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Need help with my rig. Unhappy with sound

#21
Wow! Thanks for all the replies. Wasn't expecting this much response. I've had a few practices since reading this thread, so I've been able to try a few things out.

First, I feel bad maligning the Acme in terms of volume. As everyone so correctly pointed out, it's still a 2x10. I guess I just love my cab a little too much, and had unrealistic expectations :). Volume isn't a real issue, I should have stuck with the tone issue.

Various points on tone:

Removing the RNC did discernibly improve definition. It's a great compressor, but apparently wasn't really necessary in my signal chain. Thanks for that, tech21nyc.

I spent some time playing, both live through my cab and also recording through the DI (effected and un-effected). A/Bing the tone was helpful, and I found the tone with lots of drive that I prefer wasn't translating as well out of the speaker as it was through the DI. I backed off on Drive, and left the EQ mostly flat, and that calmed things down a bit. That will be my go-to tone, for the time being.

The T-40 is both single coil and humbucking, but I really prefer the single coil sound. I usually run with the bridge pickup in SC mode.

Strings are relatively new (maybe 1.5 months old) DR sunbeams.

The one remaining thing to try is the hipass filter on my power amp, as suggested. I think that's a great idea. With enough power, even the 2x10 acme can make a LOT of bass.


We're recording a few tracks soon, so I should be able to post some tracks of the bass DI vs a mic'd cabinet, maybe that will be interesting or generate some new ideas.

Thanks again for all the feedback! What a great forum.

PS - aurian4parker, my GAS isn't that subtle... It's a full-on disease! :)
 
#26
If I were you, I'd go Peavey -> pre -> PA & dial in the best tone you can get and then insert the other stuff and dial as needed. T-40s have a bit of a vintage tone to them to begin with so if you're looking for something that's going to cut through, you'll probably have to run both pickups in single coil mode and even then it's not a mid/high-mid monster.

Anyway, my advice with rigs and effects is to start simple, dial in the best tone possible, and add effects/comps/etc one by one while dialing in the best tone you can get with the new addition.
 
#27
cableguy said:
Also try playing around with the blend knob on the RBI. I've found the RBI is very touchy. Small changes make big differences. I've never had the Acme cabs so I don't know if that's a cause or not. Good luck.
Click to expand...

This^ Where do you set your blend with the RBI ? Tech212NYC settings in the instructions with the RBI have the blend all the way up for all the settings . When I first started using a BDDI and then the RBI I played like they said with the blend on ten . I liked the sounds a bunch that way but sometimes got lost in the mix with a band .

I read on Talkbass or somewhere that if you back the blend off to about halfway it helps to cut and you get more mids . When I first tried it it sounded too middy or nasal when playing by myself but with a band it cut like crazy and really let me hear what I was playing better . I still got great low end but the mids with a band just opened up . I used my RBI like this for quite a few years and it worked with a bunch of different cabinets . Most of the time my blend was on noon to 1 oclock .

You may know all this already but that blend is really the key to getting a sound that cuts with the RBI .
 
#28
I have no experience with all the other gear you have, but I have never been able to get a satisfying sound out of the SansAmp RBI when I used it with a power amp and cab. Maybe it's what you get when you use a speaker emulation before a speaker, but what I got was boomy and undefined, like you describe. I LOVE the sound of my RBI through a mixer and on my home recordings BUT as a preamp... never been lucky ! Try to rent a preamp for a day and see if it helps... any bass preamp without speaker emulation perhaps.
 
#30
Blues Bass 2 said:
This^ Where do you set your blend with the RBI ? Tech212NYC settings in the instructions with the RBI have the blend all the way up for all the settings . When I first started using a BDDI and then the RBI I played like they said with the blend on ten . I liked the sounds a bunch that way but sometimes got lost in the mix with a band .

I read on Talkbass or somewhere that if you back the blend off to about halfway it helps to cut and you get more mids . When I first tried it it sounded too middy or nasal when playing by myself but with a band it cut like crazy and really let me hear what I was playing better . I still got great low end but the mids with a band just opened up . I used my RBI like this for quite a few years and it worked with a bunch of different cabinets . Most of the time my blend was on noon to 1 oclock .

