The Combo Club

[GonePlaid]

FOH never complains when the six-stringers want "their" sound on the PA. Bass player makes the same request and there is wailing and gnashing of teeth, a friend told me.



Absatively!

No place we play has FOH, which is possibly just as well. I'd tell the sound person that they have 2 choices-use my sound or I turn the amp up to 11 and go 'direct'. Up to them at that point but I can still reach the controls on my amp. And the DI output or mic-takes about 1/2 second to unplug their feed.

 

[GwenOnBass]

That foxy Voxy VX50BA that could be so lovable —what isn't to like? A line out that's pre-EQ so all the NuTube tech never makes it out could be something not so lovable ... IMO if I could use the foxy Voxy strictly as a personal monitor and put the Vox NuTube tone stack through the board, I'd be all over that little combo. The smaller the lug the better, for me.

That Vox tone stack should, in theory, work like the Fender tone stack. So pretty usable. Not at all usable if there's no DI for it IMO

 

[G-Dog]

BTW
https://ampeg.com/data/6/0a020a4108bc606b385b977b6/application/pdf/Quick Start Guide - English .pdf

The DI is post-EQ, I see. And the FX Loop is on the RB-112 and up ...

And, AUGH! Faith and begorrah! The XLR Out is post Volume, too!! Careful, m'lads, lest ye anger the sound man by adjustin' yer Volume after sound check! Another 18-year-old, and much maligned, Rumble 'feature' faithfully copied.​

That foxy Voxy VX50BA that could be so lovable —what isn't to like? A line out that's pre-EQ so all the NuTube tech never makes it out could be something not so lovable ... IMO if I could use the foxy Voxy strictly as a personal monitor and put the Vox NuTube tone stack through the board, I'd be all over that little combo. The smaller the lug the better, for me.

That Vox tone stack should, in theory, work like the Fender tone stack. So pretty usable. Not at all usable if there's no DI for it IMO

Eggs-actical, m'lady! The one chink in the armor that is the li'l Foxy Voxy. Should it be a great boon to the "True DI" purists. But, I'm with you on this. Do we bassists not craft our tones just as surely as the gnarliest of gui*** wankers? And are we not just as deserving of that same respect, whether we use dinky combo or mega-stack? Aye, 'tis so.
.​

 

[RodRy]

'Cos it's the only thing available/affordable?

If that were true, then it would make sense. But the case I bought is $10 less than the one I'd have to remove the padding for (if they were both new).

Of course, anyone who does not have coin for a fancy-pants gig bag will need to go with what they think is worth the expense.

 

[RodRy]

Ah the winters... They can get pretty crazy for sure. Blizzard of 77. Never seen so much snow in all my life. Trubisky had some good numbers today for preseason. Enough to make Chicago go .

Blizzard of 77 was a high point in my southern Michigan childhood. Weeks off of school, drifts high enough we could jump off of buildings into.
Bliss.

 

[GonePlaid]

Blizzard of 77 was a high point in my southern Michigan childhood. Weeks off of school, drifts high enough we could jump off of buildings into.
Bliss.

We have an ocean here for that.

 

[RodRy]

We have an ocean here for that.

I understand it sometimes decides to come ashore. Maybe even worse that what we had in 77?

 

[LoveJackBruce]

And, AUGH! Faith and begorrah! The XLR Out is post Volume, too!! Careful, m'lads, lest ye anger the sound man by adjustin' yer Volume after sound check! Another 18-year-old, and much maligned, Rumble 'feature' faithfully copied.​

Eggs-actical, m'lady! The one chink in the armor that is the li'l Foxy Voxy. Should it be a great boon to the "True DI" purists. But, I'm with you on this. Do we bassists not craft our tones just as surely as the gnarliest of gui*** wankers? And are we not just as deserving of that same respect, whether we use dinky combo or mega-stack? Aye, 'tis so.
.​

I'm just gonna run this stuff through my pacemaker and control it all that way!

