I just fired it up and so far so good. I can probably post some sound clips later if you'd like.
I do think I need to adjust the internal volume pot though because out of the box it's LOUD.
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Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out
- Thread starter Korladis
- Start date
I do think I need to adjust the internal volume pot though because out of the box it's LOUD.
Can we all pretend I didn't say that? Pretty please?
Quick and dirty demo:
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Don't make fun of my terrible playing
Also could my clean tone be any less doomy?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Don't make fun of my terrible playing
Also could my clean tone be any less doomy?
Part 2 of my reply
I had to test things out with my preamp pedal collection. So I set my Sol Invictus up with a sound I liked, using a blend of each channel where A was clean and B was dirty. Then I pushed the Sol with a few different boxes.
First was the Nordstrand Starlifter pre, which is mostly EQ with not much compression. It is clean and transparent, unless you engage the EQ voice presets (mid scoop/bump). I found that adding more gain to the signal by cranking the Starlifter did change the Sol's sound, but not quite in as "interesting" way as I had hoped. I tweaked the EQ and it certainly changed the final sound of the output. The semi-para mid control gave me some adjustments the Sol didn't have, which was nice, but not game changing.
Second was the Hilbish Compressimiser, which is just a two-knob compressor with threshold and output. This gave me a far more interesting result than the Starlifter. I was able to find a sweet spot with the output level boosting the signal going into the Sol. I was able to refine that via the compression threshold. Less compression yielded bigger lows and sharper highs particularly in the distortion. The extra dynamic range would translate to stronger pick attacks making the clean sound on Ch A jump out more than the distorted Ch B sound. Adding some compression tamed the lows and highs and made for a more mid-focused and (not surprisingly) compressed sound. I found this to be more intuitive to adjust than trying to adjust the EQ of the Starlifter.
I typically run the Compressimiser after the Sol to "glue" the Ch A + B sound, but this experiment has me rethinking my board a bit.
Even quicker demo with neck pickup only, featuring arguably even worse playing on my part.
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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
and you recorded audio of all these experiments, right? RIGHT??Part 2 of my reply
I had to test things out with my preamp pedal collection. So I set my Sol Invictus up with a sound I liked, using a blend of each channel where A was clean and B was dirty. Then I pushed the Sol with a few different boxes.
First was the Nordstrand Starlifter pre, which is mostly EQ with not much compression. It is clean and transparent, unless you engage the EQ voice presets (mid scoop/bump). I found that adding more gain to the signal by cranking the Starlifter did change the Sol's sound, but not quite in as "interesting" way as I had hoped. I tweaked the EQ and it certainly changed the final sound of the output. The semi-para mid control gave me some adjustments the Sol didn't have, which was nice, but not game changing.
Second was the Hilbish Compressimiser, which is just a two-knob compressor with threshold and output. This gave me a far more interesting result than the Starlifter. I was able to find a sweet spot with the output level boosting the signal going into the Sol. I was able to refine that via the compression threshold. Less compression yielded bigger lows and sharper highs particularly in the distortion. The extra dynamic range would translate to stronger pick attacks making the clean sound on Ch A jump out more than the distorted Ch B sound. Adding some compression tamed the lows and highs and made for a more mid-focused and (not surprisingly) compressed sound. I found this to be more intuitive to adjust than trying to adjust the EQ of the Starlifter.
I typically run the Compressimiser after the Sol to "glue" the Ch A + B sound, but this experiment has me rethinking my board a bit.
In all seriousness, though, that's very interesting. Do you think these experiments were a matter of driving the Sol harder, or more like just sculpting the tone (and dynamics of the tone) that were feeding the Sol? (And maybe that's just a distinction without a difference.)
I didn't record this, but I had my windows open so my neighbors could verify the results
I think the take-away is that there is more to the "boost" game than just simply the dB of boost and the EQ shape, and that the dynamics of the boost are an important consideration. If you're looking for a sweet spot in the clipping, then it matters how hard the respective frequencies in the signal are hitting the "boosted" amp relative to the dynamics of the whole signal. If you use a clean gain device with no compression, then you get a different result from a clean compressed signal. I think this probably applies to using something like a Tubescreamer for a boost. I would expect the clipping and related compression are part of why it gets used as a booster, as much as the baked in EQ profile.
Thanks for testing out these combos. Interesting that you had minimal results from cranking a transparent preamp but noticeable results from cranking a (not so transparent?) compressor.
