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Author Topic: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat  (Read 1932 times)

Offline Bassman4God

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Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« on: February 17, 2014, 11:55:11 AM »
Ok, LGM Family.....how much do you actually use your onboard preamp in your bass? I read a lot of articles and hear players talk about their awesome preamp they had installed, but when asked about how they set it they say "I just run it all flat"...so, why buy an expensive preamp and then not use it? My personal tone is boosting the bass and mids on my preamp and usually set my amp controls at 12 o'clock or flat. My thought is by boosting from the bass the DI signal will be closer to my tone from the amp. So, for the IEM's and wedges the tone is not as harsh. Your thoughts?????

Offline SketchMan3

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Re: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2014, 12:56:48 PM »
Hey that seems like a logical way to do things.
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Offline DWBass

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Re: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2014, 02:07:41 PM »
I don't run mine flat. I always boost the bass a tad and the treble a tad when I slap but I usually keep the treble set flat. I'm gonna have my luthier/tech build me a preamp with a 'slap' or contour switch similar to what GK has on their amps.
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Offline stix_clgi

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Re: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2014, 02:53:48 PM »
It depends on the preamp, and what type of tone controls the preamp is replacing. Probably 90% of aftermarket preamps have a particular "sound" when set flat. If a player likes that sound, then yes, he/she will probably keep the preamp set flat.

My tone settings are kinda similar to yours, only I have certain frequencies boosted on my amp (Eden WT800C). When I say boosted, I really mean just a slight bump in a given frequency...maybe 3 o'clock on the dial at the most. I also will regularly boost my hi and lo mids all the way, with the bass and treble boosted maybe 70%; gives it a really thick and aggressive fingerstyle tone. I have a Pope pre in my Cirrus, and it has a 4-band eq, so it was a tough time not making redundant adjustments between the bass and amp. I'm not one of those "transparency" guys, I'll boost a control all the way up if it sounds good lol. That said, I'm still trying to find the right balance...sometimes I feel like I have too many tone controls that are set a too many different frequencies

How is your DI setup? Is it pre- or post amp eq? I would think that would affect the sound through the IEM's and wedges greatly. It it's pre eq, then adjusting the controls on the amp aren't going to affect the sound coming from the board. Conversely, if it's post-eq, the opposite applies.
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Offline Mysteryman

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Re: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2014, 03:55:00 PM »
I don't really like hearing muddy bass tones. It would be nice if bass players were playing from the audience to hear what the tone really sounds like.
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Offline Bassman4God

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Re: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2014, 07:22:14 AM »
I like the thoughts I am hearing so far! I do agree with you Mysteryman. Muddy bass tones are really bad and I cannot stand them either. I know from my experience I have been in the audience of many churches where the bass is DI and there is no depth at all to it. It is really brittle and "clacky" (if that's a real word) not a real solid bass tone that can carry the groove. I know in one situation the player had a nice GK head and cab and his tone in the pit was beast, but in the house mix is was just weak. He was running his bass pre flat and tweaking the amp tones. So, I started to do the opposite and have had good results and no real complaints from the FOH engineer.

Offline Bassman4God

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Re: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2014, 07:28:09 AM »
It depends on the preamp, and what type of tone controls the preamp is replacing. Probably 90% of aftermarket preamps have a particular "sound" when set flat. If a player likes that sound, then yes, he/she will probably keep the preamp set flat.

My tone settings are kinda similar to yours, only I have certain frequencies boosted on my amp (Eden WT800C). When I say boosted, I really mean just a slight bump in a given frequency...maybe 3 o'clock on the dial at the most. I also will regularly boost my hi and lo mids all the way, with the bass and treble boosted maybe 70%; gives it a really thick and aggressive fingerstyle tone. I have a Pope pre in my Cirrus, and it has a 4-band eq, so it was a tough time not making redundant adjustments between the bass and amp. I'm not one of those "transparency" guys, I'll boost a control all the way up if it sounds good lol. That said, I'm still trying to find the right balance...sometimes I feel like I have too many tone controls that are set a too many different frequencies

How is your DI setup? Is it pre- or post amp eq? I would think that would affect the sound through the IEM's and wedges greatly. It it's pre eq, then adjusting the controls on the amp aren't going to affect the sound coming from the board. Conversely, if it's post-eq, the opposite applies.

I use an Avalon Tube Pre to FOH and then a GK MB500/Neo 410 rig. The DI is great and I go Bass>DI>FOH. I line out to the Amp for stage tone. I am like you I like a meaty and robust tone, but not muddy.

Offline Bassman4God

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Re: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2014, 07:32:00 AM »
I don't run mine flat. I always boost the bass a tad and the treble a tad when I slap but I usually keep the treble set flat. I'm gonna have my luthier/tech build me a preamp with a 'slap' or contour switch similar to what GK has on their amps.

I have been using the GK stuff now for about 2 years. Awesome stuff!

Offline stix_clgi

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Re: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2014, 02:53:13 PM »
I use an Avalon Tube Pre to FOH and then a GK MB500/Neo 410 rig. The DI is great and I go Bass>DI>FOH. I line out to the Amp for stage tone. I am like you I like a meaty and robust tone, but not muddy.

Those Avalon Pre's are some of the best! Thd DI on my Eden is decent so I don't use a separate preamp. Eventually I'm going to get an Avalon for recording purposes. I've never been a big fan of GK stuff, but I haven't tried the newer MB line. I'm assuming they sound as good as they are popular?

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Offline Mysteryman

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Re: Onboard Preamp - Tweak or Flat
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2014, 03:49:15 PM »
I am like you I like a meaty and robust tone, but not muddy.
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