Micro VR tone settings?

[bmb73]

What do you all use on your Micro VR as far as settings? I have had it for awhile, and I am constantly playing with the settings because I cannnot seem to find a good tone.

Mine are; Gain-10, Bass-3, Mid-Flat, Treble- Flat, Volume-1

Playing through a 75 AVRI Jazz Bass, Neck p/u at about 70%, Bridge p/u at about 85%, and tone at 100%. Oh yeah, I'm playing Flats.

Thanks in advance for answering my stupid question, but this has been giving me fits. I'm looking for a straight ahead bass tone, everytime I play through it sounds really muddy and not well-defined.

 

[denton57]

First you might try lowering the gain and increasing the volume?

 

[bmb73]

I tried setting everything flat and going off my bass. Thanks for the input. I've only been playing for about three years, so I have my moments of stupidity as far as gear lol

 

[mikeswals]

First you might try lowering the gain and increasing the volume?

^This.
I used mine with master volume most of the way up, and the gain somwhere in the 10'clock position. I also run my mids turned up nearly as much as the bass knob.

 

[JimmyM]

Ya, your gain is crazy. So are your pickup settings. Every bass I've ever played with passives sounds better with at least one pickup up all the way.

 

[bmb73]

Playing around with it now. Dont know why I got so wrapped around using the gain

 

[jumblemind]

Wow, yeah. You should have full volume on your bass, most especially with a lower wattage head like this. My MicroVR sounds fantastic with everything at noon

As for the gain/volume settings, this video is a good overview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arw1_1SeARw

Conversely, on the MicroVR the Gain can be used to control some amount of character "growl"; leave it low for a cleaner sound, turn it up (well, not all the way up) for a slightly dirtier Ampeg tone. Use your master for overall volume based on the Gain setting. I would also recommend starting with the other knobs at noon and adjusting those to taste after you have gain and volume set. I tend to lower the bass a touch and boost the mid level for a rockin tone.

 

[zachoff]

I put the bass and treble at 12:00, mid at 2:00, gain between 10:00 and 12:00, volume as needed. I almost always have all of my pickups at 100% volume except for a P/J. In that case I have the P at 100% and the J dialed in just a little... Maybe 20-30%