• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Electroacustic bass too much feedback

10emmanuel

10emmanuel

Sep 2, 2021
455
419
world
#1
Hello fellows!!
Thanks for reading !

I am here because I got this electroacoustic bass Fender its a very nice one, and I went today to buy an amp, used, and I found out that I get A LOT of feedback. I tried equalizing, stepping away, longer cable, I even changed the battery of the bass, and even though some of the methods got a bit of results, at the end, in a high volume, I got feedback (annoying feedback) One amp even reproduced the noise of my fingering (without being plucking), like really really sensitive. Of course I tried those amps with an electric bass as well to corroborate results and there was no feedback.
I went to the store and I tried a new one, fender 60 w , and again it gave me feedback ( less though)... My question, why and how to solve it?

Thanks again!!!!
 
#2
The problem is the bass, and the solution is at the bass; no amplifier will help you with the acoustic gain problem. The issue is spelled out in the name -- electroACOUSTIC bass. Acoustic systems will feed back with a much lower amount of amplification than a less acoustically resonant device, like a solid body bass.

A parametric equalizer is one tool that is traditionally employed to raise gain-before-feedback in an acoustically resonant system. There are amps that have parametric EQ sections, but they are mostly at the high end; an external parametric EQ can be inserted in the effects loop of an amp, if there is one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Giraffe and Wasnex
#3
Two solutions I have used with acoustic electric basses...

1. Notch filter in a pedal format. Usually an acoustic guitar preamp pedal. Currently use an LR Baggs Align EQ pedal. Turn the notch filter on and adjust to the trouble frequency. These also frequently have a phase switch which may or may not help. I have mixed results with the phase switches.
2. Sound hole cover. Several on the market, but I like the ones from Lute Hole soundhole cover

The other thing to be mindful of is you are in relation to the amp. The closer you are to the front of the amp, the more likely you are to introduce feedback.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Element Zero and Giraffe
#4
10emmanuel said:
Of course I tried those amps with an electric bass as well to corroborate results and there was no feedback.
Click to expand...
It's common for Acoustic bass guitars to have feedback issues at louder volume levels, you need to buy a sound hole cover:

11007561_800.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Element Zero, Aqualung60, Killing Floor and 2 others
#5
To make my hollow body Gretsch G5123B fully giggable at rock music SPL, I had to patch in a 31 band graphic EQ. Quick and easy, as I had the gear, and my biggest rig is rack mount. I already knew what frequencies to adjust. Improved usage a lot.

Without the gear (and a parametric EQ might do the same job), being less experienced in understanding the thinking behind, and using a lower grade amp, you might be fighting an uphill battle.
No quick and dirty fix available.
 
#12
10emmanuel said:
Hello fellows!!
Thanks for reading !

I am here because I got this electroacoustic bass Fender its a very nice one, and I went today to buy an amp, used, and I found out that I get A LOT of feedback. I tried equalizing, stepping away, longer cable, I even changed the battery of the bass, and even though some of the methods got a bit of results, at the end, in a high volume, I got feedback (annoying feedback) One amp even reproduced the noise of my fingering (without being plucking), like really really sensitive. Of course I tried those amps with an electric bass as well to corroborate results and there was no feedback.
I went to the store and I tried a new one, fender 60 w , and again it gave me feedback ( less though)... My question, why and how to solve it?

Thanks again!!!!
Click to expand...
Why would you be playing at a high volume? What is the anticipated context of you playing an instrument like that? If you expect to be playing alongside other acoustic instruments, however amplified, and perhaps hand percussion(as opposed to a full drum kit), ideally there shouldn’t be the need for a high gain, high decibel level. Would you be going through a PA as well? If there is a volume requirement, perhaps an AEB is the wrong tool for the job.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ostie, Wasnex and Sparky Mark
#14
Michedelic said:
Why would you be playing at a high volume? What is the anticipated context of you playing an instrument like that? If you expect to be playing alongside other acoustic instruments, however amplified, and perhaps hand percussion(as opposed to a full drum kit), ideally there shouldn’t be the need for a high gain, high decibel level. Would you be going through a PA as well? If there is a volume requirement, perhaps an AEB is the wrong tool for the job.
Click to expand...
Agreed. If the OP is getting loud finger noise when just placing fingers on the strings then it's very (too) high volume.
 
#15
Sparky Mark said:
As I understand it the OP has a Fender electro acoustic bass not a semi-acoustic or upright bass.
Click to expand...
Read my post again Sparky. I said any acoustic or semiacoustic instrument. That very much includes the OP’s bass. He didn’t sat what model it is but we can assume it has some acoustic characteristics. And honestly a HPF will help ANY instrument reduce low end feedback including solid bodies, ok? There’s a reason amps designed primarily for solid body bass guitars like the Mesa D-800+ and WD-800 have them built in.

I mentioned the upright because those players have waaaaaay more experience fighting feedback than the average solid body bass guitar player does. Maybe something there are things to be learned from them? Or maybe not depending on you attitude.
 
#16
iAsh said:
Read my post again Sparky. I said any acoustic or semiacoustic instrument. That very much includes the OP’s bass. He didn’t sat what model it is but we can assume it has some acoustic characteristics. And honestly a HPF will help ANY instrument reduce low end feedback including solid bodies, ok? There’s a reason amps designed primarily for solid body bass guitars like the Mesa D-800+ and WD-800 have them built in.

I mentioned the upright because those players have waaaaaay more experience fighting feedback than the average solid body bass guitar player does. Maybe something there are things to be learned from them? Or maybe not depending on you attitude.
Click to expand...
No doubt, but let's try to answer the original question. It makes more sense to propose the simplest, cheapest effective solution first, which is a sound hole cover.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gepettus and 2saddleslab
#18
Walk into the acoustic guitar room at Guitar Center, pick up a guitar and play a chord loudly then dampen the sound with your hand. You will still hear the chord playing from all of the guitars hanging on the wall (quietly albeit). If the bodies of guitars can pick up unamplified notes, your bass is certainly picking up amplified notes and then sending those back to the amplifier which is being picked up by the bass, presto! Classic feedback loop. A soundhole cover will help as mentioned earlier, but you really need to attack the electroacoustic as a different beast than an electric. Play really clean, position yourself away from the amplifier, consider a HPF, and you may need to notch out certain frequencies that will vary from room to room.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Redbrangus
#19
Redbrangus said:
I agree that sound hole covers can help, but I'll also observe that there's a difference between an electroacoustic bass and a hollow-body electric bass guitar. At least in my mind.
Click to expand...

"Hollow body" electric basses are generally a lot more "solid" than an electro-acoustic bass - many have a solid core through the middle of the body. If you want no feedback, you want more solid - this (and sustain) is why solid bodied basses are the norm.

A sound hole cover will help with one of the frequencies that wants to feed back (a Helmholtz resonance where the air in the hole is moving a lot), but it's not going to be a complete panacea - the instrument is still very light and will resonate a lot in a loud sound field at other frequencies.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AlexanderB and Wasnex

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back