SwordRaven Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 (edited) I recently sold my ashdown combo (electric blue 12-150) and bought a warwick profet 3.2 bass head from a chappy on here. I'd been after one for a while because it was within my studenty budget and also had a little more power to give (300W instead of 150W) Now I was under the impression that at 8 ohms, I would be getting something like 180W out of the amp into my cabinet (the electric blue was used without its internal speaker to run the cab at a few gigs and seemed fine) The cabinet is a Laney 1x15 250W 8ohm job, I don't think it's one of the richter ones but perhaps it's from the series that richter replaced. So... we have our first gig since getting the new amp and I have to say that it didn't seem as bassy and epic as it had done with the ashdown amp. Very confusing, and what makes it worse is that the right-hand volume knob is cranked up to max and the input is quite high (to the point of clipping if I dig in too hard) Not sure what's the problem exactly, if I let the preamp clip then the volume is much, much higher - I can drown out the guitars nicely haha, but if I have the preamp 'volume' set so it doesn't clip then the right hand 'volume' knob has to be at full and then I'm lagging slightly behind- playing a fair bit of low B I shouldn't be having that hard a time to cut through should I? I'm considering having a go at either: 1) replacing the speaker in the cabinet to a 4 ohm 15" driver so I can run the full power of the amp and see if that makes it a bit easier (although then I can't put and 10s or 12s in if I want to) 2) trying to build a BFM omni15 tallboy which look absolutely amazing and would give me full-range again (but I have no woodworking skills and no monies!) I hope this makes sense, I'm experiencing delirium from this cold I have. Edited February 27, 2008 by SwordRaven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 Try taking the head to a shop and asking to try it through another cab - I think the head might be the problem if you're using the same cab as when you had the EB-180. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 Also, the Pro Fet series warwicks are renowned for being a particularly quiet 300 watts, I do remember when i had a 4ohm 410 and there was also an ashdown electric blue at the same studio, and voume wise there was very little in it. shame cos tonally there pretty sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwordRaven Posted February 27, 2008 Author Share Posted February 27, 2008 Yeah that's true I absolutely love the sound over the Ashdown, so much more clarity. It's only when I got together with the band and our volume-happy lead guitarist that I realised I couldn't just drown him out to piss him off anymore :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempo Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 Hi Mr SwordRaven. I've got the same head driving a Hartke 2.5XL (2X10). I've found a similar issue, but after a bit of reading on the Warwick forum, have started setting my input gain higher, to the point that is flashes red when playing (quite hard). This doesn't give any audible clipping, so I'm assuming the designers have just set the sensitivity too high on the LED indicator. So I would suggest just setting the input gain so you can't HEAR any distortion and pretty much ignore the LED. Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwordRaven Posted February 27, 2008 Author Share Posted February 27, 2008 [quote name='tempo' post='147905' date='Feb 27 2008, 03:44 PM']Hi Mr SwordRaven. I've got the same head driving a Hartke 2.5XL (2X10). I've found a similar issue, but after a bit of reading on the Warwick forum, have started setting my input gain higher, to the point that is flashes red when playing (quite hard). This doesn't give any audible clipping, so I'm assuming the designers have just set the sensitivity too high on the LED indicator. So I would suggest just setting the input gain so you can't HEAR any distortion and pretty much ignore the LED. Pete.[/quote] Nice one, I don't think that the meter even worked on the Ashdown so I used to do precisely that I'll try that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 I also found the Profet VERY quiet for the rating, although nice sounding i believe the volume pot keeps adding all the way round rather than topping out at 12 o clockish, but not 100 percent sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwordRaven Posted February 27, 2008 Author Share Posted February 27, 2008 [quote name='gafbass02' post='147958' date='Feb 27 2008, 05:05 PM']I also found the Profet VERY quiet for the rating, although nice sounding i believe the volume pot keeps adding all the way round rather than topping out at 12 o clockish, but not 100 percent sure[/quote] Yeah I just thought it was funny, I hear people all the time say "oh you never need to put it up above 2 on the volume knob" but I have never encountered that before in my life... even with equivalent or higher rated gear I always seem to be running out of power... :/ Maybe I'm just paranoid about not being heard (I like my basslines!