hey all, ive got a 30th anniv. and play through a GK 15/ (2) 10 combo at 300 watts. I love the sound but have a question. I love playing some r&b, soul, and stuff and I can't seem to get a nice clean sound. Especially when I turn it up a bit. I don't play with a band, just practice at home. It seems I get a lot of xtra string noise/vibration when I'm playing. plus the sound just doesnt seem really clean. Is their something that I could use to help me with this. does anyone else use anything like this that would give me a more professional sound. Or am I just nuts. thanks.
- Thread starter jim4237
- Start date
Rano Bass
Well-known member
Could be fretbuzz or just turn down the "boost" knob on the amp.
roburado
Well-known member
Now, I'm not a bass player. I'm from the guitar side. So, I may not know anything useful for you, but is your bass' volume all the way up all the time? Maybe, you need to turn it down? Like I said, I'm a guitar player. So, I don't really know.
thanks for the advice. I did turn the bass down a bit. when I play a low levels the bass sounds awesome. Maybe my problem is that I don't play in a band and their isn't anything drowning me out and im hearing every fret buzz, etc. In a band I guess no one would hear that. I guess it is when I turn in up a bit. I think Im looking to turn it up loud and not have and fretbuz or distortion. Maybe I'm dreaming. Is there anyway of really clearing up the sound at high levels and getting rid of any distortion/buzz. any pedals out there? Or maybe I'm just maxing out the 300 watts. thanks for anymore info
russjm
Well-known member
Your sound within a band situation is a different animal to practising alone in my opinion. I practise at home through headphones via a Tascam CD-BT1, mainly so as not to wake the kids up, but it's a great sound and takes up less room than the amp.
I can easily distort the headphones by having the volume too high on the bass, so I tend to back the volume on the bass off a bit, but also the bass and treble pots are backed off to half on mine, and that helps too.
I've found the output on my ray is far higher than my jazz for instance, and if you're driving both the amp and the bass quite hard, you will get some overdrive if you dig in. Try taking some of the top end off the amp, and see if that cleans your sound up a bit.
Of course, the best way to eliminate buzz, is to raise the action a little, if it's very low then that could be your problem.
As you say, within a band, a lot of the top end and rattle gets soaked up, but it's not a reason to just "make do", you need to find your sound alone, and then work that into a band enviroment if and when you need to.
I can easily distort the headphones by having the volume too high on the bass, so I tend to back the volume on the bass off a bit, but also the bass and treble pots are backed off to half on mine, and that helps too.
I've found the output on my ray is far higher than my jazz for instance, and if you're driving both the amp and the bass quite hard, you will get some overdrive if you dig in. Try taking some of the top end off the amp, and see if that cleans your sound up a bit.
Of course, the best way to eliminate buzz, is to raise the action a little, if it's very low then that could be your problem.
As you say, within a band, a lot of the top end and rattle gets soaked up, but it's not a reason to just "make do", you need to find your sound alone, and then work that into a band enviroment if and when you need to.
jamesattard
Well-known member
i started taking this seriously, but PLAYING TECHNIQUE is the most important thing when it come to getting a good sound...i used to tweak every existant parameter - from string action, to preamp EQ, amp EQ, cab configuration ,etc...but it all turns out how you pluck the strings, where you pluck them and how you fret the notes. I am practicing hard to start experimenting with various positions when plucking the string - i.e. to get a warm rounder sound i'm moving my plucking hand towards the neck, so somehow i have to practice putting my thumb on the body rather than on the pickup...maybe it helps.
russjm
Well-known member
That's all good advice too.
At home I play really gently, with a relaxed right hand technique, and I get the perfect tone for me, but live I tend to let the adrenalin kick in, and I start digging in harder at the expense of good technique and so my sound suffers. It's important to try and stay relaxed and concentrate on how you play at all times, not just at home.
At home I play really gently, with a relaxed right hand technique, and I get the perfect tone for me, but live I tend to let the adrenalin kick in, and I start digging in harder at the expense of good technique and so my sound suffers. It's important to try and stay relaxed and concentrate on how you play at all times, not just at home.
koogie2k
Well-known member
Good advice by all. I would start with the bass itself. Get her set up to how you like it, tweak the truss rod, etc. Set your knobs half way. Plug in....then with your amp setting, put them at 12 o'clock and dial in a necessary. I have a GK (rack mounted) and I set the GK to 12 o'clock when I got her and dialed in from there. I don't use any "effects" really, I do have a some rack mounted items...eq, power, expander/limiter. I get a nice fat clean sound.
Once you turn up volume....you will have to tweak your amp to keep the distorted sound from happening.
Once you turn up volume....you will have to tweak your amp to keep the distorted sound from happening.
