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Question about my rig

X

Xanthyon

Feb 23, 2009
101
0
Pembroke Pines, FL
#1
OK, so Im running a GK Backline 600 head through and Hartke 4.5 XL.

heres links to both:

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/GallienKrueger-Backline-600-Bass-Head?sku=482534#new

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

ok, so pretty much I wanna get louder. I can hear myself fine over the drummer but i can't really cut through the guitarist. At max volume i always seem to just be under them. I wanna get a little louder to be able to hear myself in the mix, but not drown them out. SO, im thinkin of maybe adding something to my rig. Maybe a 15? two 15's? two 10's? when it comes to amps, i just know how use em, lol thats about it. So any suggestions?
:help:
 
#2
Do you play through PAs that can handle the guitar, drums, and bass?

If so, the guitarist needs to turn down, as you are likely too hot in the room at certain frequencies (and he is likely killing the people at whom his cabinet is pointed).

If not, do you like your rig? If so, get another cabinet, and use the preamp out in your head to drive a Crown K1 in bridged mono (1500W into 4 Ohms).
 
#3
Xanthyon said:
OK, so Im running a GK Backline 600 head through and Hartke 4.5 XL.

heres links to both:

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/GallienKrueger-Backline-600-Bass-Head?sku=482534#new

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

ok, so pretty much I wanna get louder. I can hear myself fine over the drummer but i can't really cut through the guitarist. At max volume i always seem to just be under them. I wanna get a little louder to be able to hear myself in the mix, but not drown them out. SO, im thinkin of maybe adding something to my rig. Maybe a 15? two 15's? two 10's? when it comes to amps, i just know how use em, lol thats about it. So any suggestions?
:help:
Click to expand...

Hi Xanthyon.

Adding a 2nd 8 ohm Hartke 4.5 XL would double your rig's ability to move air (bigger air movement = bigger bass), and give your GK Backline 600 the 4 ohm load it needs to put out its full power of 300 watts.

Staying with matching speakers and cabs will avoid the phasing problems that often affect rigs which use mis-matched speakers & cabs.

As well stacking the two Hartke 4x10" cabs will put speakers up near your ears.
 
#4
MIJ-VI said:
Hi Xanthyon.

Adding a 2nd 8 ohm Hartke 4.5 XL would double your rig's ability to move air (bigger air movement = bigger bass), and give your GK Backline 600 the 4 ohm load it needs to put out its full power of 300 watts.

Staying with matching speakers and cabs will avoid the phasing problems that often affect rigs which use mis-matched speakers & cabs.

As well stacking the two Hartke 4x10" cabs will put speakers up near your ears.
Click to expand...

+1

This is what I also intend to do.

I run a GK 1001 RB-II through a Hartke 410XL cab.
I might go the same way for more volume.
Adding a 4.5XL or getting two 4.5XLs instead of the 410XL.
 
#13
Also worth considering is finding your place in the mix (goes for the guitarist too) instead of competing. Tell the guitarist to stay away from your frequency range. ;)

Seriously, lots of guitarplayers dial in way too much lows, sounds great in the bedroom, not in the mix.
 
#14
4-string said:
Also worth considering is finding your place in the mix (goes for the guitarist too) instead of competing. Tell the guitarist to stay away from your frequency range. ;)
Click to expand...

I always start out a session telling guitarists: See this bat? If you play any B0 notes I'm going to hit you with it.

Seems to get the point across and keeps them from drop tuning down there. :rolleyes:

How the rest of you guys do it?

BOB
 
#15
Get a 4x15. Or better yet, get two.

Seriously, how's your EQ? If you scoop your mids, stop it. Those are what cuts through guitar noise. If your mids are already boosted, then yeah, either guitard needs to turn down or you need more speaker.

Don't get a 1x15. They don't do well against 4x10's. A 2x15 might work, but if you like your sound as it is, you might as well just get another 4x10.
 
#16
Well, it has been said many times before... low mids, that's where it's at.
That's what I boost to be present in the mix.
My guitarist has the bass on his amp dimed, i don't mind that. In all honesty I think that makes his guitar sound good and heavy.

On my rig I tried out a setting at home that is really cool, lots of lows boosted and a fat squeezed (tube) compressor. Sounds heavy and low, but it didn't worked in a band mix.
It was too muddy with the guitar.

Boosting bandpass at the lowest frequency possible (mostly 250Hz on most bass amps) sound more defined and more punchy than a low-shelving EQ at around 50hz or so.
Than you risk to much woofiness and losing sustain, your best possible outcome is some bassy background noise.

I also boost around 500Hz and 1kHz on my outboard EQ, lot of punch there.
IME boosting somewhere over 1kHz and under 5kHz can make your bass sound very present.. BUT(!!!) very thin sounding.
These are considered high mids (I think??) and I never had good experience with this. I don't cut them, I don't boost them, I leave them alone.

I do try to boost somewhere around 8kHz or over for my upper harmonics. This is like most "presence" controls on many amps.
 
#17
Xanthyon said:
OK, so Im running a GK Backline 600 head through and Hartke 4.5 XL.

heres links to both:

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/GallienKrueger-Backline-600-Bass-Head?sku=482534#new

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

ok, so pretty much I wanna get louder. I can hear myself fine over the drummer but i can't really cut through the guitarist. At max volume i always seem to just be under them. I wanna get a little louder to be able to hear myself in the mix, but not drown them out. SO, im thinkin of maybe adding something to my rig. Maybe a 15? two 15's? two 10's? when it comes to amps, i just know how use em, lol thats about it. So any suggestions?
:help:
Click to expand...

Like everyone else has said here, the easiest way and probably cheapest way for you to find the extra volume is add a cab, that way you can use all of the power you already have!!! 300 watts is probably enough for most situations you'll find yourself in!

The decision over another 4 x 10 or a 1 x 15 or a 2 x 15 comes down to how you want to sound, how much you want to lug around and how much cahs you have.

I play witha 4 x 8 and a 1 x 15! The 4 x 8 has almost twice the power handling of the 1 x 15....but I play drop D tuning and also 5 string....to my ears the lower register 'shines' through better using the 4 x 8 and a 1 x 15 and not 2 of the 4 x 8 cabs!

That could just be my ears though....but when my money is concerned ,it's my ears that matter!!

:bassist:
 

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