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Help me with my bass sound

B

bassist15

Mar 6, 2006
988
26
35
Indiana
#1
Ive noticed anymore that im not pleased with my sound. I play through a Behringer BX1200. Its not very great. Ive planned on getting something new . I really just dont know how to EQ my bass to get a good sound.Also I play a 2002 MIM Fender Jazz My settings right now are:

Amp:
(these only go to 6 on the amp)
Bass:6
Low Mid:5
Treble:3
Hi Mid:3

Bass settings:
Neck Pickup:9
Bridge Pickup:6
Treble:6

I really like the tone that JPJ gets on Led Zeppelin II . Nice smooths lows. I would gladly appriciate help.
 
#2
here's something i would do when i would get really frustrated with my sound and couldn't figure out what was wrong or what to do. I would put all my EQs at the same level and one by one try that one in a different position. For example, put them all on 5 then cut all the bass, then slowly pick it up until it's all the way up. then do this for all the other controls. after you've done all of them and if you still feel weird try a different position like cutting the all or something. it's also a good idea if you play them same bassline everytime.
 
#4
Practice. I play thru a trace elliot head...ampeg 8x10 cab and get killer tone...one day we were playing with another bassist who played thru a bx1200 with a gk 410 cab and a peavy 15...we traded off for a few minutes and my rig started to sound crappy and his sounded great. I was playing his bass thru his equipment and he played my stuff...not to be conceited but its all about some technique.
 
#5
No i cant add an extra cab. Im looking into getting something new though ive got a bunch of money saved up.
And i really dont get what you mean abotu the technique . Its mainly my amp , because I play for a million different functions at school and use their old amp and i can get a good tone out of that. My technique is pretty solid. I practice about everyday because i play in jazz band , the regular band , drumline, and i play in the pit band for plays. So I am practiceing
 
#7
anomalee, I think bassist15 mentioned the fact that he likes the Led Zep sound on the Led Zepplin II album.

So bassist15, I'll say that Hamstir is pretty doing the same as I do. Try to set it all flat, and then experiment with what you like or not. And the room where you play is surely affecting your sound, so that's what you refer for using the EQ to work for you. Don't forget though that you're trying to push hard on the

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and I guess that if you use the ULTRABASS subharmonics processor it might overload the 1x12 at high level. So maybe try to deactivate it (or turn the knob counterclock) to hear if you can boost a little on the bass - low mids , and cut a bit of the high mids and the treble of the EQ section.

this is just me trying to help, and sharing my thoughts on the matter.

If you are looking to change for another rig, I could suggest some amps that I think, will give you that round deep solid sound you seem to like. First I think it's the warmth of a tube amp you feel. Such has the Ampeg SVT-CL, all tube head. I think Fender good one too . The SVT-2PRO might also be to consider, maybe better then the CL. Next you could also get a pre/power amp setup. I'd choose the Ampeg SVP-Pro, SVP-CL, the BBE bMax-T (that I will have soon :)), Aguilar seems to have a deep sound... but make yourself an idea, because you can hear them all at Invalid Link Removed

anyway, I'm sure that if you search in the many threads of the talkbass's forum, you'll find as much as I am searching in the quest of new rig ;), I am discovering, and learnig my way to sound realm of the bass...

like sedan said, if you could hook up other speakers to it from the speaker out 1/4 mono jack connector, that might be a good add. Also you could run an XLR from the DIRECT-OUT connector to the console if you got a PA and other speakers.

I hope this will help you...
good luck

edit: I have forgot about the MESA 400+, Trace V8, all tube heads that are also legends I think...
 

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