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What is my Weak Link?
- Thread starter MycooLeeyun
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8x12 rehearsal space? THAT might contribute more than you think to your sound. Your equipment is pretty good. I agree the with post way up above - remove the compressor and start from there, then add the compressor back in and continue to make adjustments. Just my two cents.
Unless you are using recording or top-shelf PA effects, guitar or bass pedals are always going to add or subtract something from your tone.
Sure, you can spend more money for a cab than the Avatar, but is should be bright enough with the Foster horn, same as SWR and many others have used.
IF it were me, I'd start with the bass, amp, and cab, and leave he EBS out of the mix for now (although the Multi-Comp is a fine pedal), and as pointed out above, try it at the gig. I'd start with a flat-set amp for your tone controls, the horn gain on the cab set in the middle, and slowly, add in (or better yet, subtract) tone till I got there, and don't ignore the gain on the tweeter in the Avatar. You want, initially to have as few variables as possible to arrive at 'your tone', and with the rig you have, that's entirely possible.
And also consider the stunningly aggravating thing about bass guitar: It may very well sound completely different from one room to another. Standing Waves are waiting to kill you fast ! Some rooms, you may want to set the cab on the floor for that coupling to add deep end, other rooms you want if off the floor to kill that rumble.
Remember, Your Instrument=(bass+amp+cab + cables & effects): It has to work as a whole system to get you where you want to go.
Sure, you can spend more money for a cab than the Avatar, but is should be bright enough with the Foster horn, same as SWR and many others have used.
IF it were me, I'd start with the bass, amp, and cab, and leave he EBS out of the mix for now (although the Multi-Comp is a fine pedal), and as pointed out above, try it at the gig. I'd start with a flat-set amp for your tone controls, the horn gain on the cab set in the middle, and slowly, add in (or better yet, subtract) tone till I got there, and don't ignore the gain on the tweeter in the Avatar. You want, initially to have as few variables as possible to arrive at 'your tone', and with the rig you have, that's entirely possible.
And also consider the stunningly aggravating thing about bass guitar: It may very well sound completely different from one room to another. Standing Waves are waiting to kill you fast ! Some rooms, you may want to set the cab on the floor for that coupling to add deep end, other rooms you want if off the floor to kill that rumble.
Remember, Your Instrument=(bass+amp+cab + cables & effects): It has to work as a whole system to get you where you want to go.
This is the million dollar question. Avatar gives you enough rope to hang yourself with those driver options if you're not careful.
Would be the difference between an "OK" sounding cab and a terrible sounding one.
Sounds like you could benefit from a good EQ. Try cutting somewhere between 180hz - 400hz and maybe a slight boost around 1k. That's what I do to cut through a mix.
Can you post a picture of your settings on your amp and also tell us what you have dialed in on the bass? More than likely EQ is the problem.
There is no weak link. Keep on tweaking the EQ, and see if you can get it that way.
I wouldn't call 12" drivers muddy, but they certainly are muddier than 10" speakers. Maybe what you want to hear is the punch of a 2x10 or 4x10 cabinet instead of a 2x12?
I didn't vote as I don't have experience with Avatar cabs. I note that others seem to feel that is the weak link. All in all I would say that's probably a pretty strong rig, but with some of the new cabs out there perhaps the Avatar would be the most bang-for-the-buck upgrade available to you.
It's the avatar b212. I once had two B212 neos due to all the TB hype... and it was simply hype. Upgraded to a Genz NeoX212-T, which was much, much better. Now I'm on a GK NEO 810, but only because the band is loud enough to require one.
Anyways, there's better options than Avatar. Find something tried and true, not hype TB hype driven like Avatar/Eden/Darkglass/etc.
Anyways, there's better options than Avatar. Find something tried and true, not hype TB hype driven like Avatar/Eden/Darkglass/etc.
s0c9
Supporting Member
Been running an avatar 2x10 Neo on stage for 4+ yrs.. I have no issues with it.. but then.. most (99.99999999%) of my gigs have PA support, so it's SELDOM used as backline.
Been using a DI'd pedalboard only since last Oct. Used the cab once during that time.
Tone is in the fingers. ( sorry I see that comment so often I had to say it)
The new breed of "super cabs" really are a generational improvement over older cabinet technology. The use of high displacement woofers and dedicated midrange drivers, built with cutting edge new technology, makes light, small, loud, and deep a possibility. I've just recently been afforded the chance to play through a fearless F112 and the new Genzler Bass Array 12-3. While the Genzler cab was excellent, and very coherent through it's range, the F112 was amazing, especially as the volume went up. The same thing, only louder. And then even louder, and even more loud again, but the response stayed the same, well at least as far as I could tell as room resonance started to vibrate sympathetically and clutter the listening environment. Older driver plus tweeter systems, no matter how well built and designed, unfortunately pale in comparison.
s0c9
Supporting Member
No disagreement there.. but the average F112 DOES run around 3x the price I paid for my Avatar 2x10 NEO.. !!!
I compare it to the $299 MIM Bass against a $1500 Fender...
For me.. given that I've gone DI for the last 4 yrs (cab or not) and only used the cab so my guitar player could monitor me on stage.. I'm not sure I want (need?) to upgrade to a Fearless or a Barefaced. The 2x10 gives some punch as well as depth.. and mine will do 700w happily.
If I go back to backline only (gosh, I hope not) then, I might consider going that route.
Not sure about you, but my weakest link is my brain. Followed closely by:my hands, general lack of talent, poor band personnel choices, questionable hygiene, over inflated ego, inability to read music, hairline, and 25 minute bass solos. Good Lord, I'm a mess. You'll be fine. The long cord trick works well. Remember, you're the bass player. All the fun of being in a band with half the responsibility.
Now I have to find a music teacher, hair club for men outlet, stylist, deodorant and a therapist.
I nominate this one for post of the week.
Just to clarify my posts, the advice I gave in my initial response was for the OP, not for you. OP listed no price requirements, he merely asked what would be the best thing in his rig to upgrade. Given his current bass and amp, and knowing what those cost as a ballpark figure, it now seems more obvious than ever that his ~$300 cabinet would be the best option for upgrade. Upgrading usually implies paying more for something better, at least it does to me.
Also, OP may not need to go all the way to fearless/barefaced/thunderchild. Perhaps a Mesa Subway cabinet, or a Genzler Array, or some other mid-range or high end production cabinet, might be a very nice upgrade for OP. Those options, while definitely more than what an Avatar apparently costs, are less costly than the fearless/barefaced et. al. super cabs. In the end, I am sure OP's rig sounds pretty good, and my original response said as much. But I know for myself sometimes I upgrade even though no problem exists to be solved, but rather just because I can and I want to.
All that said, I am glad the Avatar works for you, and I hope you can continue to go without backline since you're liking that so much.
s0c9
Supporting Member
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