Inexpensive Hi-Fi head?

[fishtx]

over EQ.

You are dumping highs and undoubtedly mids with your rolling off, then trying to put them back, or some of them, via over EQ-ing on the other side.

You are fighting yourself.

Plus, the 2 eq's you are manipulating certianly dont have the same Q/freq center.

Try going flat then tweaking on the amp WHILE PLAYING WITH YOU BAND, NOT while playing alone. alone tone isnt the tone you want with a band ... well, usually it isnt.

Hop eI was of some help, as I was otherwise useless today

Peace

+1...exactly...set up completely "flat" and start all over...

 

[BellBottomBlues]

sure they do...

a used epifani performance 600 head anyone?

bellbottomblues,

your best bet is to ask that guy what he was using. but since you're in the NYC area, why not head to rudy's, or bass boutique, or matt umanov's and try out as many amps as possible. you're in a veritable bass paradise. lets make the most of it!

I usually go to this place called Castallano's and I get all my stuff dirt cheap there. (like a few hundred off of street)

Unfortunately, I had a bad experiance with Matt Umanov so I wont be going there. Ever.

I will try Rudy's, I've never been there. I guess I have some shopping around to do. Which sucks because I'm a full time highschool student, as well as a full-time short order cook....

 

[bradjonesbass]

try working with your amp first. I didn't realize you were so young. Like everybody's saying. Roll your bass's tone control wide open and start with the e.q. on the amp absolutely flat. Turn the volume all the way down. Next turn the gain up while you play the bass (BTW, you should be using the passive input) until it starts clipping, then back it off. Now turn your volume up to a reasonable level and make some small e.q. adjustments if necessary - but try playing with it flat for a while and see if your ears adjust. That's a great head and it should sound good unless something's wrong with it or you've got the e.q. all out of wack.

 

[BellBottomBlues]

I've been fiddling with the EQ all day. Either I'm completely terrible at it, or I'm not getting the sound I want.

I want a smooth, fat, low end, and its just not happening no matter how I EQ this thing.

I wish my bassman worked :-(

 

[greenboy]

My experience when hitting a tweaker's brick wall (in addiition to some of the good comments already entered):

1) Practice more with hand/plucking technique so that you are capable of getting as close as possible to the type of sound you are imagining.

2) Experiment with strings. This ties into #1 and on some basses and with some players can really take things to the next level.

3) Often it's perceptual issues that interact with cab placement, where your position is, and even how the cab is shaped or tilted that determines what you THINK you are hearing. Experiment with the above and also go back to #1 and give it some time. Often what we are looking for is there or potentially available, but we haven't yet shifted our pattern of listening enough to notice it and leverage it.

After really living in this 3-point scenario for some time, then go back to tweaking. Then it should be much more rewarding.

 

[BellBottomBlues]

I always use Rotosound flats, as I can't stand the feel of roundwound strings.

Maybe I'll try LaBella. But I used someone else's amp and immediately got what sound I've been looking for. Problem is, I forgot to ask what kind of amp it was.

 

[greenboy]

I always use Rotosound flats, as I can't stand the feel of roundwound strings. Maybe I'll try LaBella. But I used someone else's amp and immediately got what sound I've been looking for. Problem is, I forgot to ask what kind of amp it was.

I might suggest that BRAND NAME of strings is not the final arbiter of what works on a given bass for a given player. Sometimes switching gauges will bring out what you're looking for, and sometimes it's worthwile to experiment with type as well, even if it means acclimatizing to a new feel.

Anyway, I was just replying to your post about TWEAKING EQ, and giving my experiences about that, and not about any specific amp/cab but more about ANY amp/cab. So it should prove useful regardless of what you end up with.

 

[tombowlus]

define inexpensive.

to tombowlus that means anything under 2 grand. (jk) to me it means $400 or less for a gig capable head.

LOL! Actually, I'd use under $500 (new) or so as my criteria for 'inexpensive' in a gig capable head. To that end, the two heads that have stood out to me as being great sounding (not sure if they would be 'hi-fi' or not, as that seems to be a very subjective term) gig capable heads are the Carvin B800 and the Hartke 5500. The Carvin is a bit more thick and chewy, and Hartke a tad more clean and refined, but I would honestly have no problem gigging with either of those heads.

Tom.

 

[broerevb]

I always use Rotosound flats, as I can't stand the feel of roundwound strings.

Maybe I'll try LaBella. But I used someone else's amp and immediately got what sound I've been looking for. Problem is, I forgot to ask what kind of amp it was.

Was that with your own guitar? Flatwounds do sound quite different from roundwounds IMHO.