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Keep it simple???

slap5string

slap5string

Jul 19, 2010
373
3
Cleveland, Ohio
#1
I'm curious as to how many TB'ers run just a head and cab(s)? I ask this because I typically run a Sansamp RPM and a DBX 160a in front of my amp. I know some guys prefer pedals also. I cant seem to stop tinkering and knob twidling and just wondering how many prefer to "keep it simple"?
 
#5
Hey Slap. I'm one those who'd like to run pedals, but is never satisfied with what comes out the speaker once the chain lengthens. So for me it's bass onto my amp and I use my guitar's tone control to maintain treble. Simple, but effective.
 
#6
I run a Markbass Little Mark III head and either one or two Markbass Traveler 151P cabs. If not that, I use my Markbass CMD 121H combo or Fender Bassman 150 combo. No pedals or anything else (although I have contemplated an eq pedal). And my basses are passive. Can't get any simpler.
 
#9
Solid state or hybrid micro amp into neo cabs. Unless you need certain effects for your genre, there's really no point in running another layer of EQ and outboard compression. Who are you doing it for? Your audience? They have no clue and aren't paying an iota of attention to your tone. This assumes that your amp has adequate EQ on board and you know how to keep a consistent level when you play.

Almost all of my basses have active EQ on board, so I set the amp's EQ somewhere in the middle of my tone goal, then control the tone from the bass, either with EQ or playing technique. Of course, I'm old, and I just can't get into hauling all that gear only to have some arcane, complicated setup. I've gotten to where "my sound" can be achieved with any number of combinations of amps and cabs.
 
#10
Munjibunga said:
Solid state or hybrid micro amp into neo cabs. Unless you need certain effects for your genre, there's really no point in running another layer of EQ and outboard compression. Who are you doing it for? Your audience? They have no clue and aren't paying an iota of attention to your tone. This assumes that your amp has adequate EQ on board and you know how to keep a consistent level when you play.

Almost all of my basses have active EQ on board, so I set the amp's EQ somewhere in the middle of my tone goal, then control the tone from the bass, either with EQ or playing technique. Of course, I'm old, and I just can't get into hauling all that gear only to have some arcane, complicated setup. I've gotten to where "my sound" can be achieved with any number of combinations of amps and cabs.
Click to expand...

I added the sansamp to my 700rbII to gain some control over my mids and the compressor to tame the spikes and transients inherant with slap style in the metal genre. Now Im playing more classic and current rock and wonder if its time to simplify as Im really not happy with my tone right now.
 
#12
Amp and speakers guy here. Not that one's any better than the other, just have always been like that. Although, I do find myself liking more dirty tones, I can get them with a GK boost, or a tube amp and some speaker flavor. You can also get a huge variety of sounds in how you work your right hand. I don't slap much, I can see where guys would like a little different eq'ing and/or some compression for that. I've known guys who can get that sound without adjusting a single thing, it's all in their slap technique......I'm not one of them.:D
 
#13
I keep it as simple as possible- the bass has no knobs, only a pickup and a pickup selector switch. I found the volume and tone controls were making things mushy, especially on the low E string.

The preamp has one knob, for gain, and the 440 watt tube monoblock amp has no knobs at all.

It sounds fabulous with the bass plugged right into the power amp (!) but better with the preamp. So maybe it's not *quite* as simple as possible.

Every dang component in between pickup and speaker has an effect on the sound, and very few will pass the lowest frequencies on a 4 string bass without some degree of mush. Even a single resistor in the line has a major effect on the focus and clarity of deep bass.
 
#16
I keep it simple on bass.

Music Man Sting Ray into a Mark Bass Club Series head into a GK 2x10 cab (the cab I'm not happy with...that's another story).

My tonal variety comes from my right hand. I'll use fingers, thumb, pick, slap, pop, pull or do what ever else suits the song.

Oh, but the 3-band EQ on the MM is amazing for tone shaping. Better than any amp or pedal EQ I've used.
 
#17
I run a MarkBass LM III into an Ampeg 410HLF and have no desire for pedals. There is something sexy about flesh hitting strings and then that sound coming out of speakers raw. Kind of like a condom vs no condom. I don't believe in safe bass playing. I want to feel it. Fortunately in this case you can't catch anything bad.
 
#18
tapehead ted said:
I keep it as simple as possible- the bass has no knobs, only a pickup and a pickup selector switch. I found the volume and tone controls were making things mushy, especially on the low E string.

The preamp has one knob, for gain, and the 440 watt tube monoblock amp has no knobs at all.

It sounds fabulous with the bass plugged right into the power amp (!) but better with the preamp. So maybe it's not *quite* as simple as possible.

Every dang component in between pickup and speaker has an effect on the sound, and very few will pass the lowest frequencies on a 4 string bass without some degree of mush. Even a single resistor in the line has a major effect on the focus and clarity of deep bass.
Click to expand...

That's commitment to simplicity. Much respect for that set up.
 

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