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Feedback when overdrive is engaged

S

shameline

Guest
Sep 6, 2012
33
1
#1
So I recently played a show where I was provided a SVT Classic with a 8x10 backline.

We are a 4 piece, loud drummer, one stereo lead guitar and one rhythmic guitar/singer, and one bass. We are a loud band.

During sound check we played one of our song were I use a BOSS Bass over drive, with a MXR Octaver, and I step on the MXR Bass comp for that short period of time.

As soon as there is a VERY small silence, I could hear the high pitch feedback sound coming from the cab (a little less without the compressor, but still present). It was a fairly decent room, medium size stage, my amp was like 12 feet behind me. We didnt have time to recheck, so I decreased the gain, the level, and the treble of the overdrive pedal just to be safe. I eventually played that part WITHOUT the compressor on, and it went ok...

I know the solution is to turn down, but by turning town, I am cutting myself off of the mix... Anybody can give me a piece of advice to keep the dirt loud, without blowing everybody's ear...?


Thanks!
 
#3
You need to find a better tone for your OD that won't cause you to get lost in the mix. Distortion can be tough to do this with because frequencies can fool you when distorted. Just experiment around at practices and see what you come up with. Might want to add more high mids.
 
#4
The problem is it doesnt always react the same depending the room you play. And at practice, the room is small, and Im kinda in front of my 2x 4x10, so it s feedback guaranteed there!

I guess I need more experience blowing people hears to find a solution....
 
#5
shameline said:
The problem is it doesnt always react the same depending the room you play. And at practice, the room is small, and Im kinda in front of my 2x 4x10, so it s feedback guaranteed there!

I guess I need more experience blowing people hears to find a solution....
Click to expand...
I'm assuming you meant to type "ears." That's half your problem right there. You're up so loud you don't have any perspective on it. Not going to tell you to turn down or anything...I was young once ;) But it does give you a better perspective when you're at a volume that doesn't fatigue your ears within a couple minutes.
 
#6
You gave a detailed rundown of the amp and pedals, but not the bass. If it is only when the OD is engaged, you may have microphonic pickups. I had that issue with an MIJ Jazz bass + Big Muff, squeal-o-rama. Swapped out pups, but now the magic is gone. Sigh. Reminds me I need to pot the old pickups and see if I can get that mojo back :) In your case,a pickup swap or wax potting of your current pickup may do it.
 
#8
shameline said:
I'm using a Rickenbacker 4003, with the switch in the middle (using both pick ups), and the vintage knob up (using the vintage tone).

What is a wax potting?


Thanks!
Click to expand...
Potting in wax is dipping the pickup in hot wax so that the little wire that wraps the core and other metal parts of the pickup cannot move around when the pickup experiences vibration.
 
#10
Is the vibration coming from your strings? Can you mute the strings and get it to stop? When I am playing guitar I always get feedback if I leave the volume up and take my hands off of the strings.
If it is the strings feeding back the solution is to mute the strings you aren't playing on.
 
#12
Boss pedals are not known for being quiet. Microphonic pickups had nothing to do with this issue at all. A it would be a low end feedback B it would need a lot of volume specifically high SPL to happen C would happen all the time. Most likely a grounding issue on the bass that is hard to hear clean, issue on the pedal, or one off the cables, or the power supply, source of power from wall.

Microphonic tubes could also be rattled a bit more with additional overdrive. Or you could have just been standing to close to the lights.
 

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