Looking for new tones: EQ pedal or preamp or...?

[Oleg BassPlayer]

I've been bothering everyone here for some time already with my silly questions about EQ pedals, but still. I think I need an advice.

I've got a simple passive bass and I'm trying to find new interesting tones and get a better sound. First I thought EQ pedal could help me - at least I tried EQ'ing bass in Guitar Rig and noticed that, say, boosting around 1kHZ give me an interesting "heavy metal" timbre.

Then I learnt about preamps like SansAmp tech21 or Dr. J. Sparrow. Then compressors. Being a novice, it's not surprising that I got lost.

I play mostly rock and heavy metal with more or less traditional sound from 70's or 80's. I have a combo amp at home, but with my band we play in different rooms on different gear, so I'd like to invest in some "portable" solution which I could carry around.

So what would you recommend to start with?

 

[Aloe]

why don't you go to the Jam store and try both the graphic EQs and some preamps? (They have MXRs and still should have some of the Tech21 stuff, as RBI) you can check out the MXR compressor at their store as well.

 

[Aloe]

and yes, there are several darkglass b7k pedals on olx. not everyone's cup of tea, but also worth looking at.

 

[Aloe]

and the completely other way to go is digital multi-effects like Zoom B3 (I believe, it should be available in Kyiv for demoing).

I'm serious – go and try them all with your guitar and you may have better ideas, which one is for you.

 

[gregmon79]

Preamps are a great place do start if you’re wanting to spice up your tone game. In your situation how you’re switching amps and cabs all the time getting a preamp will
Help get you a more consistent tone.

What are your tonal wants? Do you like Ampeg, GK, eden, traynor, Aguilar, something totally in its own class?

What’s your price point? That will dictate a lot sometimes.

Here are some I know of that are great and have used it not owned or use. Some I just know of:

Darkglass B7K. Ultra or regular. Or the vintage too. Some pigeonhole the B7K as a “metal” sound or tone. And while it excels in that arena, it is quite a bit more versatile and can do a lot more. The vintage will give you a more “classic” tone. But also versatile. Can use them as dirt boxes too.

Tronographic rusty box. Traynor in a little box. Think Jesus lizard or shellac. It’s awesome. You can use this for dirt as well.

Ampeg tones can be found in the sansamp BDDI or the newer Ampeg SCR-DI I think it’s called. Sansamp VT. All these are great and get you Ampeg tone in a small, little light pkg. also, can dial in dirt.

Aguilar tone hammer. Never used one. But I’ve heard a lot of guys on here that have and love it. And again, can dial in some dirt.

Two notes lebass. Never played one either but I’ve heard some really good things.

I think the GK Plex is pretty cool too. Also the GK sound in a feature rich, tidy box.

Most preamp pedals allow you to dial in some nice dirty tones.

There are plenty other ones out there. Here are some good starting points. Lots of great stuff on YouTube these days. I’d scour there too for sound demos.

 

[Aloe]

I've got a simple passive bass and I'm trying to find new interesting tones and get a better sound. First I thought EQ pedal could help me - at least I tried EQ'ing bass in Guitar Rig and noticed that, say, boosting around 1kHZ give me an interesting "heavy metal" timbre.

oh, one more thing: 1kHz is high mids. if your guitar is shy on those frequencies, this may mean either dead/inappropriate strings or misusing your tone control on bass. fresh nickel-plated strings should have a bump in hi-mids, as well as fresh steel Rotosounds.

 

[Alien8]

I've been bothering everyone here for some time already with my silly questions about EQ pedals, but still. I think I need an advice.

I've got a simple passive bass and I'm trying to find new interesting tones and get a better sound. First I thought EQ pedal could help me - at least I tried EQ'ing bass in Guitar Rig and noticed that, say, boosting around 1kHZ give me an interesting "heavy metal" timbre.

Then I learnt about preamps like SansAmp tech21 or Dr. J. Sparrow. Then compressors. Being a novice, it's not surprising that I got lost.

I play mostly rock and heavy metal with more or less traditional sound from 70's or 80's. I have a combo amp at home, but with my band we play in different rooms on different gear, so I'd like to invest in some "portable" solution which I could carry around.

So what would you recommend to start with?

Since you need to adapt to different playing scenarios, and were looking at EQ, I would say look at the OmniCabSim Deluxe and the Moore Radar. The Moore is more complex, but gives you the tools for tuning to rooms, the OmniCabSim is a bit less adjustable (simple) but does a fantastic job, and provides an option to go direct to the board.

Then look for a dirt pedal. Most that retain the low end will do fine with either of the other two pedals after it.

 

[bassbrad]

There are a lot of ways to spice up or flavor your bass tones, from EQ to different style preamps and other types of modifiers. There is no one size fits all answer and sometimes mixing different styles can deliver that special flavor like your favorite sandwich. Because your tone is the result of every point or link in the chain there are no absolute answers.

EQ is a way to generally affect tone either by cutting or boosting various frequencies. There are fixed band EQ, parametric EQ and circuits that mix usually with a parametric or semi parametric mid band(s). There are magical circuits like the Baxandall and variations used by different amp manufacturers and even pedals based on this wonderful circuit, there are a couple made by a member here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

Preamps can very by using different EQ points and gain stages to create a specific "voice", that "voice" can be similar to a particular on board bass preamp (Sadowsky, Aguilar, Fodera/Pope but there are other classic circuits too), or based on an amplifier preamp/amplifier circuit (most Sansamp preamps for example and a lot of others).

Aside from those choices there are other effects that can change the gain structure and tone, clean or warm.

With the modelling that is available now we can also select the specific coloring of a power amplifier, speaker configuration, microphone and room type and size.

Which best works for you will be a result of search and research but if I may suggest that the Zoom MS60B offers a broad selection of different tone modifiers that you can experiment with to find what works best for you.

 

[ChubbyJerk]

I'm a big fan of the EHX Battalion. It's an EQ, distortion, compressor, and DI all in one.

If you want something more and are open to digital multi-fx, I have the Zoom B3n and Boss GT-1B. They're both great pedals and would give you a huge palette of tones and effects to work with.

 

[Jim C]

If it were me, I'd an amp that is closest to where you want to be regardless of how long it takes to save the money.
The toy EQ pedal route is not my cup of tea.
If you do want something outboard, the old Trace Elliot EQ's or a used Behringer parametric EQ (rack mount) would be my suggestion

 

[Zooberwerx]

...we play in different rooms on different gear, so I'd like to invest in some "portable" solution which I could carry around.

So what would you recommend to start with?

Best buy and virtually a gold standard is the SansAmp BDDI or any variation. Doesn't mean it's everybody's favorite but the line has been around for years and frequently referenced as a "yardstick" when critiquing similar products. IME, the BDDI has the habit of overwhelming whatever amp is downstream. IOW, if you plug into the front end of a Hartke stack, the BDDI's character will shine through.

Riis