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Im officially a "No" tweeter guy

#42
someone told me that there's usually a gap between the freq response of most bass drivers and the freq response of most tweeters used in bass cabs...if that's true...it seems to defeat the purpose...it doesn't matter to me either way...I never use tweeters...
 
#44
IMO, a lot of times even good tweeters don't sound very good with driven/overdriven tones. You kind of need the natural treble rolloff of a paper cone to help filter off the bad stuff and just keep the good stuff.

If you're running a line to the PA instead of using a mic on the cab, you have to remember to cut the treble out of the direct line or what sounds good in your stage rig will still sound like a hornets nest through even high quality PA tweeters.

Forgot to do that a time or two.....yuck.
 
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#49
stonewall said:
Cut the tweeter wire...My Mark Bass JB sounds fantastic with no tweety
Click to expand...

All tweeters have press-on spade type connectors. Just gently disconnect the spade connector from the tweeter (the positive + wire) and tape it up and let it dangle inside the cabinet. No need to cut the wire, it could just mean a more extensive repair project down the road should you decide to sell the cab. Just saying.
 
#50
Ender_rpm said:
Wait, you played for 6 YEARS with your tone control 1/2 rolled off?
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I thought that tone controls were meant to be rolled off much of the time. For example, I read that F Basses are optimized for flat tone settings.

Yesterday I tried an ESP 6-string. I liked it, but I ultimately put it down because it had 3 knobs that didn't seem to do anything unless they were on '11'. I like tone controls that allow me to adjust my tone in the moment.
 
#53
jazzsoul said:
It just depends on what Sound you are looking for. Playing my Sadowsky NYC with rounds I turn the tweeter all the way on for a modern punchy and funky sound. Playing my P-bass with flats I turn the tweeter of and I got a perfect vintage blues sound.

I think I got a pretty good tweeter in my Glockenklang Quattro.
Click to expand...

This post is WAY too logical for a thread about tone, which should be dominated by superstition. This IS a good thread though, because it's reminding me that I need to remember to adjust my tweeter control more often depending on which bass I'm using.
 
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#56
Kragnorak said:
I thought that tone controls were meant to be rolled off much of the time. For example, I read that F Basses are optimized for flat tone settings.

Yesterday I tried an ESP 6-string. I liked it, but I ultimately put it down because it had 3 knobs that didn't seem to do anything unless they were on '11'. I like tone controls that allow me to adjust my tone in the moment.
Click to expand...

Possible misunderstanding/concept of what "flat" setting is and how a passive tone (attenuator) works vs. an active system with CENTER DETENT controls.
 
#57
Kragnorak said:
This post is WAY too logical for a thread about tone, which should be dominated by superstition. This IS a good thread though, because it's reminding me that I need to remember to adjust my tweeter control more often depending on which bass I'm using.
Click to expand...

"dominated by superstition" not too far from the truth I'm afraid. DON'T BOTHER ME WITH THE FACTS. Lol.
 
#58
Black Bart said:
The piezo on my Markbass CMD 121P absolutely drives (pun intended) me up a wall :banghead: :rage:
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Peizo's are weird, man. For one, they go up into dog whistle range but the response is anything but smooth.

The odd thing is, if one sounds bad, more can sound better. Makes ya go, ???

Multiples help smooth the response and split up the power so they're not overdriven into harshness.

I use 2 along with a single Beta 10" in little vocal wedges I made. They're not hifi or boutique by any stretch of the imagination, but they get the job done and don't give you ear fatigue after a 4-hour gig, mostly because we didn't have to turn the amp up far to reach the volume needed so didn't drive anything into harsh tone.

I made a 210 bass cab once I put 4 of them in. That would get bright and snappy, but again, split up the power enough to not get driven into "harsh". Either that or they were acting like enough of an array to direct their sound under my ears instead of into them. :D


Strange creatures those little things are, and definitely not for everybody.

BFM has some filter schemes to steepen their natural rolloff and filter out the harsh but hardly anybody uses them. They just string them along with whatever other speakers are there and let them do what they do.
 
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#60
In some crossover designs disconnecting the tweeter can present a short circuit to the amp at the crosssover frequency.
Instead of disconnecting tweeters, turn your treble down on your amp, or use the lpad, if there's hiss and no lpad, you can hang a piece of felt in front of the tweeter.

A good tweeter, in a good design never gets in the way of good tone.
 
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