bass amp EQ settings and such

[kopie101]

ok, i have a mesa boogie walkabout amp and ive had it for a few months and love it and all, but i havent really done anything to the settings, just havent thought about tweaking at all. so now im readin thru the manual and it tells me what all the knobs do, but its not very easy to understand so i was wonderin if anyone could make it simple...heres the setup...

regular knobs: gain, bass, mid, treble
parametric equalizer knobs: three pairs(each number is a pair)
1. a cut/boost knob, 0db at 12:00(+/- 15)
frequency knob, 60 Hz at 12:00, 30 to the far left, 300 to the far right
2. cut/boost knob, 0db at 12:00(+/- 15)
frequency knob, 340 Hz at 12:00, 200 to left, 2k to right
3. a cut/boost knob, 0db at 12:00(+/- 15)
frequency knob, 2k at 12:00, 1.2k to left, 12k to right

ok i hope that made sense...i dont really have a "specific" question, just generally wanting someone to take 5 minutes to explain this stuff simply...thanks. [/b]

[i like tictacs]

Each knob boosts the volume of a set frequency. So I don't have a Mesa amp right in front of me, so for example. If the manual says that the bass knob adds up to 12db in between oh, say 60hz-300hz, then the frequencies in those ranges will become louder. So in essence you hear more bass in the 60hz-300hz range. The mids are the same thing, you boost or cut the volume of the 340hz-2000hz range. If you have too much mid, the bass will sound really burpy and have not alot of definition. too much highs and the bass will sound twangy. too much lows and the bass will sound muddy. Hope that cleared it up a little. You want at least some of everything. However everything in moderation. I wouldn't recommend turning any of them to the max setting. moderation with eq=good. also everything turned up all the way isn't good for the amp/head/combo whatever.

[Macht]

for band stuff

i have my high and low all the way up, and mids knocked down.

for solo junk

i have my low at about 12-1 o clocky, high at 5 o clocky

mids knocked to 5 o-clocky

[kopie101]

thanks...but if anyone else has some things they have to say, please do, i lookin to soak up whatever i can

[street fish]

for band stuff

i have my high and low all the way up, and mids knocked down.

for solo junk

i have my low at about 12-1 o clocky, high at 5 o clocky

mids knocked to 5 o-clocky

Yikes, your band settings are a good recipe for a muddy mix. Usually, midrange is your friend. Boosting around 200 Hz will give you a good tight punch and thump in the mix. Adjusting bass depends on your room-- in some settings, a lot of low end is going to get boomy and muddy. Less bass and more midrange across basses and guitars is going to give the band a very tight punchy sound. Scooping the mids and boosting the bass can go anywhere from giving your sound some "depth" to making it sound like an undefined blob of goo.

Generally, what sounds good when you're alone sounds bad with a band.

(Of course, everyone's mileage will vary. But if you find you're running out of power and not being heard, midrange is your friend.)

[street fish]

As far as adjusting EQ, especially in a band setting, start with everything FLAT and adjust your volume to where your fairly happy with your volume level in the mix. Then TWEAK-- on my amp, with the flat position being 12:00 and max boost being 5:00, I usually push the bass and 220 Hz midrange up to around 2:00.

Like I said, when you play with a band, ignore the settings you use by yourself and start with everything flat.

[Macht]

the settings are decent for the room actually (the one I play with the most) I usually do the one you have in your second post in other rooms