MusicMan Sterling sound?

[John Deacon]

Hey all. Quick question. I love the sound my Sterling has when all of the knobs on the preamp are full on. In theory, couldn't I just set it to flat, and just turn up my amp?

It seems like I can't get the same deep thumpy tone just by turning up the amp. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Soulfinger]

The EQ on the Sterling is so powerful, I can't imagine what it must sound like to have them all full up; I've never done it on mine. I usually just goose the bass knob a little bit. What pickup setting are you using?

 

[John Deacon]

Pickup selector all the way too the left.

 

[narud]

good god........pickup in series AND the pre dimed..i feel sorry for the amp

 

[JanusZarate]

Long story short... no, boosting the EQ on your Sterling is not the same. The odds of the Sterling's preamp being set to the same boost/cut frequencies, much less shaping the EQ curve the same way your amp does, are slim at best. Not to mention, when everything on your Sterling is maxxed out, it'll be NOTHING like the "flat" setting on any amp as far as the overall EQ shape and notches are concerned.

Think of your amp's EQ as a means of further shaping what your Sterling can put out. They are not the same, and that's one of the joys of active EQ - with some experimentation and basic knowledge of what your equipment can do, you can get a lot of tonal variety.

 

[MrRumble]

I leave my EQ flat on my Sterling with both pick ups, single and humbucker on and then adjust the treble as needed for certain songs. I adjust the eq on my Eden to taste. I get plenty of thump and great tone. I have 3 basses with preamps and never go full up on the eq's. Too much mud and distortion and will overdrive your amp.

 

[bstringkyle]

I have never turned mine all the way on, never needed to.

 

[StyleOverShow]

The EQ on the Sterling is so powerful, I can't imagine what it must sound like to have them all full up; I've never done it on mine. I usually just goose the bass knob a little bit. What pickup setting are you using?

Just a touch to the bass and that's it. Where are your amp settings?

-richard

 

[John Deacon]

Well, for the amp i was running it through, the low end was boosted a tad.

 

[Powman]

I leave my EQ flat on my Sterling with both pick ups, single and humbucker on and then adjust the treble as needed for certain songs. I adjust the eq on my Eden to taste. I get plenty of thump and great tone. I have 3 basses with preamps and never go full up on the eq's. Too much mud and distortion and will overdrive your amp.

This is exactly what I do.

If I would run my Sterling with all the knobs of the bass pre-amp on full, my amp would clip like crazy. I would have to lower my input gain to next to nothing.

Dude, you are doing some wrong or something is wrong with your amp settings...

 

[Dragan]

oh my! switch on the left and EQ cranked all up!!!
have you examine your hearing? some frequencies missing there I am sure haha!

mine set up was switch on the right and bass and mid just a tiny up past 0.....

cheers mate!

 

[Thorsoundcore]

preamp all/most of the way on??? i can actually dig!

 

[pbass888]

look up molly paukin on youtube and see her gothru the different setting on her sterling. i have an hs model and use the middle switch (both humb and single I belive) and turn the bass up a bit. when you want a more jacoish sound try the switch all the way back and a very little boost in treble and abit more in bass. for walking i use the middle switch and boost the bass up quiet a bit and sometime cut the treble. for thump i use the middle switch and boost the bass and leave the others flat. This is a newer bass for but ive found in the short time ive had it these setting sound good (roundwound strings).

molly video is good too. all best z