The Fender Super Bassman 300 thread

[jeffgnr90]

Both 40Hz and 63Hz sound way too low to add punch IME, regardless of how the dials on your Acoustic were labeled or documented. If you've ever heard a 63Hz sine wave, it sounds LOW, more like "whooomp" you feel than "punch" you hear. The boost, notch, and the speaker response probably combine to do something more complex than a simple "boost at so-and-so frequency".

The only reliable way to figure it out (other than experienced ears) would be to put a noise signal through the Acoustic and peavy cab, mic it and record a few seconds with and without the eq. Then we could run an FFT analysis on the files and see what the actual difference is in the frequency response.

Then we could reverse engineer how to get a similar sound on the Fender. Actually, just feeding a noise signal into the amp and listening to the result might give you a good idea of what's happening since all frequencies are represented, unlike with your bass signal.

BTW, I had a similar experience recently at a rehearsal space that had an 80's Peavey TNT combo. Maxxing out the low "40Hz" slider on the graphic eq and scooping out all the mids gave a beautiful "punchy" and articulate sound. I know for a fact there was very little 40Hz being heard, and there were plenty of mids in the sound. So, how to duplicate that sound on my rig? I just tweak as best as I can by memory and by ear. Eq circuits are so different from amp to amp, and the speaker/cap response is so different, even the room comes into play.

Here's a nice simple online tone generator to familiarize yourself with what different frequencies sound like, generate different kinds of noise, etc:
http://onlinetonegenerator.com/

You'll need good headphones or monitors to hear the low tones, and BE CAREFULL WITH YOUR VOLUMES!!!
First, turn down your volume. You can blow out your speakers with low frequencies, or (much worse) your ears at higher frequencies.

If you want to send me any recordings, I can run a frequency analysis on it and send you the plots, if you think that might help.

Yea, I suppose 'depth', or 'girth' might be better words to describe what I was hearing (or feeling). it just added much more weight to my overall tone and filled the room, which works great being in a 3-piece. forgot to mention, I've got an HPF set for -12b at 35hz and then an addtional -12db i'm thinking around 45-50hz, which allows for the kick to cut through more. i see according to the bass gear magazine analysis of the sb300 that both bass knobs are centered at what looks to be (it's hard to tell) around 80z. I know for a fact that's too high. i'm guessing that sweet spot im looking for is between 40-80hz. the only recordings I have on hand would be from my friends iphone from today's practice, i don't know if that would suffice for your analysis.

 

[smeet]

Wow, 2 high pass filters, a notch, a shelving or parametric filter, plus the cabinet. Lots of stuff happening.

A sample of your bass playing will not be that effective, it would be best to use pink noise.
Here's the link to the tone generator: http://onlinetonegenerator.com/noise.html .

Record 10 or so seconds of each tone with the best mic you have (iPhone is better than nothing). If you can do this outside in an open area (no walls around), put the phone in line with the speaker a few feet from the cone. If you need to do it indoors, move it closer to the cone to try to minimize room resonance. Either way, measure from the same position for all recordings.

Try doing 4 recordings of the pink noise:

1. One through the Acoustic amp with the eq that produced the "punchy" sound you liked.
2. One through the Acoustic amp with the eq flat.
3. One through the SB300 on channel two with blend set to 1 and bass/mid/treble at noon.
4. One through the SB300 getting as close as you can to the Acoustic sound you liked.

Then send me the recorded files via email and I'll see if it makes sense. Remember this is at best going to give us rough idea, but maybe it will be some help.

 

[iammr2]

Has anyone tried the SB300 with Bag End cabs? Specifically the S15-D other 15's?

