Opinion on specific FRFR/powered cab setup

[skyline_01]

Ok, so I've done some research and I know most of the pros/cons of such a setup. I've been considering a smaller rig that's a little easier for load in/out and have always been intrigued by the powered cab thing, but know that there can be limitations.

I don't really want to get deep into the amp modeling thing for the sake of simplicity, and there are many folks that say a HPF/LPF (which I have) can act as a sort of speaker emulator.

So based on using the following pedal chain and FRFR example, do you think I could pull off something that didn't give the "playing bass through a PA cab" vibe? In addition to some common fare (tuner/octave/overdrive/gate pedals) I have:

- Radial Bassbone OD pre/switcher
- Broughton HPF/LPF
- Sushi Box Finally tube DI
- Headrush FRFR 112 (theoretical)

It should also be noted that I gig with active basses most of the time. And other powered cab/FRFR suggestions are certainly welcome!

Thanks!

 

[Jeremy Jones]

The Headrush 112 is great... I think it will work well with what you have there for signal chain. My setup is a Headrush Mx5 to the 112 or if it is smaller coffee shop style gig I also have the 108. I have even used those to in combination with great success.

 

[skyline_01]

The Headrush 112 is great... I think it will work well with what you have there for signal chain. My setup is a Headrush Mx5 to the 112 or if it is smaller coffee shop style gig I also have the 108. I have even used those to in combination with great success.

This is very helpful to know - thanks for chiming in!

 

[micguy]

Basses (and guitars) generally reply on a fair amount of high frequency rolloff somewhere in the chain to sound good - it's often quite significant - a rolloff starting at 3kHz or so. A lot of folks think that they want flat response....until they hear what that actually means. Without it, your bass will typically sound very clinky, and you'l be fighting hiss from your amplification/pedalboard chain. That's especially true if you use overdrive/distortion/fuzz effects. Even slap, where there is a preference for a bright sound, can be painfully bright through a "flat" rig. With active basses, which often have extended (but definitely not flat) response, this is even more of an issue.

Anyway, if you don't have that rolloff in the speaker (where it usually happens), you need to figure out where in the chain you're going to put it. The Broughton HP/LP is a good piece of gear, in that, as you learn what you really want, you can most likely dial it in with that. It's simple enough that, on a gig, you can reach down and turn one knob, and get your low pass filter where you want it.

Making the speaker flat out to high treble frequencies may not be what you actually want, and will probably complicate your rig. In my case, as I'm doing ampless gigs exclusively (PA's are flat response systems), I have to deal with this somehow - in my case it's part of what my Source Audio EQ2 does. That's a great pedal for this kind of thing, as it's insanely flexible, yet very easy to work with, provided you do it in advance. It's not as good as the Broughton (more complicated user interface) if you postpone the decision to where to set it until you get to the gig.

 

[Redbrangus]

do you think I could pull off something that didn't give the "playing bass through a PA cab" vibe?

IMHO, no. It IS a PA cab, basically, and a chea...er..., an inexpensive one at that. I don't think there's anything you can put in front of it that's going to magically make it sound otherwise. And @micguy's observation about the speaker having much more HF response than you want or need is an accurate one.

 

[skyline_01]

Basses (and guitars) generally reply on a fair amount of high frequency rolloff somewhere in the chain to sound good - it's often quite significant - a rolloff starting at 3kHz or so. A lot of folks think that they want flat response....until they hear what that actually means. Without it, your bass will typically sound very clinky, and you'l be fighting hiss from your amplification/pedalboard chain. That's especially true if you use overdrive/distortion/fuzz effects. Even slap, where there is a preference for a bright sound, can be painfully bright through a "flat" rig. With active basses, which often have extended (but definitely not flat) response, this is even more of an issue.

Anyway, if you don't have that rolloff in the speaker (where it usually happens), you need to figure out where in the chain you're going to put it. The Broughton HP/LP is a good piece of gear, in that, as you learn what you really want, you can most likely dial it in with that. It's simple enough that, on a gig, you can reach down and turn one knob, and get your low pass filter where you want it.

Making the speaker flat out to high treble frequencies may not be what you actually want, and will probably complicate your rig. In my case, as I'm doing ampless gigs exclusively (PA's are flat response systems), I have to deal with this somehow - in my case it's part of what my Source Audio EQ2 does. That's a great pedal for this kind of thing, as it's insanely flexible, yet very easy to work with, provided you do it in advance. It's not as good as the Broughton (more complicated user interface) if you postpone the decision to where to set it until you get to the gig.

This makes a lot of good sense. I'm already using the Broughton to roll off much of the high end around the point you mentioned above, which I feel is helpful in my sound.

I know there's no good way to test this setup unless I actually buy one, or bring my pedal rig into a store and play it through a display model. I'll probably just end up going with a small head/small cab eventually but it's nice to explore options. Many thanks!

 

[Jeremy Jones]

As other of stated because of the flat response you are going to get alot more highs then you would with a regular bass amp and interestingly enough the Headrush FRFR can get boomy in certain setups and rooms. With your Broughton HPF/LPF you should be able to tame that nicely. The mx5 has several options and I am able to quickly adjust to each room as needed. Even though I know I do not have control of my sound once it gets to the house at least with the FRFR I know what I am sending them is what I like.

 

[skyline_01]

IMHO, no. It IS a PA cab, basically, and a chea...er..., an inexpensive one at that. I don't think there's anything you can put in front of it that's going to magically make it sound otherwise. And @micguy's observation about the speaker having much more HF response than you want or need is an accurate one.

Good points. I know that it will never sound the same as a bass-specific cab - I was just looking at options that could eliminate an additional piece of gear for load in/out. And for me most of the gigs suited for a smaller rig would be IEM situations or small bars where I need very little stage volume.

In a dream world situation, the rig below would probably be my choice. Tons of hearoom, flexibility (one cab or two), and light as all hell. I just need to win the Powerball.


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AT Cube 112 – GRBass

 

[imurrx]

I think I will be picking up the Headrush FRFR-112. My chain will be spectracomp> Le Bass > Plethora x3 > Cab M+ > FRFR-112