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Do certain bass heads reproduce lower notes better?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Josh Pelican, Jul 26, 2009.

  1. Jul 26, 2009 #1
    Josh Pelican

    Josh Pelican

    Sep 22, 2008
    Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
    Last night I played a show with a bass set up in F#. I originally played around with an Ampeg B2RE during sound check, but decided to use my buddy's SWR WorkingPro 700 for the show. I found all of the strings were booming with volume, but F# was almost inaudible. I could barely hear anything over the guitars because I wasn't mic'd. When I plugged into his SWR I could hearly myself clearly and everyone there said it sounded great.

    So my question is, do certain amps reproduce lower notes better? Or was this mainly due to the fact that the SWR is a better amp?

    I'm trying to get rid of my B2RE to get something else, but I decided I'd ask first.
     
  2. Jul 26, 2009 #2
    pedalguy1

    pedalguy1

    Jun 3, 2008
    Riverton Utah
    Well, the speakers are what produces the tone your ears hearm so I'm saying no. But, every amp has different eq centers so the tone is going to be different. I'm guessing the SWR has more wattage and headroom so it probably could put a lot of bass out at a high gig volume, whereas the ampeg head could not.
     
  3. Jul 26, 2009 #3
    totallybacan

    totallybacan

    Mar 30, 2009
    21804
    ^ sounds about right

    To add on, some amps have a roll of frequency. If i remember correctly, f# is around 22 hz (someone correct me). If you have a roll off starting on 30 or 40 hz, well, it will be several decibels softer. If that's the case, I would strongly suggest AGAINST boosting bass on the eq as this will suck your headroom of all it's life. And then some.
     
  4. Jul 27, 2009 #4
    billfitzmaurice

    billfitzmaurice Commercial User

    Sep 15, 2004
    New Hampshire
    Owner, Bill Fitzmaurice Loudspeaker Design
    Within reason, no. But amps are voiced differently, so you must keep in mind that with the EQ settings the same different amps will sound different. That's why those EQ knobs are adjustable, so you can dial up what you want.
     
  5. Jul 27, 2009 #5
    BIGREDSIX

    BIGREDSIX Supporting Member

    Jan 20, 2002
    Chicago (south suburbs)
    Never mind - I read it wrong...
     
  6. Jul 27, 2009 #6
    chaosMK

    chaosMK

    May 26, 2005
    Albuquerque, NM
    Too much hip thrust
    F# is pretty low.
     
  7. Jul 27, 2009 #7
    T-Bird

    T-Bird

    Apr 29, 2007
    Finland (Northern Europe)
    Hi.

    While the speakers are usually the weakest link in the sub 50Hz reproduction, an amplifier plays a vital role too.

    Amplifying low frequency signals demand a lot from the power supply and from the output devices. As those components may be 90% of the value of the amp, the manufacturers are tempted to cut corners. And the low end reproduction suffers and becomes erratic.

    SWR amps are a good example of a design that goes relatively low, and in the process can be really hard on the speakers as the sub freq. material can be well below the tuning frequency of the cab.

    Regards
    Sam
     
  8. Jul 27, 2009 #8
    bassplayer7770

    bassplayer7770

    Jan 3, 2002
    Hour North of Columbus, OH
    Over the weekend, I compared my Carvin BX1200 and Peavey Pro Bass 500 heads through my LDS 15/6.5 cab. They were both quite different. The Carvin was brighter with more clarity, and the Peavey was a bit less shrill at around 1kHz with more low end. The Carvin has a lot more power, and it actually sounded pretty darn good in the band mix IMO. Also, just because I say the Carvin was brighter does not mean it totally lacks in low end.
     
  9. Jul 27, 2009 #9
    Mo'Phat

    Mo'Phat

    Oct 1, 2003
    San Diego, CA, USA
    Most bass amps have Bass, Mid, and Treble...but MY amp has Sub Bass...so it goes lower.

    /goes to 11. One lower.
     
  10. Jul 27, 2009 #10
    RomancintheTone

    RomancintheTone

    Apr 16, 2009
    Missouri City, Texas
    I think it's a lot of factors working together. A lot depends on the cab, especially the frequency it's tuned to and the speakers used, but when you get as low as 22Hz, many amps have a built in sub sonic shelving filter designed to protect the speakers. With all of us boosting the crap out of signals, it only takes one 10Hz slam to send a cone flying into the audience. There's probably a filter starting around the fundamental of your F#.