Some Eq settings

[oli@bass]

Probably because you are boosting the bass on your 'Ray so much...

+1

And: Those SWR 4x10 cabs suck out the midrange big time!

And: SWR amps accentuate the high end when set flat, so you might want to cut treble on the amp and cab tweeters as well.

[Smakbass]

I suppose if your talking eq settings you would have to add in your amp and your amp setting as that would be part of the equation as well,,,I use a Markbass LMK head and have it set flat as well. I have never been much a knob twiddler...I have a friend who carries a book with different settings for different amps he has and a setting for each of his basses.

[ronnyG]

+1

And: Those SWR 4x10 cabs suck out the midrange big time!

And: SWR amps accentuate the high end when set flat, so you might want to cut treble on the amp and cab tweeters as well.

Thanks for all the input peeps. I am like a sponge.

However I have been using this setup for many many years..the SWR's 4x10s are actually very midrangy..and I ALWAYS keep the tweets OFF.

As far as amp settings...it is kept flat with my Jazz bass..The jazz seems to have a tone I prefer..but the SR is my main player..nothing plays like it..I can play it for days straight and it wants more..no finger aches ever.

With that said..I strongly feel (and I have an audio engineering background) that it is just the way that model SR sounds inherantly..and not having the 3band eq adds to the issue. The way I set it (bass almost full, treble off) sounds as close as I can get it to be what I want. I need to crank the mids on the amp for that bass because the bass itself lacks midrange..period..it is "Boom/Hiss" so to speak.

And don't forget in live situations the bass is direct..my amp settings only effect the stage sound..so I need to set it the way I do if I wish to be heard and not sound "plinky and thin"

I don't want to replace the bass since I can't find a player like it...so I thought about adding a Pup..I know from my jazz bass that having a pup "blend" can really round out the overall tone..which is what I am looking for. I also considered installing the 3band eq, which is an option..but I still feel strongly that a 2 pup will give me the tone control and sound I want..of course I need to find out how to integrate a seperate volume control for each pup into the factory MM preamp...or gut it all and start new. Decisions, decisions.

[oli@bass]

Try a new SR4 HH in a store and compare it to your own bass. Would be interesting to see if that gives you the result you're looking for.

What mid frequencies are you boosting on the amp?

BTW, how's your EQ set when recording the bass? Do you record direct or process the signal as well?

[ronnyG]

Good suggestion again. I will hit the GC tomorrow and try an HH out.

I boost the mids all out (+15db) @ 200hz mid shift..not sure if the x-over slope is 6/12/18 or 24db but not too concerned has it makes a huge improvement in the tone to my ears, where it counts most.

Although for recording I have currently been using a Line 6 amp modeller, I have had pretty good results going straight into the board as well. Keep the eq on the bass just like I do live...bass knob about 9, treble 0. I don't have any complaints really as far as the sound of it recorded (it sounds better then my P-bass Special) but I do boost the mids as well on the board eq..add a touch of reverb, touch of compression and play with a fairly heavy attack..especially for fills...seems to do the trick. I prefer an organic sound as opposed to processed so the sound coming from the bass is what it's all about for me personally...which is why the quest for more tone options from the bass itself.

But I really would like more tone options from the bass itself and giving serious thought to adding a pick-up...and since at that point I will have substantially reduced the resale value...I can paint it a custom color as well..I am sick of the black and it's beat/dented/scratched/faded and worn to all heck anyhow. It's amazing though how good the neck is..never had a fret job either and this bass is played to death. I love it.

[Elad_E]

With that said..I strongly feel (and I have an audio engineering background) that it is just the way that model SR sounds inherantly..and not having the 3band eq adds to the issue. The way I set it (bass almost full, treble off) sounds as close as I can get it to be what I want. I need to crank the mids on the amp for that bass because the bass itself lacks midrange..period..it is "Boom/Hiss" so to speak.

And don't forget in live situations the bass is direct..my amp settings only effect the stage sound..so I need to set it the way I do if I wish to be heard and not sound "plinky and thin"

thats very strange, both of my Rays have the 2 band EQ and they got some major midrange going on especially when the bass knob is turned up.
however, with the bass knob on 9 (I take it this doesnt mean 9 o'clock) I'll probably be deep into boomy territory.

dont forget that the bass knob is boost only while the treble knob is cut/boost.

[nashman]

I have found that my HH ray sounds best with bass boosted fairly high (on the Ray). My amp EQ mostly flat (a little boost of low/mids). I was thinking it might be a completely different story for an 18v Bongo (?).

[AtomicPunk]

On my single H 5-string Stingray, I run pickup selector closest to me (up), highs off, mids full and bass 90%. I've tried a lot of different settings and this one sounds good to MY ears. Amp is set flat.

[ronnyG]

thats very strange, both of my Rays have the 2 band EQ and they got some major midrange going on especially when the bass knob is turned up.
however, with the bass knob on 9 (I take it this doesnt mean 9 o'clock) I'll probably be deep into boomy territory.

dont forget that the bass knob is boost only while the treble knob is cut/boost.

Well it's not strange to me since I have been gigging with this bass for 16 fvc&1ng years..so to me it's normal.

My bass is a 1990 with maple neck. I don't know if that particular vintage combination are all like that..or if I have a lemon. But either way I keep the bass knob at 9..not 9 o'clock...9 as in one before 10.

Not boomy so much but just bass..which is what I want from my bass...BASS.

But would be nice if I could get a little mid as well...but not because it's "boomy"..because it lacks a nice round tone...you need more then 30-60hz and 1000k up to have a nice tone IMO. And as much as I love this bass..and as much as it blows away other basses as far as action and playability..I am not ashamed or embarrassed to admit that the tone sucks.

[mynan]

Well it's not strange to me since I have been gigging with this bass for 16 fvc&1ng years..so to me it's normal.

My bass is a 1990 with maple neck. I don't know if that particular vintage combination are all like that..or if I have a lemon. But either way I keep the bass knob at 9..not 9 o'clock...9 as in one before 10.

Not boomy so much but just bass..which is what I want from my bass...BASS.

But would be nice if I could get a little mid as well...but not because it's "boomy"..because it lacks a nice round tone...you need more then 30-60hz and 1000k up to have a nice tone IMO. And as much as I love this bass..and as much as it blows away other basses as far as action and playability..I am not ashamed or embarrassed to admit that the tone sucks.

16 yrs of gigging with tone that sucks?...that might be something to think about...

[ronnyG]

16 yrs of gigging with tone that sucks?...that might be something to think about...

Uh...........yeah.

I agree that remark does come off as if I am an idiot....which I may be lol. However, I will say "sucks" was a bit strong..I was embelishing a bit to get a point across. Other people tell me the bass sounds fine (or great) and my band members have no real issue with my tone or the fact that I play through 8-10s and 2-15s..lol.

Kidding aside, I lived with "myself" not really caring for the tone as a compromise since I have tried other basses and they just don't feel right to me..I can not play as well on them. I do have a Jazz and a P-bass special (as well as an SUB with a rosewood but I don't really use it). I also once used a 70s standard P to record but sold that because i just could not set it up to my liking. As well my Jazz and current P are going up for sale..even though I prefer the tone of those basses..what good does it do me if I never really want to play them?

So my solution in my stubborness and ignorance is to hot rod my SR so I get the tone I want..or as close to it as possible. Make sense to anyone but me?