70s Gibson ES-175 - Too "Boomey" on the Low E String

[MaxTwang]

Just to be sure that I understand, if this is the case then I would get the same 'boom' playing into a big cabinet amp. That is kind of what I suspected based on what I experienced, but wanted to be sure. dave

There are a lot of preferences here and some people love the sound of a Fender Twin; but to me big speakers are great for filling big rooms and small speakers are best for filling small rooms. I think we have become accustomed to the sound of being close to 12" speakers but I have come to find big speakers and big cabs to be too boomy with an archtop. Even when I was gigging a Fender Super or open back 1x12 combo was a lot for an archtop and tended to feedback more than a smaller closed back amp. The big open back cabs also got more complaints from band mates and sound men.

Over the past 10 years I built amps from a tweed Champ to a tweed Pro to a D-Clone, etc and also spent a lot of time w/ modelers. I also spent a tremendous amount of time recording and analyzing these amps and modelers. The big surprise was the 8" Champ recorded as well as the 15" Pro, and in a mix I was dialing out everything below 100-120hz, often the cut off was higher. So it turns out all those complaints were legit - Those big cabs were stepping all over the bass part driving the bass player, keyboard player and sound man up the wall. Through all this recording and comparison I learned to listen to my tone as a component of the whole, and not what was most gratifying as a guitar player.

These days I like 8" and 10". Gives me the tone without the rumble. I even use a parametric EQ to dial out lows. My spouse and neighbors appreciate it.

I use the analogy of the car across the intersection going BOOM BOOM BOOM and you're wondering "can't they tell how loud that bass is"? The answer is "no, they can't". They are too close to the speakers to hear the low frequencies just as we often are with our amps - the volume sounds moderate sitting next to the cab, but our spouse 2 floors up can't hear the TV over our guitar.

My point: congratulations on 5" monitors, that is a very practical choice for your space.

[Jabberwocky]

Yeah, MaxTwang, I have come to the conclusion that 10" is the sweet spot.

[jbucklin]

Why is God charging me $25 for a 'gift'?

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

Or, so the impoverished people at Thomastik-Infeld can buy shoes for their children. ;^)

[DaveLeeNC]

Max, thanks for providing a complete explanation. It was very helpful.

dave

[artcore]

Is boomey the same as having the base notes sustaining?....I'm thinking of picking up a inexpensive graphic EQ....as per Maxtwang.....that should do it.....

[Ray175]

I hit the same problem a long time ago. Others may not be in the same position, but here was my situation.

1) Many years of folk clubs using rocking thumb and claw-hammer fingering techniques for percussive effects, particularly with lousy PA systems
2) Starting jazz and having to relearn finger and thumb techniques that were softer (watching Joe Pass was an eye-opener for me). It took me 4-6 months to be able to effect the transition.

Maybe this will or won't help, but I thought I'd share it anyway