Hey guys. I have a Squier Classic Vibe P-Bass with stock passive pickups and a Sterling SUB Ray 4 with stock active pickups. I use an Ashdown AAA-60-10t bass amp and my tone is constantly muddy, even with new strings (i use Ernie-Ball power slinky strings). I only use boss cs3 and a sansamp. usually, I would set my eq to flat. I hope you guys can help me.
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My bass tone is really muddy
- Thread starter oliBassist
- Start date
Welcome to Talkbass!
Can you clarify, please, is your tone "muddy" when you are practicing home alone, or is it muddy when you are playing in a band with other musicians (or both)?
How is your "muting" (aka "dampening") technique? Or in other words, are you taking proper steps to stop the unplayed strings from ringing out?
Poor muting technique is the most common cause of a "muddy" sound for beginner to intermediate players, in my experience.
If you are looking for equipment tips, the best advice I can give is, don't be afraid to use that EQ! Try changing your settings from "flat" and see if you can find a setting that is less muddy.
I am also curious if bypassing the Boss CS3 and Sansamp, and plugging your bass straight into the Ashdown, improves the sound at all?
Can you clarify, please, is your tone "muddy" when you are practicing home alone, or is it muddy when you are playing in a band with other musicians (or both)?
How is your "muting" (aka "dampening") technique? Or in other words, are you taking proper steps to stop the unplayed strings from ringing out?
Poor muting technique is the most common cause of a "muddy" sound for beginner to intermediate players, in my experience.
If you are looking for equipment tips, the best advice I can give is, don't be afraid to use that EQ! Try changing your settings from "flat" and see if you can find a setting that is less muddy.
I am also curious if bypassing the Boss CS3 and Sansamp, and plugging your bass straight into the Ashdown, improves the sound at all?
my technique is fine, and my tone seems to be muddy mainly at home but still doesn't sound very good when live or with a band. I have also tried bypassing the pedals but it still sounds bad. i have been experimenting with the eq and it seems to sound a little better but still seems to be really muddy. thanks for the advice!Welcome to Talkbass!
Can you clarify, please, is your tone "muddy" when you are practicing home alone, or is it muddy when you are playing in a band with other musicians (or both)?
How is your "muting" (aka "dampening") technique? Or in other words, are you taking proper steps to stop the unplayed strings from ringing out?
Poor muting technique is the most common cause of a "muddy" sound for beginner to intermediate players, in my experience.
If you are looking for equipment tips, the best advice I can give is, don't be afraid to use that EQ! Try changing your settings from "flat" and see if you can find a setting that is less muddy.
I am also curious if bypassing the Boss CS3 and Sansamp, and plugging your bass straight into the Ashdown, improves the sound at all?
Have you tried playing other cabs? There was a time that Ashdown cabs were said to be dark sounding which some have described as muddy.
Maybe just record straight into the PC for comparison. I can't quite fathom a Ray with new strings could be muddy.
Maybe just record straight into the PC for comparison. I can't quite fathom a Ray with new strings could be muddy.
I tried using a di for comparison and yes it sounds a lot better. I have been in the market for a cab anyway
Adjust your eq!!!
Why are so many bassists afraid to turn the knobs on their amps??? THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR!!!!!!
What's really weird are the ones who won't DEVIATE from supposed "flat" on their amps but they'll adjust the active pre on their basses to max levels without ANY trepidation.
The funniest ones are the ones who INSIST that everything has to be set at "noon" even though in a LOT of cases that is NOWHERE NEAR flat response.
Eq is your FRIEND. Turn EVERYTHING until you like how it sounds! There is no "right" or "wrong."
Why are so many bassists afraid to turn the knobs on their amps??? THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR!!!!!!
What's really weird are the ones who won't DEVIATE from supposed "flat" on their amps but they'll adjust the active pre on their basses to max levels without ANY trepidation.
The funniest ones are the ones who INSIST that everything has to be set at "noon" even though in a LOT of cases that is NOWHERE NEAR flat response.
Eq is your FRIEND. Turn EVERYTHING until you like how it sounds! There is no "right" or "wrong."
When troubleshooting, the first thing we try to do is eliminate what the problem is NOT.
So, first, take everything else out of the chain except your bass, cable and amp. Set the EQ on the amp to "flat". You may have to look up what "flat" is for your amp. On your passive bass, turn the tone knob all the way up. On your active bass, set everything flat. (There is an indent you can feel in the middle if every EQ knob. Leave it there.)
Then start adding things back into the chain until it gets muddy. Once you determine where the mud is coming from, adjust or eliminate that thing.
If I had to guess, I would say it's the EQ section of your SansAmp. Set that to flat as well. Then only add/take away what you need to.
So, first, take everything else out of the chain except your bass, cable and amp. Set the EQ on the amp to "flat". You may have to look up what "flat" is for your amp. On your passive bass, turn the tone knob all the way up. On your active bass, set everything flat. (There is an indent you can feel in the middle if every EQ knob. Leave it there.)
Then start adding things back into the chain until it gets muddy. Once you determine where the mud is coming from, adjust or eliminate that thing.
If I had to guess, I would say it's the EQ section of your SansAmp. Set that to flat as well. Then only add/take away what you need to.
See what I mean??? Flat flat flat flat flat...
Turn anything until it sounds good to you. Don't be limited by this "flat" nonsense. Make it sound how YOU want.
Calm down there sunshine.
I never said LEAVE it flat. I said START flat. And then ADD/TAKE AWAY only what is needed.