 

[iagtrplyr]

Really?? That sounds great- I like the early in the chain mojo hypothesis “weave its magic spell long before it hits the amp.”
With the RB-115 (or 12) i use the effects loop for the preamp, compressor and reverb. I guess hook it first in line from the “send” then comp>preamp>reverb> “return” to RB-115 would allow this??

Here is a pitiful markup with the HPF in teal in that proposed signal chain. Interesting.

View attachment 4378267

I know I’m really late to the party today and I’m blaming my damn day job because of it too! That’s it for excuses, let’s continue on...

Logistically speaking, your diagram looks fine, Tele. Plus the fact that you can’t break this stuff so no matter how you hook it up, as long as you get round you’re fine. Now if the sound isn’t very good, we’ll that’s another thing entirely.

I don’t know if you’ve realized this or not, but with this setup you are completely bypassing all the Ampeg goodness your hard work purchased other than the speaker. Your bass is going into the HPF (which is fine) and then straight to the low-cost preamp pedal. I’m not knocking the pedal any, but you’re skipping the Legacy preamp altogether and that’s where the mojo is!

You should also try running your entire pedal setup in front of the Ampeg preamp; straight into the input jack. That way you can bypass the Valeton preamp to heat for any differences. Otherwise, your order is fine.

I guess I’d be concerned, and maybe you’ve already figured this out, with noise coming from the Fly Rig-type pedal. At that price I’d be stunned that it doesn’t introduce something you don’t wish to hear. Trust your ears on this one.

 

[iagtrplyr]

OK- @iagtrplyr ! I’m in the Broughton Audio site, and thinking why spend the extra $25 for a bypass switch on a pedal that will be “always in” in all likelihood!
Which do you recommend/have? The always on box does have the same frequency sweep, just not marked….I don’t like that part! How would you know where it’s sets at????

I know I’m really late on this one being I thought I read where you purchased the always-on. Other than the knob to dial in your frequency, I’m guessing they’re identical. The pedal’s metal box alone is probably a lot of the cost difference.

I have the pedal, have room for it on my Dingbats board, and like pedals. For me, the difference in price wasn’t a factor. Morrighan’s explanation at how she dials gets I was brilliant and should he followed by all Anglo-Saxon men everywhere. I don’t why, but I thought it sounded good.

 

[iagtrplyr]

On the advice of the Combo community and SWR enthusiasts (and additional research on the interweb), the only pedal I use is the Broughton HPF+LPF.
The HPF for the well known reasons.
The LPF to suppress the round wound squeek a bit.
The possibilities are numerous...
Due to the import costs, this pedal ended up costing me a reasonable note, but I still don't regret it, and neither do my amps.

Respectfully noted, swink, but I myself went with the slightly less expensive HPF-only pedal because I use flats exclusively and I have said LPF on my DAW. I’ve never felt the need live, but do appreciate the available dual model to be used by others though.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Our fine TB HPF/LPF Wiki
High Pass and Low Pass Filters | TalkBass.com
has both the peanut butter and jelly on this caper. That, and the HPF megathread
High Pass Filter (HPF) and Low Pass Filter (LPF) Mega Thread
from which the Wiki was drawn
comprise the total of my theoretical knowledge of HPFs and LPFs.

My empirical finding is, well, adjust to taste. My HPF is in front of the DI because No Mud for You. When I play ampless, my DI is the VT Bass. To find my setting for the room — and for the amp, mine or backline — play the lowest note and twist the HPF knob upwards from 30Hz until I hear a change. Then back it off a nudge. Some stages have a sympathetic vibration with a particular note, like the 10th fret D. Adjust the HPF until it's clear.



Always remember to floss after meals

Brilliant advise, M. Congrats!

 

[iagtrplyr]

@iagtrplyr I will give this RB every opportunity. I really want to like it. I can’t remember where but someone in TB, maybe at the RB thread, said the amp opens up after using it a couple of weeks. So I will give it every chance. I will absolutely turn it up to eleven!

