how to get that bass sounding fat??!!

[metalj]

hey gang, does anyone out there know how to get that really fat bass sound that almost has a bell like ring to it. imagine the intro of the song "slither" by velvet revolver. the bass sounds so warm with just a hint of fuzz, and when a note is struck it almost has a ringing sound to it on the high end. I only assume its a miced cab from a tube amp, but am not sure.

any ideas how i could come close to that for recording purposes??

thanks
MetaJ

[ez_willis]

I haven't heard the Velvet Revolver song, but- Try micing the strings when tracking, blend it in with the DI and/or mic track. New strings, eq, quality bass, quality bass amp, quality compression....

[Fendophile]

You first have to have a bass that is capable of producing that sound. Then you need to play the bass in a style that is conducive to generating that sound. If the bass cannot do it, the system cannot record it.

So far, I have had no need to mic a bass. Careful adjustment of which instrument is being played, how it is being played and a clean DI have worked for me. I'm not familiar with the musical piece you are describing.

Any option to provide more variations of input, such as miking, are an excellent idea to have on hand.

[EdWonbass]

Active bass with treble and bass boosted through and MXR M-80 with some overdrive mixed in color contour button on played with a pick.
Feel free to sub with a SansAmp instead of the MXR.

I don't know if that's what he used but that's where I would start with the equipment I have to work with.

[faderbug]

close-mike the bass ( 1-3 inches about halfway bridge and 12'th fret) with a cardoid SDC. mix that in with the amp.

[lbanks]

Use an Alembic or other Hi-Fi Bass.

[metalj]

Originally Posted by faderbug

close-mike the bass ( 1-3 inches about halfway bridge and 12'th fret) with a cardoid SDC. mix that in with the amp.

So your saying to actually close mic the electric bass guitar (not the cab)?? that clicking sound will actually produce a loud enough sound to record and still be musical in the mix ??

i would have never thunk it? but ill try anything once. "BRILLIANT!!!!"(like that beer commercial

metalJ

[Track Rat]

As stated, the bass, the strings and most importantly, the player will have the greatest impact on the sound BUT if you want that "piano bass" sound try a set of GHS Contact Core strings. When I put a set on my Rickenbacker 4001 it sounds like you're hitting a bell with a hammer. My P bass doesn't lite up in quite the same way but it brightens it up a lot too.

[jimistone]

Originally Posted by ez_willis

I haven't heard the Velvet Revolver song, but- Try micing the strings when tracking, blend it in with the DI and/or mic track. New strings, eq, quality bass, quality bass amp, quality compression....

Amen to QUALITY compression....you get what you pay for.

[faderbug]

btw did you try it and did it work out ok?

[EVT]

I would recommend a p/or j bass. My bass player used an alembic, and the hifi electronics are really difficult to mix with. It all depends on the style you are going for too. An alembic is a great bass for stanley clarke, because he is soloing, and the songs basically revolve around his amazing playing. For playing live they sound excellent, and if you have a lot of expertise and a lot of good equipment and know how to work with that kind of instrument in a mix. I personally love how the fender p bass we are using now sounds, and how it sits so nice in the mix. It pretty much automatically sounds excellent. And with other active basses I was ready to jump out a window with all the eq'ng and time I had to put in to just make it sound good with the other instruments in a mix.

Don't get me wrong... I LOVE alembics, in fact I own an alembic skylark guitar which I wouldn't ever want to give up. But, recording with the guitar sounds excellent, and I haven't had the same issues as when I recorded with alembic basses.

evt

[gvarko]

Originally Posted by jimistone

Amen to QUALITY compression....you get what you pay for.

Black Finger Compressor... Excellent Bass compression for under $200..

[FALKEN]

recording last weekend I accidently limited the crap out of the bass...came out sounding like you're standing next to the 2' subwoofer at a club.