If HPF’s are such a trendy thing now...

[Michedelic]

Why wasn’t it a standard integrated feature on amps before? It’s not like it’s a novel concept; I take it that it’s like a rumble filter on a stereo or similar. I’ve seen PA power amps with that for years. Why wouldn’t it have been an issue with players earlier? Through decades of different riggs, from classic Sunn tube set-ups to all the rack madness(with graphic and parametric EQ)and on to class D, and with various speaker configurations, I’ve never experienced a problem or felt a need, but the way it’s discussed here is as if it’s a panacea for all the world’s ills.

 

[Rockbobmel]

sub'd

 

[Wasnex]

Why wasn’t it a standard integrated feature on amps before? It’s not like it’s a novel concept; I take it that it’s like a rumble filter on a stereo or similar. I’ve seen PA power amps with that for years. Why wouldn’t it have been an issue with players earlier? Through decades of different riggs, from classic Sunn tube set-ups to all the rack madness(with graphic and parametric EQ)and on to class D, and with various speaker configurations, I’ve never experienced a problem or felt a need, but the way it’s discussed here is as if it’s a panacea for all the world’s ills.

Some older Genz Benz amps had HPF but people were confused or resistant. If use the amp you probably won't recognize the controls as a variable HPF because the name was changed. My perception is they were using reverse psychology.

From my GBE1200 manual:

Global Signal Shaping Switches and Controls — There are 3 separate shaping filters on the GBE 1200. The “L.F. EXTEND” (low frequency extend) lowers the low frequency roll-off response of the preamp (between 30 and 45 Hz) to allow the full effect of 5+ string and extended scale instruments. The amount of extension is adjustable depending on the setting of the corresponding control. Use this function with care due to the power of this amplifier.
​

Note: The control is actually labeled L.F. Boost on the amp.

Most amps have some high pass filtering built in. You just are not aware because the filter is fixed. Now the user is given the ability to control the frequency where the HPF starts having an impact. I see this as a benefit as you can potentially improve your sound and also get more headroom. But I will admit, the benefits are usually fairly subtle.

If you don't think an LFP is useful, why worry about it. I never used a variable HPF on a bass amp either, but I use them a lot when I am running PA.

 

[FunkHead]

I didn’t even realize LPF’s were so trendy. Now HPF’s....Those have gotten pretty popular. At least here on Talkbass.
I use a HPF with my loud drummer so I can turn up without my head vibrating off of my cab.

 

[Wasnex]

I didn’t even realize LPF’s were so trendy. Now HPF’s....Those have gotten pretty popular. At least here on Talkbass.
I use a HPF with my loud drummer so I can turn up without my head vibrating off of my cab.

Guess I missed the distinction

I don't use an LPF for pretty much anything, but some people who use OD and distortion seem to think it useful to roll of the highs so their tone is not so fizzy in the PA. IMHO this should be left to the audio tech unless you are working with an absolute hack.

 

[Michedelic]

I didn’t even realize LPF’s were so trendy. Now HPF’s....Those have gotten pretty popular. At least here on Talkbass.
I use a HPF with my loud drummer so I can turn up without my head vibrating off of my cab.

HPF... that’s what I meant; but my questions still stand. Why is it such a big deal now, as opposed to all the potential years before? It’s not new technology.

 

[Wasnex]

HPF... that’s what I meant;

Yes from the context of your post, that is what I assumed. So my answer stands .

 

[Mushroo]

My observation through the decades:

Sound guys have been HPF'ing us all along, on stage or in the studio. It's a standard feature on any pro studio console. I've heard that all the Motown bass tracks were HPF'd at 80hz, for example.

We never had much problem with those sub-bass frequencies on-stage "back in the day," because our speaker cabinets didn't go that low. SVT fridge drops off sharply below, what, 60hz?

Now, as our amps are more powerful and our cabs go lower (or a lot of us are using In-Ears or pedalboard preamps) it's more important to be able to filter out that mud.

Bringing it full circle, now that a lot of us have these new HPF pedals, we're experimenting with them on our old gear, and realizing they would have been a handy utility pedal all along.

