MM through an Ampeg :(

[AmericanJetSet]

When I first got my Sterling (Blue Dawn/maple fretboard) I played through a Trace Elliot combo, which was pretty decent. Since then I have bought a Mesa Powerhouse 4x10 cab and Ampeg b2R head. I have had this current set-up for about a year now, and I have to admit, I hate my tone. Everything is too subtle or way too trebley (I don't think that is a word) I have tried every possible EQ change but just can't get a fat growling tone. I have played my bass through other heads and achieve what I want, but buying a new one isnt an option for me right now.

Is there anything you guys could recommend to help me fix this, without having to get a new head or cab? Perhaps a seperate EQ pedal or something. I have heard good and bad things about the Bass Xciter, but my local Guitar Center doesn't carry Mesa amps, so I would have no way of really trying it out with my rig.

Sorry to ramble on so much for just my first post

 

[phatduckk]

well ... i got a mesa head on saturday and it blew on me after playing it for 20 minutes. so, umm, im kinda down on mesa right now

anyway ...

i think the powerhouse 410 is an 8 ohm cab. if that's true then your head is only putting out 200 watts. that's not really that much power to and could explain the lack of growl. you should borrow an 8ohm cab from a buddy to get the load to 4ohms and see how it sounds.

good luck dude

my info from:
http://ampeg.com/products.htm?product=12&catid=14 and
http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Bass_Cabs/Printable/PrintableB-Cabs.htm

 

[AmericanJetSet]

Sorry to hear about your head, thats a major bummer.

I have tried what you suggested before with an SWR 1x15 cab added to my current set up, and even when the amp pushes out its full 350w there's not much difference.

I might just take a chance and grab a bass Xciter to EQ pedal and see if that helps. I can always return it

thanks for the suggestions though

 

[xshawnxearthx]

i had a lot of the same problems. i have the same head, with a tube pre(svt 3 pro) and the 610hlf. it was always weak. i bought a p-bass, now it sounds diesel.

one thing i bought, was a bbe sonic maximizer, and a sans amp pedal. that will make you sound exactly how you want(well, it should).

 

[spectorbassguy]

When I first got my Sterling (Blue Dawn/maple fretboard) I played through a Trace Elliot combo, which was pretty decent. Since then I have bought a Mesa Powerhouse 4x10 cab and Ampeg b2R head. I have had this current set-up for about a year now, and I have to admit, I hate my tone. Everything is too subtle or way too trebley (I don't think that is a word) I have tried every possible EQ change but just can't get a fat growling tone. I have played my bass through other heads and achieve what I want, but buying a new one isnt an option for me right now.

Is there anything you guys could recommend to help me fix this, without having to get a new head or cab? Perhaps a seperate EQ pedal or something. I have heard good and bad things about the Bass Xciter, but my local Guitar Center doesn't carry Mesa amps, so I would have no way of really trying it out with my rig.

Sorry to ramble on so much for just my first post

Well the Ampeg is a solid state amp isn't it? Not a good growler I don't think. I'll go with my standard answer:
Mesa 400+ = Mucho Grande Fat Growl
I got mine used in perfect condition on Harmony Central for $750.00. I could sell it for the same price after a year of using it (but why would I?).
Not much of a risk if you carefully buy used.
Here's the Harmony Central Website:
http://www.harmony-central.com/cgi-...ealer=on&fs=on&wtb=on&1101=on&1001=on&time=28

 

[Melv]

Well i have a Ampeg B-2R and Ampeg SVT410HE and i get a great low end growl from it. No complaints

 

[LarryNJ]

One thing I really miss about my Sterling ( ) was that for me at least, it was
impossible to get a bad tone out of it no matter what I ran thru- and I played thru some real junk backline at times. Some of the best tones came from my Ampeg V4BH and my Mesa Buster, both tubes, but also my little G-K microbass w/a Genz-Benz 12" ext. cab- Amazing!

But---enuff about me! Two easy suggestions that MAY tweak your tone
(every player hits the strings differently)....

BOSS GEB-7 graphic EQ or the LMB-3 Limiter/Enhancer pedals;

OR​

The Yamaha NE-1 parametric Eq (I think it's still around)

Used in your signal chain these may help you get a more desireable, or balanced,or rounder phatter tone; depending on what u want----

But like I said b4, weak tone from a Sterling Bass?????
Hard to conceive!!!!!!

Good Luck-

 

[Mobay45]

But like I said b4, weak tone from a Sterling Bass?????
Hard to conceive!!!!!!

Good Luck-

I agree. I cant' imagine any MM bass delivering a weak sound. I play through a Hartke 3500 through a 210 and a 115 (350 watts) and have no trouble cutting through 2 guitars with Marshalls and a drummer that hits his snare like he's trying to break the head with every hit. I get the growl and am nowhere near full volume.

 

[skabassist13]

ok heres my opinion.
the b2r is full solid state, this means pretty much no growl from the amplifier. im going to assume your using the -15db pad. my thought is to turn it off, now mind you if you had it on your going to have to lower the gain to compensate for the extra input. then, make shure your battery is in good standing. this should help put some growl into the amp. just make sure the gain light on flickers. if its on all the time you have to turn it down. my second suggestion would be to mess with your eq. you say you want fat growly tone. and then you say you cant get it. you have 3 sections of eq to play with, if you cant get any specific sound you either a. dont know what your doing, or b. arent trying hard enough(sorry if i sounded like an ass, didnt mean to). really you should be able to get just about any sound you want out of it. start with the 3 band on your amp. then go to the graphic eq or the eq on your bass which ever you prefer then go to the other, making fine adjustments as you see fit. that should get it done. maybe you should try cutting the mids a bit first, then boost the lows, and then use the highs for clarity. im not sure if that will get you exactly what your looking for but give it a shot. ok, im done, sorry if i sounded mean, i didnt mean to.
Travis