primate]

if you use distortion tweeters just do not get along.

plus if you have decent speakers or cabinets you shouldn't need them.

plus it only adds one more thing to break in a cab.

plus the quality of it is dependant upon the crossover.

how many have blown a tweeter in an avatar? hands?

 

[Fretlessboy]

I keep mine barely on. 1 click to be exact... only helps if your cabinets have clicks