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Here are a couple of tips to help you dial in your desired tone:
For a great fretless tone, dial in a little extra at approximately 550Hz.
For extra grind for Rock and other aggressive music, add a little at 1-1.2KHz
or 2-2.2KHz – or both! Remember, though, that a little goes a long way.
Don’t over boost.
NOTE
: Remember that the tone you get when playing alone may not cut
through as well as you’d like when playing with others. You may need to
adjust the tone controls to achieve the same (apparent) tone, especially in the
mids and high end.
ANOTHER NOTE:
If you are using Dual Mono or Bi-Amp operation, you
can use the Balance control to adjust the balance between different cabinet
models to achieve your sound. In Bi-Amp Mode, the crossover frequency
selected can also make a big difference. Don’t be afraid to experiment, ok?
A FEW TECHNICAL THINGS TO REMEMBER
Clipping = Bad
– Keep an eye on the EQ Clip light. If it blinks, either
reduce Input Gain or cut back on one or more EQ ranges. As we said earlier,
Clipping in the preamp section is a
Very Bad Thing
and is to be avoided at
all times. If you find yourself running out of amplifier headroom, cut a little
in the lower frequencies, which require the most power from your amp.
You’ll know this is happening if you see the Limit light flashing. As long as
the light is just blinking, you’re fine. But, if it’s on more than it’s off, you
might want to back off a bit.
Frequency Oddities
– Two areas are a frequent source of frustration for
bassists trying to achieve their sound: frequency masking and frequency
enhancement. Frequency masking occurs when other instruments
(particularly cymbals and electric guitars) obscure the important upper
harmonic content of your sound. As a result, you find that the EQ settings
that were so perfect at home lack definition in a live setting. On the other
hand, the stage settings that worked so well sound harsh and/or thin in the
absence of other instruments.
