frustrated with tone chasing

[sonicnuance]

I wish I wasn't so picky. The bandleader says my greatest strength is my attention to detail... which is also my greatest weakness.

Everytime I play I'm tweaking knobs to get things to sound like what I envision in my head (I like to hear *and* feel the bass while a full band (two guitars, drums and vocals) are going at it).

I have wonderful equipment (Musicman Bongo, Genz Benz Shuttle, Fender Precision, etc) and find I'm chasing that last 5% of sound. When I play a passive bass I can never quite get the sound I want, when I play active basses I am much closer - but instead of tweaking amp controls, now I'm tweaking the instrument controls.

Useless I know - but I can't stop it. I want to practice not mess around with eq

What don't I like about my tone? Currently I dial in mids and bass when the full band is playing but it sounds clanky at times. If I dial them down I generally don't cut through.

Generally I set my instrument controls at the start of the gig and make minor tweaks. Part of the problem may be in ear monitors I'm using (although I use my amp as a personal monitor).

:scowl: I'm really frustrated and disgusted with myself right now.

thanks for listening to me rant. Any tips would be appreciated

 

[kaputsport]

It sounds like you do not have the gear you really want. Might be the bass, or it could be the amp. I find my Marshall cuts through everything, with ease. Maybe you just need a fresh look at your tone. Try an SVT Ampeg, or a preamp/power amp combo.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Speaker cab? You didn't mention it. If it's too small, maybe you need more. Could be the "missing link".

 

[sonicnuance]

Speaker cab? You didn't mention it. If it's too small, maybe you need more. Could be the "missing link".

sorry - good point. its an Epifani UL2 -112. I love it.

 

[sonicnuance]

It sounds like you do not have the gear you really want. Might be the bass, or it could be the amp. I find my Marshall cuts through everything, with ease. Maybe you just need a fresh look at your tone. Try an SVT Ampeg, or a preamp/power amp combo.

could be I don't have the gear I want... though I don't know what that is.

I forgot to mention a critical detail that may derail this. I play with PA support and want to sound good at the FOH which is out of my control

Even so, I'm trying to get my sound with my amp monitor and still have issues.

 

[BrBss]

... Currently I dial in mids and bass when the full band is playing but it sounds clanky at times. ...

Do you play with roundwounds? Maybe try some pressurewound, halfwound, or flatwound strings.

 

[cgnortheast]

Dude - A 112 really doesn't have enough surface area to cut through drums and 2 guitars. Get another 112, like the one that you like the tone of, and you'll be fine.

 

[sonicnuance]

Do you play with roundwounds? Maybe try some pressurewound, halfwound, or flatwound strings.

THANKS! Yes I do currently use roundwounds. I was thinking about that today as a matter of fact. I think I'm gonna give it a try.

I've heard good things about Thomastic's flatwounds.

 

[sonicnuance]

Dude - A 112 really doesn't have enough surface area to cut through drums and 2 guitars. Get another 112, like the one that you like the tone of, and you'll be fine.

The stage volume isn't that loud actually. The guitar amps are in isolation booths (mine isn't) and the drums are behind a plexi cage.

Its an interesting idea to add another cab, but I barely push the amp as it is.

 

[Selta]

Are you judging your tone from your in-ears? I've never took what I hear through those as accurate at all, just something to be used for referencing. Walk out, away from the stage, next time you're sound checking and see what you hear there.

 

[plangentmusic]

Pursuit of perfection is the enemy of the good.

 

[sonicnuance]

Are you judging your tone from your in-ears? I've never took what I hear through those as accurate at all, just something to be used for referencing. Walk out, away from the stage, next time you're sound checking and see what you hear there.

you're right

I need a looooooooong cable or a wireless

 

[Shelly]

Are you judging your tone from your in-ears? I've never took what I hear through those as accurate at all, just something to be used for referencing. Walk out, away from the stage, next time you're sound checking and see what you hear there.

Also, perhaps take one of the earbuds/earphones out for the first song or two of the gig so that you hear what your rig sounds like with the band as you tweak.

 

[Pilgrim]

The endless search for tone is pointless. There is no ultimate tone, and it's a huge waste of time trying to gain 1% more than what you have.

Play. Drink beer. Enjoy. Hands off the EQ.

 

[vladchrome]

Another thing I've found is that your sound will change with the changing dynamics of the band especially with guitarist that use different effects.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Set everything flat. Sit in front of the amp, play until you like the tone you hear.

 

[5string5fingers]

Do you play with roundwounds? Maybe try some pressurewound, halfwound, or flatwound strings.

This. Sounds like you like the cut of mids,but don't want all the fret noise,which flats will greatly reduce,maybe a slightly higher action as well or lighter touch?

The endless search for tone is pointless. There is no ultimate tone, and it's a huge waste of time trying to gain 1% more than what you have.

Play. Drink beer. Enjoy. Hands off the EQ.

And this. Drink a few more,and you won't care anymore.

 

[Jim C]

It's only as good as your in ear unit as well as the guy mixing it; you currently don't have much control of the finer points

How about 1 rehearsal everybody just plays in a room with old fashioned vocal monitors?

 

[Stick_Player]

Maybe it's not in your fingers, yet.

 

[Korladis]

sorry - good point. its an Epifani UL2 -112. I love it.

Maybe it's just not a big enough helping? Maybe get another one to put on top of it? It would still be fairly easy to carry.