As I've often said, each of us has a very personal concept of Perfect Tone. We hear it inside of us, and the challenge is to get that same tone into the real world where others can hear it, too. Achieving this is as easy (or difficult) as finding the instruments and equipment that give you what you need. Hopefully, this article will put you well on the road to Perfect Tone.

Before we begin, let's agree on some assumptions — purely for this article. Let's agree that:

• You are a competent player who knows what tone you want.
• You have a bass (or six!) that you love, both in sound and playability.
• If you use effects, you already have them and know what you want from them.
• You're looking for your Perfect Tone, not just "acceptable".
• You're looking at the Eden World Tour series of amplifiers.

OK, if we're still on the same page, let me offer some thoughts.

Lane's Double Thunder Rig

How Big is Big Enough?

Size matters in more ways than one. For some, it may mean building a huge arena-sized system. For others it might mean finding gear that will fit in the back seat. Before making any purchases, stop and think about all of the issues, including transportation and on-stage footprint.

Which Speakers Are Right for You?

There are numerous considerations when choosing speakers. First and foremost, however, is the overall tone of the cabinets in question. For starters, every cabinet has its own voice, we can break it down by speaker size. An 18" driver sounds different than a 15, sounds different than 10s. Today, the process is more complex because some 210 and 410 cabs sound as deep as their larger diameter brothers.

The best answer is to play a lot of cabinets before making your decision. You can also talk to other players, especially those whose tone you like. But, while you can use other opinions to help you narrow your search, in the end it's all about your opinion. Don't let yourself get talked into something that rubs against your own intuition. Instead, keep researching and trying out cabinets.

SHAMELESS PLUG: We have a really great forum. It's right here. There you'll find a community of Edenites who like nothing better than to tell you what they think about our gear. A lot of them really know their stuff. And while they don't always agree on which cabinet or amp is the best we've ever made, they can all offer some very useful insight. We call this a Very Good Thing.

In 100% non-engineering terms, and offered in plain language, here's the deal. The lower overall impedance of the speakers in use, the more power an amp can provide. Sounds great, doesn't it? Sure, until you start doing some math. Here's the main thing: using 8 Ohm cabinets whenever possible offers greater expansion opportunities. For instance, a WT-550 can power a pair of 4 Ohm cabinets, which means the amp is operating at its lowest possible impedance. In other words, you can't expand any further. BUT! (You knew this was coming, right?) If you use 8 Ohm boxes, you can stack up to FOUR of them!

Blues legend Johnny B. Gayden and his WT800 rig.

There are two aspects to choosing an amplifier: power requirements, and features. It's important to have all the power you need so that you're not stressing your system every time you turn it on. It's also important to have the features necessary to sculpting your personal Perfect Tone.

Now, it's true that many (if not most) Edenites don't do a lot of knob tweaking to get your tone. In fact, more than one endorser has said they could glue all the tone knobs in the Flat position and get their sound. On the other hand, sometimes you just need to goose a certain frequency band to get that last bit of cool tone into your sound. So, take a careful look at all features on each amp you're considering. Read the friendly manuals. And, yes, ask questions.

In the World Tour series, there are two basic choices of pre-amplifier design. The pre-amp includes Input Gain, Compressor, Enhance and tone controls. All World Tour amps have a built-in compressor and Enhance control. The tone controls are a bit different, depending on model. Additionally, the line now includes the original tube-driven pre-amp and our new solid state front end.

Here's a quick breakdown:

Original Design:

• Tube front end
• Compressor tied to input gain
• Five-band EQ, with three semi-parametric bands

Time Traveler (New) Design:

• Solid state front end, based on Golden Ear chip, the same as used in very high end recording consoles
• Separate Compressor knob to control threshold at which compression begins
• Three-band EQ with Mid Shift (550Hz and 2.2KHz)

The Odd Amp Out is the WT1205. For this one, we took design concepts from both sides. We started with a tube front end for each channel (this baby has two). The compressor for each channel gets its own control, and each channel also has its own Enhance and EQ section. On Channel 1, we put a 4-band EQ, with the mids being centered on our two favorite frequencies — 550Hz and 2.2KHz — which are the two switchable options on the Time Traveler design.

