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What brand would offer the best treble response?

L

Lyuun

Jul 15, 2012
8
0
Norway, Oslo
#1
Hey folks!

I've been lurking for a while now, recently having used this entirely pleasant gathering of minds as a reference in buying my most recent bass amp (a markbass).

Here's the deal: i have looked around for anything on this, but was not entirely satisfied, and couldn't find a thread specifically for this, so here goes(:

What brand would give the "best" treble response? I say "best" because i have yet to thoroughly think about what it is that i define as a good treble response, other than that i know one when i hear one, or so i tell myself(x

To clarify my querie, here is some background info: i run a somewhat unusual setup, in that i use my stomp-boxes and effects to split my signal, running the one signal to my markbass and the other to a hiwatt combo that i use because of its remarkable treble and presence. I do this firstly because i like to be as versatile as possible (in the environment i play, this is key, as i am continually put into project bands being assigned musically different tasks), and because i personally enjoy to slap a lot. And when i do, i want my treble to really stand out, to have that definition and crispness that makes slapping stand out in the band, but i don't want to lose my boomy bottom because of it, so i split my signal, letting the markbass deal with only the bass and most of the mid, and allowing the hiwatt to handle the treble.

However, in recent years, my trusty hiwatt combo has begun to show signs of roadwear. and while externally, this might be cool, it is not cool when this affects my sound. Therefore, i was thinking i ought to upgrade, hence my querie.

Hope that wasn't an altogether disgustingly long post/: i tend to write overly prolonged posts... sorry about that. hope you have some advice for me, though!

Thanks(:
 
#3
All amps can get you infinite treble response. It's the cabs that can handle only so much high-end... depending if they have a tweeter or not.
With tweeter you can go as high as the human ear can hear.

I think you mean the color of the sound itself? Like a brighter sound overall?
I think your Markbass can already deliver that.

Are you bi-amping your setup? A crossover to seperate low frequencies from high frequencies?

Or are you just using a stereo signal tot two different amps. I personally found that redundant.

You have a decent amp, whichever Markbass it is, it's decen't... and it can deliver you a full spectrum.
What cab are you using.
I think you just need to upgrade your cab to a decent fullrange one. (with a tweeter and/or midrange driver)


edit: or you also need a powerful Hiwatt head instead of your Markbass. :D
 
#4
Ah, while i understand your assumption, i believe that i have either been unclear, or ignorant of something. Yes, the colour of the sound is, i would say, largely what i'm aiming at, but, as you say, it is the cabs that let the treble out, and as such, i guess my question should have been more along the lines of "what brand cabs deliver the most treble?". or perhaps this, in addition to my original question, as i believe it is still somehow what i meant to ask.

Yes, i am simply sending a stereo signal to two different amps. I understand that some may find this redundant, but i find myself having more control over my high end, while still maintaining that thump and boom that i love my markbass for.

When running an amp at really high gain, it is likely that this will affect the equalisation in some way, in that every amp has a purpose in mind. If a sound, like that of my slapping, has both a big bottom and that high end twang, it is likely that any bass amp would slightly affect the high end if cranked far up. this is why i prefer to have a separate amp handling my high end. which is why i asked.

Indeed, it is quite possible that most of the high end response is up to the cabs, but would you really have me believe that a guitar amp will not handle treble better than a bass amp?

I currently run through an ashdown 1x15 cab, but as soon as i get my study-loan i'm buying an orange cab. it fits well with my setup, i believe. however, as for the upgrading of my hiwatt, i am still somewhat stuck...
 
#5
Of course, it is just my opinion about stereo-amping. If you like to go that way no judgement. :)

Guitar cabs will not handle treble better than a bass cab with a tweeter. Guitar cabs use midrange drivers, totally different animals.

There 2-way cabs, which are cabs with a bass woofer AND a midrange driver. They are crossed over at a certain point, so low frequencies go to the woofer and high frequencies go to the midrange drivers.
3-way cabs add a tweeter. And I am too lazy to look it up but I think every tweeter can go above 20kHz. Above what the human ear can hear.

