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Why I don't like onboard EQ
- Thread starter KingRazor
- Start date
I do 0 or 10 on the bass itself. But not on my amp.So set it where you like it and let it go? I know you said you hit your knobs (somehow), but that's a technique thing you have to clear up - i.e., not the fault of the knobs being there.
Also, doing "all or nothing" with your knobs is a terrible approach to EQ, or any adjustment. Do you do 10 or 0 on your volume? Why or why not? Do you do 10 or 0 on gain? Why or why not?
As I said in the original post, I like my output level to remain consistent.
It could be the pots on my bass are just prone to slipping. But also like I said I don't really like to have to remember exactly where I set the knob for it to sound best, especially with knobs with no detents.
I use my on-board pretty extensively. During songs, for different passages, between songs if one requires a totally different tone that I can get by just changing hand position etc.
I also play with my pickups... I might be full on on a neck pickup, then want just bridge, or some mix of the two. I change that when I want, too. Do you not ever take advantage of that at all?
I can see how some people can just pick up a bass, set it to what they like and be happy... for me, that's not good enough. I really like to be exact where the song and my head want. If my tone from the previous song doesn't fit, I just reach down and change it. I love dynamics. Not just in volume, but in tone. I love expressing *exactly* what I want to, not what I wanted to the last song.
Also, my amp is so far off stage (about 30' from where I'm playing) that walking off, tweaking a knob, walking back, is NOT an option at all.
Lack of money, time and skills. Plus I'd probably want to replace the pickups in this bass if I want to run them passive.
I feel essentially the same way. Generally I don't trust myself to make accurate adjustments on onboard preamps in between or during songs. I'm more comfortable finding a good tone and running with it. Also, over the years I've found myself able to effect most of the tone changes I need through right hand approach.
I've got a couple basses with onboard preamps, but 99% of the time I run them flat.
When you start playing live, you will want near instant tone changes when needed. Turning my back to the audience and squinting to see all the black knobs on my black amp in a poor lit venue is not a good idea.
My main bass is a Stingray5 HH. I mainly adjust the tone mid song just using my pick up selector. Very easy. Very quick.
My main back up bass is a Fenderbird, which has the same tone control of a jazz (vol-vol-tone). I set up the vol knobs before the show, and then just shape the tone from there with the tone knob. Also very quick and very easy.
Some one mentioned the best tone controller is one's right hand. Amen to that! Technique and dynamics!
OP, I see how one tone seems like a good idea, but as you gig more, and then compose more, you'll discover that you like many tones built upon a core tone that defines you.
My main bass is a Stingray5 HH. I mainly adjust the tone mid song just using my pick up selector. Very easy. Very quick.
My main back up bass is a Fenderbird, which has the same tone control of a jazz (vol-vol-tone). I set up the vol knobs before the show, and then just shape the tone from there with the tone knob. Also very quick and very easy.
Some one mentioned the best tone controller is one's right hand. Amen to that! Technique and dynamics!
OP, I see how one tone seems like a good idea, but as you gig more, and then compose more, you'll discover that you like many tones built upon a core tone that defines you.
In the time you worded and posted the OP, you could've had the bass running sans preamp.
Right but just boosting the mid control on my bass because I suddenly am not cutting through enough is also going to change my overall sound, possibly to something I don't want. If just being heard is my priority, than why would it matter what my tone sounds like?
Besides, if the only place I'm not being heard in the mix is in the mains, how am I going to know if I'm playing behind them?
RedLeg
Supporting Member
filter based preamp. I got hooked on the essence 3 knob alembic low freq filter pre's, and I have become a fan of the ACG EQ-02.
It's called a monitor.
You sound, to me, like one of those bedroom bassist who have "their tone" in their bedroom, then get completely lost once playing like with other musicians. I'm not saying that is your case specifically, but yes, changing EQ will change your tone. That's kind of the point. Boosting mids will help you cut through, if you want to. If not, plug up a smiley face EQ and never be heard again.