If you START with some knobs at 10, and some at 6, and some at 1, just because you THINK that will sound great..... well that's just stupid (IMO).
When OP has an active bass, an amp EQ, AND a SansAmp going, he's got a dozen or more knobs that can literally cancel each other out. Boosted mids on a bass and cut mids on the amp. Cut bass on the bass and boosted bass on the SansAmp. Again, stupid.
If you START flat, and only add/take away from there, you may find you don't need the SansAmp at all. You may find that you prefer your EQ tweaked at the SansAmp more than the amp. You might find that just boosting a little bass on the bass gets it done.
Don't be weird.
Nobody told OP not to use his EQs.
By the way, Welcome to TalkBass @oliBassist !!!!
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Not sure what "flat" is on the AAA but I have the CTM 30 and CTM 100 and the bass and mid are very interactive. Start at 9 o'clock with the bass and mid. Make slight adjustments from there.
- Oct 18, 2012
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It might be your amp. I had an Ashdown for a while and was never able to get the sound I wanted. I know some people who use them and love them. Keep experimenting with your eq.
The word flat, to me, is not accurate. As a matter of fact, the term "accurate" is more, well, Accurate. A ton of guys give responsibility to tone to the gear they buy. And, after changing said gear a multitude of times and they still sound "muddy", or whatever, well? There's only one constant. The player. A signal chain starts long before the amp or pedals. It starts with the player. Are the pickups the right height? Is the bass' tone control wide open? Is the player using flats or rounds? Is the bass' volume wide open? Are you striking the strings with some effort.
I agree wholeheartedly this "flat" fad has ******** individuals from learning EQ properly. The player should be able to get a good sound out of any amp. Only way to do that is to turn the knobs, find out what they do, and PRACTICE getting tones with knobs as diligently as they practice scales or technique. Then, learn each piece of gear in the chain that well. Bass, included, and pedals, too.
Now, as for the amp? Is it malfunctioning? Is the horn in the cab, if applicable, functioning or turned to 0 on an attenuator? Is the Gain knob set properly? Getting gain staged correctly is HUGE for a tight, clean tone. The SansAmp has an input level, blend level, and drive level. Plus eq. A lot to tweak. You should absolutely find a great basic tone with just the amp first, then add other pieces. I use a SansAmp, and it took me a bit to get it dialed in. And, someone mentioned above learning what NOT to do. Well, with experimentation, I've found that identifying what I don't like in a tone, and using eq to remove it, rather than boosting, a more rewarding way to create tones. A more Accurate way. To achieve my tone goals. There is a TON to consider in getting good tone. Trial an error in all phases of bass guitar will bring better, faster results than just hoping an amp is accurate to what you want with controls at noon. There is a great tone in EVERY amp. It's up to the player to find it. And sometimes, it is with much effort. Ha!
I agree wholeheartedly this "flat" fad has ******** individuals from learning EQ properly. The player should be able to get a good sound out of any amp. Only way to do that is to turn the knobs, find out what they do, and PRACTICE getting tones with knobs as diligently as they practice scales or technique. Then, learn each piece of gear in the chain that well. Bass, included, and pedals, too.
Now, as for the amp? Is it malfunctioning? Is the horn in the cab, if applicable, functioning or turned to 0 on an attenuator? Is the Gain knob set properly? Getting gain staged correctly is HUGE for a tight, clean tone. The SansAmp has an input level, blend level, and drive level. Plus eq. A lot to tweak. You should absolutely find a great basic tone with just the amp first, then add other pieces. I use a SansAmp, and it took me a bit to get it dialed in. And, someone mentioned above learning what NOT to do. Well, with experimentation, I've found that identifying what I don't like in a tone, and using eq to remove it, rather than boosting, a more rewarding way to create tones. A more Accurate way. To achieve my tone goals. There is a TON to consider in getting good tone. Trial an error in all phases of bass guitar will bring better, faster results than just hoping an amp is accurate to what you want with controls at noon. There is a great tone in EVERY amp. It's up to the player to find it. And sometimes, it is with much effort. Ha!
Get a GK amp and kiss the mud good by But honestly eqing would definitely help with your current amp! Some amps are Bass heavy. Cut your Bass back to 10 or so and roll your low mids up to 1-2. Boost High mids and highs from there to give a little more definition to your sound. Fiddle with those knobs a little more!
But honestly eqing would definitely help with your current amp! Some amps are Bass heavy. Cut your Bass back to 10 or so and roll your low mids up to 1-2. Boost High mids and highs from there to give a little more definition to your sound. Fiddle with those knobs a little more!
Also ditch those god forsaken Ernie Ball strings and get something like Dr High beam/ lo-riders or D'addario Pro Steels for a little extra brightness.
I initially suspected the cab too, but after watching the hilarious review, I think the problem may be something else.
On my Rumble 200 I run bass 1 oclock, lo mid and hi mid 3 o'clock and treb around 230, with 2 GK 1x15 cabs, Bart passive J bass pups, gtr knobs dimed. Twist amp knobs until you like how it comes out.
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By monitoring your direct signal you can determine how much or how little 'color' your cabinet is contributing toward your general dissatisfaction with your tone. Good studio quality headphones or full range studio monitors would be preferable over PA cabinets (also generally full-range). Whatever you choose, you might review the performance specs of the signal path to know what coloration your DI and cable and monitor(s) are contributing to what you hear.
Stpp setting your amp flat if it sounds muddy.
Turn down the bass and turn up the mids and treble.
Those knobs are on there for a reason
