How to set up an amp for jazz?

Ricardo Ramos

Ricardo Ramos

Dec 21, 2018
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#1
I have a little bit of time playing jazz, but I don't get the right tone that I want. I have a fender precision with flats on it, have a peavey amp (3 band eq) and a Galien Kruger (5 band qb), but I never find the right spot or tone on those amps. Can someone tell me how do you set up your amp? I don't want to sound like a double bass, but I want that old, classic, deth sound. Thank you guys.
 
#3
My amp settings depend on which bass and amp I use and the room we're playing in so it can be different every time. I just adjust the amp EQ until it sounds right.

BTW, excuse my ignorance but what do you mean by "deth" sound? I've never encountered the term before.
 
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#7
Jaja yes! By that term I try to say something that is on my mind but I don't know hot to described lol. Like the difference on round and flat string, round sound more metallic, more Bright, more "alive", and flats sound more off, have less live on the sustain, sound more "death" to me, I really don't know how to call that but I hope you get the point jaja
 
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#8
Ricardo Ramos said:
Jaja yes! By that term I try to say something that is on my mind but I don't know hot to described lol. Like the difference on round and flat string, round sound more metallic, more Bright, more "alive", and flats sound more off, have less live on the sustain, sound more "death" to me, I really don't know how to call that but I hope you get the point jaja
Click to expand...

Since you bring up rounds vs flats, you might try round wounds. I've been playing in jazz combos and big bands since the early 70's and I use round wounds.
 
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#9
How about tapewounds? I have been tempted to buy a set and try them, but I have been playing only jazz on my school, so I need that jazz sound because I have 3 years left of only jazz to play jeje, which strings do you think sound better? (right now I'm using GHS precision flats, I think they sound really good)
 
#10
Ricardo Ramos said:
Jaja yes! By that term I try to say something that is on my mind but I don't know hot to described lol. Like the difference on round and flat string, round sound more metallic, more Bright, more "alive", and flats sound more off, have less live on the sustain, sound more "death" to me, I really don't know how to call that but I hope you get the point jaja
Click to expand...
Oh, you mean a "dead" sound?
 
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#11
Ricardo Ramos said:
How about tapewounds? I have been tempted to buy a set and try them, but I have been playing only jazz on my school, so I need that jazz sound because I have 3 years left of only jazz to play jeje, which strings do you think sound better? (right now I'm using GHS precision flats, I think they sound really good)
Click to expand...

As I said, I've been playing round wounds for 40 years doing what want to do, so it should easy to figure out what I recommend. Get a set of D'Addario EXL170's.
 
#13
Thanks for the advice, I will boutgh them when my Current strings Die. But I think this It came out a little bit of context. I just want to know to to move the EQ of the amp. Move the high, the mids, the lows, etc. Etc. But I think I will have to make it To the old school, play and move every know until I get the tone I want
 
#14
Ricardo Ramos said:
Thanks for the advice, I will boutgh them when my Current strings Die. But I think this It came out a little bit of context. I just want to know to to move the EQ of the amp. Move the high, the mids, the lows, etc. Etc. But I think I will have to make it To the old school, play and move every know until I get the tone I want
Click to expand...

If you're having a hard time figuring it out now the strings I recommended will give you a new starting point.
 
#15
On a GK amp, I would set

Bass = 10:00
Low Mid = 2:00
High Mid = 2:00
High = 10:00

Turn off the Contour. That will result in a relatively flat amp. Now I also put the Tone knob on my bass somewhere around the halfway point. My bass is a fretless with flats, but that's my starting point. Then I adjust to suit my tastes and the room.

On a Peavey, I think I'd just set all of the tone knobs to a neutral position.
 
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#17
Ricardo Ramos said:
. I just want to know to to move the EQ of the amp. Move the high, the mids, the lows, etc. Etc. But I think I will have to make it To the old school, play and move every know until I get the tone I want
Click to expand...

Where you need to put the knobs depends on how you play the bass, and the actual tone you want. If you play near the bridge the sound will be brighter, if you play near the frets it will be deeper. The only way to find it is play with the knobs till you get what you want. Starting with them all flat and moving them 1 at a time is the best way to start.
 
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#19
Ricardo Ramos said:
Jaja yes! By that term I try to say something that is on my mind but I don't know hot to described lol. Like the difference on round and flat string, round sound more metallic, more Bright, more "alive", and flats sound more off, have less live on the sustain, sound more "death" to me, I really don't know how to call that but I hope you get the point jaja
Click to expand...
Maybe you mean "Dead" sounding?
 
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