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Which HPF to tame low-mid boom?
- Thread starter mini-milli
- Start date
- Jun 6, 2012
- 4,837
- 6,859
- Disclosures
- I don't wait 30 minutes after eating, to go swimming.
I have an Fdeck HPF-Pre, series 3 and it is excellent with my BB800. I don't need it with my Mesa D800+ though. It has one built in. 
I am a huge fan of my Broughton Always On. It really works wonders on my tone in different rooms. I’ve used it at 3 gigs recently and each one needed a different set point to get the sound I wanted but I was able to find it. Just to experiment I unplugged it once I had the tone I was looking for and it sounded soooo boomy and muddy. Just a mess. The hpf totally cleaned up my low end and I was able to dial in some pretty strong punch since my speakers weren’t killing themselves trying to reproduce the bottom mud.
This isn't really the right application for an HPF.
For reducing low-mid boom, the Boss Bass EQ pedal will help. Or, a parametric EQ would work even better. You just set the control to completely cut, then sweep the frequency back and forth until the one you wan to dial out disappears. Then adjust that cut to taste.
Moving your speaker around may help a bit too, but generally dialing back around 200Hz can often tame that boom.
For reducing low-mid boom, the Boss Bass EQ pedal will help. Or, a parametric EQ would work even better. You just set the control to completely cut, then sweep the frequency back and forth until the one you wan to dial out disappears. Then adjust that cut to taste.
Moving your speaker around may help a bit too, but generally dialing back around 200Hz can often tame that boom.
I didn’t vote. Because there’s not so much going on inside a HPF just find one that fits your budget or your board. Broughton stuff is great across the board. But it’s not like a delay or a preamp, it only has one job.
I have both. The Small Fi is actually really good at what it does. It's a simple passive filter (some high end Preamps include passive HPFs soni wouldn't let that deter you). It's a nice little box. That being said, I keep the Broughton on my board. But you can't go wrong with either.
I like that I can run the Broughton at 18Volts. It is completely transparent when using my active basses.
I have an Fdeck HPF-Pre, series 3 and it is excellent with my BB800. I don't need it with my Mesa D800+ though. It has one built in.
View attachment 4237693
I have the Fdeck series 3 as well as the Broughton. To my ears, I prefer the Fdeck. In terms of functionality (and frankly, how it fits on my pedalboard), I prefer the Broughton. I use one for a while and then I'll use the other. At the moment, I have the Broughton on my board. They are both excellent and do what they are intended to do.
I
I forgot to mention that I had an F Deck and also have a Rafferty, which is more or less an F Deck clone with a few added features. Both are also good and can also function as Preamps.
Agree. Spot on the sugar!
@mini-milli Low mids are found in the 250-500Hz frequency range.
Most HPFs will cut 12dB per octave and operate from somewhere in the 20s to just below 200Hz. So the average HPF isn't going to touch the low mid frequency range you're looking to tame assuming the low mids are actually what's causing the problem.
I'd suggest trying a graphic EQ as your first step. The BOSS GEB-7 is an inexpensive but good graphic EQ for bass. You can score one for under $100 used in excellent condition - or new for around $125. It provides three bands centered at 120, 400, and 500Hz. Adjusting those three sliders should tame pretty much any low mid issue you're having.
If you need surgical precision frequency shaping, then your only alternative is to look at either a parametric EQ (note: they tend to be expensive and overkill for most situations); or something that has sweepable midrange EQ settings with a moderately sharp slope (figure 12dB per octave). The Broughton Resonant Filter Equalizer or similar is a good choice for that application.
I'd suggest getting a graphic EQ that's tailored for bass as a starting point. It's probably all you'll need.
Luck!
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When I checked the poll results (just before I posted) it was hilarious! This is how good the Broughton HPF really is. Awesome HPF! And Broughton also makes other top notch pedals. They do things right! The poll speaks volumes. Order one now!
To everyone that's suggested it: yes, I did need an EQ, not a HPF. I still might get an HPF anyway. The majority of the boominess ended up being around 100 Hz, so I guess that's more in the bass range.
The 7-band EQ I got did solve the problem.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
The 7-band EQ I got did solve the problem.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
I use dual band compression for this. I have my Source Audio Ultrawave set to heavily compress under 400Hz, so when I play quiet or loud that low frequency range stays at a consistent level.