On Channel 2, we went with 3-band, but added a frequency control to the Mid section. That way, you can sweep through the midrange band. This is especially helpful for upright and acoustic/electric players that have to worry about top resonance feedback. Dial up the offending freq and cut the level until the feedback goes away. That's a Very Good Thing, don't you think?

Lane sets up a wall of Edens for backline at a benefit concert. "Man, that's L-O-U-D!!"

Going Modular

For some, it makes a lot of sense to create a modular rig. This would include several speaker cabinets so that the user takes only the cabs needed for a specific purpose. You can buy several of the same cabinet, such as the D-112XLT or D-210XLT/XST, or various models from which the user picks and chooses depending on the gig.

It may also mean adding a power amplifier for use on larger stages, probably with more speakers. No problem there, as every Eden amp offers outputs that can be used to slave to other amplifiers.

For some users, it may mean choosing a good combo amp (speakers and amp all in one cabinet) and then adding extension speakers when/if needed. Both the Metro (DC210XLT) and the smaller DC112XLT can handle up to three additional 8 Ohm cabinets. The ENC combos can each handle one additional 8 Ohm cab.

Consider this for a moment. For rehearsals and small gigs, take the combo, or your head and a single cabinet. For club gigs, add an extension cabinet. Bigger stages mean you get to bring even more cabinets and build a Wall of Doom.

John Hatton (Brian Setzer Orchestra) pose with a bevy of gear during a Research and Development project. John uses our WT-1205 and D-610XLT on tour, and a CXC combo around town.

Some users need more than one rig. They need a big ol' honker for large gigs, and a smaller unit for clubs and rehearsals. This is often true with touring professionals. They have their mega-rig, which stays on the truck most of the time, and in storage when not being used. Then they have their "in town" rig, often a combo and an extension cab or two, which they use for local "pick up" work when not touring.

The same thing can hold true for players who play in more than one setting. Your Metal band may require a few thousand Watts and a four-pack of 410s, while your Sunday morning church gig requires a really small combo that won't take up too much room.

It all comes back to your needs and how you choose to address them. Don't let yourself be scared away from a combo for smaller gigs if that's all you need.

Now for Some Choices

So far, I've avoided offering personal opinion. That's because, while I think my opinion matters a great deal, you may not. You may be searching for a tone quite different from mine. You may play a totally different kind of music which requires a different sound. You may think I'm nuts! Regardless of the reason, chances are you want YOUR tone, not mine.

Now, however, we're to the point that I want to offer some "starter" suggestions to get you thinking. And I'll begin with my own rigs. Before I do, however, let me just say that I'm a tried and true Edenite, a pure Eden fanatic. Every Eden amp I've ever used has given me everything I needed. I should also point out that I don't use effects at all. For me, it's all about finding the best bass, then the best amp and getting gobs of killer tone.

OK, so what's my Perfect Tone? First, there has be clear definition to the bottom. No fuzziness, nothing but solid fundamental. I don't want it overblown, however, so I shy away from large diameter speakers. I like a crisp, clean high end without it being brittle or harsh. I tend to set my tweeter level control at about 10:00 on a clock face to make sure I don't get too much string noise and such.

Lane with fellow endorsers Gary Jones (Deeper Blues), Wes Watson (Strangeland) and Terry Richards (Eternity X).

And then, it's all about the mids. Mids RULE, ok? I want strong low mids, because that's where the chest thump comes from — not the bottom as most people think. Then I want high mids that are aggressive, with a touch a grit to them. When I dig in on the strings, I want to hear the growl, like a big, extremely upset and hungry junkyard dog.

On top of all that, I need a tone that works well from the top of the range to the bottom, and often all at once. (That's the real test of a cabinet — can it reproduce it ALL at the same time?) I sometimes do chords on top of my bass line. Or I'll play the bass line with my thumb and use my fingers to pluck a melody line on top. I need a rig that will let all of that shine through without the least trace of mud.

That's not too much to ask for, right? Strong bottom, pristine highs, and mids that can take over the world…all with outstanding clarity and all at the same time. That's my Perfect Tone, and I can get it from any Eden amp along with the speakers appropriate for me.

OK. Finally. Let's look at some rigs.

I started life with Eden on a WT800 powering a pair of D-410XLT cabinets. I quickly found that I didn't really need both cabinets, and could save a lot of room in a small van by leaving one at home.

