Need Help - Bass Rig sounds Boomy/dull/lifeless

[Silas Stingy]

Is your gig tone o.k? If so then it's not the signal chain. A quality small practice amp is better suited to the room you describe. In my experience it's very difficult to achieve a good tone with a powerful rig at low volume in a small room.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

Is your gig tone o.k? If so then it's not the signal chain. A quality small practice amp is better suited to the room you describe. In my experience it's very difficult to achieve a good tone with a powerful rig at low volume in a small room.

I have not tried this set up in gig conditions as of yet. What practice amp would you recommend for my situation? I'd still like to use my pedalboard

 

[samson3382]

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?

Maybe, maybe not.
I'm not familiar with that product.

I had good results with cheap stuff not even intended for bass. ART pre, and a behringer. (Before I could afford anything)

You did mention your in a former attic...
With low vaulted ceilings that go to the floor? Your room could be acting as a low freq cannon, overwhelming your ears.

 

[bartoshek]

Did You try to cut the bass a little bit (-3 to 6 dB), with adding punch from the parametric EQ +6 dB @ 200 Hz?

Does the problem appear at bigger than bedroom volumes?

 

[samson3382]

*you are* in a former attic.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

Maybe, maybe not.
I'm not familiar with that product.

I had good results with cheap stuff not even intended for bass. ART pre, and a behringer. (Before I could afford anything)

You did mention your in a former attic...
With low vaulted ceilings that go to the floor? Your room could be acting as a low freq cannon, overwhelming your ears.

Yeah my ceiling is quite low and one half of it slopes right down. Maybe a small practice amp that I can place on my desk is better for home practice situations. Could you recommend any good ones that don't cost a fortune that have great tone at low volumes and will be fine with me running some pedals through?

 

[samson3382]

Put it on a chair, or move it to a different room, take it outside.

This, the most simple, easy, and cheapest solution.
On a Saturday set it up outside and EQ it until it sounds like the headphone tone you like.

 

[Silas Stingy]

I have not tried this set up in gig conditions as of yet. What practice amp would you recommend for my situation? I'd still like to use my pedalboard

The only practice amp I have owned is a Rumble 25 v3. It works well for me. I certainly wouldn't have a problem getting close to the tone you require on a jazz strung with any decent round string through that little amp.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

This, the most simple, easy, and cheapest solution.
On a Saturday set it up outside and EQ it until it sounds like the headphone tone you like.

I may need to try this. Getting it from my attic can be a mission though! It is the best solution though. I think I may try a few smaller practice amps too.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

The only practice amp I have owned is a Rumble 25 v3. It works well for me. I certainly wouldn't have a problem getting close to the tone you require on a jazz strung with any decent round string through that little amp.

I'll have a look into this. It's my birthday at the end of the month so this could be useful. I see Ampeg do small practice amps too. I'll have to compare.

 

[CL400Peavey]

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?

You are looking to add something to this mess.

I may need to try this. Getting it from my attic can be a mission though! It is the best solution though. I think I may try a few smaller practice amps too.

A tip. Dont keep your big rig in the attic if you have a practice rig. Leave the big rig on the first floor.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

You are looking to add something to this mess.


A tip. Dont keep your big rig in the attic if you have a practice rig. Leave the big rig on the first floor.

What do you mean "adding something to this mess" ?

 

[Argassab]

It sounds quite odd having the above mentioned gear still sounds dull. Do you wipe off your strings every after use? Do you happen to have sweaty hands? Sorry I had to ask because a friend always had to change strings as often since they become rusty after a few days.

 

[CL400Peavey]

What do you mean "adding something to this mess" ?

You are looking at throwing money on an additional pedal, or an isolation pad.

Instead of wasting cash, fix the issue with what you have. There is no reason your rig should be lifeless. Something is sucking your tone, correct that, and the rest will fall in to line. You have gotten some good suggestions in this thread, but you "Have tried all that....". You can fix your tone with what you have.

 

[MrLenny1]

Set your EQ flat.
Raise the cab off the floor with a couple of 2x4
pieces of lumber.
A 4x10 in a bedroom is a awful big box.

 

[HOTSPUR1992]

Set your EQ flat.
Raise the cab off the floor with a couple of 2x4
pieces of lumber.
A 4x10 in a bedroom is a awful big box.

I got it for a deal with the head and thought I might as well for when I do need to take it out to gigs.
I am thinking about downgrading to a 1x12 though. Maybe a Berg.

 

[toberoo]

-Try it without any pedals hooked up.
-Lower your action
-Eq in a ton of mids and treble, non of this slight stuff.
-Do like 100% bridge pickup 60% neck
-Use stainless steel string.
-Play really heavy with your right hand
-Eq out bass.
-Play more towards the bridge.
-Try a different bass
-Try a different amp
-Try a different cab

I guess isolate the issue.

 

[SnL]

I have to agree with taking her outside first. It sounds to me like your chain components from fingers to ear are good...especially if you eliminated all pedals and went straight into the amp. You've been pretty thorough so far about isolating the issue. If you can't dial something in outside, and both of your basses have that same issue, either your shuttle or your cab has an issue that GB needs to address.
I wouldn't go scrapping that nice gear without getting your issue resolved. If you traded the 410 for a berg 112, and still have the deadness issue, you'd be back to square one with, imo, possibly not even enough speaker for a big gig.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

How do you have the effects run through the amp? I find that the Bass Whammy tends to kill the tone when it is in the loop. When it is not being used switch it out of the loop and your tone should improve (cleaner more articulate).

 

[Buzz E]

You are looking at throwing money on an additional pedal, or an isolation pad.

Instead of wasting cash, fix the issue with what you have. There is no reason your rig should be lifeless. Something is sucking your tone, correct that, and the rest will fall in to line. You have gotten some good suggestions in this thread, but you "Have tried all that....". You can fix your tone with what you have.

+1 on this. Nothing more, nothing less.