well-defined, crisp bass attack

[dobro]

In the mix, what do you do when compressing the bass in terms of attack, in order to make that attack well-defined?

With vocals or guitar, I make the attack a bit longer when I want a clearer, better-defined attack. Is it the same with bass?

What's happening with some of my mixes is that the bass is getting a bit lost in the other stuff - the levels are fine, and the bass has got its own EQ niche, but it lacks a bit of punch. I think the leading edge of each bass note needs to be a bit percussive, if you understand what I'm trying to say...