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Sound dropping out
- Thread starter Lordbeans
- Start date
Yep, sounds like an eq issue - if your pickups are active, then look at the battery(ies) as a possible issue as well. Also adjusting the pickup height is a good idea if it does not interfere with your right hand.
I would try turning down the bass. If you boost the bass quite often the upper strings are too quiet.
If it is only a problem on certain songs, how loud is your guitar player? He could be masking the bass. If it is a problem on all songs then this probably isn't the problem unless the guitar player really likes to stay low on the guitar.
As others have said, mids are your friend.
If it is only a problem on certain songs, how loud is your guitar player? He could be masking the bass. If it is a problem on all songs then this probably isn't the problem unless the guitar player really likes to stay low on the guitar.
As others have said, mids are your friend.
I vote pickup height too. It isn't that hard to either raise the treble side or lower the bass side and see if that fixes the problem. Often they come from the factory with the pickup height all weird and it takes some tweaking to get it balanced out
Try pickup height. Also, you said it's not as much a problem on the P-basses?
The Aerodyne has two pickups, one a P and one a Jazz style, as I recall. You might getting some phasing on the upper strings if both pickups are turned all the way up. Try turning one down a hair. What's the pickup configuration on the Warwick?
There could be multiple things going on at the same time. I would also try adjusting EQ and pickup height. Generally, in a dense mix, mids are going to do more for you than lows will.
The Aerodyne has two pickups, one a P and one a Jazz style, as I recall. You might getting some phasing on the upper strings if both pickups are turned all the way up. Try turning one down a hair. What's the pickup configuration on the Warwick?
There could be multiple things going on at the same time. I would also try adjusting EQ and pickup height. Generally, in a dense mix, mids are going to do more for you than lows will.
First, I do not own any Aguilar gear, but it looks like you are running 175 watts into a 112 cabinet. Everything flat with a slight bass boost. If you are in a loud band, you are probably coming up short amp wise. Lots of good advice here on EQ settings and pick up height, but you say your rig sounds fine at home. I'm thinking you need more muscle.
I was going to say sell all your basses and get a Yamaha, but I guess you can play around with the EQ settings like others have advised.
Hmm, interesting comment. Would a second 1x12 cab help push more air with the same amp?
Hey! I like this thread. For two reasons.
1) I have the same problem, and would love to hear advice from all you more experienced players.
2) I am finally able to ask (with limited fear of ridicule, and by not offending anyone with my lack of Google-fu skills) what does scooped mean? (In this context as in scooped mids) -- Is that turning it up, or down?
1) I have the same problem, and would love to hear advice from all you more experienced players.
2) I am finally able to ask (with limited fear of ridicule, and by not offending anyone with my lack of Google-fu skills) what does scooped mean? (In this context as in scooped mids) -- Is that turning it up, or down?
Scooped as in "scooping them out," removing them. Basically it's when people boost their lows and highs and cut their mids. Especially if they do so drastically.
Without being there? Depends on how loud the band is. His amp is rated at 350 watts into 4 ohms. Again, I have zilch experience with an Aguilar tone hammer 350th.
But to directly answer your question, adding a cabinet would "push more air".
I use an Eden WT330 running at 4 ohms rated at 330 watts. Works great for me, but I do not play in really loud bands, usually around 95-100db range.
I cannot compare my Eden to his Aguilar, since I have only played through my Eden.
Try adjusting the pickup a little closer to the strings on that side. And try getting a pair of SWING BASS ROTO SOUND CUSTOM STEVE HARRIS STAINLESS STEEL FLAT WOUNDS. Steve of IRON MAIDEN uses a 79' Fender P-Bass and plays finger style with his custom flat wound strings, gauges 50.75.95.110. With really low action plays very easily and you can hear his Bass great, every single note, and he has a drummer, singer, and 3 lead guitarist and he still cuts right through the busiest mix's with no problem at all.
Down, Scooped mids means mid boost knob turned down past the halfway point mostly all the way down, which gives the Bass guitar a really nice sound by itself, but in a busy mix you really can't hear it to good. Now when you add mids your bass won't sound as smooth, the mid turned up will make your Bass sound on the harsh side by itself, but in the mix you don't hear that harshness at all. And now you can cut right on through the mix. I like having 2 double humbucking pickups with active 3-band EQ on my Bass guitar so I can just reach down and add some mid range with a quick turn of a knob if needed.
