WA600 Question

Eberbachl

Eberbachl

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Hey Guys,

I've got a WA600 here to try for the weekend. Interesting head!

Firstly, I have a question about the input gain.

There is no clip LED that flashes when the input gain is set at an optimal level for your bass, and the input section seems fairly conservative. In order to get decent sort of output from the head it seems that the input gain needs to be pushed very hard.

Is this normal? What's the best way of setting the gain if there's no clip LED?

;)

Many thanks!
 
That LED Lights up green solid (stays on all the time), but doesn't turn red as I would have expected it to when the input clips. I'm not sure what the function of that LED is. There doesn't seem to be a clip indicator at all?

The only dynamic LED is when you turn the compressor on, the LED next to the compressor lights red when compression is applied.

;)
 
WA series amps are designed to be gained way up, 5-7 is best, then master on 4-8 this is the range of best operation. Use your ears, not the lights, to find the sweetest spot in relation to your particular instrument/desired sound!
 
Luke, I hope my answer didn't come off wrong - but even someone as technical as Jonas, who designed the amp, said the same thing! Previously I was also used to using a clip led to judge input...but this beast is a bit different. Its more straightforward than it appears...and you'll find it has a huge and dynamic sound. Thanks!
 
Thanks Garey, no - your answer was great. Thanks ;) I'm so used to adjusting a gain section using clipping as an indicator that this amp threw me off a bit.

I'm starting to really like it, and it has got a lot of power. A very clear transparent tone which I like; I hardly need to adjust the EQ at all. I do have a few loud "pops" coming through the speakers once in a while however which is a little concerning. I don't know what it is, but it's a loud "pop" and it happens when I'm playing, or even when my bass is plugged in and sitting on the stand. It doesn't happen very often, but once in a while I'll hear a loud "pop!" through the speakers. I need to do some more investigating and try it with another bass today. I don't think it's our power here; we live in a very new house with modern wiring and I've never heard it on another amp before.

I'd love to hear how you find the compressor though. I've been playing with it, but don't seem to get much good sound from it. There is an audible thump (not huge, but it's there) when the compressor engages on a signal, then whilst the compressor is applied the sound sounds a little distorted. Not fuzz-box distorted, but again you can really hear it's not clean.

What are your thoughts on the compressor, and if possible I would love to hear some technical details on how best to drive it. For example, what does increasing the compressor pot specifically do to the signal?

Many thanks!

Luke.

;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi Luke, please have in mind that a decent compressor is not cheap :)
Use a light setting, so you will not really feel it ehn you play, but it will matter in the mix. The compression LED should light up only when you play harder notes, that is a good indicator that means most of the notes will stay uncompressed, so unaltered :)
The compression pot should be ratio, so don't overdo it, my logic tells me it should be not more than 10 o clock.

I hope it helps :)
 
Thanks Flo,

I hear you ;)

I'll play some more with it for fun. I don't even use compression, but I'm interested to play and learn how it affects my sound.

:d
 
I don't use compression either :) The compressor should not affect the sound, but the way the bass stays in the mix IMHO... So the best setting is when you don't even notice you have a compressor, haha.

Of course this is just my opinion...
 
As Florin pointed out - use the compressor until the light just barely illuminates on playing harder. It really depends on the input of the instrument. Too much compression will squash the tone/dynamics. I personally don't use compression, but again - this is a case of dialing it in to your personal instrument/preferences. Enjoy the new amp!
 
Thanks, Warwick! As the lucky winner of the WA600s, via your Facebook contest, I am already doing all of my research into how to get the most out of it.
 
Florin said:
Welcome to the forum plankspanker :-)
Click to expand...

LOL, I am not new, here; I just rarely post. My prior post was from the spring of 2010; an action photo, in the Basses forum. I don't play my FNA Jazzman LTD 2002 too often. It is reserved for special gigs, and the studio. My G&L JB2's see most of the gig work; I like passive instruments, most of the time, since there is less that can go wrong, with them. I sure wish that the FNA model would come back, perhaps as a RockBass model. I had 2 German examples, a decade ago, but traded them, to get the LTD. That MM pickup in the P-bass position was very comfortable, and the 3-band EQ meant that I could dial in killer tone, anywhere.
 
Ah, sorry mate, I am using Tapatalk on Ipad a lot these days, and I cannot see the registering date there. My bad, especially because you have an awesome nickname :)
 
+1 on the cool nickname.
The coolest I've seen in ages. Other than mine, of course Flo(rida);)
 
Grgzilla said:
+1 on the cool nickname.
The coolest I've seen in ages. Other than mine, of course Flo(rida);)
Click to expand...


Why, thank you, very much! It's actually an alliteration to my name (Hank), what I do (watch a slap-player's plucking hand, and you will understand), and my birthday/old hockey number (too old to play the game anymore, and still have all my teeth). Back in the 80's, a bandleader decided to give me a bass solo break, spontaneously, so he looked at me and shouted, into the mic, "spank the plank, Hank!" That's where it came from.
 
plankspanker13 said:
Why, thank you, very much! It's actually an alliteration to my name (Hank), what I do (watch a slap-player's plucking hand, and you will understand), and my birthday/old hockey number (too old to play the game anymore, and still have all my teeth). Back in the 80's, a bandleader decided to give me a bass solo break, spontaneously, so he looked at me and shouted, into the mic, "spank the plank, Hank!" That's where it came from.
Click to expand...
This story belongs in the tell us about yourself thread. Hehehe. :D
 
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