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Compressor or High Pass Filter?

I'm trying to even out the low end on my '67 Guild Starfire. The highs are nice and full, but I get spikes in the lower frequencies due to the 14K output Bisonic, and, (mostly) my own sloppy playing. My JBL K140 cab is also sensitive to too much low end. I use vintage tube amp heads like a Sunn 200S and a Fender Dual Showman.
I'm running into a MXR 10 band eq into a TC Spark Booster and a WIIO clone. While the eq helps, I still want a certain amount of vintage wooly bassiness, but without the spikes.

Although I have zero experience with them, I know compressors like the Cali76 Bass have a HPF, but was thinking I might get the job done with a HPF alone. Or maybe a compressor/limiter like the Keeley Bassist.
 
Just to clarify, HPF's in compressors like the Cali are in the sidechain of the compressor so they do not operate like a seperate HPF pedal would. It does not eliminate lows from your signal, it adjusts how much low end the compressor circuit sees.

If you want to eliminate spikes, eliminate boominess, and get some vintage wooly bassiness, the Keely Bassist you mentioned would be good for the spikes. Then a Broughton HP/LP filter pedal to eliminate boominess on the low end, and give some vintage wooliness on the high end.
 
The HPF on the Cali76 Compact Bass is not the same thing as a HPF like a Micro Thumpinator or Broughton in line filter. The compressor allows a set amount of low frequency to pass through without being compressed. The in line filters chop off the frequencies below a set or variable threshold to clean up the bottom end.

To answer your question...get both.

Looks like we have an answer at the same time...:cigar:
 
The HPF on the Cali76 Compact Bass is not the same thing as a HPF like a Micro Thumpinator or Broughton in line filter. The compressor allows a set amount of low frequency to pass through without being compressed. The in line filters chop off the frequencies below a set or variable threshold to clean up the bottom end.

To answer your question...get both.

Looks like we have an answer at the same time...:cigar:

lol and both basically the same answer :)
 
These are a must have for me.
IMG_20230930_015454.jpg
 
I'm trying to even out the low end on my '67 Guild Starfire. The highs are nice and full, but I get spikes in the lower frequencies due to the 14K output Bisonic, and, (mostly) my own sloppy playing. My JBL K140 cab is also sensitive to too much low end. I use vintage tube amp heads like a Sunn 200S and a Fender Dual Showman.
I'm running into a MXR 10 band eq into a TC Spark Booster and a WIIO clone. While the eq helps, I still want a certain amount of vintage wooly bassiness, but without the spikes.

Although I have zero experience with them, I know compressors like the Cali76 Bass have a HPF, but was thinking I might get the job done with a HPF alone. Or maybe a compressor/limiter like the Keeley Bassist.
I’d start with the HPF.

For one, it’s cheaper. Secondly, it might get you where you want to go (taming unruly low end content) without changing anything about your attack envelope or the feel of your playing. I use mine at the end of my chain, directly before the amp so it doesn’t interfere with anything else.

If, after integrating this into your chain, you still haven’t landed where you want to be, then look at compressors. It’s a real safari once you get to this point, so be sure that you have the funds available before diving in! Good luck :thumbsup:
 
I'm not 100% positive, but the HPF on an Empress functions differently than a Cali76 Compact Bass, correct? The Empress is a "side chain" that can be accessed by the TRS 1/8" Y cable. The Cali76 Compact Bass is a through pass for uncompressed signal?

@scubaduba
The HPF is on the sidechain for both the pedals. The difference is that the Empress allows you to insert other effects on the sidechain as well (like additional filters or EQ to further change how the compressor reacts).
 
Same. You may need both. And probably need a funky delay and a fuzz and probably a filter.

I do have an envelope filter, phaser, and Russian Muff in there, but they're not 'always on' pedals.
The Spark is a clean boost (with the gain off) and the WIIO, with a bit of od, kind of fills the sonic corners the Spark doesn't. I also don't use the gain on the eq.


