Highly unlikely if the same thing is happening in different rooms, unless all those rooms happen to be the exact same dimensions.
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Wolf tone??? Room mode??? Electric bass
- Thread starter Bass Behaviour
- Start date
That's true, but it's pretty unlikely to get the exact same resonant frequency in a variety of rooms. The rooms would have to be the same dimensions, because the dimensions of the room play a large part in the room mode.
Right, and that's why the guy said it's not always the same note.
I've made certain knick knacks and bric-a-bracs shiver in a hardwood floored living room a few years ago (playing an A, I think) but nothing of the magnitude you're describing in different places with all different equipment 
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Hey @Stumbo will a High/Low Pass Filter help here??
SubbedHey @Stumbo will a High/Low Pass Filter help here??
Have you tried different cab and instrument cables?
Have you tested your rig outside?
Also, since the problem occurs at various venues with different rigs/basses you need more solutions that you can apply at each one.
Keep your rig away from walls/corners as much as you can. You can shift its position during a gig to see if it helps.
Try putting your rig up on a stand with mats between the cabs and under the amp head.
Add some foam under strings next to the bridge so the strings don't ring out as much. Try palm muting and fret hand muting.
Let us know how it goes.
Have you tested your rig outside?
Also, since the problem occurs at various venues with different rigs/basses you need more solutions that you can apply at each one.
Keep your rig away from walls/corners as much as you can. You can shift its position during a gig to see if it helps.
Try putting your rig up on a stand with mats between the cabs and under the amp head.
Add some foam under strings next to the bridge so the strings don't ring out as much. Try palm muting and fret hand muting.
It and a parametric eq would most likely solve the problems. Please see my TB Wiki on the topic for more info.
Let us know how it goes.
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As was mentioned above, if OP is the only one who hears it then it could be in his head in a physical way that a medical specialist could find.
But what if it’s something none of us on TB can hear? Because we aren’t there with him. What if it’s as simple as his eq. choices?
Is there a chance he’s equing every bass and amp set up the same way to get his sound? Just for grins OP, can you set everything flat and play with your mates? Is it still there? Can you sit at your drummer’s kit and if it’s not tuned too high try hitting the floor tom from the rim toward the center gently and see if these nodes are excited. Try the bass drum. Do you hear it? Then it may be acoustically in your head.
......and another constant could be his drummer’s kit. Are you exciting sympathetic vibrations from his kit? Cover it with blankets as a test. I know the band sounds better now but that’s for another discussion.
Lastly. Are you as a group playing exceptionally loud?
But what if it’s something none of us on TB can hear? Because we aren’t there with him. What if it’s as simple as his eq. choices?
Is there a chance he’s equing every bass and amp set up the same way to get his sound? Just for grins OP, can you set everything flat and play with your mates? Is it still there? Can you sit at your drummer’s kit and if it’s not tuned too high try hitting the floor tom from the rim toward the center gently and see if these nodes are excited. Try the bass drum. Do you hear it? Then it may be acoustically in your head.
......and another constant could be his drummer’s kit. Are you exciting sympathetic vibrations from his kit? Cover it with blankets as a test. I know the band sounds better now but that’s for another discussion.
Lastly. Are you as a group playing exceptionally loud?
okcrum
in your chest
Lastly. Are you as a group playing exceptionally loud?
...and perhaps playing a lot of unison lines with guitars?
That's why I'm thinking it maybe related to playing style.
Hi guys thanks for the responses.
Unfortunately I have not had the time to recreate the noise today.
I have practice on Tuesday so will try to recreate the noise then.
In response to some of the questions.
The amp is never pushed up to any walls. The noise is coming from the amp.
my eq setting are usually pretty flat. When the problem occurred I tried to change the eq however this did not completely get rid of the problem (more alter the eq of the noise)
The noise sounded like it was sustained, and remained after the strings were muted. If left without muting the noise will swell and get louder.
The rest of the band have heard the noise and confirmed that it is happening.
Unfortunately I have not had the time to recreate the noise today.
I have practice on Tuesday so will try to recreate the noise then.
In response to some of the questions.
The amp is never pushed up to any walls. The noise is coming from the amp.
my eq setting are usually pretty flat. When the problem occurred I tried to change the eq however this did not completely get rid of the problem (more alter the eq of the noise)
The noise sounded like it was sustained, and remained after the strings were muted. If left without muting the noise will swell and get louder.
The rest of the band have heard the noise and confirmed that it is happening.
Not that I know a single thing about any of this....do your basses happen to be hollowbodies? This almost sounds like a feedback issue.
A bit of a long shot, but the only factor that hasn't been mentioned is your strings.
Have you yourself put new strings on all of these basses?
How do you put your new strings on the basses?
I ask because sometimes if I re-string a bass and hand wrap the string around the peg a few times prior to using the tuner to tighten, I get a twisted string.
The twisted string can cause all kinds of weird sounds/harmonics/overtones to occur. I'm thinking there is a very slight chance you might have that going on.
Have you yourself put new strings on all of these basses?
How do you put your new strings on the basses?
I ask because sometimes if I re-string a bass and hand wrap the string around the peg a few times prior to using the tuner to tighten, I get a twisted string.
The twisted string can cause all kinds of weird sounds/harmonics/overtones to occur. I'm thinking there is a very slight chance you might have that going on.
Thanks Twc1313, that is not something I considered. I did hear that the gage of string could be an issue but since I am still trying to diagnose the problem and no one mentioned it I wasn’t sure if I was on the right track.
The Fender P bass has never had its strings changed, since it has been only used a handful of times, however it does seem to be the main culprit when it comes to this issue. I’m going to take a few basses to practice tomorrow but may perhaps change the strings before hand.
thank you.
The Fender P bass has never had its strings changed, since it has been only used a handful of times, however it does seem to be the main culprit when it comes to this issue. I’m going to take a few basses to practice tomorrow but may perhaps change the strings before hand.
thank you.
No no keyboardist, however I have only had this issue with my current band.
2 guitars with line six pedal boards and a drummer. Why do you ask?
2 guitars with line six pedal boards and a drummer. Why do you ask?
Because they frequently play low and loud, which may cause the weirdness you describe. But anyway. You see the problem with different amps and different basses. It's not your amps or basses. Can't be. You say the note continues to ring even if you mute the strings. Can't be you. I suspect it's actually one of the guitars.
Even though the noise is coming through my amp? If this is the case I would be inclined to think there is something to this as I have played in a bands for over 15 years and never had this issue. Only issue is how to fix it.