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 Some fancy kinda knob i think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy316 Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 +1 on the quietness of these amps! my pro fet4 is the same through 1 8ohm cab but through 2 cabs is a whole different ball game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welshbassist Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 I'd simply suggest another cab! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 [quote name='Welshbassist' post='148161' date='Feb 27 2008, 11:22 PM']I'd simply suggest another cab![/quote] LOL! I cant believe no ones mentioned this yet... Total D'oh! moment!! good on ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 oops! :blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwordRaven Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Heh, I do want to try a different cab but I just plain can't afford one Anyway, I turned it up a little into the red at practice and it was perfect, didn't have to do it far, literally one or two notches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassmouseman Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 [quote name='tempo' post='147905' date='Feb 27 2008, 03:44 PM']Hi Mr SwordRaven. I've got the same head driving a Hartke 2.5XL (2X10). I've found a similar issue, but after a bit of reading on the Warwick forum, have started setting my input gain higher, to the point that is flashes red when playing (quite hard). This doesn't give any audible clipping, so I'm assuming the designers have just set the sensitivity too high on the LED indicator. So I would suggest just setting the input gain so you can't HEAR any distortion and pretty much ignore the LED. Pete.[/quote] Funnily enough i've had this problem with my new MAG 600 and a Eden nemesis i was borrowing. on both amps the solution has been to set up so there is no audible clipping and the needle/light goes in to the red. (as stated by Ashdown) I think it's that the Profet amps seem to be very input hungry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwordRaven Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 [quote name='Bassmouseman' post='148259' date='Feb 28 2008, 09:57 AM']Funnily enough i've had this problem with my new MAG 600 and a Eden nemesis i was borrowing. on both amps the solution has been to set up so there is no audible clipping and the needle/light goes in to the red. (as stated by Ashdown) I think it's that the Profet amps seem to be very input hungry![/quote] That sounds a fair assumption to me, I'm playing an active bass through the blighter as well (I wonder if maybe it needs a new battery? No crackling though so I assume not) Oh, a bit of a tangent, but does anyone know what the 'contour control' knob does? In my experience it's a DFA pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempo Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Glad this has worked out for ya. I'ts a great sounding amp, but people take warning lights too seriously!! haha. Regarding the contour knob, its essentially a "slap bass" control, scoops out the mids whilst adding bass & treble, (instant smiley face on a graphic). A lot of amps have a similar feature (Trace pre-shape, Hartke contour, Markbass vpf....) they tend to sound ok in isolation, but it's an instant "cloaking device" in band scenario! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwordRaven Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 [quote name='tempo' post='148376' date='Feb 28 2008, 01:05 PM']Glad this has worked out for ya. I'ts a great sounding amp, but people take warning lights too seriously!! haha. Regarding the contour knob, its essentially a "slap bass" control, scoops out the mids whilst adding bass & treble, (instant smiley face on a graphic). A lot of amps have a similar feature (Trace pre-shape, Hartke contour, Markbass vpf....) they tend to sound ok in isolation, but it's an instant "cloaking device" in band scenario![/quote] Ah that's cool, I'll turn that junk off then I only slap on one song during the bridge, but the lead guitarist decided he wanted ANOTHER solo (he doesn't seem to be able to cope with anyone else having the spotlight) so I might just start playing it fingerstyle from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilmour Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I've had a similar problem of late (used to use Trace, now use Eden) - Try setting your EQ's higher, and stand further away from the cab. If possible raise the cab to ear level. The higher end comming out of 15s is very directional so people standing about 10' in front of it will hear it much more clearly than if you are standing right over it,(which is unfortunaley the case in most gigging situations). IIRC the Ashdowns colour the sound a lot, meaning that they are EQing a lot immediatley, which the warwick probably doesn't do as much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 [quote name='SwordRaven' post='148261' date='Feb 28 2008, 09:59 AM']In my experience it's a DFA pot.[/quote] Haha, does that stand for what I think it does? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwordRaven Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 I'm hoping it does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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