Members james on bass Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 This is somewhat of a rant/observation, not a spam. We all know Hartke cabs are bright sounding (I know some say harsh).Gallien heads are hi-fi sounding.My bass has Smith pups/electronics and is very bright.I've come to the conclusion that these three items, when combined are just too much hi-fi, and not enough warmth. I am having troubles finding the sound I envision as the perfect bass sound. At times I think a different bass, other times I think a new cab (2x12 Avatar?) would change things and other times I think a new head with tube pre-amp would be the answer. Since I have no discressionary funds available for gear at this time I tried selling my bass, but it is a one-off bass that is worth more to me than I could possibly get for it. Besides, after playing some other basses lately, I really love the feel of the MF. The guys in my bands like the uniqueness of it as well. Just wanted to rant. I really think a new rig is in order, but will have to wait awhile unless anyone has some low-cost suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sixgun77 Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 How much is low cost? I had a 4-12 cab custom made for 500$ and it smokes the ampeg 4-12 in terms of price and power handling. It sounds awesome, but I've never had the chance to compare it to the ampeg because nobody stocks them. This guy could probably make you a 2-12 for 250-300$ that would handle up to 1000 watts @ 4 Ohms. Are there any builders near you? If your bass and amp are exceptionally bright then you might also want to try a 2-15 cabinet. Most people on here don't seem to like them but I kinda do, I'm not a fan of lots of treble in bass. 2-15's are a nice balance of power and tone IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illidian Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Genz-Benz LS-410T. There are a couple online dealers, guitarfactory.com (I've gotten very low price quotes) and ecmusic.net (bought my cab from them, Jim was great to deal with), and shouldn't cost much more than $350 shipped. I use the smaller, more compact version (LS-210T) with a Gallien-Krueger Backline 600 head (a little more "meaty" than the Artist line, but mostly the same) and an cheap Ibanez P/J with a great slab of Agathis. My sound isn't hi-fi, although I can make it be with the tone control up (stainless steel strings). It contains a nice lower mid bump that doesn't sound too present playing alone, but in a live situation it shines and just fills out in the mix. My only beefs are the lack of a real low end (65Hz -3dB point with the 210) and the large depth which makes it akward to carry. Neither are a real issue for me, but may be for you. Maybe a Sansamp would be your cup of tea? Emulates tubes and speaker cabinets and cuts the mids, making a hi-fi rig quite low-fi. Can be had for less than $200 shipped, even the Programmable one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sixgun77 Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Cutting the mids is part of that High-fi sound, that won't get rid of it. How is 10's going to fix the problem when it's already too bright? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sunburstbasser Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Can you change the drivers in the Hartke cab? Put in some speakers that go a bit deeper? That, or if you could find an Ashdown MAG 300, that may solve your problem. Mine is much less hi-fi than my GK. Alternatively, boost your low mids, and cut your his. Do as you please with hi-mids, and boost lows a little. Leave your contour control set flat, and turn the Boost knob down as far as you can to clean up that growl a little and get a little less brightness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nishich Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 as far as I know you can get you self very cheap a fender bxr ampYou can find it on ebay somewhere about 50$ to 150$, I would recomend you bxr300c a 300w combo with 1x15 and biamp outputs, very warm and very cheap, nice for combinating with those bright elements that you have there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 I'd try a SansAmp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rippin' Robin Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Gallien heads can be hi-fi sounding. But the right fiddling will get them low-down, dirty and growling like mean pack of gutter dogs attacking a grizzly bear with an unusually deep growl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Originally posted by Rippin' Robin Gallien heads can be hi-fi sounding. But the right fiddling will get them low-down, dirty and growling like mean pack of gutter dogs attacking a grizzly bear with an unusually deep growl. Smoking too much of your local products already makes you lyrical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rippin' Robin Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Originally posted by Jazz Ad Smoking too much of your local products already makes you lyrical. Duuuuuuude... I was being, like, you know... literarical and stuff... (I don't smoke) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matteran Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 with the sansamp you can blend in the lo-fi tubey warmth to taste with the blend knob. Personally, I think the SANSamp is what you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members no-logic Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 I would start by getting rid of the Hartke. The Avatar would be a good start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MageZ Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Pack your amp and bass and go to shops to check out some cabs. Try some Edens, Ampegs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted July 18, 2005 Author Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Thanks. I'll try fiddling a bit more. I was also thinking the Sansamp route. I might try that route in the short term. I do really think my best bet may be to swap cabinets though. I used to really love the GK/Hartke combination (which I've had since 1991), but I was using darker sounding (and often fretless) basses back then as well up until a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretless Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Originally posted by Subsonicbass Try some Flatwound strings. +1 this works for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted July 18, 2005 Author Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Originally posted by Subsonicbass Try some Flatwound strings. I don't think I could get used to flatwounds. I'm mostly a rock player but I do the slap/pop thing for a few songs a night with the bands. I use nickel roundwounds. I should stay away from Stainless roundwounds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members beav2k2 Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Have you considered a Sansamp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members illidian Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Originally posted by james on bass I don't think I could get used to flatwounds. I'm mostly a rock player but I do the slap/pop thing for a few songs a night with the bands.I use nickel roundwounds. I should stay away from Stainless roundwounds? Depends if your bass is passive or not, really. I have a set of stainless (Rotosound) that work really well for me. My bass is passive so I have the Tone Control knob which can tame all the extra treble from the Stainless strings, and allows me to dial in anything between mud and lots of string noise. When playing fingerstyle, I have the tone at about 30%, 80% or so for slapping (both give or take, I just fiddle until it feels right). I prefer the sound of dead strings, and like the stainless a lot. It gives me more control over my clickity-clack than I've found with any other string type. A dead set of stainless may work for you if you have a good ear with the tone control. Dial off what you don't need, bring out what you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members beam Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 I'd add a sansamp and replace your speaker cabinets. Yes, stay way from stainless steel roundwounds if you don't want more brightness to your tone. As a rule of thumb:nickel=warmstainles steel=bright Either go with a new Avatar, Dr. Bass, or Peavey cab. Or find a good deal on a used Eden, Ampeg, or Aguilar cabinet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted July 18, 2005 Author Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 I started setting aside my gig money about 8 weeks ago. Almost had enough for an Avatar 2x12. Then the dog got sick and my wife had a birthday, so I wound up spending it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deacon_blue Posted July 18, 2005 Members Share Posted July 18, 2005 Psst.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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