 

[omen400textreme]

Hey all,
maybe you can help me. I just picked up the Super Bassman. Im playing through an ampeg 410hlf and an ampeg 115. My guitarist is playing through a 100 watt tube marshall on 4 12's and 2 10's. Im having trouble pushing through the mix with out getting distortion on the speakers. It doesnt sound like the normal tube break-up, rather like my speakers are just being overpowered. Do I need more cabs, or is there another solution?

both cabs are 8 ohm so speaker output is set to 4 ohms
Thanks in advance for the help

J

 

[eyeballkid]

How do you have your eq set?

 

[Tim1]

Hey all,
maybe you can help me. I just picked up the Super Bassman. Im playing through an ampeg 410hlf and an ampeg 115. My guitarist is playing through a 100 watt tube marshall on 4 12's and 2 10's. Im having trouble pushing through the mix with out getting distortion on the speakers. It doesnt sound like the normal tube break-up, rather like my speakers are just being overpowered. Do I need more cabs, or is there another solution?

both cabs are 8 ohm so speaker output is set to 4 ohms
Thanks in advance for the help

J

The Ampeg 410HLF is a 4 ohm cab, not 8 ohms as you say (at least according to their website and the 410 hlf I own is 4 ohms) - so this could obviously be a problem. Regardless, with a pairing like that I would not be surprised if the fifteen is farting out as it is unlikely to cope with the volume as well as the 410.

 

[rodl2005]

Or is it an Ampeg PF 410HLF ?? Are these 8 ohm? Whatever the case. . Could be your unmatched cabs are outta phase ??? Could bea few things.

 

[jeffgnr90]

That 410hlf alone should be ballsy as hell. I wouldn't match it with anything else personally.

 

[rodl2005]

Yeah. I'd try it thru just ONE of your cabs & see how it fares.

 

[jeffgnr90]

Wow, 2 high pass filters, a notch, a shelving or parametric filter, plus the cabinet. Lots of stuff happening.

A sample of your bass playing will not be that effective, it would be best to use pink noise.
Here's the link to the tone generator: http://onlinetonegenerator.com/noise.html .

Record 10 or so seconds of each tone with the best mic you have (iPhone is better than nothing). If you can do this outside in an open area (no walls around), put the phone in line with the speaker a few feet from the cone. If you need to do it indoors, move it closer to the cone to try to minimize room resonance. Either way, measure from the same position for all recordings.

Try doing 4 recordings of the pink noise:

1. One through the Acoustic amp with the eq that produced the "punchy" sound you liked.
2. One through the Acoustic amp with the eq flat.
3. One through the SB300 on channel two with blend set to 1 and bass/mid/treble at noon.
4. One through the SB300 getting as close as you can to the Acoustic sound you liked.

Then send me the recorded files via email and I'll see if it makes sense. Remember this is at best going to give us rough idea, but maybe it will be some help.

I think my HTC one has a better Mic than my friends iPhone so I guess I could use that. There is a lot going on. I realize now that it's a combination of the 40hz knob of the b600h and the bass eq of my vt bass (centered at 80hz) at about 2-230 (o'clock). Boosting both bass knobs on both channels of the sb300 yield similar results to my b600h, but not the same low-end energy. "Energy". That's the word I can best think of to describe what it is I'm now after, a commonly used word on the TB forums to describe that sub-harmonic content.

Essentially, from my feeble mind summizes, is that the bass on the sb300 isn't centered low enough to boost the right frequencies that the b600h is. That can be solved by a parametric eq me thinks, which I have available to me through my line 6 M9, it's just going to take some tinkering since there's no (hz) display on it, just the parameters. I'm also contemplating purchasing a parametric eq in pedal form as well. The sb300 gives me everything I desire tone-wise except for the ability to tailor the sub frequencies.

 

[smeet]

That sounds about right. I get the "high bass" by boosting the bass on the SB300, and a lower more subby bass from boosting on my onboard preamp (set at 50Hz). Two different feels.

 

[jeffgnr90]

That sounds about right. I get the "high bass" by boosting the bass on the SB300, and a lower more subby bass from boosting on my onboard preamp (set at 50Hz). Two different feels.

