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GK amp clipping when slapping hard

L

Langueta

Jul 9, 2007
547
4
#1
My setup is GK 1001 rb2, hartke xl 410 and 115, musicman sr 5, dbx 160a compressor.
While playing in my room with the amp very low (7 o clock), the output of the compressor low-less than 0- The compressor on!
I was slapping muted notes really hard, playing the bass solo of stomp of the brothers johnson, and I see this yellow light (clip) on when I dig really hard.
What h`ppens???? I am playing at the minumun volumen of my amp!!
 
#2
the input level might be set too hot... i forget exactly how these are wired, i used to have a 2001RB but its been a few years. I know the overall volume (labelled "woofer)" has nothing to do with whether it clips or not. It may be a matter of setting the input lower (which is marked "volume" i believe, and should be near the input jack), or I might be mistaken... you might actually need to use the -15db pad if your bass itself is too hot and adjust the volume/woofer up accordingly. Mess around with it and see what works. The most annoying thing about GK's to my memory was the complexity of the various gain stages... what with input volume, boost, then the seperate woofer and tweeter controls. But still killer amps, of course.
 
#3
ishouldbeking said:
the input level might be set too hot... i forget exactly how these are wired, i used to have a 2001RB but its been a few years. I know the overall volume (labelled "woofer)" has nothing to do with whether it clips or not. It may be a matter of setting the input lower (which is marked "volume" i believe, and should be near the input jack), or I might be mistaken... you might actually need to use the -15db pad if your bass itself is too hot and adjust the volume/woofer up accordingly. Mess around with it and see what works. The most annoying thing about GK's to my memory was the complexity of the various gain stages... what with input volume, boost, then the seperate woofer and tweeter controls. But still killer amps, of course.
Click to expand...

The volume is set at the minimun possible, and it clips
 
#8
joeydavidson said:
Theres so many variables but everything points to a hot signal coming from your bass or your compressor, that -14db pad doesn't help?
Click to expand...

This.

First, try bypassing the compressor, and see if you still clip. If not, then you have the gain on the compressor set to high. Try using the gain of the compressor like you would the input gain on a head that has input gain..... turn up the gain until you clip, and then back it down a bit.

You can engage the input pad, and that should help as well, but my bet is that bringing down the gain on the compressor should get the job done.

And keep in mind that the volume knob has nothing to do with whether or not the clip light comes on.
 
#9
Classic hot signal problem. The solution is to cut the input signal to the amp, and let the amp do the work of getting loud. Three steps:

1. Turn down the instrument's volume knob, and make sure the active bass pad on the amp is engaged.

2. One of the biggest reasons to use a compressor at all is to prevent clipping (like volume spikes during slapping) so use it appropriately. Turn down the compressor's gain, and turn up the actual compression.

These steps will rein in the input signal to the amp.

3. Turn the amp's volume up to compensate.

If the amp is still clipping after these adjustments, there must be a bigger problem.
 
#11
Some questions
1-Wich is the active bass pad of the amp?? (-14 db pad)?????What is this???
2-I am using the compressor output gain at -9 db, so it was at a low volume.

NortyFiner said:
Classic hot signal problem. The solution is to cut the input signal to the amp, and let the amp do the work of getting loud. Three steps:

1. Turn down the instrument's volume knob, and make sure the active bass pad on the amp is engaged.

2. One of the biggest reasons to use a compressor at all is to prevent clipping (like volume spikes during slapping) so use it appropriately. Turn down the compressor's gain, and turn up the actual compression.

These steps will rein in the input signal to the amp.

3. Turn the amp's volume up to compensate.

If the amp is still clipping after these adjustments, there must be a bigger problem.
Click to expand...
 
#12
Langueta said:
Some questions
1-Wich is the active bass pad of the amp?? (-14 db pad)?????What is this???
Click to expand...

It's funny because the word looked weird to me too when I first came across it (English isn't my first language). You should be able to activate the "-14 db pad" (which I assume is derived from the word "padding") using this small switch near your amp's input jack. It's designed to lower the input gain so active basses don't overdrive the preamp.

qssao5.jpg
 
#13
phxlbrmpf said:
It's funny because the word looked weird to me too when I first came across it (English isn't my first language). You should be able to activate the "-14 db pad" (which I assume is derived from the word "padding") using this small switch near your amp's input jack. It's designed to lower the input gain so active basses don't overdrive the preamp.

qssao5.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks for that work

I like more the sound without that pad on. When playing live, I change the style from agressive to smooth, I can`t turn on the pad when I will slap. So are there other solutions? Instead of the pad?
Is clipping so bad, if it happens only when digging hard thumping dead notes, like louis johnson did??
 
#14
Langueta said:
Thanks for that work

I like more the sound without that pad on. When playing live, I change the style from agressive to smooth, I can`t turn on the pad when I will slap. So are there other solutions? Instead of the pad?
Is clipping so bad, if it happens only when digging hard thumping dead notes, like louis johnson did??
Click to expand...

The sound doesn't change with the pad engaged at all, you just loose some volume, which you can get back by turning up your "master volume" knob.
 
#15
Hmm, this is the second time I've seen someone claim that they prefer their sound with the pad off and it honestly weirds me out a little bit because it really shouldn't make a difference at all and I use it all the time for my active basses. And yes, clipping is pretty bad because it can lead to nasty distortions and may also damage your speakers in the long run.
 
#16
The compressor is probably in the effect send/return, which is after the input stage and won't keep you from overdriving the imput stage. You should either move the compressor to the input stage, turn down the bass, or use the -14dB pad (which to me sounds the same but is much quieter).
Wes
 
#17
Wes Whitmore said:
The compressor is probably in the effect send/return, which is after the input stage and won't keep you from overdriving the imput stage. You should either move the compressor to the input stage, turn down the bass, or use the -14dB pad (which to me sounds the same but is much quieter).
Wes
Click to expand...

Perfect.
When I gig with both my Stingray 5 and a passive bass (either a Fender Jazz or Precision, or a G&L L2000 in passive mode), I don't want to bother with the "pad" button (and I do find that the tone is somehow muffed with it in). So, I leave it out (unengaged).
BUT: I always turn down the Stingray's output to match the full-on output of the other basses. This turns out to be about 25% on. (In other words, I turn the volume knob on the Stingray about 3/4 of the way down.) All the way up, it's much, MUCH louder than a passive bass. I also put little strips of gaffer tape on the volume knob and the pickguard... when they line up, it marks the spot.
As has been said before, the "pad" button on a GK is the only way to control (on the amp) how much signal is going in. If the button isn't engaged and you're slapping on a Stingray which is turned all the way up -- especially if you've also boosted the tone controls on it -- it's no wonder the amp is begging for mercy!
 
#18
Langueta said:
Thanks for that work

I like more the sound without that pad on. When playing live, I change the style from agressive to smooth, I can`t turn on the pad when I will slap. So are there other solutions? Instead of the pad?
Is clipping so bad, if it happens only when digging hard thumping dead notes, like louis johnson did??
Click to expand...

All the pad does is reduce the input signal to the amp so it doesn't clip, which you hear as a change in volume. Just turn your amp's volume up to compensate.
 

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