discreet Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 [quote name='ubit' timestamp='1396010829' post='2408974'] Is there really any point in going over and over this anyway? [/quote] We go over and over everything, all the time, on an 18-month cycle. Welcome to Basschat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 [quote name='ubit' timestamp='1396010829' post='2408974'] Is there really any point in going over and over this anyway? I like a flat EQ [/quote] So on every single amp you've ever used you set the eq the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Yet another thread which looks like it's heading for an ending wrapped in knotted pedantic knickers then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skychaserhigh Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1396010465' post='2408966'] New balls, please. [/quote] Can we leave my balls out of this please ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 (edited) - Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 [quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1396011895' post='2408991'] So on every single amp you've ever used you set the eq the same? [/quote] Pretty much if you look at my post yesterday. The eq just tailors the frequencies a touch, it won't alter the colour of the amp. Which sounds a bit counter-intuitive. However, what I mean, as pointed out above is, an SVT and a Hartakle sound different no matter how you EQ them. They'll even sound different depending on which cabs you use. So yes. Set the EQ flat. That is the standard starting position. Then if you find certain frequencies are causing issues cut them. If you want to create a hump then boost one. It's not against the law. That's the reason why you take YOUR bass to the shop and try before you buy and you select an amp that sounds good to your ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UglyDog Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 I bet the OP is wishing he'd never said anything now. Such a lot of fuss over semantics. In answer to the original question, but amended to suit the pedants: I personally have never gigged with flat EQ, but I do sometimes [i]set all my amp's tone controls to zero[/i]. Is that better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 ... and if you hired a studio for a day would you expect to find all the controls on the desk at their zero position (not only the EQ) or would you not care If the last engineer had left everything all over the place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1396089189' post='2409785'] ... and if you hired a studio for a day would you expect to find all the controls on the desk at their zero position (not only the EQ) or would you not care If the last engineer had left everything all over the place? [/quote] Desks are different though. They're supposed to have transparent pre amps. If all the pre amps had humps at 2kHz to cater for vocals they'd be useless for any other instrument. Most bass amps have characteristics designed in for Bass guitars. So setting your amp flat is taking advantage of those characteristics. If you don't like them, then you need to select a different amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 [quote name='TimR' timestamp='1396090561' post='2409804'] Desks are different though. They're supposed to have transparent pre amps. If all the pre amps had humps at 2kHz to cater for vocals they'd be useless for any other instrument. Most bass amps have characteristics designed in for Bass guitars. So setting your amp flat is taking advantage of those characteristics. If you don't like them, then you need to select a different amp. [/quote] Desks aren't different in the sense that I'd expect to start from zero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subrob Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 (edited) Personally I think it'd be instructive to anybody to plug their bass into a mixer, through a di, and listen to the tone difference. Any decent pa rig should be aiming for low distortion (transparency) and, having done this, it felt immediately clear how much any bass amp colours this. It could be argued that the dosh you pay for your bass amp is that default colouration to the tone. The EQ is the table salt, pepper and condiment that you add, to your taste, to chef's preamp circuit dish. Edited March 29, 2014 by subrob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1396091962' post='2409823'] Desks aren't different in the sense that I'd expect to start from zero. [/quote] In a live situation I would engage the high pass filter on practically everything though. I suppose it depends on why you are selecting a particular default stance (other than everything flat) on your bass amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 (edited) [quote name='subrob' timestamp='1396095008' post='2409874'] Personally I think it'd be instructive to anybody to plug their bass into a mixer, through a di, and listen to the tone difference. Any decent pa rig should be aiming for low distortion (transparency) and, having done this, it felt immediately clear how much any bass amp colours this. It could be argued that the dosh you pay for your bass amp is that default colouration to the tone. The EQ is the table salt, pepper and condiment that you add, to your taste, to chef's preamp circuit dish. [/quote] Definitely. I think the sound I get from my bass when I plug it into my sound card on my PC is what I was aiming at when I bought my amp and cab. It's close. That's why you can get amp simulator plug-ins. Edited March 29, 2014 by TimR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclowend Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 [quote name='dincz' timestamp='1395816477' post='2406558'] When combined with everything else that colours the sound e.g. pickups and cabs, I really think it's irrelevant which direction the lines on the knobs point. Adjust for your preferred sound and be happy [/quote]Yep, my Hartke, GK, MM setup is set as flat as a witches tit and sounds thunderous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Sat night gig, different venue, VERY different eq settings. Every time I think I'm sorted a new gig comes along that needs different eq'ing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Forget the idea that 'flat' means anything 90% of the time other that you have centred the knobs or para EQ. If you have any sort of filters, then these will 'map' a bias for tone and you will have a degree of scope but these are also limiting in their own way. Not unuseful for a quick EQ, but there is a reason why pro amps tend to have straight dials, or should have... IMO. Most amps have a natural bias/colour and this can be the amp brand sound and are not transparent. Again not particularly a bad thing otherwise all amps would sound pretty samey.. IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1396295763' post='2412060'] Sat night gig, different venue, VERY different eq settings. Every time I think I'm sorted a new gig comes along that needs different eq'ing. [/quote] Which is exactly why bass amps have EQ! Setting the controls "flat" is just a starting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 Well I've done a few gigs now with the Mark bass EQo & for me it sounded absolute crap, so I've now got the Eq 44S HE module thanks for all the input though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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