• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Wolf tone??? Room mode??? Electric bass

Bass Behaviour

Bass Behaviour

Dec 2, 2017
67
25
#1
About a year ago I posted a problem I was having with my Mark Bass combo amp.
I had noticed that while playing certain notes would resonate through the amp causing an endless feedback loop.
In the end I gave up and bought a new amp (Genzler Magellan 900) put through a PJB c4 and a Barefaced 15”.
Unfortunately this has not solved the problem. I have a few bass guitars and all of them seem to have a similar problem, to some extent. I have also recently just put my bass straight through the pa with the same results.
I have just got back from a gig where this problem occurred mid way through. The note A suddenly became very boomy and feedbacky (all Octives/strings) the only way I can really describe it is like I was using a sustain or delay pedal (I was not). I use a compressor which had little effect. I also used a noise gate, still no effect. In the end I just plugged straight into the amp which obviously did not solve anything.
The bass I was using was an active Fender P elite however I have also had this problem with a Fender Jazz, Warwick Thumb and Warwick Fortress.
Please tell me what to do!!!!
Drew
 
#5
Thanks for your reply’s,
My amp only has a 3 band eq which only mildly reduces the problem when altered. But have to admit this was only a half arsed attempt mid gig.
It happens pretty much every location to some extent (3 places in total so far) all very different places including a wood shop/rehearsal space, a small bar and a village hall.
It’s not always the same note however I never stick to the same bass so cannot say whether it’s a certain note for each bass.
Last night the problem seemed to occur mid gig, which was highly annoying.
Doing some research I cannot seem to find anyone describing the same sort of problem, although I’m sure I’m not the only one experiencing this as I have changed the variables (bass/amps/rooms etc) and had similar results.
From what I understand of sympathetic resonance occurs with another string vibrating when a note is played. This is just happening on one string when the note is played. The sting, note or octave does not make a difference :/
Thank you for all your help so far. I really appreciate the support. Drew
 
#9
Bass Behaviour said:
Thanks for your reply’s,
My amp only has a 3 band eq which only mildly reduces the problem when altered. But have to admit this was only a half arsed attempt mid gig.
It happens pretty much every location to some extent (3 places in total so far) all very different places including a wood shop/rehearsal space, a small bar and a village hall.
It’s not always the same note however I never stick to the same bass so cannot say whether it’s a certain note for each bass.
Last night the problem seemed to occur mid gig, which was highly annoying.
Doing some research I cannot seem to find anyone describing the same sort of problem, although I’m sure I’m not the only one experiencing this as I have changed the variables (bass/amps/rooms etc) and had similar results.
From what I understand of sympathetic resonance occurs with another string vibrating when a note is played. This is just happening on one string when the note is played. The sting, note or octave does not make a difference :/
Thank you for all your help so far. I really appreciate the support. Drew
Click to expand...
Hmm. I had a passive bass that exhibited something similar: the volume would jump up and down occasionally. I decided it was some weird intermittent short, replaced the wiring harness/pots, and it went away.
 
#10
Different basses, different amps, different rooms - you could be going crazy.

I have an ABG that would feedback on a G. I have a lathe that vibrates between 950-1000 rpms. Usually a particular frequency with a particular object. But the only consistent thing in your case is you. Not sure what to say.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Katoosie, Reedt2000, AGCurry and 1 other person
#11
Bass Behaviour said:
About a year ago I posted a problem I was having with my Mark Bass combo amp.
I had noticed that while playing certain notes would resonate through the amp causing an endless feedback loop.
In the end I gave up and bought a new amp (Genzler Magellan 900) put through a PJB c4 and a Barefaced 15”.
Unfortunately this has not solved the problem. I have a few bass guitars and all of them seem to have a similar problem, to some extent. I have also recently just put my bass straight through the pa with the same results.
I have just got back from a gig where this problem occurred mid way through. The note A suddenly became very boomy and feedbacky (all Octives/strings) the only way I can really describe it is like I was using a sustain or delay pedal (I was not). I use a compressor which had little effect. I also used a noise gate, still no effect. In the end I just plugged straight into the amp which obviously did not solve anything.
The bass I was using was an active Fender P elite however I have also had this problem with a Fender Jazz, Warwick Thumb and Warwick Fortress.
Please tell me what to do!!!!
Drew
Click to expand...

