Hope this topic still alive; first real post. Used full bore SVT, hybrid biamped trace Elliot 4x10 cab with Yamaha 1x18, SWR 1x15 combo. Currently using mark bass little mark tube 800 with an ampeg 6x10, MM Bongo 6. I like a fat clean sound with a warmth and definition. After 40 years I've found small speakers, tube power with a music man or alembic and straight into board and range of sounds, all solid, is perfect. For me, that is. Opinions vary....
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Imho wireless,even if you only use them for sound check is a good thing to have. I use mine for every performance. I want to control as many factors of my sound and volume as possible. If you want to know what's going on with your band's sound,go out front and listen. Most of the time,your bass will sound different when you get out front.
It's almost always the player, not the equipment. Sure, the pedal added it's bit, as did the amp, but the players feel and technique make up far more of the tone than all the equipment in the world. A buddy of mine took lessons from one of the best sounding bassists on the planet, but when he went to a lesson and asked to play his teachers bass, he didn't sound anything like the teacher, he sounded just like he always did. It's 99% technique, 1% equipment.
Could be that you hear your cabinet while standing right in front of it on stage, and were listening to him and his equipment while in the audience. Unless you have a wireless system you will not know how your system sounds with you playing through it. Having someone else play through your system will not sound like you. Until you are able to play through your equipment from the audience with a full house you will really never know what it really sounds like, and a sound check will sound different than a full house.
Interesting to read this- I've owned 4 different SABDDI's- always ended up selling them for one reason or another. I recently converted to P bass for almost everything. For the heck of it I just ordered another BDDI to try with the new rig and P bass. Got it a few days ago and I love it,and you might be right-it's certainly worth a try. It's not a 751, but I really like it
[Anecdote mode on] I admit that I am not always the best judge of "The Tone." But long time ago, while auditioning for a band, I brought along my nifty Acoustic bass amp (2x15"), a Carvin LB50 and a (CBS) Fender Jazz. The audition was not going well, until I plugged in the Jazz. Suddenly, their faces lit up. They heard "The TONE." Got the gig.
I genuflect to the CLF, and confess that there is no bass but Fender bass.
I genuflect to the CLF, and confess that there is no bass but Fender bass.
You could use a looper to see how you sound.
It's easier to that when not playing.
I'm a fan of anything that lets you know what's happening out front. Generally speaking, the biggest problem I find is the bass can be boomy or thick and non punchy. Of course this will change as the venue fills with people,so you need to reevaluate your sound.
Agreed. It's got to be the 751. I heard a small duo at an outdoor/patio tavern set up. It was an acoustic guitar player/singer and the bass player was using a Geddy Lee sig jazz bass and an Aguilar 750ish something through 2 1x12 cabs...best tone I've ever heard. And I'm a (converted) P bass player. I immediately googled Aguilar the next day and nearly cried at the priceOne can dream...
Fortunately, that tone isn't from the Aguilar. From the video he posted to a similar tone, it's a Sansamp.
The Aggie DBs are big, punchy, loud, and fairly clean once you roll the v1 tube. The kind of lows and grind he wants comes from either a preamp pedal or a very cranked SVT trough a sealed cab with 10s.
I didn't either until I realized it was the main reason I wasn't achieving the tone that I wanted in a rock context.
Op,
I think you said you have a VT Bass. If so, try this:
Set your amp flat.
Hopefully your strings are set slightly low to enable some controlled fret buzz. Fresh rounds help a lot here.
On your VT...
Bass, mid, and treble set to 12 o'clock and feel free to adjust mids just a hair to taste.
Character knob between 9-10 o'clock.
Gain/drive set between 10-12 o'clock.
Play aggressively with a pick.
All else being equal, this should get you in the ballpark so that you can now begin to adjust. If this general tone works for you then leave your amp flat until you're at the venue. You'll then set your amps EQ to match the venue and the band.
Use your bass's onboard EQ if it has one to fine tune your sound or to allow you quick adjustments between songs. If it's a passive instrument, just leave the tone wide or close to wide open.
I think you said you have a VT Bass. If so, try this:
Set your amp flat.
Hopefully your strings are set slightly low to enable some controlled fret buzz. Fresh rounds help a lot here.
On your VT...
Bass, mid, and treble set to 12 o'clock and feel free to adjust mids just a hair to taste.
Character knob between 9-10 o'clock.
Gain/drive set between 10-12 o'clock.
Play aggressively with a pick.
All else being equal, this should get you in the ballpark so that you can now begin to adjust. If this general tone works for you then leave your amp flat until you're at the venue. You'll then set your amps EQ to match the venue and the band.
Use your bass's onboard EQ if it has one to fine tune your sound or to allow you quick adjustments between songs. If it's a passive instrument, just leave the tone wide or close to wide open.
I had a Sansamp Preamp pedal that made my old busted Yorkville combo sound great. I was playing a Warwick Streamer through it. I've got a Warwick Corvette and an Ampeg Portaflex stack now and haven't used the pedal but I bet mt setup would be even sweeter with it. I'm just a minimalist...the less pedals and cords the better. Let the guitar player fool with pedals.
Whatever gear you have, a wireless will let you know what you sound like out front.
Just that one thing is very important for getting the sound you seek.
One of the first things I learned was that if I had a sound that was as fat as I wanted on stage,
it was probably muddy out front.
Just that one thing is very important for getting the sound you seek.
One of the first things I learned was that if I had a sound that was as fat as I wanted on stage,
it was probably muddy out front.
Could it be due to where you were while listening vs your spot on the stage? The sound isn't the same in all locations in the venue and the fact that you were facing the sound, rather than it coming from behind, makes a huge difference.
trpullen
Commercial User
- Jul 12, 2003
- 119
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- Owner: Mojo's Music in Edwardville, IL
I have a DB751 and a DB412. I am not sure why the heck they even put tone knobs on the DB751. I moved them from TDC when I first got it and returned them because they sounded perfect there. I use the DEEP button from time to time. It makes me a better player and it makes me want to be a better player. I like my TH500 just fine and it gets the job done really well. I get compliments on my tone from the sound guys. Long and the short of it, sure my 16 year old does not have a car because I spent that cash on a bass amp. 
At least he is a top quality player too and gets to use it from time to time.
At least he is a top quality player too and gets to use it from time to time.
Chef
In Memoriam
SJan3
mmbongo
Shame on the both of you.
This isn't "fistfight.com," it's talkbass.com.
mmbongo
Shame on the both of you.
This isn't "fistfight.com," it's talkbass.com.
Exactly! In a double blind test, how many people could tell if Wynton Marsalis was playing his Monette or a Yamaha student model trumpet? I know that this is apples with oranges but, I'm a firm believer that any good bass player can get their sound with descent equipment. The better the equipment, the easier it will be.
