How to get a punchy bass sound?

Question

I just bout a Peavey TNT 115 (600 watts). I don't understand much of watts, hertz, and decibels are. On this particular amp I have:

1.) Pick Up Style Button (Active/Passive)
2.) Gain Knob
3.) Bright (On/Bypass)
4.) Contour (On/Bypass)
5.) Crunch (On/Bypass)
6.) Low Knob
7.) Graphic EQ
8.) High Knob
9.) Compressor Knob and Button
10.) Master Volume

How can I use these to make my bass sound more punchy and low? I don't mean to cut through the music but rather to sound almost like a well rounded kick drum. I want to be able to here that initial hit/pluck without getting too much highs.

Jon · Accepted Answer

Crank your gain. Lower your volume. Gain is the signal that your amp is getting. So if its high it'll distort a little. Be careful though. Don't let it peak out. That can destroy stuff. Turn your low end up your mids about half way and your treble down. Also. I encourage a distortion pedal with the level set low. That's what I do. Gives you a dirty tone without being too distorted. Edit: compress it too

gregory_dittman · Answer

1. active pickups are on a guitar/bass and use usually a 9 volt battery.  If your guitar/bass does not have a battery, it's using passive pickups.
2. Gain is a type of distortion
3. bright equals higher pitch than treble
4. mids
5. crunch is a type of distortion
6. low/bass
7. Another way to change the tone
8. high pitch/treble
9. Takes away the extreme highs and lows for a more generic sound, used to hide mistakes.
10 volume knob across all channels.

From what I can find, you can slave 10s on it. I don't know how much power you want, but your options are 1x10", 2X10" and 4X10s (cabinet). Make sure they don't have wheels or bottom pegs so that they can sit flush on the floor.  That's how you are going to get your punch.

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How to get a punchy bass sound?

2 Answers