danbanbass Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Hi guys, I'm struggling to get a good sound with this head. I play in a Foo fighters tribute band and can't get it to sound right. I've played with eq etc but feels growly and loose. Any hints or ideas.....kinda feeling like I should've bought an Ampeg :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 What's the rest of the setup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbanbass Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 Ashdown 6x10 and Nate Mendel p bass, I even tried it with a Markbass 4x10 and had the same issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Is that not the p bass growl? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 To get a more Ampeggy type sound from the TH, turn the Drive all the way up, then set the Gain to how much overdrive/gain required/not required, then get your overall volume form the Master Volume. Doing this tightens up the low end, although you do lose some highs as well. As such it does make the sound more middy, so again, drop (or boost if wanted) the mids. I have a driven sound if hit hard, and also use a P-bass, I have Drive on Full, Gain at Midday, Bass at Midday, Treble at 2 o`clock, and both Mid Freq and Mid Level at 10 o`clock. Reduce the Gain to stop the growl, and then be in traditional Ampeg territory. Also bear in mind that the Quarterpounder pickup in the Nate is very powerful, so you`ll probably need to really reduce Gain and up Master Volume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skychaserhigh Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 Sell it and get an Ashdown ABM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulman Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 [quote name='skychaserhigh' timestamp='1461392715' post='3034204'] Sell it and get an Ashdown ABM. [/quote]+1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 [quote name='Soulman' timestamp='1461397399' post='3034234'] +1 [/quote] +2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBass Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 Have you tried adding a compressor? An always on comp with very light settings will help to control and tighten your sound up. Alternatively try a different bass with similar settings, and try to isolate the issue. The TH's are FANTASTIC amps, but they require some learning/playing with to understand just how to get the tone you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 [quote name='Merton' timestamp='1461397958' post='3034245'] +2 [/quote] +3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 (edited) The Gain and Drive controls on the Tonehammers take some getting used. The drive, for example, doesn't just create a distorted type sound, it also interacts with the EQ section and basically changes your EQ. I'd never describe it as either growly or loose. Try it with a Jazz bass. Mine sounds very tight It takes some getting used to. That said, if you want a Foo Fighters sound, buy Ashdown Edited April 24, 2016 by Marvin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 [quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1461489967' post='3034987'] The Gain and Drive controls on the Tonehammers take some getting used. The drive, for example, doesn't just create a distorted type sound, it also interacts with the EQ section and basically changes your EQ. I'd never describe it as either growly or loose. Try it with a Jazz bass. Mine sounds very tight It takes some getting used to. That said, if you want a Foo Fighters sound, buy Ashdown [/quote] All good points, and the last one pretty spot on. The Rootmaster head gets the classic Ashdown sound, and is only a tiny bit bigger than the TH500. Heard one last week and was very impressed with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 I don't know what the Foo Fighters bass sounds like. All I'd say is get an amp that makes a great sound and lets you sound like you, not someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 (edited) [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1461494907' post='3035073']...get an amp that makes a great sound and lets you sound like you, not someone else. [/quote] But the fellow said, in his original post ... [quote name='danbanbass' timestamp='1461364132' post='3034146']...I play in a Foo fighters tribute band and can't get it to sound right.... [/quote] ... so is obviously trying to sound like the Foo Fighter's bassist. Just sayin'. Edited April 24, 2016 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 I agree...what does he sound like..??? You just need a hard driving sound that you can play with... TH500 can do Ampeg... but maybe the Pf500 is a good choice for drive and grind in this type of band setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 (edited) [quote name='danbanbass' timestamp='1461364132' post='3034146'] I'm struggling to get a good sound with this head. I play in a Foo fighters tribute band and can't get it to sound right. [/quote] If you're trying to sound like Nate then you should probably buy an Ashdown rig. [quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1461489967' post='3034987'] ...if you want a Foo Fighters sound, buy Ashdown [/quote] Whoops, beaten to it. A while back. Edited April 24, 2016 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbanbass Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 Cheers for the suggestions guys, will try out eq suggestion Lozz. I'm going to try the next couple of gigs with it and see if I can bond with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Have you seen this? [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMe3e-fQeyo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMe3e-fQeyo[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 As sounds go... should be easy to achieve. I think the TE were never that great way back then..depending on its vintage and miles on the clock too.. so that sounds a week link in the chain, for a start. But if the OP has ruled that out..?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbanbass Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 I think I'm either just having trouble coaxing a tight clear useable sound from it, I've had Ashdown gear before and have never been blown away by it. Nates clean bass sound is what I'm after in that vid, but Ashdown don't seem to compliment my playing, the other issue is I either can get the cut and loose the largeness in the sound or the opposite which looses the cut. Part of me wonders if I should've got an svt 3 pro.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 [quote name='danbanbass' timestamp='1461523725' post='3035420'] I've had Ashdown gear before and have never been blown away by it. [/quote] Was that all-valve Ashdown like Nate's using? I think it's the all-valve bit that's important, doesn't necessarily have to be Ashdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbanbass Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 I've only had the abm and mag line which didn't thrill me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 For the clean sound that Nate has on that clip Try the settings I put down earlier, but with Mid Freq at about 2 o`clock, and then adjust the Gain to however much breakup is required - probably 10 o`clockish. That gives the classic Ampeggy SVT type sound (got this from a thread on Talkbass). Too many mids for me, but it does that sound Nate has really nicely like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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