Bad Cat EQ Question

[koa]

I just picked up a Bad Cat Cub R15 2x10 combo. It has a very nice sounding clean side but the OD absolutely blows. I thought Bad Cat was kind of known for there rock od tones? It's very farty and flubbery. Anyways, my question is with only treble and bass controls how do I dial in some midrange. When I kick in my crunchbox which with other amps sounds very thick and full with the Cub something's missing. It really lacks "body" I guess for lack of a better word. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sickboy79]

I just picked up a Bad Cat Cub R15 2x10 combo. It has a very nice sounding clean side but the OD absolutely blows. I thought Bad Cat was kind of known for there rock od tones? It's very farty and flubbery. Anyways, my question is with only treble and bass controls how do I dial in some midrange. When I kick in my crunchbox which with other amps sounds very thick and full with the Cub something's missing. It really lacks "body" I guess for lack of a better word. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't played a Cub - but do have a Hot Cat 30R head. I don't have any flubby bass problems. Granted, it's a different circuit. But, Bad Cat's have active/interactive EQs. You can't EQ them like you would an amp with passive EQ - i.e. Fender/Marshall, etc. If you turn up the bass control, it subtracts treble at the same time. Turn down the treble, it will add bass. So, you have to play around with it. For a more midrangey tone, try setting both treble and bass controls around 10-11 oclock. That will bring out the mids. Also, if you're running the gain up, dial back the bass. Give it a try. It will take some getting used to but, once you dial in your tones - it's relatively easy. I hope that helps.

Oh yeah - as Rod said - you might have some worn tubes too!

 

[Rod]

Turn the volume of the channel up and keep the master volume up as well...You've got to let that channel breathe...If the OD channel has an EF86 tube...maybe replace it...if it's 12AX7's....replace those....

 

[The Captain]

I haven't played a Cub - but do have a Hot Cat 30R head. I don't have any flubby bass problems. Granted, it's a different circuit. But, Bad Cat's have active/interactive EQs. You can't EQ them like you would an amp with passive EQ - i.e. Fender/Marshall, etc. If you turn up the bass control, it subtracts treble at the same time. Turn down the treble, it will add bass. So, you have to play around with it. For a more midrangey tone, try setting both treble and bass controls around 10-11 oclock. That will bring out the mids. Also, if you're running the gain up, dial back the bass. Give it a try. It will take some getting used to but, once you dial in your tones - it's relatively easy. I hope that helps.

Oh yeah - as Rod said - you might have some worn tubes too!

That is an excellent description. I had noted that tendency on my HC 30, but could not work out why it was so.
I'm not flustred though, and just kept playing. TBH, it barely matteres where i out teh eq, it sounds good. While we are on the subject, what does the edge and level control do really ? Again, I just twiddle them into the ballpark of happiness, but some more understanding would not go astray. I treat the level control like a channel volume, but I'm not sure it has the same degree of effect.
The eq controls don't have as profound an effect as on a Mesa, for sure.

 

[sickboy79]

That is an excellent description. I had noted that tendency on my HC 30, but could not work out why it was so.
I'm not flustred though, and just kept playing. TBH, it barely matteres where i out teh eq, it sounds good. While we are on the subject, what does the edge and level control do really ? Again, I just twiddle them into the ballpark of happiness, but some more understanding would not go astray. I treat the level control like a channel volume, but I'm not sure it has the same degree of effect.
The eq controls don't have as profound an effect as on a Mesa, for sure.

The Edge control is essentially a "presence" like control for the gain/drive channel only. That's actually how they describe it in the manual. It adds a bit more bite and "edge" to the tone. It mainly focuses on the highs/high mids of that channel. Andthen you have the brilliance control that effects the power section of the amp for both channels.

The level control basically controls how hot of a preamp signal is sent to the power amp. Try both the level low and the master up - and vice versa. They each sound a little different. I find I like the level control best around noon to 1 oclock.

 

[IPlayHamers]

I have a Tone Cat and really haven't noticed this problem, but as stated before, this too is a different circuit. You might try a EQ in the loop for tone shaping and see how that works for you.

Jamal