For those short scalers out there: I have had 2 different shorties (very nice, boutique ones, at that), and probably 3-4 different rigs to include 1 combo, 3 different heads and 2 sets of cabs (210, 15, 12). Short scales produce such a strong fundamental that - at loud volumes - certain notes tend to cause a buzzing in the back panel of the speaker cab. It's not from the the speaker, nor the speakon cable, nor the bass itself. There's no distortion audible, just a pronounced buzz that you can hear clearly when standing behind the cab. Not a room thing (I've played it in several rooms, outside, etc.). Technique (meaning, not digging in so hard) and lower volumes tend to eliminate it. Just curious if anyone else out there has noticed this. For a long time I thought it was something wrong with the cab or the bass. Happened with a Fender Rumble, Genzler, GK, Phil Jones Bass...seems that it's something I have to live with (and I'm okay with that) - just curious.
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Short scale bass and strong fundamental producing cab buzz
- Thread starter Feef3412
- Start date
I've never had that problem with any of my combo amps, or amps/cabs when playing any of my 9 short scale basses. I did manage to knock my old Marshall Bass 12 combo amp on it's ass, the first time I played an open E on my "new" '78 Kramer 450B Lumie... but, I hadn't bothered to check volume settings on anything, and that overturned amp was my clue that this bass had the stupid hot, custom wound Kramer pickups - not the Mighty Mite ones that some of them have. The amp survived, and I always check volume settings now... In any case;
I think I'd check for loose stuff in the back of that amp. Screws not as tight as they should be; some unsecured wiring; stuff like that...
I think I'd check for loose stuff in the back of that amp. Screws not as tight as they should be; some unsecured wiring; stuff like that...
I've never had that problem with any of my combo amps, or amps/cabs when playing any of my 9 short scale basses. I did manage to knock my old Marshall Bass 12 combo amp on it's ass, the first time I played an open E on my "new" '78 Kramer 450B Lumie... but, I hadn't bothered to check volume settings on anything, and that overturned amp was my clue that this bass had the stupid hot, custom wound Kramer pickups - not the Mighty Mite ones that some of them have. The amp survived, and I always check volume settings now... In any case;
I think I'd check for loose stuff in the back of that amp. Screws not as tight as they should be; some unsecured wiring; stuff like that...
Well - I did find that there was a missing screw on the back panel. Softened things up a bit. At this point, I think it's room resonance. But - in the past, this hasn't been the case. Weird stuff.
My pickups ARE hot...as has been the case with both shorties I've owned. This may sound like a dumb question, but even though I'm not clipping the amp could I still be pushing the speakers too hard?I've never had that problem with any of my combo amps, or amps/cabs when playing any of my 9 short scale basses. I did manage to knock my old Marshall Bass 12 combo amp on it's ass, the first time I played an open E on my "new" '78 Kramer 450B Lumie... but, I hadn't bothered to check volume settings on anything, and that overturned amp was my clue that this bass had the stupid hot, custom wound Kramer pickups - not the Mighty Mite ones that some of them have. The amp survived, and I always check volume settings now... In any case;
I think I'd check for loose stuff in the back of that amp. Screws not as tight as they should be; some unsecured wiring; stuff like that...
I currently own 12 (not counting sub-short scale) short scale basses ranging from 30" to 30.75"
No such issues though sometimes some feedback on ABG SS and Hollow Body SS. Not so much on Semi-hollow SS and none with Solid Body SS
What kind of bridge/saddle do you have?
I use two different amps. I use my 15 watt Peavey or my Fender Rumble 100 V3. Have you tried simply backing off the volume on the volume knob on the bass? 8 or 9 instead of 10 (or 11)
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Not the volume knob, but definitely have backed off of the amp volume. I'm a creature of habit, so I may just be hard-headed enough to expect that I can set the gain at the same level as I did my Fender Jazz with passive pickups...we'll see. I suspect that maybe I'm pushing the speakers too hard, even though I'm not clipping the input or the limit. Too early in the morning to start blasting speakers to test this hypothesis. Thanks for the responses, everyone.
If its a hot pup and its happening on every amp you've used I'd definitely try backing off the volume knob on the bass and make up for it on the amp volume.
A hot pup can cause distortion at any amp volume if the hot pup is dimed. Give it a try.
Does the cab have a 1/4" jack? If so, some of those are not sealed. If you have a mechanical pencil with a longer eraser you can plug the jack with that to see if it helps. When I had that issue with a cab it was more of a chuffing sound, but everyone describes sounds a little differently, so maybe...
Only speakon connectors. It's a GK Neo IV 1x15. To me it sounds like "zap," like one of those old hand buzzer gags. Only on the high E on the D string. Around that area, to some degree. Very strange. Every shorty, every amp, every cab.
I had assumed that @Feef3412 had all combos and not separate heads with only one Cab. You know what happens when you assume...ooops!
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That's weird.
My Reverend Watt prototype has a hot spot at the Gb on the A string. It doesn't come through the amp but you can feel it in the bass.
I've never had the issue you describe with the Reverend or my Mustang. Both have LTFs. I play through a Mesa D350 and GK Neo 115 iii cab. Recently, I've been playing with a Tech 21 BDDIv2 through crappy backlined rigs and I haven't noticed any rattle through those amps either.
It's hard to tell if it's coming from the amp itself or originating in the cab. Regardless - 3 heads and 4 different cabs. Almost like that one note is offending something somewhere. I can lower the gain and be fine - but I'd rather figure it out and be able to turn it up as loud as I want it to be. I have relatively low string action - 5/64 at the E and 4/64 at the G. 0.08" relief (no fret buzz - unless I dig in).
Back in the black and white days, it was common as EB3's were the popular bass around my turf. Bass amps were terrible then but smaller amps and cabs in particular, were schredded by our basses.
These days amps are much better designed, the cabs I mean and have stronger bracing and design to compliment the mating with particular speakers.
I used Marshalls 50 years ago and today and there is no comparison between screw on pack panels with a single center brace back then to having 2 sealed 2×12" internak cabs in the last VBC series. Also used a 2×12" cab back then for a while. Lacked punch.
My Sunn amp was a better cab back (4×15" 400 RMS) then and I even used it with a Marshall 375W model 2001 I had back then.
It taught me the importance and value of superior cab design.
These days amps are much better designed, the cabs I mean and have stronger bracing and design to compliment the mating with particular speakers.
I used Marshalls 50 years ago and today and there is no comparison between screw on pack panels with a single center brace back then to having 2 sealed 2×12" internak cabs in the last VBC series. Also used a 2×12" cab back then for a while. Lacked punch.
My Sunn amp was a better cab back (4×15" 400 RMS) then and I even used it with a Marshall 375W model 2001 I had back then.
It taught me the importance and value of superior cab design.
Is this happening in different rooms and locations or all in the same spot? If it's in the same spot, it could be a sympathetic resonance in the room or something in the room that 'appears' to be coming from the back of the amp.
Just a shot in the dark.
Just a shot in the dark.
Every room, unfortunately. I'm gonna try raising my action to see if there's some sort of buzz behind that fret that's reverberating...another shot in the dark.Is this happening in different rooms and locations or all in the same spot? If it's in the same spot, it could be a sympathetic resonance in the room or something in the room that 'appears' to be coming from the back of the amp.
Just a shot in the dark.
