What ideas have you got for a nice bass rig? Anything in your collections that records well, with what microphone? Anything special that you do when recording
What are you using?
I'm probably the worst person to ask this but I use anything and everything. In terms of mics, I'll use an SM58, the bass drum mics from my Superlux or Behringer drum mic kits, heck, sometimes, I'll even use the tom mics. And a few months back, I used the AKG C1000 condenser mic on my Fender Bassman combo amp on a particular song, to good effect.
You see, I'm of the opinion that there are many different bass guitar tones. I think the bass was the last of the main instruments in popular music to be captured in a standardized sort of way and this, not until the mid 1970s. So prior to that, there was a good 15 or so years where the bass wasn't concentrated on so much, compared to guitars, keyboards, brass, vocals, strings and drums. But as a result, lots of great bass tones flew in under the radar and I suppose it's that that I've been influenced by.
I'll use guitar amps, bass amps, DI, line outs, even that Behringer BD21 sans amp thing. I'll mic the amp, sometimes record simultaneously out of two amps and blend, sometimes mic, DI and line out and blend the 3. Sometimes, I'll use my fingers to play, sometimes I'll use fingerpicks {plastic or metal} or thimbles depending on the degree of click, pick or clunk that I want. Sometimes I'll use a guitar pedal ~ that old Digitech Hendrix pedal has a nice reverb setting that sounds good when a bass is put through it. There really are so many different ways. And on top of that, a 5 string is great for getting seriously low and if I want to go lower than that, I can detune the bass and speed the recording up so on replay, I'm low enough to be eyeballing the snakes and worms.
Trying to get individual tracks perfect from the start really only happens after year of learning your gear, room, and style. Even then, it always changes
I agree. It sort of gets easier but then one becomes more experimental/knowledgeable and your scope increases. I have no set numbers that I routinely add or cut because everything is song dependent. I actually tried to last week. I had a piece that I'd recorded with a friend on guitar and vocals 30 years ago. It was on an old piece of tape and I wanted to preserve it and had a friend add drums with brushes and I put a couple of other bits to enhance it. But the bass felt so woofy and floomy. I spent a couple of days making all kinds of changes to give it a harder tone but in the end I realized that woofy and floomy and low in the mix was really what the song required. It wasn't what I wanted for my bass playing {!!} but the song took precedence.
I honestly just tweak till it sounds "good," that's if it even gets any tweaking.
I am just hoof'n it with my lil' wing
That's me really. I don't do any one style of music so each song is a new adventure or chapter.