Hi everyone, not sure if this is the correct forum to ask this in but thought this would be my best bet, due to the fact that I don't exactly know what the problem (if any) is:/
I recently obtained a MMHD130 head from around '76, which I have been using for bass guitar (primarily). I love the sound of the head when I play with fingers, however the second I grab a pick the whole amp becomes a treble MONSTER. I can't seem to be able to get a sound out of it that isn't totally wild with treble. I recorded electric guitars through it the other day at my studio as well, and once again, I had to back the treble right off in order to stop the old ice-pick-in-the-ears thing. I have tried just single channel as well as jumping the channels together, but you can't really do much tone shaping when both knobs are set to 0.
Now I bought this amp second hand, and I know that the previous owner was a guitarist, so (and please excuse my ignorance) but could a tube change possibly make the head sound darker? Can tubes make that much of a difference? Obviously there are no tubes in the pre-amp section though...
I am kinda at a loss as to what to do. I watched a video of a bass player using a HD130 last night, and he had the treble on 10 in his video. 10! And the mids as well were on about 7! Last night I used my head at a rehearsal and had my settings as follows, and it still felt too ice-picky to me.
Deep: ON
Bright (both channels): OFF
Bass: 9
Mids: 3
Treble (both channels): 0
So basically I am asking whether any other bass players, or users of the head in general, have found untameable amounts of treble with this head? Or perhaps is something wrong with mine. New tubes? Could I change some caps to make it darker? I don't know guys but I am open to anything. I have used this head with 2 different basses as well, a 70's Fender and a Rickenbacker, both have the same issue (funnily enough the Fender is WAY brighter than the ricky). I am using the head through an orange OBC115 1x15 cab (with no tweeter).
Thanks again, any opinions appreciated!
While I don'[t use tube heads
While I don'[t use tube heads for bass, some people love them. My suggestion would be to buy a cheap behringer eq peddle and try to roll off the highs. Then you can see if you like the sound. Then you can make more choices. Mike..
#2 input
Maybe try using the #2 input, it's not as hot as #1. Might help a little bit. Good Luck, Dave.
I actually already use the
I actually already use the 2nd input on the 'bass' channel. You have inspired me to mess around with the other channels though and see if it makes any kind of tonal difference.
also thanks for the EQ pedal
also thanks for the EQ pedal suggestion mm210, I might try this tomorrow night and see if I dig it!
Tele talk, not bass talk....
Tele talk, not bass talk.... But - it may be relevant.
Depending on how clean you want your signal, you can try boosting the channel volume a little, and keeping the master volume lower. On my 212 Sixty-Five the tone is a lot darker if I run it like that. My general rule is the higher I put the channel volume, the more I have to cut bass and boost treble. But of course, you will start to introduce overdrive into the circuit if the channel volume gets too hot.
For reference: I never turn my bright switch on.... and I always run my amp in LO mode.
Thanks for your advice, I
Thanks for your advice, I will try boosting the channel volume and see what it does. When I turn the bright switch on it seems to emphasize the exact freqs that I am trying to get rid of, so I am thinking that perhaps it is a mod on the bright switch maybe? Like maybe it is modded to be permanently on, and the switch is now for EXTRA EXTRA brightness...
Perhaps it is this clapton
Perhaps it is this clapton mod that I hear get mentioned a fair bit, apparently that changes the bright switch, is that correct?
Thanks guys