My tone.

Tomasz s

Tomasz s

Mar 7, 2015
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Newcastle, Englandshire
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#1
Okay, apologies if this is in the wrong section, but I didn't know where else to ask it. I've been un satisfied with my tone for a very long time now. The basics are, I use an epiphone TB 90% of the time into an ashdown solid state 300w combo and a marshall 4x10 cab with a compression tweeter. No FX. I am never able to get the tone I want, the low end is never tight enough, the high end isn't clear enough and the mids don't growl or honk enough. I've tried re EQing it 100's of times to no avail. The sound is never dynamic enough. It has no bite, no edge. I've tried pushing the compression in my amp, tried adjusting pick up heights. Nothing works. It only ever sounds remotely good when I push the amp to go stupid loud, which makes things in my room vibrate and drives me insane. I'm at the end of the line now as I've had this rig for about 2 years now but I don't know whether it's the amp, speakers, pickups. I know it's not me because the gear I use (rental) at my rehearsal room (trace 1200w) always nails the tone I want effortlessly. Any advice. Thanks.
 
#5
Have you used the problematic rig with a band? As you know, bass sounds way different solo than it does with other instruments. A lot of times what sounds bad on its own can actually work well in a full band context, and the opposite as well.

You also might have outgrown your amp. Seems the bass is fine since you like the sound through a different, more powerful amp. So that rules out the strings, pickups, etc. Might be you need a better amp. I'm impressed that you spent so much time working with what you have, but the reality of our instrument is that the hardware does matter at a certain point, and if it's bottlenecking you it's probably time to move up.
 
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#6
Tomasz s said:
...been unsatisfied with my tone for a very long time now. The basics are, I use an epiphone TB 90% of the time into an ashdown solid state 300w combo and a marshall 4x10 cab with a compression tweeter. No FX. I am never able to get the tone I want, the low end is never tight enough, the high end isn't clear enough and the mids don't growl or honk enough. I've tried re EQing it 100's of times to no avail. The sound is never dynamic enough. It has no bite, no edge. I've tried pushing the compression in my amp, tried adjusting pick up heights. Nothing works. It only ever sounds remotely good when I push the amp to go stupid loud...
Click to expand...

Are you desiring a clean or overdriven sound? What bass do you play the other 10% of the time instead of the Epiphone TB?

P-Bass? What happens then?

By "low end is never tight enough," do you mean you want more/less low mids, more/less fundamental, or some combination of those (which)?
 
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#8
Jim Carr said:
Are you desiring a clean or overdriven sound? What bass do you play the other 10% of the time instead of the Epiphone TB?

P-Bass? What happens then?

By "low end is never tight enough," do you mean you want more/less low mids, more/less fundamental, or some combination of those (which)?
Click to expand...
I like minimal distortion, and I like the low end to be biased toward the mids. Boosting it at 340 Hz never works, it just ends up getting flat and muddy. My other bass is an older maple board P from the early eighties. It does sound better but minimally, slightly more balanced. Lower lows, clearer high end and a bright middle. It still sounds eye wateringly sterile.
 
#10
IronLung1986 said:
Have you used the problematic rig with a band? As you know, bass sounds way different solo than it does with other instruments. A lot of times what sounds bad on its own can actually work well in a full band context, and the opposite as well.

You also might have outgrown your amp. Seems the bass is fine since you like the sound through a different, more powerful amp. So that rules out the strings, pickups, etc. Might be you need a better amp. I'm impressed that you spent so much time working with what you have, but the reality of our instrument is that the hardware does matter at a certain point, and if it's bottlenecking you it's probably time to move up.
Click to expand...
I've used it a few times in a band situation with poor luck. It doesn't sit well in the mix, gets lost. Other guitarists use relatively small rigs too, tele and strat into 50 watters. The low end gets lost completely. What you said is what I feared. For me bass is little more than a passtime. I wanted to avoid having to spend big bucks on a new rig but I fear it might be the only way to achieve the tone I want! Thanks for replying
 
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#12
Tomasz s said:
I've used it a few times in a band situation with poor luck. It doesn't sit well in the mix, gets lost. Other guitarists use relatively small rigs too, tele and strat into 50 watters. The low end gets lost completely. What you said is what I feared. For me bass is little more than a passtime. I wanted to avoid having to spend big bucks on a new rig but I fear it might be the only way to achieve the tone I want! Thanks for replying
Click to expand...

Yea no prob man, I know what you mean. Just remember that while 50 watts is puny in the bass world, it's no joke for guitar. If the guys you're playing with are rocking 50 watters it's no surprise you're not keeping up!
 
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#18
Which Epi Thunderbird are you using? Is it a bolt neck or Classic 4? On a Tbird I would probably want rounds instead of flats or maybe Cobalt flats from Ernie Ball. I would also turn your bass knob down below half if its not there. A nice bright roundwound string would help a Thunderbird which can tend to be focused on heavy bottom. And the amp your using has a strong bottom. Not sure about your speakers. So cut bass, slight mid boost and slightly higher high mid boost and treble flat. I had both Epi Tbirds, the bolt on and the classic, 4 and I can't even imagine either sounding very crisp or clear with flatwounds strings.
 
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#19
1stnamebassist said:
Which Epi Thunderbird are you using? Is it a bolt neck or Classic 4? On a Tbird I would probably want rounds instead of flats or maybe Cobalt flats from Ernie Ball. I would also turn your bass knob down below half if its not there. A nice bright roundwound string would help a Thunderbird which can tend to be focused on heavy bottom. And the amp your using has a strong bottom. Not sure about your speakers. So cut bass, slight mid boost and slightly higher high mid boost and treble flat. I had both Epi Tbirds, the bolt on and the classic, 4 and I can't even imagine either sounding very crisp or clear with flatwounds strings.
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It's a weirdo limited edition one. Bolt neck, all mahogany and odd vintage TB style pickups (not the gibson style soapbars)
 
#20
BJMtz said:
If you're using the same bass at home and at practice then it sounds like it's your amp and cab causing the issues since you get a tone you like with the Trace. A Sansamp BDDI can make any sterile amp sound good IME so maybe try a preamp like that first.
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I've considered a pre amp quite a lot, but my hesitation comes from wanting to pool my money and get myself a good amp that will last me a lifetime as opposed to using a cheap fix. Appreciate the advice regardless.
 
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