Seeking Tone Help!

[AmorFini1601]

I am looking for advice on how to get more punch, and fullness out my sound. I play in a progressive metal band, if I had to describe bands we sound like it would be Periphery, The Contortionist, and maybe a little Between the Buried and Me.

I'll give you a little rundown of my rig as of now. I have a Line 6 X3 Pro running into an Ampeg PF-500, into a Kustom 4x10 Deep Groove cab. The bass I'm using is a Spector Legend Custom 5.

I essentially only use the Ampeg as a power amp. On the X3 I run the dual tone, Tone A being a more rounded bass sound while layering in Tone B for to add a more distorted sound, essentially trying to get the best of both worlds. Tone A is modeling the Classic Jazz amp, and Tone B is modeling the Rock Classic amp. I run compression on both. Bass Overdrive used as a boost on Tone A and for gain and grit on Tone B.

I don't EQ at all. Everything sounds fine now, I just want more out of the rig, I'm not sure what frequencies to boost or where best to add emphasis.

So for those of you who play metal, what do you use to keep a nice distorted sound, that sounds good in the mix, but is also nice and tight?

 

[Silens]

Distorted? I use the Pork Loin. You can blend your clean tone with the over drive, as well as what I think are presence and low pass filter knobs when you unscrew the back of the pedal.

 

[christw]

You just use the power amp in, right? The interaction between its compressor and gain control is key to getting the most usable volume out of that head. I'd run the X3 Pro in the effects loop section so you can get the full effect from the comp & EQ on the PF500.

Here's what I'd do: Start with the PF500 at flat and adjust gain & compressor to taste. The manual has good advice on this. Then set the levels so that the X3 works in the effects loop. Turn the bass knob all the way off and roll it back in until you hear that "pillow" of low bass rolling in. From there, try adjusting your midrange on the PF500. My favorite positions were boosting on 1 & 3 to cut through a dense mix. It depends on your guitarists tone but adding midrange between 120 hz & 1khz will really help you get heard.

 

[AmorFini1601]

I suppose I misspoke. I do use the FX loop of the PF-500. Also on the PF-500 should I have the FX Mix turned all the way up (maybe that's a silly question)? What do you suggest for amp modeling on the X3, from what I've been using the Classic Jazz, Rock Classic and Motor City are my favorite, I haven't messed with any of the others as much though.