Double Bass Is a LPF Useful for DB?

[TroyK]

I've been reading old threads, but am not certain about the answer. I have experience with multiple HPFs and I get how they help us. Is there also value to a LPF?

I'm considering ordering a Broughton with my preferred input impedance specified and they have models that include one, the other or both.

Thanks in advance.

 

[crd]

Not really. I think that could be useful in an effects chain on a bass guitar where you are using distortion/feedback and you want tame some of the harshness. Generally we want all those higher partials on the upright.

(Unpopular opinion but I am not sure how helpful variable hpf are for upright either... Something to cut the subsonic stuff is great but beyond that I'm not sure how useful they are unless you are trying to get a little extra volume out of a small speaker.)

 

[the_Ryan]

Not really. I think that could be useful in an effects chain on a bass guitar where you are using distortion/feedback and you want tame some of the harshness. Generally we want all those higher partials on the upright.

(Unpopular opinion but I am not sure how helpful variable hpf are for upright either... Something to cut the subsonic stuff is great but beyond that I'm not sure how useful they are unless you are trying to get a little extra volume out of a small speaker.)

When playing amplified (whether it’s a pickup to an amp or a mic to FOH), cutting out some of the fundamental frequencies on the E and A strings can make the amplified bass sound less boomy (even if you’re boosting the bass on the amp) and also can help place the kick drum in the mix so that the bass and kick aren’t fighting for sonic space. Our ears don’t really perceive fundamentals that low because that’s pretty close to the lower bound of human hearing: most of what we hear from the lowest pitches are mostly the second partial (octave harmonic) up, and then our brains kinda fill in the blanks.

As to Troy’s OP: maybe? I’ve never done it, but it’s probably worth trying out. If your particular pickup has a very harsh top end it might help to alleviate some of that while still retaining the mids, which is usually where we cut through in a mix.

 

[bherman]

I have been using a Broughton Messenger Jr preamp which has both filters. I only occasionally use the hpf - boomy rooms and such - but have also found that a bit of LTF can be helpful on occasion. I find that if I boost the treble or turn on a bright switch to get a bit more high-end clarity from my bass, a touch of LPF takes away any resulting “clack”. Not a big deal, I wouldn’t go out of my way to seek one out, but since its there on the preamp I find it to be useful.

 

[TroyK]

HPF is absolutely useful when amplifying DB. I don't find that they are 100%, always necessary, but when I get into a room or onto a stage where the amplified bass is all BOOM, the HPF brings it back to manageable.

Thanks for the comments on the LPF and please keep them coming.

I have a pedal with a 4.7 MOhm input impedance and a fixed HPF (and some things redundant to my amp head) and a variable HPF with 10 MOhm input impedance.

The variable HPF is obviously more useful, though the fixed one works pretty well under most circumstances and with everything turned effectively off on both, the one with the 4.7 impedance sounds better between a Yamahiko and an EA amp.

Broughton makes a few variable filtering devices and will customize the impedinace to my order. It's a bit more money to get both HPF and LPF, but if it is useful it would be worth the little extra utility in the same box.

 

[crd]

I take it back. No upright rig is complete without one of these.

Q-Tron Plus | Envelope Filter with Effects Loop - Electro-Harmonix

 

[Happy Steve]

if the HPF + LPF version is not much more expensive, maybe go for it. It will probably be easier to sell on later (to URB or EB buyers) if it does not meet your needs..

 

[bassically_eli]

I don't think piezo pickups produce very much high frequency content to tame, and I'm skeptical that there is much audible or functional difference between an LPF and the treble knob on most bass (pre-)amps when it comes to DB with a piezo playing live. I use the harmonic enhancer and EQ on my headway preamp to boost the high frequency content. To me, my Realist Lifeline pickups sound a bit dull and lifeless without the Headway.

Maybe a magnetic pickup is a different story, but Idk....

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I don't think piezo pickups produce very much high frequency content to tame…

I think that depends on where the pickup sits on the bridge. Pickups that sit higher up on the bridge, like the BP100, the K&K Double Big Twin, and even the original Underwood that fit in the wing slots had a lot of high frequency information in the signal that needed mitigation. Pickups that sit lower on the bridge like the Lifeline and Full Circle have a lot less of this “string sizzle”, and the original Realist that sits under the bridge foot always struck me as the darkest of the bunch.

 

[Jefenator]

I find a LPF (in the form of a passive tone knob) is often very relevant with bass guitar - particularly for old-school material.
I'm usually trying to distinguish my DB sound from that by including as much upper mid & treble as I can. (Shooting for "acoustic nuance" - approximating a condenser mic in the studio.)
I could see there being a situation where the pickup was a little too raspy and the desired sound needed more thump than growl.
It hasn't come up enough for me to pursue incorporating a LPF; especially since I put gut strings on the Kay!
My Bergantino B|Amp does include a digital LPF - currently disabled. Maybe I'll try it some time, see what happens...

 

[shwashwa]

i use a lpf all the time with my basses that have pickups that need it, anything in the bridge wing. they help a lot. i dont need it with my bass that has origional realist