Question about Active Bass clipping?

[Tempest]

I was playing a gig last night using my Ashdown MAG C115-300 and first half it was perfect with my Jazz bass plugged into the passive jack. Levels were all about half way if that and I use a compression pedal at about 40% for most of the time.

 

As we play some lower and heavier stuff in the second half, I switched to my active 5 string music man and plugged into the active circuit. I had to drop the preamp input level as it was majorly loud, but I noticed that I was getting some clipping of the mid range. I turned my compression off and there was no change.

 

Does anyone have any advice on what might have caused it???

 

cheers

 

Dave

[Downunderwonder]

Flat battery is the usual suspect assuming you aren't a total newbie failing to turn down enough.

[Tempest]

New battery in place before the gig and made checks on volume during the interval… 🧐

[agedhorse]

If the preamp is what’s clipping, and lowering the input  gain on the preamp doesn’t help, the next thing to try is to lower the volume on the bass a little and see if that resolves the symptoms.

[Downunderwonder]

11 hours ago, Tempest said:

New battery in place before the gig and made checks on volume during the interval… 🧐

Google gain staging.

Clipping can occur anywhere from the bass preamp to the speaker, eventually even your ears!