Which preamp do you use?

I'm just hoping that the parametric on my m9 goes low enough for my needs, or I may have a gas attack

 

[Tim1]

I think my HTC one has a better Mic than my friends iPhone so I guess I could use that. There is a lot going on. I realize now that it's a combination of the 40hz knob of the b600h and the bass eq of my vt bass (centered at 80hz) at about 2-230 (o'clock). Boosting both bass knobs on both channels of the sb300 yield similar results to my b600h, but not the same low-end energy. "Energy". That's the word I can best think of to describe what it is I'm now after, a commonly used word on the TB forums to describe that sub-harmonic content.

Essentially, from my feeble mind summizes, is that the bass on the sb300 isn't centered low enough to boost the right frequencies that the b600h is. That can be solved by a parametric eq me thinks, which I have available to me through my line 6 M9, it's just going to take some tinkering since there's no (hz) display on it, just the parameters. I'm also contemplating purchasing a parametric eq in pedal form as well. The sb300 gives me everything I desire tone-wise except for the ability to tailor the sub frequencies.

This all sounds terribly complicated. One of the things that has always impressed me about the sb300 is its plug and play capabilities. I find the vintage channel quite intuitive and if I want to make major tonal tweaks the overdrive channel has that in spades, I just don't dial in overdrive. Mind you, I just plug straight into the amp and use my ears, no effects pedals or outboard preamps.

 

[jeffgnr90]

It takes more than a couple of long paragraphs and general enthusiasm to get what I'm trying to say and my thought process across in a reasonably cohesive manner, and I probably introduced things that are irrelevant to this thread (for that I'm sorry). It's the interplay between my one pedal and one amp that I'm trying to replicate with the same pedal and the sb300. The sb300 is an amazing head and extremely versatile tone-shaping machine. I just can't shape the low end that I want with the amps eq, not to say the amp doesn't offer a heap-ton of bass, cause it certainly does.

 

[smeet]

Which preamp do you use?

It's a Nordstrand 3-band. Sounds great, but 40Hz is noticeably lower than 50Hz, so it may not be what you are looking for anyway.
The Aguilar OB3 has its bass control at 40Hz, but the bass boost is HUGE and a bit hard to control.

 

[Neon Blues]

The Super Bassman is in the mail!!!

Arrives tomorrow with some luck!

Biggest Tube amp I've ever owned. Very excited!

 

[texaspirate]

Ok All. 3 days into my Super Bassman rig and Loving it...

Thoughts on EQ' on the overdrive Channel... where are you guys setting yours.... Im particularly interested in your bass / mid and treble settings....

Anyone know why you can't seem to get a 15 cab in the creme oxblood... the others available... I bought two 4X10s and love em... can imagine a 15 might be occasionally nice but Fender doesn't seem to offer it ( at least at any of the on line places Ive checked)... only black and sliver for the 15.

Anyway, love to here your settings....

 

[jeffgnr90]

Ok All. 3 days into my Super Bassman rig and Loving it...

Thoughts on EQ' on the overdrive Channel... where are you guys setting yours.... Im particularly interested in your bass / mid and treble settings....

Anyone know why you can't seem to get a 15 cab in the creme oxblood... the others available... I bought two 4X10s and love em... can imagine a 15 might be occasionally nice but Fender doesn't seem to offer it ( at least at any of the on line places Ive checked)... only black and sliver for the 15.

Anyway, love to here your settings....[/QUOQUOTE

I posted my settings no more than a couple of weeks ago, if you scroll back. I'm always experimenting of course. I play with a variety of dirty tones either via pedal, the amp itself or a combination of one two.

 

[rodl2005]

I'd have to check to be sure but iirc I usually have my drive channel Treble flat- about 5. Mids gets moved about depending on the room. Maybe a slight boost -6 or 7 in the lower mids area - 3 or 4 on the Freq dial

 

[jeffgnr90]