What I'm reading is that the problem occurs with;
  • Four different basses.
  • Two different amp setups and a PA system
  • When all outboard effects are bypassed (plugged straight into the amp)
  • Occurs in different rooms, venues.
My question is, does anyone else hear this resonance? The only thing left that is common when the problem occurs is you. Have you ever heard something similar when you aren't playing, but listening to another band or loud recorded music?

The next time it occurs, you might try an earplug in one ear at a time to see if you are having some type mechanical issue with the bone structure in one ear. You have pretty much eliminated an issue with your instrument(s), amplifier(s), speaker cabinet(s), and room(s).
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Katoosie, Reedt2000, catcauphonic and 4 others
#12
Overall, since it is different notes in different places and independent of amp or bass, I would say room resonances.

The particular instance where it started part way through the gig I would worry about drum mics and certain drums feeding back, in particular the floor tom. The sound engineer may have altered the EQ, gain, or both on the floor tom, which was already tuned close to or at A, and the head/mic/pa may have entered into a mild feedback loop such that it only took off when your bass was providing the last bit of resonant energy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Engle and Lobster11
#14
Bass Behaviour said:
Thanks for your reply’s,
My amp only has a 3 band eq which only mildly reduces the problem when altered. But have to admit this was only a half arsed attempt mid gig.
It happens pretty much every location to some extent (3 places in total so far) all very different places including a wood shop/rehearsal space, a small bar and a village hall.
It’s not always the same note however I never stick to the same bass so cannot say whether it’s a certain note for each bass.
Last night the problem seemed to occur mid gig, which was highly annoying.
Doing some research I cannot seem to find anyone describing the same sort of problem, although I’m sure I’m not the only one experiencing this as I have changed the variables (bass/amps/rooms etc) and had similar results.
From what I understand of sympathetic resonance occurs with another string vibrating when a note is played. This is just happening on one string when the note is played. The sting, note or octave does not make a difference :/
Thank you for all your help so far. I really appreciate the support. Drew
Click to expand...
What bass cabinet are you using, in the corner of the room, is it ported ? Some cabs are intrinsically boomy
at certain frequencies.
 
#15
Thanks guys, I can say with some assurance that it isn’t me although I can see how it seems to be the only constant in this It was noted by the rest of the band.
Interestingly a couple of weeks ago I just used my PJB c4 at practice and the problem was a lot worse. This is also when I went through the pa to try and eliminate the problem (didn’t work).
I will try and recreate the problem tomorrow and see if I can provide more information. I will try and film it. Thanks for your help.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassikBrad and Garret Graves
#17
You may well be on to something, just because the problem seemed to occur more when just using the PJB c4 when it previously hadn’t for a while.
I have also realised that this problem is not always occurring :/
I am very aware how unhelpful I am being here. So apologies. I would love to be able to definitively diagnose this. Could it maybe be something to do with pairing the c4 (4 5” speakers) with a 15” speaker?
 
#20
Room resonance issues are the most likely cause, all else eliminated (but ignoring possible in-ear factors, which would be a very different forum's topic of choice). Every room can and will have its own note (or notes in bad cases) that can resonate and even start self-reinforcing, and they're almost always in the bass range. Also, things like an EQ or level adjustment at FOH can introduce or sufficiently support specific overtones to make the effect appear even were it seemingly absent before.

That phenomenon is why recording & mixing studios and well-treated performance spaces have two sets of sound absorption treatment set up, one of which is placed specifically to dampen bass reflections. My little workspace has a couple foam pads set up in corners and on walls, but I still have more resonance on the C's at E string 8th fret and D string 10th fret than I like. Enough that I mic my cabinet in a different room.


Another possibility, by the way, is that the effect is minor enough that most people aren't very aware of it, but you're sensitive to resonant frequency buildup (which corresponds with air pressure shifts, so there's a physical component to it).
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassikBrad

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back