After more than twelve years on that rig, I swapped out for a WT1205 powering a 610XLT cabinet. Now, I absolutely loved my original rig. Thing is, I didn't need the full tone control set to get my sound, and I really liked the idea of having two channels so I could switch between two basses on the fly. And while the D-410XLT was loud, proud and well-endowed, the D-610XLT is louder, prouder and… er… well-endoweder. (If that wasn't a word before, it is now.)

I should also mention that I have a second stack to add if/when I get the chance. This is just in case the Warped Tour calls and just has to have us! (WARNING: This is a joke. The Warped Tour won't return our calls, either.) This stack includes a second D-610XLT powered by a WT-1250 amplifier.

My latest toy has been a WT550 powering a pair of D-112XLT Neo cabinets. For club dates and such, my guitarist Gary scaled down to a pair of Randall MTS combos (instead of a pair of half-stacks) and I wanted to do the same. This keeps us from getting yelled at by soundmen and makes for a much easier load. As part of the swap, I give up my second channel, but I get the full EQ set again. This rig can easily keep up with my needs on all but the largest stages. And for those, we bring the big guns!

Let me also point out that, with this rig, I can still add another pair of D-112XLTs, which would be more than enough for everything but arena stages and the like.

Polo Jones and Lane with Polo's touring rig.

My baby rig uses a D-210MBX monitor wedge, powered by either my original WT400 or a WTX-260. Either will work in the applications for which I bring my smallest rig, so it's really all about how I feel that particular day. This is the rig I use for pit work and the like.

SIDE NOTE: I should also mention that I'm in a very cool, but unusual situation: both my guitarist and my drummer also play bass. And they do it extremely well! Both also use Eden rigs for their bass work, and Gary is also an Eden endorser. Both have used all my rigs in various situations and feel pretty much the same way I do. "No matter the gig, no matter the rig," says Gary, "I can get my Perfect Tone in about a minute, as long as I'm playing Eden!"

Some of our users find their Perfect Tone by combining the characteristic sound of more than one cabinet type. For instance, endorser Abe White uses a D-410XLT and a D-210XST together to create extra bottom end. He powers both with a WT-800 in Bridge Mono configuration. Others opt for a pair of 410 cabs, but go with one of each — XLT and XST.

Rev Jones with his "small" rig, a WT-800 and D-610XLT.

For those wanting more of an old-school feel to the bottom end, try using a D-115XLT with a D-410XLT or D-210XLT on top. You get the clarity and fast action of tens with a nice phat bottom end just like the old days. Be careful with this, however, as pushing too much low end may cause your sound man to grumble and moan while demanding more Cheetoes. (I bring several bags to each gig. I find it's harder for a soundman to yell at me if he's chewing. Well, at least some of the time.)

Still others want to combine old and new school concepts to build their Perfect Tone. We have several users with D-212XLT and D-210XST cabs in their rig. (If you choose this set-up, we recommend putting the XST on the bottom for best overall sound.) The 212 is voiced to offer a more "pillowy" bottom — a little warmer, and a tad "rounder". This is the "velvet glove". The 210 goes very deep, and is tight and distinct. This is the "iron fist". Combining the two creates a low end unlike anything else, with plenty of mids to make sure you cut through all those guitars and drums.

So… let's recap. Determine your volume needs and your limitations. The two main questions to ask are: "Will it be loud enough?" and "Will it fit in my car?" On the amp side, figure out which features are most important to you. Then, listen to as many cabinets as possible to fine tune your Perfect Tone.

It may seem like a lot of work, but keep in mind that you're not ordering lunch at a fast food joint. You're choosing a top-of-the-line rig that, with proper maintenance, will last you for many, many years. You're investing in the gear that will allow you to bring your internal tone — the tone that drives you to new heights.

By spending the time necessary to make a fully-informed decision, you're saving yourself a lot of frustration. And you'll save yourself a lot of money, since you won't have to keep buying new gear as you continue your search. Of course, you're welcome to buy as many Eden rigs as you want. Just remember to buy your wife or girlfriend something from time to time. And practice that sincere look that goes with "but, honey, I need this speaker cabinet, too!"

So, off you go to the forum, and out to the stores. Take your time and have fun. Then, when you assemble your Perfect Rig, and you have your Perfect Tone, there's only one thing left to do:

Turn it UP! … and Keep Thumpin'!

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