Your Bassman Settings
David,
I've been watching the bassman chronicles again. Fun stuff.
What are your typical volume and tone settings at a gig, where you're just playing one bassman and not micing through the PA? What do you set the normal and bright volumes at? How far can you go on the volume knob before feedback, or it starts getting unmusical?
In the speaker videos you mention that you normalized the EQ for the tornado speakers. What did you change?
Also, in the bias change video you mention that you might prefer a bias setting at around 34. Where did you finally end up?
Thanks,
Steve
Thanks David. In "Submission 11 - Speakers: Changes, Part 2", around 1:27 - 1:34 you talk about "balancing the EQ" when comparing the tornados with the blue frames.
Steve
Thanks. I set them the same when I started playing. I then "balanced" them, meaning that I took one amp and adjusted it by changing the EQ until I felt I got it sounding the best I could. I then did the same for the other amp, moving the EQ until it sounded the best it could. So... each amp ended up with different settings.
Thanks David. You use 4 Jensen Jet Tornado speakers in your bassman?
That was for the LTD, that's now owned by a student. My early 90's bassman has the original blue-frames.
Oh interesting. Do you prefer the blue-frames over the jets?
I have an earlier '59 Bassman Reissue. It didn't come with a bias control. How important is it that I get one installed? Like, am I going to ruin or wreck my amp without tweaking the bias?
-Taylor
They're both cool... no preference... just different.
It won't hurt your amp... it's just another option for dialing in your sound.
Last question I promise: Do you recall what eq settings you liked best for the amp with the jets in it? I just got an LTD and put Jets in it. I'm looking for a good starting setting.
Thanks! Steve
No, sorry. It changes from mic to mic and location to location anyways. I would say Bass on 8, Middle on 4 and Treble on 3... start with this.
OK let me ask a better question - more of a "teach me how to fish" question instead of just "give me a fish". Let's say you have 5 minutes to adjust the eq before a gig. How do you do it? What do you listen for? What key harps do you use? Do you play certain things, like a 3 5 draw and listen for the difference tone, etc?
Sorry I lied - wasn't my last question!
Thanks,
Steve
When I get to the gig I setup my amp the way I normally do and then adjust accordingly for the room... if the bass is boomy, I pull the bass back, etc. Generally set up your amp with more middle and treble than you normally would like, this way you ensure you cut through.
If you haven't already done so, make sure to check out "Amps - What You Need To Know."
I put bass at 8... mid at 4... treb and pres at 3... this is where I start. I don't use the bright channel. Feedback is a product of where I'm setup and the stage. For MY bassman, around 5.5 is as far as I can normally go in a good setting. "normalized the EQ for the tornado speakers" I don't recall that... can you point me to the video title and time code... I'll take a listen. I set the bias somewhere between 32 and 34.