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FLAT (ish) EQ!


barneyg42
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Over the last few weeks even months I've not been particularly happy with my sound, I've been tending to boost the mids to cut through but it's sounded harsh. Last weekend we did a wedding in a marquee and I had to crank it a bit and when I walked out with my radio link it was horrible. I run a TC BH500 into a TC 210 and a Barefaced Compact. With a Status S2 five string this should sound awesome. So last night I went back to basics, set the input to just before red, a little bit of Spectracomp, and everything else flat. Used the tweetertone and about 2 o'clock on the treble. Then just cranked it and used the volume to carry the sound! What an amazing difference. Creamy bottom end, sizzling tops when I boosted the treble on the bass (which was set flat too) and fantastic punch in the middle of the guts too. So yes I take in what people say about boosting mids on here to cut through but last night (for me anyway) proved otherwise!

Edited by barneyg42
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Must admit I wasn`t that keen on boosting mids on my TC Classic 450, thought they were a bit harsh sounding, but set flat the amp had a great sound, especially with a tad of Spectracomp & Tubetone. Not that nice soloed but really clear and present in the mix.

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I anticipate that people will reply saying that 'flat' is not just EQ at 12oclock, and there are many other variables when it comes to tone.

But I'm guessing that you're referring to 'flat' as in zero cut/boost on your amp's EQ section? I'm a recent convert to this, and bypass my preamp's EQ and have never been happier with my tone.

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[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1403959188' post='2488082']
I anticipate that people will reply saying that 'flat' is not just EQ at 12oclock, and there are many other variables when it comes to tone.

But I'm guessing that you're referring to 'flat' as in zero cut/boost on your amp's EQ section? I'm a recent convert to this, and bypass my preamp's EQ and have never been happier with my tone.
[/quote]

Knobs at 12 o'clock, apart from the treble at 2. Amazed at the difference!

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I think people spend to much time messing about about with the EQ on their amps, constantly fiddling around with it.

I leave mine totally flat, my MB LM3 is seemingly about as neutral sounding as an amp can be with all the tones set at 12 o'clock and the filters off. The Acme Low B1 is designed to be like a studio monitor, so it again is as neutral sounding as a cab can be, with little inherent tone.

Any changes in tone are done on the bass, or by playing differently.

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Took me years to realise this too. I now try to run any amp i play through as flat as possible (and I bypass the pramp in my own rig), I have a tiny bit of EQIng on my board (Ie graphic EQ cutting the ultra lows and ultra highs). On the preamp (zoom ms60b - markbass) I have low at 1, mid at 0, and high at 1. Almost the dreaded happy face but it works for me nicely!

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The reason is because people don't have a collective band sound..they have their sounds
and then hit the brick wall of sound.
Far better to mix everyone and find where you can settle rather than push....
You should be able to hear the dynamic range of a bass as much as any other instrument...IMO.
You don't want to be burying anything...but you need the others to let you have that space..
and often they don't... either thru ignorance or arrogance.

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Following on from that, having the right tone for the band rather than ourselves is very important. My current tone of middy, trebly and cutting is many miles away from my preference, but in a 3-piece punk band it`s what sounds best for our music. My regular old-school warm traditional P-Bass sound with very aged nickel rounds really doesn`t work for what we`re doing.

Setting flat is a good way of establishing what`s best for the band as you can work from the start so to speak, rather than tweak a preconception. As much as we hate to admit it, it`s usually the guitar sound that sets the sound of the band, so starting flat then tweaking to compliment is a great way to get the right band sound. And sometimes leaving the bass completely flat is the right sound.

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[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1403969159' post='2488199']
The reason is because people don't have a collective band sound..they have their sounds
and then hit the brick wall of sound.
Far better to mix everyone and find where you can settle rather than push....
You should be able to hear the dynamic range of a bass as much as any other instrument...IMO.
You don't want to be burying anything...but you need the others to let you have that space..
and often they don't... either thru ignorance or arrogance.
[/quote]

This (ideally)

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My EQ settings are not flat, but I have played around to find settings that seem to work in nearly all situations. Rather than go for a particular shape to the EQ, I set them all flat then tweaked each one by ear. It's not a smooth curve, but gives a good, tight, neutral sound in most situations so that my multi-effects pedal can do it's thing

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[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1404123924' post='2489417']
Every amp colours the sound in different ways irrespective of where the tone knobs are set. If they didn't then we'd all be using the same make of amp.
[/quote]

This.

I *always* start with the amp "flat" and then tweak it until it sounds good. I have no preconceptions about boosted mids or whatever, what works one one amp in one room with one band won't work in another, on another, with another.

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Yep. EQ flat and minor adjustments for the room if necessary. I have the TC cabs and they do tend to sound a bit harsh with the mids boosted. As others have said, also depends on the space left in the mix when all in the band are playing and then of course the style of music.

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