Bass E.Q on stage

[robin_hood]

I play in a band that does lots of kinds of music from rock,reggae,soul,oldies.... name it. The issue I have is trying to get that right sound on st age. For instance if the next session involves slapping yet the previous was more mellow. Adjusting the E.Q and finding your sound takes a Hell of a while.
Does anyone know how to E.Q themselves like in a way that suites both high n low ends?? Or like a quick tip on how to E.Q myself.

 

[Dogbertday]

What gear are you using?

I've had a lot of success just adjusting my tone knob and right hand technique/placement.

You could also get a separate eq stomp box and set it to cut all your highs and turn it on surfing the tunes you want nothing but lows for.

 

[jd-ns]

For quick EQ'ing during or in-between songs - I recommend doing it all on your bass (active bass with lots of tone/EQ options) and a compressor.

 

[tangentmusic]

Yeah it can be challenging. Each venue/room has it's out acoustics. Stage height and construction can make a difference too. This is where multiple basses can come in. One for slappin', one for mellow ect..
Start with all your EQ settings at 12 o'clock. Add or subtract Lows, mids and highs to suit the situation. It may be a case of having to trust your soundman to determine how you sound while the band is soundchecking. Or have someone play your bass during soundcheck while you are on the floor listening to the tone and make adjustments from what you hear standing back. What sounds good by itself may not sound right when the band is playing. For on the fly adjustments, the tone knob on your bass can come in real handy.

 

[mambo4]

I used to use this...
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3 unique EQ settings at your toe tips.
I used it one switch between "normal' "reggae" and "distortion" often in mid-song.

Now I do this more often

...just adjusting my tone knob and right hand technique/placement.

but it doesn't beat the sans amp for versatility.

 

[gregmon79]

If its an EQ box you end up looking for, I suggest the Source Audio Programmable EQ. Really great EQ. I picked one up last month and couldnt be happier. It has 4 presets in it as well. I got it to suit the needs of the different basses I have. Works like a charm.

 

[tfer]

I use an ME30-B multi-effects pedal, and use a FS-6 to switch between banks.

Each of the 10 banks has 3 pre-sets, allowing 30 different EQ settings. Bank 1 is for my 4-string, bank 2 is for my NXT upright bass and banks 3 and 4 are for my 6-string bass.

I can switch EQ settings with a couple toe taps.

 

[ga_edwards]

Stomp box eq/tone shaping would work for you. But I suggest you set them up in a known acoustic environment, preferably one in which you can run your amp almost flat. This way, your core sounds come out of your pedal board and use the eq on your amp to adjust for room acoustic anomalies. You should be able to get pretty consistent tone room to room like this.

 

[jimfist]

without using drastically different EQ settings on a bass amplifier preamp, for me the key is to have a bass guitar with both bridge and neck pickups, tone/EQ knobs with a wide range, and using different techniques to enhance the "woof" or presence as needed. Discrete bass, mid & treble tone knobs will give you a lot if flexibility.

Using a Schecter Stiletto Studio Elite as an example, round wound strings:

Reggae: 100% neck pickup, roll off treble tone and also back off mid. Boost bass tone to taste. Enhance the low end roundness of the tone by playing finger style over the neck pickup. Add some mid and play with a pick, palm muting the strings for a less woofy, more defined percussive sound.

Generic pop: 50/50 blend neck and bridge, all tone knobs at default settings, adjusted +/- to taste. Play closer to the bridge for more presence, toward the neck for more low end roundness. Play with either fingers depending on the flavor of the song: dance and funkier stuff may lean toward fingers, straight ahead rock may lean toward a pick.

modern R&B: 100% bridge pickup, adding bass tone for more body as needed. Add treble for more attack presence, control excess "honk" with the mid tone. Play with fingers over the bridge pickup.

etc...just my personal method to the madness

what kind of bass you got?

 

[Rocksolid]

Certainly a Multi effects unit would be ideal for this - and I used a ME-50B for many years in cover bands for exactly this reason. The ME-50B is gone now, but I use a Zoom B3 now. A B3 would allow you to save numerous comp/eq/amp sim patches to achieve what you are looking for without even touching all the effects it has also.

If Multi effects aren't your bag, I would consider a programmable eq (as mentioned above) such as the Boss EQ-20 and a Compressor pedal

 

[RDUB]

I set my general tone for the stage, and then make any changes on the bass or with my fingers.

 

[Mushroo]

I don't generally EQ because in my experience, audiences respond better to a quick transition between songs that sound "close enough" vs. a long transition between songs "to dial in the right sound." If the sound guy wants to add some EQ, that's his business---I just send him a flat signal (and get lots of compliments how easy I am to work with).

I figure the acoustic instruments I play don't have any volume or tone knobs, yet I am able to get a wide variety of sounds to suit the material, so why can't I accomplish the same thing on an electric bass by varying my touch and technique?

 

[robin_hood]

I got a Yamaha RBX375 5-String n a Behringer bxl3000..... I agree that switching between the neck and bridge pickups works. as well as the fingering..... I didn't know about the specifics though. I'm thinkin of getting a Boss GT-10B. would that be a good choice??

 

[robin_hood]

also got a Yamaha - RBX170 4 String btw....

 

[RDUB]

I've used a GT-6b in the past. Reasonable quality, and easy to get a lot of different sounds.

One other thing to keep in mind is your FOH sound. Once the soundman has set up a good tone out front, he's not expecting, and probably not wanting your tone to change radically. Typically, he'll be getting a DI from your bass, so if you can make small changes there, you're better off.

That brings up another general pedal board gripe. Except for a solo level boost, which you should sound check, make sure your pedals are set for unity gain. That is, no boost or cut when you switch effects in and out.

 

[Jamesray740]

I found this article on bassplayer.com awhile back and found it really useful. even though its aimed at those who play heavy music, the concepts apply to bass in general. Maybe some of this info will help you find a formula for tweaking your tone on the fly, on your amp as well as your monitors. Hope this helps.
http://www.bassplayer.com/article/monitors-in-metal--cleaning-up-the-low-end/4996

 

[Kael]

Nothing wrong with using gear to get different tones, but too little has been made of using technique and a passive tone knob to change up the sounds in this discussion.

 

[Dogbertday]

Nothing wrong with using gear to get different tones, but too little has been made of using technique and a passive tone knob to change up the sounds in this discussion.

Never said there was anything wrong with using gear to change tones. But using what you have (hands and a tone knob) is by far the cheapest option.

 

[Kael]

Never said there was anything wrong with using gear to change tones. But using what you have (hands and a tone knob) is by far the cheapest option.

Perhaps I am misreading your post, but I was pretty much agreeing with you not disagreeing there.

 

[Dogbertday]

No I misread yours actually. My bad!