Using Equalization
The Hartke Kickback Series Bass Amplifier gives you control over shaping the sound of
your bass, using a process called equalization. To understand how this works, it's import-
ant 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 Kickback Series 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 stereo, but with much greater precision.
The Kickback KB12 and Kickback KB15
offer three bands of equalization. Each EQ
knob, labeled Bass, Midrange, and Treble,
affects a different frequency area of the au-
dio. 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
Bass
Midrange
Treble
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 peaking EQ. As the Mid control is turned clockwise the frequency area
is boosted; as it is turned counterclockwise the frequency area is attenuated.
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.
Kickback Series Combos
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