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Most natural sound

#22
If your band uses powered speakers that have preamps try plugging into one or as some people on here have suggested try using a direct box into a pa amp to speaker or plug right into a mixer and set everything flat and listen to that.There are a few different ways you can go but I would keep your options open and spend little as possible doing it because down the road you may find yourself wanting the flexibility of a preamp and some tone shaping and character.
 
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#23
As some have mentioned, the Genzler BA series cabs, I have two heads that IMHO, are neutral when set somewhat flat, but have very effective EQ.
The Genzler BA series cabs are I would describe as very balanced and not hyped in any one area of its frequency response. Worth a try if you can.
IMG_1072.jpeg
 
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#25
fruitlabor said:
Hello All,
I am playing through a GK 1001RB II and RHB410. I love the sound but I'm trying to get the natural sound of my bass with maybe a little low end added. If there's an amp or cab that you could recommend to accomplished this? I love the sound of my bass going into an interface and headphones with no eq or processing added. Whatever you can suggest would be appreciated. Thank you.
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A powered PA speaker, should in theory, be the most neutral of all as it is designed to reproduce ALL frequencies at the exclusion of none.
 
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#27
fruitlabor said:
I love the sound of my bass going into an interface and headphones with no eq or processing added.
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To @fruitlabor:
If I understand you correctly, you belong to the club - said to be 5% of all bass players - who want to hear that, as I do. You said headphones, but of course you mean you want something like a hifi speaker, right? Welcome to our microclub!

The Ampeg VB-88 provides that (and it's likely that the VB-410 and 115 do too, but I haven't heard them). There are very few others because "95%" of bass players (according to the highest authority here) don't want this kind of clear and pure, fully developed, low E.

The Mesa Subway 215 (and so also probably the 115) will not give you this, by design. They, like almost all ported bass cabs, are designed to *not* give you this. So, although these are almost always mentioned, they are the wrong answer to the question you posted. And beware of even the most famous names marketed as "Pro Audio", most of which (probably the more affordable ones) probably fail at low E for the same reason.

With regard to amps, it is likely that the cab is the part that disappoints you. For example, with Mesa WD-800 through a Subway 215, this was definitely the case for me. I couldn't believe it until I figured this out.
All of my amps sound great through a great cab. These include (or included) Mesa, Genzler, GK (new and also 700RB-II), Ampeg, Traynor, and of course the greatest, QSC PLX2 (this latter is unnecessary overkill).
 
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#28
MaxSpinrun said:
As some have mentioned, the Genzler BA series cabs, I have two heads that IMHO, are neutral when set somewhat flat, but have very effective EQ.
The Genzler BA series cabs are I would describe as very balanced and not hyped in any one area of its frequency response. Worth a try if you can. View attachment 7196120
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You got lucky with your Magellan....I could never get a clean sound out of mine.
Although the poweramp was super clean....Not the Magellan preamp though! Jeff said there was nothing wrong with it?!

Had to sell it for half price and get a Subway D-800
 

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