The first thing I will do is set it atop the 115 cab and combine them. That’s just to see all that it’s capable of. Put its best foot forward. Two 15’s gonna be pushing a lot of air! Can’t wait! I will do that for an hour or two. Then I will decouple the 115 cab and play it alone for an hour or two. That is in my studio space which is about 25x25. Then I will bring it upstairs in my living room which is 20x12 and it will hang out there for several days (I have a very understanding wife :>) and will move it back and forth between the rooms. Unfortunately I’m between bands so it won’t get the band test before the final decision. But I’ve been doing this a long time. I will have a good sense in a short period whether it will do what I want it to. I’m hopeful!!!

I’m not worried about ya, MF. You sound like you’re an old hand at this and will give your combo every opportunity. I, along with many others advise players to let those drivers loosen up a bit and allow the “blooming” to take place. I’m looking forward to your opinions on this amp!

 

[iagtrplyr]

Yes. Bankrupting the pedal makers.
ADDENDUM: My pedal "board"-sometimes.->View attachment 4378536

More like pedal ‘bored’ GP!

To each his own though. If that’s what makes your bass sound its best than that’s all that matters!

 

[iagtrplyr]

That foxy Voxy VX50BA that could be so lovable —what isn't to like? A line out that's pre-EQ so all the NuTube tech never makes it out could be something not so lovable ... IMO if I could use the foxy Voxy strictly as a personal monitor and put the Vox NuTube tone stack through the board, I'd be all over that little combo. The smaller the lug the better, for me.

That Vox tone stack should, in theory, work like the Fender tone stack. So pretty usable. Not at all usable if there's no DI for it IMO

In my opinion, it’s a mystery that has no solution. I filed my feelings concerning this matter under “What the }#%^*~ were they thinking of?

 

[GwenOnBass]

Brilliant advise, M. Congrats!

Seems to me the Mesa/Boogie Subway Plus pedal is the Golden Ticket to DI paradise. Pre- and Post- EQ options for the DI, and a variable HPF. Very much doubt any professional on the board is going to squeak too much about working with that if you're clear about your own needs.

Just re-arranged my practice space twice for changing practice needs. And it's no lie. The PJB BG-400 combo is an unexpectedly massive little combo. Wonder who it is who took the patent on weighty bass gear and sold the rights to the world. Who's holding out on anti-grav rigs?

 

[68Tele-Bass]

I know I’m really late to …let’s continue on...
I don’t know if you’ve realized this or not, but with this setup you are completely bypassing all the Ampeg goodness your hard work purchased other than the speaker. Your bass is going into the HPF (which is fine) and then straight to the low-cost preamp pedal. I’m not knocking the pedal any, but you’re skipping the Legacy preamp altogether and that’s where the mojo is!

You should also try running your entire pedal setup in front of the Ampeg preamp; straight into the input jack. That way you can bypass the Valeton preamp to heat for any differences. Otherwise, your order is fine.

I guess I’d be concerned, and maybe you’ve already figured this out, with noise coming from the Fly Rig-type pedal. At that price I’d be stunned that it doesn’t introduce something you don’t wish to hear. Trust your ears on this one.

My understanding of the signal path is that the FX loop comes after baking in that Legacy preamp section:

 

[68Tele-Bass]

Oh- Raised the pickups on my Jazz Bass a tad neck and bridge. And raised the treble side of the neck pickup a bit more to balance the EA vs DG output.

It was being a bit too “polite” if you will.
I A/B’d it with the P/J jag- same settings. It was like bringing a knife to a gun fight. “Anemic” is the word that described it.

It really seems to help a bit!! I really like it- it’s a 7ender Classic 60s nitro finish with AlNiCo V pickups, sooo. They should sound OK! Just need a height tweak-

Like a whole new set of pickups so far!

 

[GonePlaid]

I understand it sometimes decides to come ashore. Maybe even worse that what we had in 77?

Not to my house...so far.

 

[GonePlaid]

More like pedal ‘bored’ GP!

To each his own though. If that’s what makes your bass sound its best than that’s all that matters!

TBH, I don't use it very much. When I do, it's to add octave up during guitar solos-when we're out as 3-to simulate bass and guitar unison octaves. Think Dunn & Cropper. They often played in unison behind Booker T. Like: