How do I tame a loud bass?

[Jean Rodriguez]

Hey there, everyone! Been a while since I've posted here. I have an AXL Player Deluxe String Ray copy bass with active electronics. Seeing as the bass is a bit old (I believe it's from 2003, but I could be wrong), I replaced the stock input jack with a switch craft one and my oh my, the bass sounds louder than ever. Before having to replace the input jack, I would call the bass "El revienta bocinas" (The speaker buster), because of how hot the pick up was, but it's become excessive since replacing the jack. I have an Ampeg BA110 V1 and I plug the bass into the -15Db input since the bass has active electronics.

Even with the volume at 1, the volume produced by the pick up is so loud that it makes the speaker rumble and it's still loud despite me adjusting the volume on the bass. Is there a way that I can make the pick up or electronics be less hot or is there a replacement set of electronics that I can for this bass?

Any help is appreciated and here is a photo of the bass, just in case.

Link Removed

 

[mdogs]

Lower the pickup(s).

 

[DWBass]

Lower the pickup(s).

Yep. Stingrays are inherently hot. Lowering the pickup helps a lot. Mine is almost flush to the body.

 

[Stumbo]

Find a loud bass tamer.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Does it have gain trim pots in the preamp?
Turn them down.

 

[bassbenj]

Lower pickup. Use "active" input on amp and if all else fails have a tech build a "pad" to go between bass and amp (consists of two resistors and can be built inside the bass or inside the plug cap of a cable.)

 

[Jean Rodriguez]

Lower pickup. Use "active" input on amp and if all else fails have a tech build a "pad" to go between bass and amp (consists of two resistors and can be built inside the bass or inside the plug cap of a cable.)

It only has 3 knobs. One for volume, one for bass and one for treble. How about getting a compression pedal. You think that would work?

 

[two fingers]

A compressor could work. Did you try lowering the pickup first?

Also, I don't mean to get all low tech on you, but you could get all crazy and turn the volume on your bass down.

 

[Jean Rodriguez]

A compressor could work. Did you try lowering the pickup first?

Also, I don't mean to get all low tech on you, but you could get all crazy and turn the volume on your bass down.

Hahahahaha, I tried and it still distorts. I even plugged in my jazz bass and violin bass into the amp and they sound fine

 

[SXema]

Put a blanket over the neck

 

[AztecViking]

If it's built like a normal Stingray it will still work without a battery. The tone knobs then might not do anything either but it'll essentially be passive.

 

[Ric5]

Hey there, everyone! Been a while since I've posted here. I have an AXL Player Deluxe String Ray copy bass with active electronics. Seeing as the bass is a bit old (I believe it's from 2003, but I could be wrong), I replaced the stock input jack with a switch craft one and my oh my, the bass sounds louder than ever. Before having to replace the input jack, I would call the bass "El revienta bocinas" (The speaker buster), because of how hot the pick up was, but it's become excessive since replacing the jack. I have an Ampeg BA110 V1 and I plug the bass into the -15Db input since the bass has active electronics.

Even with the volume at 1, the volume produced by the pick up is so loud that it makes the speaker rumble and it's still loud despite me adjusting the volume on the bass. Is there a way that I can make the pick up or electronics be less hot or is there a replacement set of electronics that I can for this bass?

Any help is appreciated and here is a photo of the bass, just in case.

Link Removed

turn down the volume ...

 

[pbass2]

It only has 3 knobs. One for volume, one for bass and one for treble. How about getting a compression pedal. You think that would work?

This is a perfect example of a situation where one should not insert compression into your chain to try and band-aid a problem.

 

[bobpond]

Required volume is based upon input chain, and the best signal to noise ratio is achieved by maximum signal closest to sound source.

Turn your bass all the way up. Engage the -15db on the amp. Turn off the scrambler. Turn bass/mid/treble to 12 o'clock straight up so they are at zero. Turn off ultra high and low, Turn volume to zero.

Play bass you will hear nothing, gradually turn up volume on amp to get to a reasonable volume level. If "the speaker is rumbling" before you get a useful volume I would guess it's not the bass's fault.

 

[Hevy T]

Buy another bass for practice

 

[two fingers]

Hahahahaha, I tried and it still distorts. I even plugged in my jazz bass and violin bass into the amp and they sound fine

OK, let's talk EQ. Are you boosting a lot on this bass? I'm not familiar with it but most ha e a center position that is neither boost nor cut. Perhaps with a hotzilla pick up like this beast, maybe use cut instead of boost to EQ. So if you need more bass cut theirs and highs instead of boosting the bass. That could take it a bit.

 

[ScottTunes]

Don't the tone controls have mid detents?

Find those and that should reduce the distortion.

I'm a big fan of cutting rather than boosting anyway.

 

[Doctor J]

Don't have your EQ turned up, especially if it's a boost-only circuit.

And lower the pickup

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

If all else fails, try a whip and chair.

 

[jamro217]

A volume pedal will work.