jazzyvee Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I've noticed that many of the local gigs I go to regardless of the genre, bass rigs always seem to have the sub bass button pressed in. By that I mean the button like on ashdowns that adds an octave of the note being played to your sound. Are the basses players use these days so bass shy that this is standard practice. I see them all the time on back line rigs provided for us and even though we are a reggae band I always turn them off. Recently I was rehearsing with a band as a Dep and the bass rig had a Lo in and it really made the sound incredibly muddy. Am I missing something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Coz its wicked brewtal innit. (No idea) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyder Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1442923999' post='2870544'] Coz its wicked brewtal innit. (No idea) [/quote] Like he said.. I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 (edited) [quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1442923935' post='2870540'] I've noticed that many of the local gigs I go to regardless of the genre, bass rigs always seem to have the sub bass button pressed in. By that I mean the button like on ashdowns that adds an octave of the note being played to your sound. Are the basses players use these days so bass shy that this is standard practice. I see them all the time on back line rigs provided for us and even though we are a reggae band I always turn them off. Recently I was rehearsing with a band as a Dep and the bass rig had a Lo in and it really made the sound incredibly muddy. Am I missing something? [/quote] No you are right. It's been said here many times, but too much bass is not good for your sound. For a fatter sound I boost the mids, and for dubby I roll off the tone pot on the bass. Too much 'LO' fills the room with boom™ but makes it hard to distinguish the note being played. Edited September 22, 2015 by JapanAxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Depends on the venue really Sometimes it can help add greater depth to the sound But I agree, yes, it is often over-used and can cause a lot of boom, making distinction between low notes difficult Part of the problem, is that the button is there, so some will just use it regardless - thinking it boosts volume and partly, the problem with bass is that you can't really hear it too clearly when you're right in front of, or next to it So it the audience near the back who get the full blast / effect Mostly, audiences can't distinguish why something sounds boomy or where the problem emanates from..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I've never owned or played through a rig with a "sub button". If you can buy a bass rig with an inbuilt octaver, can you also buy one with an inbuilt fuzz, chorus, flanger, and envelope filter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eevespete Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 This thread reeks of Line 6/Behringer.. Jokes aside, it probably boils down to the PA rig capability, how heavy the touch is of the player, how loud the band is.. or maybe they just like mad lows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1442929224' post='2870628'] I've never owned or played through a rig with a "sub button". [/quote] I have an unsettling picture of a roadie in a gimp mask being summoned. It should be labelled the 'rumbly indistinctivator' button from whenever I've come across an amp with one of these buttons fitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Left Foot Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 After having an Ashdown for years and mucking about with that sub octave button, I dont think it adds anything decent to the sound. I think the effect on the Ashdown was poor and this was made worse by having to use it as an always on type effect. I have (better) octavers in my signal chain, but I think having effects in bass amps is a bit tricky as they encourage 'always on' use and the ones ive heard arent always good/usable, far from it actually. I think its just a USP, theres better sounds, even muddy sounds, you can get elsewhere but its always rocknroll hitting the sub button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanEly Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 I use these "demon" buttons. Not the Ashdown sub one but the Ampeg Ultra Low (on occasions) and the Aguilar Low switch. I really like the depth it can give sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuco Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1442924637' post='2870554'] For a fatter sound I boost the mids, and for dubby I roll off the tone pot on the bass. [/quote] ^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 [quote name='DanEly' timestamp='1443008953' post='2871358'] I use these "demon" buttons. Not the Ashdown sub one but the Ampeg Ultra Low (on occasions) and the Aguilar Low switch. I really like the depth it can give sometimes. [/quote] Yes, I used an Ashdown in a rehearsal room a few years back Didn't like the Sub button on that But I had an Ampeg head with low button - and that sounded pretty good On several occasions, it even sounded great But again, depending on the room / venue, sometimes it just added rumbling noise... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 I had an ashdown with that exact button on it. Don't think I used it once. Octavers as an effect though..... Woooft.... My favourite thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0175westwood29 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 dnt really use the lo switch but octaves i have alot of those on my board! andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Also some amps have a bass boost button (e.g. Ampeg, GK) which is not the same as the sub/octaver found in amps like Ashdown. But people press them as they think they are playing bass so therefore need lots of bass. [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1442929224' post='2870628'] If you can buy a bass rig with an inbuilt octaver, can you also buy one with an inbuilt fuzz, chorus, flanger, and envelope filter? [/quote] My first amp did! A Line 6 Lowdown. Also the Markbass MultiAmp has all this and more, there are probably a few others out there (TC Toneprints and Kemper Profiler spring to mind). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 I reckon some players struggle to hear themselves and assume that more bass eq and more volume will sort it out. Instead it makes in into a boomy mess. I also think they don't distinguish between what sounds good at low volume and what works in a live mix. It probably seems counter-intuitive to turn bass down to make it easier to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eater_of_Birds Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Speaking from (personal) experience, I don't think some people realise it's actually an octave effect. Took me a while of using random Ashdowns at 4-5 band gigs (no time to figure out all the knobs before playing) before realising at a rehearsal space using a combo with time to mess around. A *massive* facepalm moment for sure, but there you go. More obvious on the higher strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Those buttons are the destroyer of speakers, they are evil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1442929224' post='2870628'] I've never owned or played through a rig with a "sub button". If you can buy a bass rig with an inbuilt octaver, can you also buy one with an inbuilt fuzz, chorus, flanger, and envelope filter? [/quote] I had an Ashdown Mag300 for a year or so and always thought that the sub octave button was a pointless gimmick.it didn't track too well as you got down towards (for me) normal playing positions and as o there have said was just a mud fest. The low preshape was more than enough give extra bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 My GK head has a Deep switch.. at front room volumes and through a small cab it adds a really nice fatness to the sound. At gigging volumes there's so much power available that it's really quite unnecessary and, as has been said above, can make everything too bassy if you're not careful. Maybe it's there for use with a particularly twangy lightweight bass.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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