No problem. I’m sure everyone would have a different preference, and get different results with their own gear and style.
I wouldn’t say the results with the transparent pre were minimal, just not as “interesting” with my gear.
The compressor is fairly transparent. It’s a VCA style that isn’t very colored.
...I suppose I can ask here as well, before asking on "normal" TB. I'm looking for a bedroom amp for playing around/practice NOT on headphones. Only looking at the used market here (Poland), so my options are limited.
Anyone has an opinion on 10 VS 12 inch combos? I've been hearing that there's quite a difference between 8in and above, but not sure if it's really that worth expanding the budget at the next step up. So far I'm looking at Ampegs: BA-110 (V2 if that matters, but I don't know if there's any difference between them) and BA-112. There are some Hartkes too (HD50/75), but no Fender Rumbles of the size (the ones people are selling go from 25 right to 100W). Not sure about other options.
Anyone has an opinion on 10 VS 12 inch combos? I've been hearing that there's quite a difference between 8in and above, but not sure if it's really that worth expanding the budget at the next step up. So far I'm looking at Ampegs: BA-110 (V2 if that matters, but I don't know if there's any difference between them) and BA-112. There are some Hartkes too (HD50/75), but no Fender Rumbles of the size (the ones people are selling go from 25 right to 100W). Not sure about other options.
I'm pretty anti-Rumble so I'd say the lack of Rumbles is a good thing. If it's just for the bedroom, I'd focus more on the amp that sounds best to you and not worry about speaker size.
FWIW, I really like my Peavey Max 208 combo for this same use (though it can get pretty loud). I have no idea how available these might be in Poland though.
Unrelated, but Poland is one of the few countries I've been to outside the US and I have fond memories of it. I spent most of my time in Bialowieza and Biebrza National Parks. I hope all is well for you over there!
This has a few mildly doomy moments...
My first attempt at something resembling a "real" album.
My first attempt at something resembling a "real" album.
Taking the left hand path with Kostis Foukarakis (Rotting Christ, Baroeg (Rotterdam, Netherlands), 14 June 2022). It was a LOUD gig, for sure. But, more importantly, passionate and profound.
I will second that for bedroom use speaker size isn’t too big of an issue. If you are going used I would just get something that is in good shape that you like and add some pedals to get different tones that you like. I had a Vox Pathfinder bass combo that had two 5 inch speakers and it sounded totally great for jamming at the house. It is probably one of the cheapest amps that you can find.
I had an Ampeg BA110 V2 on loan for a while. Sounded pretty good and got loud real quick- I'm not sure I ever cranked it past 2. My main gripe was that it had a hard time at lower volumes. Going from 0 to 1, when the it started to make sound it was already too loud for nighttime, don't-irritate-the-upstairs-neighbor playing. If you don't have close neighbors you're fine, but it made me realize that 40 watts might be overkill for the bedroom.
That said I have a 500 watt head (into a 1x12) now which is much better at dialing in lower volumes.
That said I have a 500 watt head (into a 1x12) now which is much better at dialing in lower volumes.
Gotcha. I remember I had (well, I kept it, but I don't use it anymore) an 8 inch Orange combo. Served me well enough, but it was a big difference between it and the 10 inch one I tried in a store. Not sure how much was it the speaker and how much the small one being compromised in its circuit.
But I guess amps for each have slightly different characteristics.
dear fellow stoners, this is a tb service announcment:
Today started the freak vally festival in Netphen, Germanny.
This years lineup includes greats like Baroness, Red Fang, Slowmatics and High on Fire just to name a few.
While for obvious reason most us can not be there, german public broadcast WDR will stream the whole festival on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/c/WDRRockpalast/featured
... End of Transmission.
Today started the freak vally festival in Netphen, Germanny.
This years lineup includes greats like Baroness, Red Fang, Slowmatics and High on Fire just to name a few.
While for obvious reason most us can not be there, german public broadcast WDR will stream the whole festival on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/c/WDRRockpalast/featured
... End of Transmission.
Thanks for the heads up, and that's a nice lineup. Will the stream be preserved for viewing after-the-fact?dear fellow stoners, this is a tb service announcment:
Today started the freak vally festival in Netphen, Germanny.
This years lineup includes greats like Baroness, Red Fang, Slowmatics and High on Fire just to name a few.
While for obvious reason most us can not be there, german public broadcast WDR will stream the whole festival on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/c/WDRRockpalast/featured
View attachment 4721465
... End of Transmission.