I currently have a line on a few used pedals: A Cali76 Bass, a Keeley Bassist, and the Broughton LPF/HPF (someone actually had a Broughton for sale near me for ridiculously cheap, like $50, but they wouldn't wait a day to meet up with me. Guess they needed their fix right away or something). There's also 1st gen Empress compressor for $125 cad ($95 usd) on CL, but it's too far away to bother.

From what I hear, the Broughton RFE is the bees knees of filter pedals, but with no drop in sight I guess the LP/HP filter will do for now.
 
I think we need to rule out the room (standing waves) as the problem before we start recommending expensive pedals. I know this is talkbass but new gear isn't ALWAYS the answer.

Two questions:

1) Do these low end spikes happen on specific notes or all across the low frequency range?

2) Does the problem occur only in ONE specific room or does it also happen when/if you're playing gigs at different locations?

If you experience low end spikes on specific notes, and only in one specific room, your problem is most likely standing waves in the room. A compressor will not help with this at all. The spikes happen acoustically in the room so the compressor will never "see" these spikes.

A HPF might help a bit but if the spikes occur in the "upper bass" frequency range you will have to filter out a LOT more lows than you (probably) want to reduce the the spikes. The problem with HPFs is that they will increasingly filter out ALL frequencies below the cutoff point. They are NOT made for surgical cutting of problematic frequencies. You may end up ruining your tone without even getting completely rid of the spikes. HPFs are more suitable for filtering out sub-bass rumble.

The right way to deal with standing waves would be either acoustic treatment of the room (which can be very expensive, and in some rooms it won't even solve the problem) or get a parametric eq to zoom in on the problematic frequency(ies) and cut them. Simply lowering the bass knob on your amps may also help a bit.

If your spikes happen across a wider range of low notes, and in several different rooms/locations, we can start looking at other options.


All of the below will assume that standing waves have been ruled out as the problem (and you REALLY need to make sure this is the case before you spend money on expensive pedals).


A compressor will most likely not solve your problem, at least not by itself. If anything it can ruin your dynamics by overshooting on strong low end peaks. Many bass-specific compressors have a HPF in the side-chain, which means they won't overshoot on low notes but this also means they won't necessarily react to your low frequency spikes at all. The result will be unpredictable at best. If you get a compressor (which can be a good thing regardless of your problems) you should at least insert it AFTER an eq/filter that has already sorted out the low end peaks.

As for what type of filter/eq to use for this... it depends. A HPF might work but if your peaks are in the "upper bass" range you may have to set the cutoff frequency very high to affect the peaks at all. This can potentially ruin your tone. I generally don't like using HPFs with the cutoff frequency set higher than 40-60 Hz. Any higher than that will make your tone noticably thinner (which isn't ALWAYS a bad thing of course).

A shelving eq will be less intrusive than a HPF but will still enable you to reduce the lows and maybe reduce the peaks a bit. I'm not familiar with that Sunn amp but the bass knob on your Fender amp is basically a shelving eq. Have you tried to simply reduce the lows on your amp? Be aware that a (relatively) "flat" setting with a Fender tone stack means setting the bass+treble very low and the mids pretty much all the way up. If you have the bass knob on your Fender amp any higher than 2-3 you may want to try a lower setting before you buy expensive pedals to basically do the same.

You can also try adjusting the pickup height under your lower strings. The pickups on a Starfire basses aren't height adjustable but I believe the individual pole pieces are (I really should know this for certain as I own one but it's not in front of me right now).

And finally, without hearing you play we can't rule out the possibility that this is simply caused by poor playing technique, in which case the solution is PRACTICE.;)
 
Compressor or High Pass Filter?

Both

One of the more highly-regarded pedal pairings. I'd run it: HPF > compressor signal path (...no side-chain) with the possible inclusion of the GEQ between the two vs end of the path. If you wanna be tricky, add a QStrip to the front end of the comp as it includes a HPF and a little more control when ID'ing and attenuating trouble-spots.

Riis
 
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