eq settings

Are you turning the eq on? dont be offended im just asking.

 

For rock, you probably want a happy face/smile. That way, you boost the lows and highs and scoop the mids.

"Rock. Good ol' rock. Nothing beats rock!"

 

Think about it, if it "should" be a frown they'd just glue the sliders so you wouldn't have to ever adjust it

The "smiley face" EQ (bass and treble boosted and mids cut) is popular with many folks but makes you drive the amp harder to hear the bass. That's because our ears are most sensitive to midrange. This setting is OK for funk slapping but makes it hard to cut through loud guitars.

The "frown" boosts mids while cutting lows and highs, this is good if you want an "in your face", honky kind of sound.

If you really can't hear what the EQ does, see a doctor

To learn what each EQ band does is easy:

1. Plug the bass into the amp.
2. Go to the first EQ band, set it all the way off, play some and listen.
3. Take the same EQ band set it all the way up, play some and listen.
4. Repeat for each band.

You should be able to clearly hear what part of the overall sound each band is affecting.

 

Yeah --what he said.

 

Well, how would you set an EQ for a harsh face-biting-kick-you-in-the-chest sound?

 

I'd do it by ear.

You can't easily generalize EQ settings because YOUR bass and YOUR amp and YOUR speakers will not sound the same as someone else's gear.

"Harsh" to me would mean boosting around 1-2 Khz.

"Kick you in the chest" means low EQ, around 100 Hz but a lot of boost here will suck a lot of power, causing the amp to distort at lower overall volumes.

Good luck!

 

Face Biting= Everything all the way up. You must have mids and high mids for face biting. What other gear are you playing through. What type of bass?

 

Well, Im playing a Fender Jazz and an Ampeg B3158. Using only the bridge pickup on the Jazz gets me halfway there. But theres something missing in the amp. I have the smiley face right now. Which Im sure is all wrong.

 

Try using your neck pickup also you will get a fuller sound like that. If your just using your bridge p/u your sound is probably very "honkey" its barking but no balls. Try turning your gain all the way down and turn your volume all the way up and then use the gain as your volume. Make your eq flat then boost the 40hz a bit and your mids a bit . Fingers or pick?

 

Pick. Ill be sure and try your suggestion in a little while. Thanks.

 

brianrost: how true. Because for me low EQ is 50 Hz and down! (And I only play a 4 string)

 

PBass,

I'm playing a 'P'-Bass with the additional 'J' pickup. My EQ settings are closer to the
"bird wings". Actually, a better description, might be "like a water slide". Kinda' hilly, with a sloping decrease towards the high end. Anything after 2k gets dramatically dropped down.

As for Nordic's needs; I'd have to agree, the 'biting sound' - might best be achieved with a little boost in the 800hz - 2k range. Letting the audience feel the sound as-well-as hear it down in the 60hz - 80hz range. And, if it's available, reach into the 'lo 30hz' - 40hz settings. That should bruise a few ribs... michael

BTW: Playing with the bridge pick-up helps bring out that "farty" fretless sound. But, as someone else has suggested, you'll need some 'front' pick-up to fatten it up. Otherwise, if you're going through the P.A., your bass will likely get lost amongst the midrange of guitar/s, vocal/s and keys, if any....

 

One thing about my EQ is that it buga the hell out of the drummer that I have to change my settings so much between songs. I try to get them to arrange the set to facilitate this. Alas, I'm high maintenance with my EQ.

 

I too have had that problem, im checking into a behringer ultracurve because it has a programable digital eq and you can save all kinds of settings, about 500 bux though.

 

Nomadic Herder,

You said you have an Ampeg B3158? Have you tried increasing the Drive and Ultra Mid controls?

I have a B328, and I can get a fairly decent "in your face" sound just by adjusting those two controls.

- Frank

 

Nomadic,

If you like the midrange honk of the Jazz bass bridge pickup then roll the neck volume off some and also roll the tone knob off until it takes some of the bitey treble off. Try that with a scooped "smiley face" midrange. Slowly bring the mids up until you cut through. This may give some low end back. I either do this tone or I put everything on full on my Jazz.

 

I also have somewhat ludicriously considered a Beringer Programmable EQ. I just the other day saw a Boss unti that had a couple of footpedal, a 10? band EQ and a bucj o memory. ANyone try one of these things on bass?

 

Boss makes great pedals but I have yet to try any multi effect unit that sounds really good.

 

Everything all the way up = clipping = bye bye rig.

I suggest trying it with a "/" type Eq...

Going from neutral to fairly high up.

The lows'll simulate a more driven sound, so will the mids, the highs being not too high, but not cut, will offer enough clarity. Give it a try.