GS Mini bass feedback problem

[gscratchutay]

I apologize in advance if this subject has been discussed.  A quick search didn't find anything.

I just purchased a GS Mini acoustic bass a week ago.  I like the way it plays, but I get a lot of low-frequency feedback particularly when the volume control on the instrument is above about three-quarters.  I have several other Taylors and other acoustic guitars with internal pickups and have never had this problem.  I intend to call Taylor support but I thought I would post a note here and get some replies.  It is as simple as installing a soundhole cover?

thanks,

[Edward]

Hey there,

Feedback is always a function of volume and proximity to the sound source (amp, PA speaker, floor wedge). More info is required: are you playing into an amp or PA, and are you using a monitor of any kind?  Is this practice alone or with a band?  If the former, how is your amp/PA skpr situated with regard to your bass?  If with your band, is your stage volume high?

I have no experience with Taylor's acoustic bass, but the point is the same: move away from the sound source in some way: turn speaker, stand in a different spot; as well as turn volume down.  You can EQ the feedback out, as well, but depending on your setup, this may alter your "live" tone.

Generalization with acoustic guitars: the top vibrating makes an acoustic more sensitive --more prone-- to feedback, particularly low-frequency feedback.  This is why many acoustic-guit DI boxes have a notch filter with a sweep control:  you ID the freq that is resonating with your guit, and attenuate only that frequency.  This alters your tone, but buys you more volume, up to a point, though.  Make it louder and we're back to the core: your instrument's volume and proximity to the sound source. 

And yes, a soundhole cover will quell the feedback, as well as deaden the guit so it sounds lifeless and nothing like the guitar you bought to enjoy!  It's a fix that is used on loud stages ...check out top acts on a large stage and you'll see a soundhole cover when they pull out that acoustic.  They don't hear the actual guitar's acoustic voice anyway, so the primary mission is amp the guit for the house; that player has got in-ears or a floor wedge to hear what they're doing as it ain't from the guitar's body!  But for most of us mere mortals who play for a --ahem-- slightly smaller audience, we want to hear/feel our acoustic because we dig it!  So use a rubber plug if you like, but know the tradeoffs and be willing to embrace that.

Chime back in with more details on your use! 

Edward

[gscratchutay]

Thanks for the reply.  We play thru a PA and use a small monitor pointed up at the instrument from the floor.

I've talked with tech at my LGS.  It appears that the problem occurs only when we have the volume on the guitar up past about 8 (out of 10).  He suggested a notch filter which would not only be an additional piece of hardware, but would alter the sound, as you said.  He also suggested tweaking the pickup to boost its output a bit, so that the volume would not have to be set so high.  I have installed a soundhole cover which seems to have helped a bit.

[Earl]

Thanks for the reply.  We play thru a PA and use a small monitor pointed up at the instrument from the floor.... It appears that the problem occurs only when we have the volume on the guitar up past about 8 (out of 10).

That is an important clue.  Turn the pickup down a bit and let the PA add the volume.  If the gain of the pickup is set too high, you will be very prone to feedback.  A sound hole cover will help a bit too but treats a symptom, not the disease.  Edward's description of volume versus proximity is right on.  I also find that the tone of most pickups sounds more natural at a 7 / 10 setting.  The higher you go, the more electronic they sound.

[Edward]

Thanks for the reply.  We play thru a PA and use a small monitor pointed up at the instrument from the floor.

I've talked with tech at my LGS.  It appears that the problem occurs only when we have the volume on the guitar up past about 8 (out of 10)....

Your volume at your wedge and "that" frequency, together, are your culprits.  Sorry I know nothing about the Taylor bass, is this an ES pickup?  If so, leave the vol at detent.  The ES is an active system so increasing vol at the guitar's controls adds gain (considerable gain if at 80%!!) which may be overdriving (slightly or a lot) your input channel.  Overdriving any input stage can lead to all kinds of sonic wonkiness.  Moreover, are you going straight into your PA or into console first ...this is a biggie as the latter offers you the ability to structure gain properly, as well as EQ a bit.  The fact that your soundhole cover helps "seems to have helped a bit" tells me you really need to address your gain structure, EQ settings, and of course volume.  More details?

Edward