ilovefuzz.com

Hope it's ok to post this gear question here in the Doom forum,

I'm playing some doom inspired bass stuff these days tuned down to a B. Running a Megalith> Creepy Harakiri> OD> Frantabit>EQD Dispatch>Mr Black Downward Spiral> GK 1001RB> Ampeg 8x10.

I'm liking my sound for the most part but I get the occasionally booming note that'll make the amp clip at gig volume. Is it in my interest to be looking for a compressor or limiter just to even out my signal? I don't want to color my sound any, just corral a few wild frequencies. I've read a lot of the OvniLab stuff but I'm not sure what applies to fuzzed out drop B tuning.

Thanks for any suggestions you guys might share.

I've been wondering the same a lot while playing in drop F.

I've never had that happen in playing that low and lower.

All of Bongo/Cyrus/Onvi's stuff is great info, and a lot of it holds true regardless of 'what' you're compressing.

that Megalith should be evening out your dynamics nicely, but I'm with SLK -- I've never had that happen on bass either.

Thanks guys. Now that you mention it, I don't notice any clipping with the Megalith on. It seems to happen more with the Superfuzz clone engaged. I might see what a Boss LMB-3 does cuz they're cheap. If I don't like it won't be too much of a hit.

So it sounds like a playing dynamics issue. A compressor will help that, for sure. Try a cheap one before all your fuzz pedals and see if that makes a difference.

Note I don't use any pedals, also I don't dime my bass on my amps. usually it's sitting around 6.

I could always rustle you up a sweet ass compressor if you like?
PM me and we can work something out!

i hope no one yells at me for saying this, but i really don't think that 1001rb is a good amp. that could be your problem.

D.o.S. wrote:So it sounds like a playing dynamics issue.

I've been going over my rig in my head and I definitely agree that it's a dynamics issue. This is my first rodeo with bass after playing guitar exlusively almost 20 years so the strings still feel a little clunky to me occasionally. Also, SLK, I am pushing the amp pretty good. I'm trying to keep up with a Thunderverb and a 5150 being run in stereo.

@wildebelor, thanks for the offer on the comp build. I may take you up on that. I snagged an LMB-3 for supa' cheap so Ima try that first this weekend.

As far as the GK not being a good amp...it was definitely a compromise for me. I wanted an SVT CL but the price on the GK was too tempting to not try it. I don't think it's a bad amp by any stretch but I wish I had a little more headroom for what I'm playing. Overall I think its a better than average bass amp.

I think you'll find that the compressor goes a long way towards solving your problems.

re, the GK, Those amps have always been one of those pieces of gear that other people make sound great, but I never really jivved with.

misterstomach wrote:i hope no one yells at me for saying this, but i really don't think that 1001rb is a good amp. that could be your problem.

The 700 is great, but agreed on the 1001 it's just never sounded right to me. Especially with fuzz/low tunings

I couldn't jive with the compressor I had at one point. I felt like it would "chop" the note as opposed to say, adjusting levels. And not in a natural/musical way. It definitely wouldn't hurt to try a cheap one. Worst you could do is put it back on the market. As far as headroom goes, I happily run a pre > poweramp combo and have headroom for days.

Are we talking B as in a normal B on a normal five, six or BEAD tuned bass or something actually supper low? I've tuned to low low C before [mostly the lowest I go anymore is F#] and you can strain your amp… but I noticed running clean/amp dirt does that more than with dirt pedals... a comp can help but like anything else cheap ones are cheap and work almost ok.. and they tend to clip easily, best cheap comp that will kick ass is a old alessis micro limiter, those things kill for bass and kick drum.