Or you have just a regular bass cab with or without tweeters, just woofers and a tweeters.
Then you also have the choice between a sealed cab and a ported cab. In general ported cabs go lower and louder.

Yeah, your cab doesn't have a tweeter right? That is your limiting factor.
Your amp will be fine producing every frequency you want... even hugh low-end combined with sharp high-end. There is no need for an extra amp IMO.

Get a more potent cab and your life will be a lot easier. :)


Also purely subjective, some great slap players can make a cab with only woofers sound good.


EDIT: regarding gain and dirt across the spectrum, your pedals and a good pedalboard setup is responsible for that.
 
#6
ah, well, of course guitar cabs would sound different, but i was asking about the amp.

i fear you're rather missing the point i'm trying to make, here /:

what i'm saying is i want to stereo-amp, i have the low-end covered: now what do you think i should do with the high end? i'm not having problem getting crispness or any kind of treble at all at the moment, because the setup i have is working so well. i just want to upgrade the one part of it, to... well, basically the best. which is why i came here asking(x
 
#9
Sorry, I have no experience with stereo-amping.

I hear a some guys are using a crossover and send the high-end to a guitaramp. Then you would be bi-amping, different than stereo-amping.

Stereo-amping is also prone to phasing issues. That's the theoretical part I know, I have no practical experience.

Which is the Hiwatt combo you were using by the way?
 
#11
Ah, now that is certainly useful info, good sir. I shall have to look further into bi-amping. What do you mean by a crossover? Could you link me an example? I had not until now considered using a guitar amp... this could be an option, as a matter of fact, though the thought does not sit perfectly well with me... oh well, i'll have to try it out a bit, then, i guess...

I actually have no idea whatsoever as for what model the hiwatt is... i have tried researching it briefly, but with no good results, so i just settled with it sounding good, and thusly being good enough for me(x i've had it since the day i started playing bass, actually. a good few years ago, by now(x


I very well might get it fixed, yes. i might actually do so anyway... sound-engineers don't seem to like it very much at the moment/x it has a buzz, somehow.
 
#12
I am not an expert on crossovers, because I never used one or needed one, and I am not an authority on audio electronics.
So simple answer: it is an electronic device which seperates the low frequencies from the high frequencies. The point of splitting can be anywhere. For example with the crossover point at 500hz everything below 500hz you can send one way, everything above you can send another way.
A crossover can be in pedal-form, built into an amp or most common in a cab with a combination of woofers, midrange-drivers and/or tweeters.

Where do you get your stereo output from now? Which pedal?

Basicly now you are sending a fullrange signal (all frequencies) to each amp. You just maybe equalize differently and have 2 amps that have a different inherent sound.
It might work for you, but many will say this is a far from ideal way to treat your sound.

Sorry, I don't have any links to explain how crossovers work.


Keep in mind: use a guitaramp only when you use a crossovers. If you send a fullrange signal from a stereo setup it has still a danger to damage the guitar speaker. Or not... we can go in-depth about this.

And when I said some guys use a guitaramp in a bi-amp setup it's mostly to send distortion signals to the higher end while maintaining a cleaner tone to the bass amp.
I don't know if that will work for playing slap.

I still say you need a tweeter. :p :)


Bi-amping is more useful and efficient than stereo-amping.
Even a lot of bassists find bi-amping useless... me being in that camp.
But this is all personal opinion.
 
#15
SWR amps get a hot mid-treble ,but lack the quality of Hi-Watt or Reeves. I use a two amp rig with an Ashdown Mag 300 and Mag 600, both with 210 cabinets. When I run a cord from "effect send" to the smaller amp , it gets a cutting treble that enhances the mellow Mag 600.
 
#16
Wow, thanks guys! this has all been really helpful(: i really do appreciate your insights, and as it is, i think i'll look into either getting the hiwatt fixed, getting a new hiwatt, getting some GK or another, or potentially wait it out for a while and invest in a fEARful... at the moment i'm leaning towards getting a new hiwatt, though. sounds like fun(: thanks, folks!
 

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