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Need Help - Bass Rig sounds Boomy/dull/lifeless

H

HOTSPUR1992

Guest
Nov 13, 2014
124
11
34
#1
Hi guys,

Really need some help/advice.

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this so if any mods want to move it that's fine.

As the title says I really need help improving my overall bass tone from my rig. I've spent years buying different amps, pedals, basses, strings etc and I always end up with a similar problem.

Let me start by running through my current set up:

Basses
Fender Standard 2013 American Jazz Bass - Nickel Roundwound strings (GHS Boomers) - 40 - 90 Gauge. Recently tried Rotosound 66 steels again but they went dead VERY quickly and sounded even more dull after about a week.

Rickenbacker 2014 4003 - Stock Strings that it shipped with. I'm not 100% sure what these are but I think they are Nickel - Gauge is around 40 - 100.

Amp
Genz Benz Shuttle 9.2

Cab
Genz Benz Focus 4x10

Pedals
Digitech Bass Whammy (new one)
Korg Pitchblack
Xotic X-Blender with a EHX/Sovtek Green Russian Big Muff in the loop)

These are all mounted onto a Pedaltrain Jnr, powered by a Voodoo Labs PP2+

I've had different basses and amps prior to this set up before and I always encounter the same problem.
The bass Tone just goes Lifeless and dull. It just ends up sounding very boomy and muddy. I spend most of my time tweaking EQ etc and it leaves me incredibly frustrated. However when I play through my headphones (either through my Behringer mixer or Vox Amplug) the sound is a lot clearer and the EQ is pretty much flat.

So is my problem my amp? I've been down this route before though when I encounter similar problems with previous amps.

I mainly use the amp in my bedroom and use backline gear when playing with a band or rehearsal space (sadly I don't drive or have the transport to move it about at the moment) although I may be using the amp for a covers band that supply all their own equipment.

Another thought that recently crossed my mind was the acoustics of the room. My room (where my set up is) is on the top floor of the house. It used to be the attic but it was converted years back and I moved in there. I was looking at this Link Removed to put under my amp. Do you think this could solve my problem?

Alternatively do you think I should get another amp? or speaker cab? Like I said I'm mainly using the amp in my bedroom but I'd like to use it out and about eventually and may require to use my own amp in this recent band I've joined. Do you think I should get a smaller, separate amp for bedroom practice? That I can still run my pedalboard through.

The sound I'm looking for is a punchy, gritty bass tone. I play Rock music pretty much exclusively (finger style) and just want a nice punchy, thick, tone to build a foundation on. The kind I always manage to get playing a bass in a shop through an amp. That Fresh tight note clarification with no muddiness or boominess to speak of. I hope that makes sense.

Here is an example of the Jazz bass tone I'm looking for That Grunty/punchy but clear tone with life that's great for Rock music. I know in that video the guy is going direct but I thought I'd give you an idea.

Could you recommend strings maybe? I've been looking at DR strings maybe that may help? (I find most strings I try go dead very quickly) or would changing the stock pickups in my Jazz help? Any recommendations for that 70s grunty jazz tone?

Finally another thing I was considering was getting a form of outboard pre-amp like an Xotic RC Booster or something of that nature. I was actually looking at the bass BB to add a bit of girth and breakup in my tone as an always on kind of thing. Do you think this could be a solution? I figured I wanted to look at my fundamental clean tone before I added anything on top but I wasn't sure.

I'm sorry for the long and vast post but I wasn't sure where to post all of my questions. I just don't want to go down the route of wasting anymore money on things that will just put me back in the same boat.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Mike
 
#4
HOTSPUR1992 said:
Brand new. This isn't the overall problem though as I've tried so many different strings and get the same results after about a week.
Click to expand...

Ok. I would set all the tone knobs on your amp flat, get rid of all the pedals between the bass and the amp. I would also recommend you put a set of D'Addario pro steels on your bass, and play with the balance between pick ups, favoring the bridge, and pulling just a little neck pup in.
 
#5
CL400Peavey said:
Ok. I would set all the tone knobs on your amp flat, get rid of all the pedals between the bass and the amp. I would also recommend you put a set of D'Addario pro steels on your bass, and play with the balance between pick ups, favoring the bridge, and pulling just a little neck pup in.
Click to expand...

I've tried all this before and it's still the same results. What do you think of that speaker isolator I posted a link too? Do you think this could help?
 
