a question about speakers/sound

[smiths213@adelphia.net]

Years ago, I owned a lab series bass amp along with a gibson ebo bass
guitar. When I played out ( I played in a polka band/dance band), I
was able to get the A-D-G strings to sound high quality but the lower
E was alwas muffled. I got so use to playing the bottom three strings
that it did not matter the E-string was not used. Fast forward to
today--three years ago after a 17 year layoff of playing I got back
into a band. I have an ampeg head b2re but the speaker being used is a
one 15 inch speaker. I dislike the sound. I now own a squier jazz bass
and I have a small crate practice amp. After messing with the controls
on the bass and the amp, I have finally been able to more or less
replicate the sound that I had. I would like to get the sound on a
grander scale. Let me ask this question, what size of speakers do I
need to get a bright higher sound on the bass then the lower sound?
Another question, lab series bass amps from the late seventies..what
size speakers did they have? Any suggestions would help. Thanks

[Brian Running]

> Let me ask this question, what size of speakers do I
> need to get a bright higher sound on the bass then the lower sound?

It's dependent on a lot more than just the speaker size, but then, as a
general thing, my personal preference is cabs with multiple ten-inch
drivers. My favorite is my Epifani 310.

You're going to have to go out and do some listening to lots of
different cabs and make your own decision, I'm afraid. Not an
unpleasant chore, though.

[Benj]

smiths213@adelphia.net wrote:
After messing with the controls
> on the bass and the amp, I have finally been able to more or less
> replicate the sound that I had. I would like to get the sound on a
> grander scale. Let me ask this question, what size of speakers do I
> need to get a bright higher sound on the bass then the lower sound?

First you need to know that you've got a rather oddball selection of
stuff. Gibson basses have a very unique sound (which I hate), Ampeg
amps always have that "Ampeg sound" which I don't like either. Crate
is pretty low end gear as is a Squier bass. So you've sort of randomly
mixed together gear with very characteristic sounds and it's not
working. No surprise.

Here's my advice. I laid off bass playing for many years and when I
got back into it again, I decided to use that opportunity to step into
today! Got a 5 string and then a 6 and then a fretless and went from
there. I'd say start to eliminate those old bad habits like playing a
3 string bass. And try to step out of your "OLD" sound into a new one.
A squier can be made to sound pretty good if you picked a decent one.
Take advantage of the Fender sound and try to work up an "old school"
tone. I'm with Brian in that you should go out (take your bass) and
try listening to a host of amps and cabs. Get a GOOD feel for what
they all do. Listen to the sounds bass players get now on CDs too.
There is a reason that 10s are so popular. Bright, great tone, great
punch and yet MODERN 10s can easily do the lows from a 5 string. Try
'em and form your own opinion. You shouldn't throw away your old
taste, but you should make a through review of what's out there now
before deciding what's for you today.

[Mike Rieves]

"Benj" <bjacoby@iwaynet.net> wrote in message
news:1178186929.959410.205410@o5g2000hsb.googlegro ups.com...
>
> smiths213@adelphia.net wrote:
> After messing with the controls
>> on the bass and the amp, I have finally been able to more or less
>> replicate the sound that I had. I would like to get the sound on a
>> grander scale. Let me ask this question, what size of speakers do I
>> need to get a bright higher sound on the bass then the lower sound?
>
> First you need to know that you've got a rather oddball selection of
> stuff. Gibson basses have a very unique sound (which I hate), Ampeg
> amps always have that "Ampeg sound" which I don't like either. Crate
> is pretty low end gear as is a Squier bass. So you've sort of randomly
> mixed together gear with very characteristic sounds and it's not
> working. No surprise.
>
> Here's my advice. I laid off bass playing for many years and when I
> got back into it again, I decided to use that opportunity to step into
> today! Got a 5 string and then a 6 and then a fretless and went from
> there. I'd say start to eliminate those old bad habits like playing a
> 3 string bass. And try to step out of your "OLD" sound into a new one.
> A squier can be made to sound pretty good if you picked a decent one.
> Take advantage of the Fender sound and try to work up an "old school"
> tone. I'm with Brian in that you should go out (take your bass) and
> try listening to a host of amps and cabs. Get a GOOD feel for what
> they all do. Listen to the sounds bass players get now on CDs too.
> There is a reason that 10s are so popular. Bright, great tone, great
> punch and yet MODERN 10s can easily do the lows from a 5 string. Try
> 'em and form your own opinion. You shouldn't throw away your old
> taste, but you should make a through review of what's out there now
> before deciding what's for you today.
>
A modern multi-ten inch cabinet has a lot going for it. Modern speaker
construction and design methods allow an cabinet with tens to hit the lowest
notes with no problem and tens can carry the top end better than fifteens
and without the upper mid and high frequency beaming that you get from
fifteens. Back in the day, no self-respecting bass player would use anything
smaller than a 2X15 cabinet, but that's no longer the case.