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Fender Bassman 800 -Sterile Sounding?

RedWire75

RedWire75

May 4, 2017
385
696
St. Louis, Missourah
#1
Recently got a Fender Bassman 800 and Bassman Neo 410. Either playing a stock Lakland 44-60 (although I just put some Aguilar 4J-HC pickups in & haven’t had a chance to run it through the rig) or a Squier CV 70s Precision with a Fender ‘62 Original PU. Music is loud/heavy indie rock.

So far it’s feeling pretty sterile and lifeless and easily lost in the mix. Tried boosting mids/highs, etc. to no avail. I’ve found that I’m getting a better sound with the channel volume up louder but I’m running into the peak light being on a little more than I’d like.

Just the nature of Class D? Do I need to bite the bullet and go tube?
 
#2
RedWire75 said:
Recently got a Fender Bassman 800 and Bassman Neo 410. Either playing a stock Lakland 44-60 (although I just put some Aguilar 4J-HC pickups in & haven’t had a chance to run it through the rig) or a Squier CV 70s Precision with a Fender ‘62 Original PU. Music is loud/heavy indie rock.

So far it’s feeling pretty sterile and lifeless and easily lost in the mix. Tried boosting mids/highs, etc. to no avail. I’ve found that I’m getting a better sound with the channel volume up louder but I’m running into the peak light being on a little more than I’d like.

Just the nature of Class D? Do I need to bite the bullet and go tube?
Click to expand...

! I can't imagine the Bassman 800 into the neo 410 sounding like that! My BM500 into the neo 115 certainly doesn't. But I use my MIM P-bass Special or my CIJ Jaguar, both strung BEAD, through it most of the time. And loud modern country is the most I ever push it, where even my Rumble 500 combo handles that just fine.

Surely you've tried different mid frequency settings, to cut through? And a bit of OD blended in, perhaps with some deep and/or bright to taste, ought to banish any sterility or lifelessness.

Or, maybe if your band is very, very loud, you just need a second cab for a little more SPL punch at the full 800 watts. A 115 would probably be enough, but another 410 would definitely hit the spot.

Hope this helps.
 
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#3
I’ve defaulted to adding some drive, which I would do anyway and definitely experimented with different mid frequencies.

We’re not stupid loud but the room doesn’t help anyway. We’re having trouble getting it where we want reflection wise. Lots of hanging rugs.

I’d love another 410 but the car will only hold the one.
 
#4
RedWire75 said:
So far it’s feeling pretty sterile and lifeless and easily lost in the mix.
Click to expand...
You're just doing it wrong. Use the classic channel. I always loved 7-7-7: Bass - Mids - Treble and for good measure 7 on the channel volume too. B.B. King liked 6-6-6 on his Fenders with the volume wide open (no master). So prepare to hear the voice of God or the devil. Take your pick, but it will not be cold; sterile, or lifeless!
 
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#5
Linnin said:
You're just doing it wrong. Use the classic channel. I always loved 7-7-7: Bass - Mids - Treble and for good measure 7 on the channel volume too. B.B. King liked 6-6-6 on his Fenders with the volume wide open (no master). So prepare to hear the voice of God or the devil. Take your pick, but it will not be cold; sterile, or lifeless!
Click to expand...

If I set the channel volume there the peak light will be on constantly.

How much should we worry about the peak light? The manual says ok to flash but not on constantly. This is the first amp I’ve had with a peak light.
 
#6
RedWire75 said:
. . . . . We’re not stupid loud but the room doesn’t help anyway. We’re having trouble getting it where we want reflection wise. Lots of hanging rugs. . . . .
Click to expand...

Rehearsal room, perhaps? Not much bigger than the band itself, maybe? Could be too much acoustic dampening and/or too much volume for a small room. Either, or both, can "mush the mix" and lose dynamics and tone textures. Can some rugs be temporarily removed? Otherwise, good luck getting the band to turn down.
:rolleyes:
 
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#7
RedWire75 said:
If I set the channel volume there the peak light will be on constantly.
How much should we worry about the peak light? The manual says ok to flash but not on constantly. This is the first amp I’ve had with a peak light.
Click to expand...
Just go all tube and get a Super Bassman. Peak lights? We don't need no stinkin' peak lights! Do yourself a favor and grab a couple of Bassman 115 cabs while you're at it. That'll help immensely.
 
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#8
Another thought, did you buy your 410 new? Or did you get "a deal" somewhere?

If it was a "bargain", or "steal", you should definitely check the impedance at the cable connectors! If that's good, then remove the grill cloth and check that all speakers are wired to the same polarity (all move in the same direction at the same time, touch-and-remove 9-volt battery to speaker cable plug). Also, do all speakers look the same? Might also remove them to see if there are matching similar markings on the back. (Might even do this if bought new.)

A miswired cabinet, or unmatched replacement driver(s), can not only ruin your sound but, it could ruin your amp head!!
 
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#12
Can you get ahold of a semi parametric EQ and see if you can get someone to spin dials on your next sound check?
I run my preamps into an SWR Electric Blue basically for EQ.

You could go the roundabout way with a fuzz pedal to get you those peaks, I prefer having control over the eq points and how much they boost and cut.
 
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#17
somebrains said:
Can you get ahold of a semi parametric EQ and see if you can get someone to spin dials on your next sound check?
I run my preamps into an SWR Electric Blue basically for EQ.

You could go the roundabout way with a fuzz pedal to get you those peaks, I prefer having control over the eq points and how much they boost and cut.
Click to expand...

I think this advice is right on the money. Being as the OP loved his V4B, a bit of boost in the low mids might be exactly what the OP needs. Try a boost somewhere between 300 and about 600hz. Perhaps you can dial this in with the variable mid control on the overdrive channel (+/- 18dB from 200hz to 3.3Khz). The mids on the passive channel are centered at around 400hz and cut only, so run the control at a high setting for a flatter response.
 
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#18
Yeah man, how many guys keep a Sansamp Paradriver around, or jump on a $50 used Rane EQ just to tart up those problem rooms?

I have to adjust an SVP-CL preamp with my SWR head so it still sounds like something resembling an SVT more often than I like.

I own the SWR head already, and it's a nice EQ, so I don't need to spend the $ again.

There's always the GK method of spraying the crowd down with grind but I don't think that's optimal bass tone 24/7.

That's kinda what I do when I don't want to overthink it.
GK EQ's are a bit brute force but they work.
 
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#19
I just acquired a Bassman 800, and I'm running it through a 115 Neo. With either a USA Geddy Lee Jazz, or a Rickenbacker 4003. Both are strung with D'Addario ETB92 Nylons. I definitely prefer the Overdrive Channel in it. A great low bass tone with either bass in the Overdrive. No way is it a Sterile sound. The Vintage Channel didn't have the extra low sounds I prefer, but it was also anything but a Sterile Sound.

I traded out an Ampeg V-4B / SVT-212AV for the Fender Bassman setup. I do prefer the Bassman over the Ampeg.
RXD5sdJ.jpg
 
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