HPF's and down-tuning?

[smo]

Hi everyone,

So I'm looking at buying a HPF - probz an Fdeck, Broughton, Cave etc.

I have a question;
A few of the HPF circuits I've looked at focus on 35Hz for their cut-off. There's a bit of variation too.
Thing is, I downtune - almost always - varying between low B to C mostly.

So what options are there for someone who plays below the standard 40Hz E?

Cheers

 

[jj.833]

The right answer would be you need to check it out.

Check this image in this article. The 55 Hz sound (open A) is a fundamental tone. Other peaks (55x2, 55x3, 55x4 etc.) are higher harmonics. Some are louder, some less so. This image characteristic for any type of instrument. The ear knows that, so even if some harmonic is missing - including the fundamental - you still can hear the right sound.

The fundamental freq wouldn't be missing however, more likely it would be just less loud. - 35Hz cutoff means that down from here the sound is reduced rapidly, bud not instantly.

So much for the theory. In practise, meddling with frequencies can change the volume of harmonics so that for example you hear the sound playing octave higher. This happens with octavers which enrich the harmonic spectrum; I doubt it would be HPF problem. Also, some basses can't play the lowest frequencies steadily, some cabinets too. If your rig is not completely poopy, it should work.

I used HPF on double bass to help kill the feedback; it was killing the lows too, I had to add bass on my EQ. In my case it helped prevent the feedback, but I wouldn't say it helped the sound to be more natural or powerful.

 

[bassboysam]

most commercial cabs are not reproducing 40hz very well anyway and even without an HPF you're not hearing frequencies that low.

 

[Beheroth]

imo, the lower you tune the more you need an hpf to clear up the mud and tighten up the low end

 

[knumbskull]

I doubt you'll miss anything much from your sound if you roll off at 35hz, even with a low B or lower.

unless you're using some pretty dedicated full range amplification! like, public cinema/movie theatre level.

 

[knumbskull]

i suppose the other question is, why are you getting a HPF?

 

[smo]

i suppose the other question is, why are you getting a HPF?

Double Bass - I need a preamp to work a piezo - I thought a HPF may aswell do the job

 

[Stumbo]

most commercial cabs are not reproducing 40hz very well anyway and even without an HPF you're not hearing frequencies that low.

Freqs below cab tuning put out by 20hz to 20khz amps cause the speaker to waffle about creating distortion.

 

[InternetAlias]

I am pretty sure you don't even know what 35Hz sounds when it's played by a bass guitar. The 35Hz you know probably comes from a kick, this is because most live venues where bass goes to PA actually high pass it, sometimes even as high as 80Hz and up, depending on where the kick lies and how much headroom the system has.

So yeah, don't worry. HPF is a great tool to get more headroom, you shouldn't torture your amp/cab with 35hz when it is really not the frequency range that bass guitar should even be heard at. Kicks are different - they are fairly consistent so it's easy to mix their subs. With bass guitar, there's way too much variation to properly mix frequencies that low, so they are mostly high passed both live and on recordings. I personally high pass the bass at about 60hz for metal, since the kick we're recording has a strong fundamental at about 50hz.