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previous: jason I say more midrange (really cuts th... -- 4/20/2000 12:21 PM

Re: Amp tone at home and with the band

4/20/2000 1:01 PM
MJ Harnish	Re: Amp tone at home and with the band I would agree here. Midrange (and treble to some extent) is what determines whether your sound cuts through on stage. This is really critical for lead. I've had similar experiences with dialing in ideal tones at home and then when I start playing with my band I disappear. Bass is also problematic. In general (and especially with Fenders), you need to dial back your bass as you turn up the amp or it'll start sounding really muddy, farty, and/or flabby. This usually becomes most apparent when you're playing with other people and you start turning up the amp to be heard. You also start competing with the bass player and everything turns to mud. When we first started playing together, the bass player in my band tried to convince me that I should be using 15" speakers so I could get mondo bass. My reply was "that's what you're here for..." When you're going it alone you need to provide the whole frequency spectrum, but in a band context you really just need to provide a piece of the pie... MJ

4/20/2000 1:01 PM

MJ Harnish

Re: Amp tone at home and with the band

I would agree here. Midrange (and treble to some extent) is what determines whether your sound cuts through on stage. This is really critical for lead. I've had similar experiences with dialing in ideal tones at home and then when I start playing with my band I disappear.

Bass is also problematic. In general (and especially with Fenders), you need to dial back your bass as you turn up the amp or it'll start sounding really muddy, farty, and/or flabby. This usually becomes most apparent when you're playing with other people and you start turning up the amp to be heard. You also start competing with the bass player and everything turns to mud. When we first started playing together, the bass player in my band tried to convince me that I should be using 15" speakers so I could get mondo bass. My reply was "that's what you're here for..." When you're going it alone you need to provide the whole frequency spectrum, but in a band context you really just need to provide a piece of the pie...

MJ

Replies:

Petey Over the years of tweaking my sound... -- 4/20/2000 1:44 PM