omikin Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Recently I've been mostly using my Fender Bassman 100 valve head with my Matamp 2x12, although I have recently ordered a Barefaced Super 12, so I thought I would take my Terror Bass to rehearsal to get used to that before the Barefaced arrives (I haven't used it a great deal as I just love the tone I get from the Fender) so I can have a truly lightweight rig. Anyway, I know the tone controls don't do very much, but last night I was struggling to get anything approaching top end from it, even with the treble on full. I unplugged the Boss tuner pedal and went straight into the head and that improved things a bit, but it was still a very muddy sound. Gain at about 3 (9 o'clock), volume the same. Anyone experienced the same thing? Going to take both heads down at some point this week to A/B them so I can rule out the tone pot on the bass (Fender US P with flats on). With the Bassman I usually have treble at about 6, and tone rolled off a little on the bass, and that gives me a nice tone. Last night the Orange sounded like it was being played from next door! Through a sponge! Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Shouldn't be that bad, but you can help by starting with both bass and treble set to 9 o'clock, and middle set to 12. That's - very crudely - "flat" for this amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omikin Posted August 13, 2012 Author Share Posted August 13, 2012 Will give that a try. I think something has happened since I last used this though (6 months ago?) as I used to have a much brighter tone than I do now, and I don't remember it being so "woolly". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Dying valve could do it. Blown tweeter in your cab also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Must admit I never had any lack of top end with mine, and I use dead roundwounds, and was putting it through a Marshall 412 with no tweeter. I was a warm sound, but still had the highs there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chest Rockwell Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 yup, cant say i have a problem with mine either. i often have to turn the treble down if the cab im stuck with doesnt balance the bass on full (i.e. the sound guy or bandmates winge about too much bass!!). without wishing to be overly contrary, if anything i find the clean sound (i.e. no big muff) too trebley sometimes, when we go 'light' i dont want the bass sounding clanky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Again, I've never had what I would call a diminished treble with my Bass Terror, and I'm mostly using a P-bass with old rounds, always through a Barefaced Compact (1x15). Could be the Matamp cab combo?! I've never used one so I don't know. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omikin Posted August 14, 2012 Author Share Posted August 14, 2012 Have taken it to be looked at. Hopefully something simple to fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grunge666 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Sound like a valve(s) to me - just my 2p. Good Luck sorting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 [quote name='omikin' timestamp='1344966501' post='1771784'] Have taken it to be looked at. Hopefully something simple to fix. [/quote] Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umph Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1344866876' post='1770309'] Shouldn't be that bad, but you can help by starting with both bass and treble set to 9 o'clock, and middle set to 12. That's - very crudely - "flat" for this amp. [/quote] middle on full bass and treble on 1 is flat with that tone stack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 [quote name='umph' timestamp='1345294497' post='1775970'] middle on full bass and treble on 1 is flat with that tone stack [/quote] Yeah that's pretty much my take on it too, approximately.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 [size=5][sub]Not good...if you know what the cab can produce, then it must be the amp.. I'd level everything at 12'..and see what control can do what.[/sub][/size] [size=5][sub]Maybe the amp didn't like sitting around doing nothing for 6 months and you have killed one of the valves...[/sub][/size] [size=5][sub]Don't really know the amp...and valve amps aren't famed for EQ... but this is beyond that, I'd guess.[/sub][/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I'd start at as flat eq as possible as mentioned a couple of posts up (note that everything at 12 o'clock is not flat), and go from there. It probably is a valve, but anything is worth a try... Cheers Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Not suggesting 12 is flat but it should be pretty centred for all intents and purposes for your amp..in that you have a semblance of cut or boost... or more importantly, more or less of anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omikin Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Update: So I took it to my amp tech and he replaced one of the valves (more down to personal preference than anything else - he replaced the Electro Harmonix one that the previous owner had put in with a Mullard which means it takes more gain to make it break up, so it's a smoother, creamier sound), but he couldn't find any fault with the tone pots. I think it was a bit of a EQ issue. I'm used to using a Fender Bassman and the bass and treble on that are different "flat" to the Orange. Now with the treble at about 1, mids at 12, and bass at 10 I can get quite a bright tone (P-bass with dead flats on it). I guess I wasn't patient enough with the EQ before! On a side note - when I brought it in my tech was putting the finishing touches to this:[attachment=117103:Valveamp.JPG][attachment=117104:Valveamp2.JPG] It's an 18 watt amp he made for the fella from the Vaccines (the 4th or 5th amp he's made for him, apparently) based on an old Marshall (Bluesbreaker?). He passed me a guitar and let me play through it. Sounded extremely nice. Lovely AC/DC sort of distortion. Nothing to do with my amp problem, but I thought I would share the loveliness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grunge666 Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Glad that worked out mate, and thanks for reporting back - I've not slept a wink since you posted about the problem! Re: the 18w guitar amp. One the the guitarists in my band has a USA built Rockaforte 18w Class A amp - its stupid loud and the tones are righteous. I really don't know how all that shenanigans work ... It's witchcraft I tell thee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omikin Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 Thanks, grunge666. I am delighted you're sleeping better now... Yeah, the little amp was beautiful. I was tempted to ask how much it would be for a 50w version of a Super Bass, perhaps designed with the same footprint as a Barefaced Super 12. Wouldn't that be an amazing combo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Fairly sure the Fender bassman tone stack and the bass terror one are broadly the same, same style of circuit, maybe values tweaked a bit. Probably differences in how linear the power section is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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