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cables & preamp...lesson learned

Discussion in 'Amps, Mics & Pickups [DB]' started by tornadobass, Jul 11, 2003.

  1. Jul 11, 2003 #1
    tornadobass

    tornadobass Supporting Member

    Nov 20, 2000
    Iowa City, Iowa
    I learned something quite unexpected at band practice last night. Was using my Underwood pickup through a Fishman Pro-EQ preamp. Long cord between bass and preamp, short cord to the amp input.

    Sounded good but a bit midrangey.

    At break time, I wanted to turn down the preamp, but was fairly far away. Switched the order of cables...3' from bass to preamp, 20' to the amp.

    Wow! What a difference...smoother, fuller tone, with more volume out of the pickup...had to turn down the preamp quite a bit.

    I'd been thinking that impedence matching was important, but I'd have to add that a short cable between pickup and preamp is also important.

    Also, the phase switch was really useful...chasing away that ringing sound...and had to switch it back and forth at different distances from the speaker cab.

    Anybody else stumble on this?
     
  2. Jul 11, 2003 #2
    tsolo

    tsolo Guest

    Aug 24, 2002
    Ft. Worth
    Yep. With a pickup on a fiddle. Short from the instrument to the preamp is better. And I have this setup on my DB - when i use a preamp. I've found that my bass sounds better without one. The same applies to effects I would think.