Persistent feedback using acoustic electric

[pisces_bass]

Did a brewpub gig last night and had to swap out my acoustic electric with a j-bass because I couldn’t tame the feedback. I’ve used the acoustic on many gigs in the past without issue. Acoustic bluegrass and Americana without drums so stage volume is pretty low.

The problem may have been from my amp. I generally plug the bass directly into a quilter BB800 powering a Bag End 1x15 and send an XLR out the back of the BB800 to the mixing board. Last night I plugged my bass into a Tone Hammer pedal and used it as a DI to the board. I ran a line out of the Tone Hammer to the front of the amp. It sounds great that way but maybe the Tone Hammer boosts up the signal enough to induce the feedback I experienced? The problem didn’t really start until sound check with everyone playing. Within a few seconds I had to ask for my channel to be muted. That cut out the feedback in the PA but it started coming from my amp as soon as I turned around to fiddle with the gain knobs. Rather than spend time fighting it, I swapped basses and got on with the gig.

Anyone have similar issues? Fixes?

 

[matthewbrown]

Have you got a cover over the sound hole? If not, there's where I'd start.

 

[Kro]

Have you got a cover over the sound hole? If not, there's where I'd start.

Yup. Feedback Busters are pretty much mandatory if you don't already have one installed.

 

[Wasnex]

Did a brewpub gig last night and had to swap out my acoustic electric with a j-bass because I couldn’t tame the feedback. I’ve used the acoustic on many gigs in the past without issue. Acoustic bluegrass and Americana without drums so stage volume is pretty low.

The problem may have been from my amp. I generally plug the bass directly into a quilter BB800 powering a Bag End 1x15 and send an XLR out the back of the BB800 to the mixing board. Last night I plugged my bass into a Tone Hammer pedal and used it as a DI to the board. I ran a line out of the Tone Hammer to the front of the amp. It sounds great that way but maybe the Tone Hammer boosts up the signal enough to induce the feedback I experienced? The problem didn’t really start until sound check with everyone playing. Within a few seconds I had to ask for my channel to be muted. That cut out the feedback in the PA but it started coming from my amp as soon as I turned around to fiddle with the gain knobs. Rather than spend time fighting it, I swapped basses and got on with the gig.

Anyone have similar issues? Fixes?

If your bass has a standard size sound hole, get a rubber sound hole plug. This can help quite a bit.

Many ABG preamps have a notch filter and a polarity switch. These can help as well.

A multi-band true parametric EQ or a 31-band graphic EQ can be used dial out more feedback problems. I don't know of an pedal format 31-band graphics. AFAIK the pedal that is closest to true parametric is the Empress ParaEQ.

Basically you can tune the bass for feedback the same way an audio tech would tune a room feedback. I have written multiple posts on the subject, but this one is probably most relevant: SOLVED: Acoustic Bass Feedback Problem

Tuning a bass for feedback is a learned skill and takes a bit of time. If you can't get into the performance venue to tune the bass and amp before the audience arrives, I suggest playing on slab.

 

[pisces_bass]

Thanks all. A feedback buster is on the way. @Wasnex i’ll read that article. Gigging with an acoustic electric is relatively new for me, just the last couple years. You get used to things working and then comes a curveball

 

[pisces_bass]

Quick follow up. Another gig tonight. Same band, same gear, different room. No feedback!

 

[srayb]

If the feedback sounds like 1 frequency, try a pedal with a notch filter. I have one of these for when I use a classical guitar with piezo saddle pickup, it works great, just initiate the feedback then turn the notch knob until it disappears.

 

[AlexanderB]

Did a brewpub gig last night and had to swap out my acoustic electric with a j-bass because I couldn’t tame the feedback. I’ve used the acoustic on many gigs in the past without issue. Acoustic bluegrass and Americana without drums so stage volume is pretty low.

The problem may have been from my amp. I generally plug the bass directly into a quilter BB800 powering a Bag End 1x15 and send an XLR out the back of the BB800 to the mixing board. Last night I plugged my bass into a Tone Hammer pedal and used it as a DI to the board. I ran a line out of the Tone Hammer to the front of the amp. It sounds great that way but maybe the Tone Hammer boosts up the signal enough to induce the feedback I experienced? The problem didn’t really start until sound check with everyone playing. Within a few seconds I had to ask for my channel to be muted. That cut out the feedback in the PA but it started coming from my amp as soon as I turned around to fiddle with the gain knobs. Rather than spend time fighting it, I swapped basses and got on with the gig.

Anyone have similar issues? Fixes?

I do not know about your specific rig, but the Tonehammer amps have a wide and not insignificant boost of the upper bass and lowest mids, exactly in a range where some hollowbody basses are prone to feeding back. Personally, I have successfully used a 30 band Rane eq to squeeze a LOT more volume from my Gretsch G5123B on stage.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Notch filter is pretty much mandatory with acoustic bass. I use a Fishman Pro EQ for this purpose.

 

[RustyAxe]

I use an Empress ParaEQ with my Thunderchief and Guild B50. During a sound check I determine which freqs might give me trouble (seems to usually be between D and E) and notch them out a bit.

 

[Slevage]

Notch filter(s) as others have suggested and a polarity switch often helps to cancel out the offending frequency, or frequencies.

 

[buldog5151bass]

In my experience, the feedback tend to center around a particular resonance (in the case of my Tacoma Thunderxhief G and A flat. Find the note and eq it out.

 

[DavC]

i have a Radial AC Driver ... variable low cut , notch filter , volume , tuner out , mute ...

currently using on yamaha acoustic gtr passive piezo ...

 

[seamonkey]

Feedback eliminator
They put tiny narrow notches at the frequencies that are causing feedback.
You need some quiet to allow them to set themselves up right.
You might notice that you get feeback on certain notes - From resonance of the bass.
Try holding down some of these notes while the feedback eliminator is clicking out.
Once it's done you can back off the setting if you think it needs some further correction or relaxation.

 

[dannylectro]

I played an ABG in an Americana band for ten years. Here’s what I found worked:
- small stages, coffee house setting, I used a GK MB150S, on the floor and stood off-axis. This was fine even with minimal drum kits.
- larger stages, auditoriums, etc. I used either a Mesa 800 into a single 12, or a GK 400RB into the same cab. If the acoustics were really good, and I knew the room, I could even get away with the MB150S.
- really big stages, festivals, etc: forget about it. I used a slab, especially if the backline was supplied.
I never used a sound hole plug, but did have a phase/notch thing built-in to the Baggs pre that came with the Breedlove I was using.

 

[4Mal]

I like the TH but on an ABG ? It's colored in a way that really works with a solid body. Those colors maybe not so good for a big hollow thing though. If I need an outboard EQ/pre for my ABG or UBass I use a Fishman Pro Platinum EQ.

 

[pisces_bass]

I like the TH but on an ABG ? It's colored in a way that really works with a solid body. Those colors maybe not so good for a big hollow thing though. If I need an outboard EQ/pre for my ABG or UBass I use a Fishman Pro Platinum EQ.

Trying the TH was an experiment and it’s the gear I have. Probably won’t do it again. FWIW, a local upright player uses a TH pedal as a DI and it sounds great.