Bass - Mesa/Boogie MARK IIC+ Owner's Manual

more traditional sounds where you want your guitar's true character to shine through intact, the SHIFT may
be too forward in the wrong places and not open enough higher up where you need the sparkle and "air" to
provide the highest level of nuance and detail. For traditional sounds or any time where the guitar's natural
character is important, we suggest using the non-SHIFT (pushed-in) TREBLE mode to allow the natural (higher)
harmonics to come through unaltered.

BASS

The BASS is one of the easiest controls to understand and operate here in the IIC+, as it is largely independent
and obvious in terms of controlling a frequency range within the preamp. Being a low-frequency control and
knowing low frequencies come across as not just lower, but also "slower," it doesn't have the potential for
unpleasantness at higher settings that the TREBLE control does. There IS interaction to be aware of, and we
will get to that, but it can be used at your discretion to fill in and round out your sound, especially in the Rhythm
Mode with cleaner sounds.
In terms of interaction, first we have the PULL DEEP on the MASTER control that affects similar frequencies, but it
is in a different location and is manipulating low frequencies farther downstream in the signal path closer to the
power section. This means the low end added with the MASTER's PULL DEEP will not be amplified additionally
in the preamp, so it can be used more freely for high gain/overdrive (Lead Mode) applications with less risk of
the sound becoming indistinct or bloated in the low end.
Next, another interaction, and possibly the most important one to be aware of, we already mentioned earlier in
the Helpful Hints Section, but to simplify and underscore the point, we'll go with this: As gain (VOLUME 1) goes
up, BASS should come down. This notion applies to both Rhythm and Lead Modes and any time the VOLUME
1 control is set much beyond 6.0.
This means that if you want to push the Rhythm Mode hard for traditional amp break-up and use the VOLUME 1
maxed or anywhere near, you will want to run the BASS low, for example, 3.0 and below. You can incrementally
roll the BASS up as you start reducing VOLUME 1, but it doesn't take much this early in the signal path to
compromise the attack.
For clean work with VOLUME 1 at the compromise "sweet spot" (6.75 – 7.75) where you can have a nice clean
sound and also a saturated, warm Lead sound to switch between, the BASS will likely be pretty low...say 3.5
– 4.0, and likely with the BASS SHIFT in the off (pushed-in) mode to achieve the best results. When VOLUME
1 is below 5.5, you can be far more liberal with the BASS setting and even employ the BASS SHIFT when you
want the sound to be really full and big.
For high gain applications that see the VOLUME 1 higher, say 7.5 on up to 8.5, you will likely need to run the
BASS control low, for example, 2.0, or even off altogether nearer to the maximum VOLUME 1 settings. This will
help ensure a definitive attack and a balanced dynamic response.
If you need a lot of low-end combined with high gain for hard rock, metal, or heavy prog sounds, we suggest
looking toward the Graphic EQ's two lowest Bands (80 Hz and 240 Hz) for the best performance.
NOTE: The Five Band Graphic EQ comes at the very end of the preamp's signal path and right before the power
section, so the low end dialed up there is not further amplified in the preamp. In contrast, the BASS control
is located upstream early in the preamp's signal path, and low frequencies added there are subject to more
amplification and can quickly become overbearing and swamp the attack, especially on high gain sounds,
sounding imbalanced and tubby.
Just keep in mind that the two lowest Bands of the Graphic EQ, when coupled with high BASS settings and
especially high GAIN settings, can also overwhelm the attack and swamp the sound. Again, use common sense
and taste to achieve the best blend of low-end and attack clarity.
High settings of either, and especially both combined, also have the potential to create unwanted vibrational
noises in a Combo and, at extreme volumes, can even cause possible speaker damage. Use common sense
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