 

[Doufuss]

Guess I missed the distinction

I don't use an LPF for pretty much anything, but some people who use OD and distortion seem to think it useful to roll of the highs so their tone is not so fizzy in the PA. IMHO this should be left to the audio tech unless you are working with an absolute hack.

It is useful. Markbass incorporates one into most of their amps, called a VLE.

I have a Diamond compressor with a tilt eq that pretty much does the same thing except with two selectable tilt points, 250 hz and 750 hz. Turn the eq knob ccw, and everything above the tilt point is attenuated, while boosting frequencies below. Turn the knob clockwise, and everything above the tilt point is boosted, while everything below the tilt point is attenuated. Kind of a cool thing.

Bottom line, an LPF really helps in getting an old school tone.

 

[agedhorse]

I have been designing HPF's into amps for over 20 years, mostly fixed but also a take on variable as Wasnex pointed out in the GBE-750/1200 (and Shuttlemax series)

These are much steeper filters than "back in the day", based on the variable filters found on pro audio consoles, and very useful/effective. They would have been even more useful back in the day except that they were more expensive to design, and because performance expectations from rigs was much more modest.

 

[FunkHead]

HPF... that’s what I meant; but my questions still stand. Why is it such a big deal now, as opposed to all the potential years before? It’s not new technology.

Agedhorse sums it up pretty well in post #10. A lot of what gets filtered out was just low noise that really isn’t musical anyway(as I understand it). So you can be heard better with a less powerful amp.

 

[beans-on-toast]

HPF’s, also called low cut filters (a better term, I think) , were inherently built into every tube amp. The frequency is very low but they are there.

Excessive speaker excursion is not something any manufacturer wants, the filter helps prevent warranty claims. So it pays to have a useful filter in place.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Very useful, takes the stress off my drivers and helps my low wattage amps sound huge without sacrificing tone..

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I used a HPF for several years without realizing that’s what I was using. The old Fishman Platinum Bass EQ has a “depth” control knob that is to be used with the low frequency slider of the EQ. I never had a user’s manual with the EQ, so I looked one up online, and there it was, the description that the depth control was a variable HPF. I knew it reduced the bass to some degree, but it is an actual HPF with different roll off freqs (not calibrated on the knob or on a scale around the knob, but the freqs are listed in the manual).

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Why wasn’t it a standard integrated feature on amps before? It’s not like it’s a novel concept; I take it that it’s like a rumble filter on a stereo or similar. I’ve seen PA power amps with that for years. Why wouldn’t it have been an issue with players earlier? Through decades of different riggs, from classic Sunn tube set-ups to all the rack madness(with graphic and parametric EQ)and on to class D, and with various speaker configurations, I’ve never experienced a problem or felt a need, but the way it’s discussed here is as if it’s a panacea for all the world’s ills.

It's been a standard on every electric guitar and bass since they were invented. The tone knob is a low pass filter.

 

[agedhorse]

It's been a standard on every electric guitar and bass since they were invented. The tone knob is a low pass filter.

Totally different in the implementation and results (and we are talking about a HPF not a LPF as the OP corrected)

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

HPF... that’s what I meant; but my questions still stand. Why is it such a big deal now, as opposed to all the potential years before? It’s not new technology.

Because people have gotten a little smarter. Cranking up your amp, drowning out your band, and dropping speakers like flys used to mean you were cool. Now, it's a lot cooler to just be a part of the band, and let your 1000 dollar speaker cab live forever.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Totally different in the implementation and results (and we are talking about a HPF not a LPF as the OP corrected)

I know horse. I was being facetious. I posted what I really wanted to say right after. I was still typing when you quoted.

 

[higain617]

I've used LPF plugins to remove the digital sheen from Pro Tools mixes.

 

[Zbysek]

Why wouldn’t it have been an issue with players earlier?

What makes you think it hasn't been an issue?

I’ve never experienced a problem

I have. Many times, I have been fighting boomy stage...

The way I see it, I would ask differently: Why took is so long to have this (relatively old) technology widely available in pedal format?