Which Comp/Limiter for Bass?

[kmcguitars]

A buddy of mine just scored a 77' J-Bass (w/t Block Inlays and a Bound Neck)
Since he is a EMG devotee, This is his only Bass with passive PuPs. he was telling me today he can't get his Hartke Kickback 15 up to stage volume w/t this bass without farting it out. I think he's using a Boss Bass Comp/Limiter Now ? He claims it's squashing the crap outta his notes? So what else is out there? (Yeah' I know. A kickback 15 ain't the most happing Bass rig) But he's down sizing due to severe back pain. ( Former SVT user):yell:

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Which Comp/Limiter for Bass?

Is he EQ-ing it right? I can't stand compression on my stuff. My amp has a built in compressor, and it's always off.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Which Comp/Limiter for Bass?

Is he EQ-ing it right? I can't stand compression on my stuff. My amp has a built in compressor, and it's always off.

He's been playing close to 40 years, So I have to give him the benefit of doubt that he knows what he's doing. Personally, I think the amp is a P.O.S.
But he don't wanna gig with anything bigger or heavier anymore. Maybe he's been using EMG's for so long he forgot how to dial in a passive PuP?:smack:
anyone try the Ashdown Compressor?

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Which Comp/Limiter for Bass?

He's been playing close to 40 years, So I have to give him the benefit of doubt that he knows what he's doing. Personally, I think the amp is a P.O.S.

To tell the truth, although I have zero experience with the Hartke Kickback, I do have experience with Hartke heads, and Hartke single 15 cabs. I know the cab design (shape) is going to influence a lot- but taken as individual pieces, they're decent pieces and nowhere near as bad as say... Behringer...:27: Dude's been playing forever, but has he used 15s regularly? And specifically has he been using newer *say 15-20 years* speakers. You know how 10s are great for a middy response, and trying to get that sound out of a 15 is not really "happenin'" and to try getting the big "enveloping" sound that you can get out of 15s by using 10s is a bit more difficult? Then throw in that the Hartke 15s I'm familiar with don't seem to be as "big" sounding and lack in that <41 Hz response.

Point is, what works for rig A doesn't always work on rig B.

To attempt to get a 15 to respond like a 10 you're going to have to EQ it to how the speaker responds, not necessarily what you think you should be hearing... does that make sense?

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Which Comp/Limiter for Bass?

And of course, he's used to padding the input of the amp to account for the output of the EMGs...

There's also the whole "you can't make something do what you want it to do if it ain't meant to do it" thing. Sort of like my 20 year quest to make my EB-0 sound like a full scale Fender- it ain't gonna happen, no matter what strings, pickups, pickup placement or bridge you put on that thing- it is what it is.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Which Comp/Limiter for Bass?

.

Point is, what works for rig A doesn't always work on rig B.

To attempt to get a 15 to respond like a 10 you're going to have to EQ it to how the speaker responds, not necessarily what you think you should be hearing... does that make sense?

I think you hit the nail on the head. His main gripe with the kickback is it doesn't have a Ext. speaker out. He said he would love to hook up his 2x10 cab. And he does go for that middy Jaco like tone.