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How to set my amp EQ when using a pre-amp?

Oci-One Kanubi

Oci-One Kanubi

Jun 10, 2010
39
22
Winston-Salem, NC
www.kanubi.net
#1
I recently bought a Radial Bassbone OD 2-channel pre-amp, so that I can toggle channels when I switch off between my Precision Bass and my Carvin AC40 semi-hollow w/piezo pickup. Even by dialing the Carvin's onboard tones all the way to max bass and min treble it still clattered unless I moved over to the amp and dialed down the mids and highs, and I just didn't want to be fiddling with the amp controls onstage. With the Bassbone channel-switching that problem is solved. Actually, this gives me three pre-set tones, since I can use the P-Bass with either channel (though I can only use the Carvin with the channel EQ'd for it).

But what I want to know is this: what are the best EQ settings for my Ampeg PF500 amp head, to ensure that the PF500 doesn't affect the tone at all, but simply passes through exactly whatever tones it gets from the pre-amp, whether I am using the P-Bass channel with strong mids and highs, or the Carvin channel with nearly no mids or highs?

I guess it depends on whether the PF500 tone controls are "cut" or "boost" circuitry, but I don't know that level of technical detail.

It seems to me that the two possibilities are (1) set all the tone controls on the amp straight up (5 1/2 out of 10), the "flat" setting, or (2) set all the tone controls at max ("11" ;-), to let everything coming in go right on through at the same level.

Thanks,

-Richard, His Kanubic Travesty
Nothing really matters except boats, sex, and rock'n'roll
 
#3
If the amp has an effects loop, try running into that. Otherwise, everything at noon unless there is a known "flat setting" that you prefer. Everything maxxed strikes me as a bad idea, for more than one reason, but I guess anything is possible - I know a pro - formidable player - who runs his amp that way and manages to sound good without blowing anything up. I think he's the exception, though.

Edit: I think controls are cut/boost, but not sure. @JimmyM - help?
 
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#4
Oci-One Kanubi said:
I recently bought a Radial Bassbone OD 2-channel pre-amp, so that I can toggle channels when I switch off between my Precision Bass and my Carvin AC40 semi-hollow w/piezo pickup. Even by dialing the Carvin's onboard tones all the way to max bass and min treble it still clattered unless I moved over to the amp and dialed down the mids and highs, and I just didn't want to be fiddling with the amp controls onstage. With the Bassbone channel-switching that problem is solved. Actually, this gives me three pre-set tones, since I can use the P-Bass with either channel (though I can only use the Carvin with the channel EQ'd for it).

But what I want to know is this: what are the best EQ settings for my Ampeg PF500 amp head, to ensure that the PF500 doesn't affect the tone at all, but simply passes through exactly whatever tones it gets from the pre-amp, whether I am using the P-Bass channel with strong mids and highs, or the Carvin channel with nearly no mids or highs?

I guess it depends on whether the PF500 tone controls are "cut" or "boost" circuitry, but I don't know that level of technical detail.

It seems to me that the two possibilities are (1) set all the tone controls on the amp straight up (5 1/2 out of 10), the "flat" setting, or (2) set all the tone controls at max ("11" ;-), to let everything coming in go right on through at the same level.

Thanks,

-Richard, His Kanubic Travesty
Nothing really matters except boats, sex, and rock'n'roll
Click to expand...

Thanks, ddnidd1 and MarkA.

I'll set the Amp controls straight up and adjust the tones on the pre-amp.

-Kanubi His Bassic Travesty
 
#9
Oci-One Kanubi said:
To be clear, you are saying to use the effects return as my input jack, not telling me to use the normal input jack and then run the effects loop through the Bassbone, right?

-Richard
Click to expand...

What I was thinking was plugging the bass into the Bassbone and then plugging the output of the Bassbone into the effects return of the PF-500. That's where I would start. I'm not familiar with the Bassbone device itself, but that seems like the best setup based on what I read about it. Basically you would be using the Bassbone to shape your tone and then using the PF-500's power section to amplify it to the speakers.
 
#10
Looking at the manual that ddnidd1 kindly added to post #2, above, it looks like the PF500 has a Power Amp In on the back panel. Lets you run an external preamp directly into the power section. I'd think this would be what you want, though you can always try it and the effects loop to see which works better for you.
 
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#12
Good quesiton
I put all at 12 o clock I dont know if I am doing it right or flat its all at 0?
I understand that if its no flat it can change the sound of the preamp
I use mxr m81, bass with passive electronics
 
#15
I use different preamps for bass guitars, Stick bass and Stick melody. They are all mixed together on the pedal-board then go to the high-impedance 'Passive' input of my Ashdown bass head, which has a VU meter so it is easy to optimise the input level with the gain control. The head EQ starts out 'flat' (all at noon), but using this setup means I can use the 5-band EQ on the amp to adjust for the room, if needed, without messing with the various preamps. Most of the time, settings on the EQ rarely go lower than 11o'clock or higher than 2 o'clock.
 
#18
Once again: thanks to all who offered knowledge and opinion. I think I have a good handle on it now. I'll test, by running the output from the Bassbone into, in this order:

1) Power-amp in
2) Effects return
3) Passive-bass input, with tone controls set straight up, to "flat."

-Richard, His Bassic Travesty
Nothing really matters except boats, sex, and rock'n'roll
 
#20
i would think of the pre-eq as working for the basses ... and the amp eq for controlling the sound of the speaker and room ... you can try to find " flat " ... even running a pink noise generator and a calibrated mic/ frequency analyzer ... you might find ' flat ' for that given moment ... but i think/found ' flat ' to be a moving target .. !! with many always changing variables ...

take your best guess ... adjust to taste ... play
 
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