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To those who only run their amps 'flat': why?

MrRobert

MrRobert

Supporting Member
Jul 7, 2011
748
838
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Costa Mesa, CA
#1
I couldn't figure out a way to word my question properly in the title, so here's what I mean... I've seen countless posts here on TB where members seem to be upset or disappointed when they have to set their amp's eq at anything other than flat. Does it have something to do with the purity of the amp or bass's sound? I honestly can't figure out the logic in this thinking. I always dial in whatever I need to in order to get the tone I'm looking for. I don't care if I have to crank or roll off the bass, mids, or treble. Can you TBers that have to run everything flat educate me on your preference? Thanks!
 
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#2
I was talking to some people in the building business, and a few of them had a theory, that a truly professional, well made amp, should sound perfect set flat. I agree with that completely. BUT, people get mad because maybe that flat setting isn't perfect for them. And my example is, my TH500 set flat is absolutely incredible. BUT, it's not the tone that I personally go for. It might be for someone else, just not me. But that doesn't mean it doesn't sound great flat.

You also have to consider the variables. Speaker size. The room you're playing in is a huge part (even my "perfect setting" is tweaked from room to room. If you like a flat setting, I can guarantee when you're in a difficult sounding room, you're not staying flat). Even things like string age, the bass, and how aggressively you play it from song to song will effect it.

These of course are all my personal opinions and what I've personally encountered. I'm curious to others input on this.
 
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#5
beans-on-toast said:
Every room makes your amp sound different. I like to start with the EQ set flat but boost or cut the tone controls to compensate for the room.

I call it running flat but it really isn't. In the end I'm not far off from it sounding flat with a little goodness thrown in.
Click to expand...

I believe this is the idea. It's not a hard and fast "flat" setting, but a place from which it's easier to make adjustments, boost/cut.
 
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#7
"Flat" is simply a reference, a starting point, if you will.

There's nothing holy or sacred about keeping EQ settings on "flat" If the "flat" settings work for you, fine. But the ability to boost or cut is there if it's needed.

I have active preamps in my basses, but I try to never move the EQ settings from the "flat" settings. For one, I like to run the volume at 100% and the EQs flat because this is a repeatable setting. I don't want to be trying to recreate some sound overtime I pick up the instrument. The knobs will get moved around over time. Second, I like to do all the tone settings at the amp. Or, if I'm running IEM, I actually like the way all of my basses sound with no EQ coming through my IEMs. Makes life simple.
 
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#10
MrRobert said:
I couldn't figure out a way to word my question properly in the title, so here's what I mean... I've seen countless posts here on TB where members seem to be upset or disappointed when they have to set their amp's eq at anything other than flat. Does it have something to do with the purity of the amp or bass's sound? I honestly can't figure out the logic in this thinking. I always dial in whatever I need to in order to get the tone I'm looking for. I don't care if I have to crank or roll off the bass, mids, or treble. Can you TBers that have to run everything flat educate me on your preference? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Exactly. No reason to subscribe to others peoples "should" or "should nots" . If your practice of adjusting the amp's tone controls is getting you where you need to be, then what you are doing is right for you. The idea that one should never deviate from a "flat" setting is based on opinion, which inherently is based on lots of variables, many of which are based on the subjective and the arbitrary.
 
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#11
Some people try to solve every problem by changing strings, or by using pedals, or changing speakers, or changing pickups.
I don't understand either why so many seem to be afraid of turning knobs and sliders on their amp. I suspect it's because they don't understand how to use them.
Like OP, at gigs I always start with everything at 12:00 and adjust as needed so I can hear myself well. Sound guy and PA does the rest.
 
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#12
eriky4003 said:
In my case, I have a VT Bass DI which I want to use as the eq for my basses so I set the amp at flat and have the sound from the VT Bass plus whatever pedal I'm using (chorus, octave) to be the sound amplified.
Click to expand...

You could just send it through your amps Effects Return and bypass your preamp completely if you really wanted to use the VT as a dedicated EQ.
 
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#15
I think the EQ is just one part of things. If you are working with a tube amp there are other aspects related to how your actual playing feels with things like sag, saturation, power tube compression, your basic spectrum of overdrive and what that does to both tone and feel (no one seems to talk about all that). I personally use my rig specifically for the character and feel it provides. For me the knobs on the amp allow me to use the same amp to get great tones for different genres. When I record I might do a dozen takes dialing in (I like to send an awesome "useable" raw sound to the board so that it doesnt have to be messed with or reshaped much, just my philosophy) and I almost always touch things up from on stage, depending on the room and such.

For those who roll flat is it considered cheating if you use compression? Or is compression a must?
 
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#16
Lots of people prefer gear with a flat EQ, it allows them to shape the EQ as they desire. Most amps and cabinets will colour your tone, this is what people are trying to avoid.

I do not think many people actually run a flat EQ in a band setting. I can only think of one fellow I know who does this.
 
#19
I go pretty close to flat myself, unless the room has some really weird sound characteristics. I meet players that are looking for a sound that has a lot of low end or a lot of mids or some other distinction but they find that the sound they dialed in at home simply won't work live. Simple is best.

Wild EQ curves aren't met favorably with sound guys and usually don't work well in the general mix, IME. Also, stage amps are really just expensive stage monitors in my experience now, so I just keep a basic EQ to hear what I'm doing and let the PA do the heavy lifting.
 
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#20
Well, my cab is "flat" it's like a studio monitor for bassguitar. The head is probably "colored" but when I compare it to my Focusrite pre it sounds reasonable flat.
So my system if what you would call flat, it's my reference point and I also want to have it this way because I send my post EQ signal to the FOH. When my sound needs more mids or bass or whatever I'll dial it in with EQ and I can tell you that each rooms / venue gets it's own eq setting.
 

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