Tone Sculpting

[Gibraltaar]

I'm looking for a little tone sculpting/tweaking advice.

Right now I have a rig consisting of Ampeg SVT-CL through a Peavy VB-810 and a newer American standard P with Seymour Duncan quarter pounders in it. For the most part it rocks, however, at times I wish my tone was a bit more focused, punchy, and tight, without being overly treble heavy or metallic sounding.

I play around with a range of different settings, but cant quite seem to dial in something quite as punchy and focused as I'd like. I feel like my tone is a touch dark, and just a hint muddy. If I go wide open with the tone knob on the P, or too much treble on the SVT I feel like things get a little to harsh/clanky/metallic. I usually roll somewhere in between, and I feel close to my preferred tone, but am not quite there.

Any suggestions on how to attain a tight, focused, punchy sound (while retaining a little rasp/grit/grind) with this rig or otherwise? Compression pedals? Tone settings? Other gear entirely? I'm open to whatever. This is honestly my first post on TB, and I apologize if this has been covered before or is the wrong place, just looking for a solid tone discussion. Thanks in advance.

 

[Zoobiedood]

As someone who likes Quarter Pounders (they do the muddy and dark thing really well), it could actually be the pickups. You might need a pickup that is a little scoopier, without so many mids. What kind of music are you playing?

I'm looking for a little tone sculpting/tweaking advice.

Right now I have a rig consisting of Ampeg SVT-CL through a Peavy VB-810 and a newer American standard P with Seymour Duncan quarter pounders in it. For the most part it rocks, however, at times I wish my tone was a bit more focused, punchy, and tight, without being overly treble heavy or metallic sounding.

I play around with a range of different settings, but cant quite seem to dial in something quite as punchy and focused as I'd like. I feel like my tone is a touch dark, and just a hint muddy. If I go wide open with the tone knob on the P, or too much treble on the SVT I feel like things get a little to harsh/clanky/metallic. I usually roll somewhere in between, and I feel close to my preferred tone, but am not quite there.

Any suggestions on how to attain a tight, focused, punchy sound (while retaining a little rasp/grit/grind) with this rig or otherwise? Compression pedals? Tone settings? Other gear entirely? I'm open to whatever. This is honestly my first post on TB, and I apologize if this has been covered before or is the wrong place, just looking for a solid tone discussion. Thanks in advance.

 

[Gibraltaar]

Thanks for the reply, it definitely could be the quarter pounders. I play mostly heavy psychedelic blues/rock and the tone is pretty fitting for the genre. I guess I just hanker for a slightly funkier punchier sound sometimes, might be more of a jazz bass bridge pick up thing?

 

[Bassist4Eris]

Welcome to TB!

I feel like my tone is a touch dark, and just a hint muddy.

I find that the low-mids are usually the culprit here.

Any suggestions on how to attain a tight, focused, punchy sound

A compressor will help with this.

 

[Korladis]

On an SVT, make sure you're not using the "ultra low" switch. Then turn the low knob down a little. Turn the treble up, and adjust mids to taste. "Flat" on an SVT usually involves a little bit of low cut, with some mid and high boost.

Also maybe replace the pickup with something a bit more balanced sounding, like the Dimarzio Model P.

 

[Zoobiedood]

I guess I just hanker for a slightly funkier punchier sound sometimes, might be more of a jazz bass bridge pick up thing?

Yeah, that kind of sound falls quite a bit outside what the QPs do (and are not really that possible on a P pickup), but all is not lost. Some EQ (lows,low mids) and either a compressor or limiter will help. An SVT is generally pretty huge and bassy, and not a very modern sound, so that plays a role, too.