IMHO... you can spend time sitting in your bedroom worrying about all these logistics of if, and, when, why, maybe, and possibly, but none of that teaches you jack squat. If you can play good enough to be in a band, get an adequate amp and get in a band and start learning the realities of performing with other musicians. If you can play, and do the things a bassist needs to do, the aspect of your bass being active or passive will not matter to anyone but you. Trust me... 99.9% will not give a flying flip one way or the other.
IMHO, worrying about potential things greatly gets in the way of progressing and moving ahead as a musician.
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Sure, I could probably pull out the preamp and run straight to the jack. But these pickups are designed to work with a preamp, so they may not sound very good without it. Plus, then I'll have 4 empty holes in my bass, and that would just look stupid.
Until I get the proper tools I'm leaving it in.
You don't have to pull the knobs out or anything
. I don't know which bass you even have, or if the pickups in it truly are "designed" for a preamp, but either way... I gave you all the advice I can really give, and others have echo'd it. It's up to you to take it for what it's worth and use it now.
That was in response to another comment about someone who sounded good but then got buried in the mix when people filled in the room. I haven't ever had that problem. I was simply trying to point out that if I can't be heard in the mix, having an onboard EQ might not be enough to save me.
I don't like a really scooped tone anyway. Heck, the p bass is my favorite sounding instrument and its mid-forward.
The only way to bypass the preamp would be to either remove it completely or add a bypass switch. I don't have the tools or knowledge to add a bypass switch.You don't have to pull the knobs out or anything
Again... I don't know your bass at all, so in generic terms:
Your output jack has three lugs. One of those is connected to the black wire from the battery harness. Another is connected to ground - look for black wire from bridge soldered here, and probably another wire from the preamp.
On the last lug, there will be a wire coming directly either from the preamp or a master volume control (different preamps do it differently). This is the hot signal lug.
From your pickups, there will be two or more leads. I don't know whether you have active or passive pickups. I'm going to assume standard passive pickups.
You should have one wire going to ground (either back of a volume pot or maybe even directly to jack - same lug as the bridge ground), and another wire going to the lugs on either blend pot or volume pot.
Those are the pickup hot wires. Unsolder those from their original location (taking care to remember which was soldered where previously). Unsolder the preamp/master vol output wire from the hot signal lug on the jack Then solder the pickup hot leads to the hot signal lug on the jack that you identified earlier.
Again, you don't need to wire any kind of a switch, you don't need to take knobs out or anything... it's all extremely basic electronics!
Your output jack has three lugs. One of those is connected to the black wire from the battery harness. Another is connected to ground - look for black wire from bridge soldered here, and probably another wire from the preamp.
On the last lug, there will be a wire coming directly either from the preamp or a master volume control (different preamps do it differently). This is the hot signal lug.
From your pickups, there will be two or more leads. I don't know whether you have active or passive pickups. I'm going to assume standard passive pickups.
You should have one wire going to ground (either back of a volume pot or maybe even directly to jack - same lug as the bridge ground), and another wire going to the lugs on either blend pot or volume pot.
Those are the pickup hot wires. Unsolder those from their original location (taking care to remember which was soldered where previously). Unsolder the preamp/master vol output wire from the hot signal lug on the jack Then solder the pickup hot leads to the hot signal lug on the jack that you identified earlier.
Again, you don't need to wire any kind of a switch, you don't need to take knobs out or anything... it's all extremely basic electronics!
There's a white wire and two black wires connected to the output jack. One of the black wires goes to the battery and the other two go to the preamp's circuit board. I assume the white one is the hot wire.
EDIT: Each pickup's hot wire (assume the white one is hot, as I believe is usually the case) is going to the balance/blend pot.
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
If you want to see how your bass sounds passive, you might just wire the pickup(s) directly to the jack and see if it sounds good. Then you'll know whether or not you want to go through the trouble of re-wiring the volume, tone, and balance back in.
this is incorrect, waffles are better
I for one, like pancakes, but don't like waffles
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
