Double Bass I'm EQ'ing flat right now, but could it be better?

[starkaudio]

Picked up an EUB last fall and play with friends doing trad. irish stuff and sea chanteys. Running through an AI Ten2 eq'd flat and the tone on the bass rolled back a bit.

So far this sounds adequate, I'm pleased, the guys are pleased and we're having fun.

We've all noticed (unsurprisingly) that it definitely sounds a little bit like a fretless bass guitar, especially the sustain.

Spoke with a fellow who suggested replacing the factory strings with Helicore Orchestral strings, which sustain less and sound "closer to an acoustic".

I tried this, it does! But now I'm thinking, should I futz with my EQ? Are there any rules of thumb, or should I just get with my friends and try everything? (Keep it clean please.)

 

[Francois Blais]

Do you have upright bass (DB) technique?
If you pluck the strings the same you do on a BG, you'll never get a DB-like tone, even on a real DB.

 

[starkaudio]

Yes, but thank you for the suggestion. I did study DB (long ago) in school and private instruction (though orchestral.) I'm working that angle with time and effort. I could also raise my bridge, as I'm getting a bit of "mwah" but it's interesting to hear that for a change in context with the music we're playing.

RE: EQ...there seems to be two camps, the "smiley" camp and the "frown" regarding EQ, though both tend to say "flat isn't great, but it isn't bad."

That's where I'm at. Opinions welcome.

 

[TheSuzie]

The bass (which you did not name), pickup, speaker(s), room, number of people in the room etc. all make a difference. Also what you are hearing right next to the amp and in the band is not going to be what the audience hears out in the room. It really is a moving target unless you frequently are in the same room with the same number of people, the other band members use consistent settings and any PA used is set up the same every time.

Don't be afraid to twist some knobs. You can always twist them back. See if you can get a musician friend in the audience to give you some feedback on your sound or record your gigs.

Peace,
S

 

[starkaudio]

I figured as much. Thanks for the reply!