#6
HOTSPUR1992 said:
I've tried all this before and it's still the same results. What do you think of that speaker isolator I posted a link too? Do you think this could help?
Click to expand...

No.

Your tone, or lack there of, is going to be more influenced by your strings and amps settings. Your low end isnt the issue, if anything you should be cutting lows, and boosting mids. What kind of settings are you using on your amp? Also, do you have the active pad engaged?
 
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#7
CL400Peavey said:
No.

Your tone, or lack there of, is going to be more influenced by your strings and amps settings. Your low end isnt the issue, if anything you should be cutting lows, and boosting mids. What kind of settings are you using on your amp? Also, do you have the active pad engaged?
Click to expand...

There is no active pad on my amp. Plus my basses are both passive. EQ is set pretty much flat. Sometimes to I have to cut the bass and I boost the high mids and treble a bit. I find the bass tone really lacks something and is dull.
 
#8
HOTSPUR1992 said:
There is no active pad on my amp. Plus my basses are both passive. EQ is set pretty much flat. Sometimes to I have to cut the bass and I boost the high mids and treble a bit. I find the bass tone really lacks something and is dull.
Click to expand...

Ok. Looking at your amp: Where do you have your preamp gain and volume set? I would also boost the mid band on your pre amp significantly, then move the parametric around until you isolate the frequency you are missing. Also leave your signal shade selectors off.
 
#9
I know this is a long shot but have you tried switching leads? I had a similar situation to yours, tried everything to fix the problem. In the end it turned out to be 2 brand new faulty leads which were increasing the impedance, strange but true. If you are practicing in a small space with a large amp then it's not uncommon to drop the bass control to almost zero to achieve a decent tone.
 
#10
CL400Peavey said:
Ok. Looking at your amp: Where do you have your preamp gain and volume set? I would also boost the mid band on your pre amp significantly, then move the parametric around until you isolate the frequency you are missing. Also leave your signal shade selectors off.
Click to expand...

Pre amp gain is usually about 3 and the output volume of the pre amp is usually about 9. the Master is set about 9 as well.
 
#11
Silas Stingy said:
I know this is a long shot but have you tried switching leads? I had a similar situation to yours, tried everything to fix the problem. In the end it turned out to be 2 brand new faulty leads which were increasing the impedance, strange but true. If you are practicing in a small space with a large amp then it's not uncommon to drop the bass control to almost zero to achieve a decent tone.
Click to expand...

Interesting what you say about the bass control. Do you thin the Gamma pad might help isolate the speaker. Creating a more focused and tighter sound projecting from the amp?
 
#14
HOTSPUR1992 said:
It just seems interesting because I've tried lots of other methods. I'm starting to think it has something to do with the acoustics of my room, and the fact I'm on the third floor of my house. The amp is on carpet which is covering wooden floorboards etc.
Click to expand...

I generally think that the gramma pads are a waste of money, but you can test your hypothesis for free, by moving your rig.
 
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#15
Do you think replacing the Focus 4x10 with something smaller like the Bergantino CN112 might help? If I did this I was thinking of maybe moving the amp up onto my desk so it would be level with me whilst sitting.
 
#17
BurningSkies said:
Put your rig up on a chair or something and see if that changes how you hear yourself. What are your EQ settings like? Have you checked to make sure all the speakers in your 410 are wired correctly and are going in the same direction at the same time.
Click to expand...
EQ is set flat. As far as I'm aware the speakers in my amp are all fine. I haven't really got anything big enough to put the 4x10 on! That's why I thought about the Gamma.
 
#19
What about the tweeter? (if there is one)

I had the same problem for years. I personally never solved it until I got a bass with active electronics, started using some kind of tube pre, & buying Elixirs. Spendy, but I can make a set last, and sound good for 6-12 months easy. I had such a hot signal it changed my technique for the better.
 
#20
samson3382 said:
What about the tweeter? (if there is one)

I had the same problem for years. I personally never solved it until I got a bass with active electronics, started using some kind of tube pre, & buying Elixirs. Spendy, but I can make a set last, and sound good for 6-12 months easy. I had such a hot signal it changed my technique for the better.
Click to expand...
Tweeter is fully open.

I like my basses though and don't want to modify them. Would adding an outboard pre amp work? Something like an Xotic RC Booster?
 

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