You may know all this already but that blend is really the key to getting a sound that cuts with the RBI .
Click to expand...

The blend knob on the RBI will NOT increase midrange. It will give you more of the straight signal of your bass and less of the SansAmp tube emulation circuitry.

Another post commented about bypassing the speaker emulation. There is some confusion with this feature. It was designed to work in conjunction with your bass amps speaker. The SansAmp speaker emulation is designed with a flat response which is similar to using multiple microphones in the studio. This avoids the peaks, valleys and notches that would occur when using a single microphone. In addition because the tone controls are after the SansAmp circuitry you can pretty much dial out the sound of the speaker emulation if so desired. You can also bypass the speaker and SansAmp circuitry entirely and still have the function of the tone controls by turning the blend control counter-clockwise.
 
#31
Ok , maybe what I've heard over the years with my RBI was just percieved mids from having the dry signal mixed with the speaker emulation circuitry . It's just something I have found that helped me hear myself on stage in a band mix and may help ubercore get his tone on stage . Just something to try .

BTW , the RBI is my favorite preamp and although I don't use one now I would go back to it in a heartbeat if things in my band changed and I may still at some point down the road . I always used mine with Crown power and it worked great with all kinds of different speakers and sound systems .
 
#32
I wanted to resurrect this thread to thank everyone for the blend knob advice. Gigged last night at the venue where I was having trouble, and set the blend to noon. I could hear myself on stage much more easily, and got many compliments on my sound.

Thanks again, TBers!
 
#34
KJung said:
+1 totally. With a PA type power amp, if you don't have some sort of hi pass on there, it can be a boomy mess, and those deeply voiced drivers can quickly overwhelm the small mid driver and even smaller tweeter.

Also, +1 that as unique as the B2 is, it is still only a 210, and actually will result in less SPL and perceived volume than a more mid voiced and tighter 210.

Hi Passing (hopefully there is that option on the OP's amp) should fix 75% of the issue.
Click to expand...

With that said about Hi Passing, what x-over frequency might you recommend? My rig: RBI, Crown XLS 1000 (Bridged Mono), Ampeg 810E, Fender Jazz, no effects. Guilty of running the blend at 100%. One other option, I have an opportunity to purchase an Ampeg SVT-7Pro, should I? I have been searching for that “Classic Ampeg Tone” Can’t afford the SVT-CL at this time.
 
#37
Don't know about the high pass but with the Ampeg 810E it shouldn't be near as important as with the Acme , the Acme will reproduce those super low notes that can muddy up the stage mix .The 810 won't go as low so I'd just be sure not to boost the low end a bunch , just get the bottom you need and listen to make sure it doesn't break up in a bad way . I ran a Crown CE1000 and also a Crown XTI1000 bridged into a bunch of different cabs with my RBI for years with no high pass filter and never needed one .

You need to concentrate more on rolling back the blend knob to get a more usable stage tone than trying filters . A high pass filter at 30 or 40Hz would be more to protect your speakers than changing your tone . Even with the blend rolled back around noon you cab still get a buttload of low end with the RBI if you need it but you will be able to hear what you are playing better too . If you are used to playing with the blend up all the way it will sound kind of middy at first but once you get used to it it will make a big difference .

If that doesn't get you where you need to be you could try a VT pedal or maybe you do need an Ampeg . I'd PM ubercore and ask him about how the blend helped him .


JimmyMystery said:
With that said about Hi Passing, what x-over frequency might you recommend? My rig: RBI, Crown XLS 1000 (Bridged Mono), Ampeg 810E, Fender Jazz, no effects. Guilty of running the blend at 100%. One other option, I have an opportunity to purchase an Ampeg SVT-7Pro, should I? I have been searching for that “Classic Ampeg Tone” Can’t afford the SVT-CL at this time.
Click to expand...
 

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