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Cutting through the GUITARS ¬¬

D

dudeonthebass

Jul 2, 2008
108
0
St.Osyth
www.facebook.com
#1
Fender P Bass w/ SD QPs, old peavey tnt 115.

When playing with it guitars, it sounds nice and punchy, but when guitars come in, i just become mud

I have my eq relatively flat, with only a minor cut in highs and a little boost in the mids

Most of the time i play with a pick, and the occasionally bit of slap

The amp has a 7 band GEQ


Any suggestions, ideas
 
#5
"cutting through" often means competing for sound spectrum.

A TNT is a solid BAND MIX amp --- really isn't engineered for the clanky tone of a Claypool, Lee etc.

I'd be giving your band a gift and go the other direction.. trim down the highs & mids.. then boost the lows and the volume.. you'll become the foundation for their work vs competing for the same sound spectrum.

DO NOT change your speakers to 10s.. will not work in your combo amp.. ONLY mod that may add would be a crossover and tweeter (depending on your era).

I'd need to see a pix of your TNT before going into more detials.



Tim


PS.. just noticed you do a bit of slap.. this may impact some advice.. a single 15 combo amp may not proove satisfactory for slapping.. it's more a thud drone sounding amp.
 
#7
Is this the sound on stage or in the room? If it's on stage it might be your proximity to your own speaker, the sound may be hitting you right in the legs. It will sound completely different in the room. If you're not being heard out there you may need an extension cab with another 15 and/or more power. I don't think a bass should "cut through" as much as add the bottom. In the ideal mix everything has it's place and compliments the whole.
 
#9
I haven't got it with me at the moment, its at the place where i rehearse. Well it has got a crossover, it has a high and low output for bottom and tops cabs blah blah, and the place i rehearse is a small music venue, but bands rehearse there when nothings going on, so all the amps and drums are on stage, there a big FOH system which the singers gets all to him self.

I tend to play off stage to get a sound from an audience perspective, to thinking of it, being off stage won't help, but id rather it sound good for an audience
 
#11
I can't believe that people on here would give advise without knowing what the guitars in his band sound like. I'd be interested to hear about that first.
If the guitars have a ton of midrange, boosting his mids will not help and if the guitars have a ton of low end boosting his lows will not help.
Speaker size does not dictate how an instrument fits in the mix.
 
#13
BZadlo said:
I can't believe that people on here would give advise without knowing what the guitars in his band sound like. I'd be interested to hear about that first.
If the guitars have a ton of midrange, boosting his mids will not help and if the guitars have a ton of low end boosting his lows will not help.
Speaker size does not dictate how an instrument fits in the mix.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exunctly pedro! Also depends on whether they're clean or distorted. If clean, just wack in some bass and maybe a touch of grit on the top end with a distortion pedal. If they're distorted, try to keep your tone clean but boost the lower mids: you should notice your P-bass growl coming through a peach :)
 
#14
Enjoy the low end. Don't cut your way through, find your spectrum, your home in the mix. My favorite solo'd bass sounds aren't always band friendly. Maybe the guitar players need to work their eq a bit too. I worked with my old guitarist mesa triple rec and cut his lows and it made us sound so much more crisp and heavy at the same time.

I also found that a 72 SVT and a berg 215 or Crest CA9 and Demeter through 2 old Ampeg 1510's are equally as efficient in humbling excited geetardists.

Ok, true, but I don't suggest that. Boost lows and low mids.
 
#15
BZadlo said:
I can't believe that people on here would give advise without knowing what the guitars in his band sound like. I'd be interested to hear about that first.
If the guitars have a ton of midrange, boosting his mids will not help and if the guitars have a ton of low end boosting his lows will not help.
Speaker size does not dictate how an instrument fits in the mix.
Click to expand...


I understand your comments.. I know this amp VERY well - it's not a presence amp --- it's a band slot design.. the physics of this box do have a great impact on it's band slot.
 
#19
Also be mindful of the room, phase cancellation, etc. Try switching up cabinet positions with everyone, and for a few rehearsals (although guitarist usually reluctant) try standing in front of someone else's rig while they stand in front of yours. It really changes the dynamics and the way you will hear "your tone".
 

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