JPJ Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 (edited) The rehearsal rooms we’re using at the moment have Ashdown bass rigs, mainly ABM 500’s. I’m really struggling to get to grips with all the knobs and sliders to get a decent rounded even tone. I can either get a nice sounding D & G string with no weight to the E & A, or a big fat muddy mess. Can anybody give me a few pointers to: a) getting the thing as ‘flat’ as possible; or b ) getting a decent rock/ alt country tone? By way of reference I mainly use an Aguilar AG500 through an SWR Goliath 4x10, and normally run it with the EQ ‘flat’. Edited October 12, 2017 by JPJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 The pre-set"shape" feature on the Ashdown has to be pressed in to be switched off, starting there would be my first recommendation. I find that the ABMs can boom a bit, so knock the lows back some, to about 11 o`clock. The compression I find way too much so fully off, same with the Sub-Harmonic thingy. From there add a touch of high-end with the slider to the extreme right hand side and likewise with the treble itself, just pushing both these past their "flat" settings. That hopefully will put you somewhere in the same realm as the AG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 The Goliath II has a huge drop in the upper midrange - I’ve always had to eq differently to others. Don’t use the pre-shape, turn up the mids and go easy on the bass...and stand ten feet away 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Mark Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 (edited) +1 Make sure the Flat/Shape button is pushed in. When it's in the out position you are scooping the mids and losing definition. From there you should be able to get almost any sound you want with the 7 band EQ. Edited October 13, 2017 by Sparky Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 A consensus on BC??? Am I imagining things??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 Id turn the pre shape off and remember to turn the eq button on (eq dials wont work otherwise). Youll know when they are working - massive control. Set bass to 10 oclock. Mids to 1 oclock and High to 11 oclock. Then put the 4 sliders right up (you should get a great growly mid from those). Then adjust to taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted October 14, 2017 Author Share Posted October 14, 2017 Thanks folks, valuable advice, looking forward to tomorrow’s rehearsal now 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave74200 Posted October 14, 2017 Share Posted October 14, 2017 Yep. The shape button sounds great in your bedroom but doesn't seem to cut through the mix as well as when it's off. Probably the best bass amp out there IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmayhem Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 A "nice" tone tends to be drowned in the band mix. Add a tad of "cardboard box tone" and you'll sound good in the mix but awful on your own. Just the way a P-bass works: no flattering mids, but a lot of mature burrrrp, if you got my point... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernmeister Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Hi JPJ, Would be interested to hear how you got on with the adjustments that you made & the differences in sound that it made. As I'm an Swr user & will be rehearsing with a new band. The chances are that I will have to use an Ashdown amp in the rehearsal room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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