Bass tone not sounding right

[Musicislife816]

I have measured pickup height and everything is in spec.

 

[dougjwray]

During the hours between all of your gear sounding good and all of it sounding bad, did *anything at all* change in your environment? Did a new cell tower a few blocks away go into operation? Any woodchucks chewing on the power lines to your house? New flourescent lightbulb in your house?
It sounds like I'm being facetious, but I'm just coaxing you to think creatively about this. We're all thoroughly stumped.

 

[Old Fart]

We're all thoroughly stumped.

Yes. We are.

 

[Musicislife816]

Welcome to my world. I know I'm not crazy either

 

[crazyBassClown]

1. Problem persists with multiple basses, multiple amps, multiple cables and multiple locations.

2. The ONLY common factor if we accept #1 as true is YOU.

Ears/health or technique sir.

Quoted for emphasis. Either 1 is not completely true or it's not a gear problem. Either way no one other than you or someone physically with you is likely to be able to help.

 

[lokikallas]

Are you close to Oak Ridge, TN? Do your basses or amps glow in the dark?

I live in Columbia, TN and my Spector has luminlay side dots. Nothing on the amps produce light except the power indicators.

Whoosh!

 

[Dave W]

How about twisted strings on all of your basses?
When was the last time they were changed? Who did it?

 

[rodl2005]

I can't use only one cab with the SVT but I still have my Fender Rumble head that I could use. What would be the reason for trying one cab?

If it hasn't been answered before,

To eliminate any phasing issues...

Which can sound like this problem

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

If it hasn't been answered before,

To eliminate any phasing issues...

Which can sound like this problem

Yup!^
If multiple cabs... stack vertical.
If no do vertical... side by side.
Tilted away or towards each other. Tarzan say "BAD"
Separated... Tarzan say "Ape s**t BAD"

 

[Troglodyte1911]

I thought phasing was ruled out as it happens on his combos as well, and when using a headphone connection. That was why I asked if poor power conditions could cause this since it seems to only affect gear in his house. Maybe try a true power conditioner or sine wave UPS.

 

[agedhorse]

I think this is about the time that the OP get some in person experienced help from a qualified troubleshooter, somebody who knows instruments, amps and speakers very well.

 

[lug]

I think this is about the time that the OP get some in person experienced help from a qualified troubleshooter, somebody who knows instruments, amps and speakers very well.

(books flight to Tennessee, packs ball peen hammer)

 

[dougjwray]

The OP says that it's happening with his combo, too. So, we can forget the "misalignment of multiple cabs" theory.

 

[agedhorse]

The OP says that it's happening with his combo, too. So, we can forget the "misalignment of multiple cabs" theory.

Nobody mentioned “misalignment”.

There may be multiple problems going on, we are trying to rule out the easiest things along the way.

 

[dougjwray]

Nobody mentioned “misalignment”.

There may be multiple problems going on, we are trying to rule out the easiest things along the way.

By "misalignment" I meant the phasing problem that people have suggested. Maybe I used a technically incorrect term.
I agree with you, though-- it's time to call in the experts.

 

[dougjwray]

But before I go, I'll make one more suggestion, and sorry if I'm repeating what someone else already said...
How about bringing the combo (the most portable of your amps) to someone else's house, or maybe the store? Bring a combination of the very same components that failed at your house-- bass, instrument cable, power strip...
That experiment could be very helpful.

 

[Musicislife816]

So it has been awhile since I have posted here but yesterday I tried out my basses with a Vox Amplug that I have for bass and everything sounded good. I even plugged it into the output of the last pedal of my pedalboard and was able to get good tone. So how could it be that I can plug into 3 different amps with the same basses and have a sound that sounds like it's not the full spectrum of tone, like something is missing or too much of something is being let through?

 

[Troglodyte1911]

So it has been awhile since I have posted here but yesterday I tried out my basses with a Vox Amplug that I have for bass and everything sounded good. I even plugged it into the output of the last pedal of my pedalboard and was able to get good tone. So how could it be that I can plug into 3 different amps with the same basses and have a sound that sounds like it's not the full spectrum of tone, like something is missing or too much of something is being let through?

Okay, did someone sabotage all of your speakers?

 

[Bass Jones]

Okay, did someone sabotage all of your speakers?

The ghost of Link Wray??

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

So it has been awhile since I have posted here but yesterday I tried out my basses with a Vox Amplug that I have for bass and everything sounded good. I even plugged it into the output of the last pedal of my pedalboard and was able to get good tone. So how could it be that I can plug into 3 different amps with the same basses and have a sound that sounds like it's not the full spectrum of tone, like something is missing or too much of something is being let through?

The Vox Amplug (assuming you are listening with headphones) eliminates the speakers, the room, and any phasing or other external acoustic problems. I think all of these things have been brought up here previously.