bonzodog Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Just wondering how much you monitor your clip lights. I use a Hartke HA3000 and am always doing my utmost to avoid the amp clipping at all which can be hard with my Fender MP with humbuckers. I often see other bass players allowing the amp to clip more and last week the bass player with the band we played with had his amp flashing red all night long. We used our own amps so wasn't too fussed but just wondered if I was being over cautious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 On my amp which has a clip LED, with my usual setting it lights up when I pluck the string particularly hard. However, if I wanted more overdrive, the manual says that it's fine to up the gain even more, even if it means constant flickering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebass84 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I refuse to let my Ashdown run into the red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 it depends on the amp and what sound you're going for. There's no need to be cautious though, whatever sounds best is best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 If I remember correctly, it's not a problem for an amp to clip briefly irrespective of how often it does so, problems may arise if the amp spends prolonged periods clipping....I think that's right but no doubt someone with more technical knowledge will be along shortly to correct me if I am wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 (edited) [quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1394020070' post='2386933'] Just wondering how much you monitor your clip lights. I use a Hartke HA3000 and am always doing my utmost to avoid the amp clipping at all which can be hard with my Fender MP with humbuckers. I often see other bass players allowing the amp to clip more and last week the bass player with the band we played with had his amp flashing red all night long. We used our own amps so wasn't too fussed but just wondered if I was being over cautious [/quote] Maybe upgrade to one of the newer LH500 heads , from the blurb I've read the pre stage is designed to not clip at all I have the 2500 head and with tone/eq settings flat it does not audibly clip even with preA and master on full Edited March 6, 2014 by steve-bbb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 If clipping is bothering you, have you considered turning the preamp gain down a touch or is it as low as it can go? Most amp manufacturer's directions for setting the preamp is to play until the clip light comes on at normal playing & then turn it back a small amount & then leave it. Set the volume with the power amp. But like has been said, it's down to how you want to sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Depending on the amp, the light could come on when it is actually overloaded and clipping in a bad way, some amps light up when the input signal is in the ideal range, and they might have a tube stage to introduce soft clipping which is often desirable. On other amps, the light comes on when the power amp is reaching it's limit and the built-in limiter kicks in. Simply turn it down the gain if you hear unwanted distortion and don't pay to much attention to the light! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizontalste Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I use a Genz contour & the limit light flickers quite a lot (i started a thread about it amps & cabs). I was worried about doing damage but it sounds ok and the protection isn't dropping in so I guess I just need to look at the pre amp settings again. I was a bit disappointed when it started doing it at only half volume though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I set mine so that it never clips no matter what I do. I compress/limit the hell out of my signal anyway so I wouldn't want any more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 It does seem to clip at a lower gain than I was expecting with my MP Jazz and assumed it was to do with the humbuckers. When I play my JHS Vintage P bass throiugh it I can normally get the gain higher. I was just concened whether I should be allowing it to clip at all, so at next gig I will probably allow it clip more so than I normally do and see what happens. I do need a new amp though am looking for a LH500/1000 just need to raise the cash!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 With 500w output AFTER my compressor and the headroom my Aguilar TLC and tone hammer pedals give me and a huge PA for my DI signal, I rarely need my amp loud enough to go past 5, nevermind clipping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 the clipping we're on about here is pre-amp clipping, surely? If your amp has a warning light for the power amp overloading then you should probably take it fairly seriously. My peavey has this, and I make sure it almost never lights up. That doesn't stop me clipping the pre-amp though if I want (which I don't) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Clipping preamp = good Clipping power amp = bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1394116013' post='2388093'] the clipping we're on about here is pre-amp clipping, surely? If your amp has a warning light for the power amp overloading then you should probably take it fairly seriously. My peavey has this, and I make sure it almost never lights up. That doesn't stop me clipping the pre-amp though if I want (which I don't) [/quote] The Hartke HA3000 does not actually say. Its labelled as a protect light and the manual does not say whether its pre or power amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 ok, in that case ask Hartke and don't let it clip until you have an answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1394118800' post='2388133'] Clipping power amp = bad. [/quote] Not really true with most modern amps, usually some limiting or compression will kick in to prevent hard clipping. And even hard clipping doesn't really damage the amp - its your speakers that are at risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dincz Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 [quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1394122602' post='2388176'] The Hartke HA3000 does not actually say. Its labelled as a protect light and the manual does not say whether its pre or power amp [/quote] Preamps don't need protection circuits. That would be the output stage. From the manual: [i]"7. Status LEDs - The bottom “Power” LED lights whenever the HA3000 is powered on (see #8 below). The top “Clip” LED lights whenever the output signal rises to an unacceptably high distortion level. The center “Protection” LED goes on for approximately five seconds when the HA3000 is powered on and fades slowly when it is powered off. While it is lit, all connected speakers are muted via mechanical relay, thus preventing any “thump” from occurring."[/i] So both the clip and protection LED's indicate what's happening in the power amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Thanks for the help. On the basis that it is my power amp that is clipping then I am right in my original post to ensure this does not flash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mep Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 My TE AH200 clip light gets tickled a bit. I do keep an eye on it quite often an will turn the input down a click if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 [quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1394127268' post='2388246'] Thanks for the help. On the basis that it is my power amp that is clipping then I am right in my original post to ensure this does not flash. [/quote] Power amp clipping is just telling you that the amp can no longer ensure that the output signal is a faithful representation of the input signal - its not an "overload" warning since amps are generally designed so that they cannot be overloaded so long as they are driving a suitable speaker load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Signal clipping anywhere in an amp shouldn't do anything worse than make your bass sound sh*t. If it is causing amp failures it's because the components in the amp are under-specified and can't take the current draw required for prolonged periods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.