Art HD-15 Owner's Manual download pdf (Page 10)

The Hartke HD15 Bass Ampliﬁer gives you control over shaping the sound of your

bass, using a process called equalization. To understand how this works, it’s important

to know that every naturally occurring sound consists of a broad range of pitches, or

frequencies, combined together in a unique way. This blend is what gives every sound

its distinctive tonal color. The HD15 EQ controls allow you to alter a sound by boosting

or attenuating speciﬁc frequency areas - they operate much like the bass and treble

controls on your hi-ﬁ amp, but with much greater precision.

The HD15 offer three bands of equalization. Each EQ knob, labeled Bass, Mid, and

Treble, affects a different frequency area of the audio. We carefully selected these

frequency areas because they have maximum impact on bass guitar signals. The Bass

and Treble controls are shelving EQs, which provide boost when the control is moved

clockwise from the center or cut when the control is moved counterclockwise from the

center. The Mid EQ control is a passive, cut-only, circuit designed to provide a response

that is ﬂat to a mid-scoop.

In many instances, the best way to deal with equalization is to think in terms of which

frequency areas you need to attenuate, as opposed to which ones you need to boost. Be

aware that boosting a frequency area also has the effect of boosting the overall signal;

speciﬁcally, too much Low EQ boost can actually cause overload distortion or even harm

the connected speaker.

The speciﬁc EQ you will apply to your bass signal is very much dependent upon your

particular instrument and personal taste and playing style.

However, here are a few general suggestions:

For reggae or Motown sound, boost the Bass EQ slightly while attenuating the Treble EQ.

To remove boxiness and make your instrument sound more “hi-ﬁ,” attenuate the Mid EQ

control.

For a twangy sound that cuts, try boosting the Treble and slighting rolling off the Bass

EQ control.

As you experiment with the EQ controls of the HD15, don’t forget that your bass also

provides signiﬁcant EQ control in the form of its pickup and tonal settings—this can be

particularly effective in instruments that have active circuitry.

Using Equalization

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Art HD-15 Owner's Manual Page 10