5 string recording

[ratseyerecords]

I'm having a bit of trouble getting a tight sound out of the low b when recording . Does anyone have any EQ tricks, or pre amping suggestions that would help me get a deep, solid sound without getting the gain overload?


TX

 

[EdWonbass]

You could try boosting your mids and cutting some of the lows. What kind of bass is it? Are you going into the board, mic, or are you using a direct box or out from an amp?

 

[ratseyerecords]

I'm using a Les Paul 5... Right now I'm using a direct box into a parametric EQ. Was hoping the EQ would help but it hasn't done what I wanted.

TX

 

[EdWonbass]

What condition are your strings in? I play a six string and it seems like my B is the first to go dead. If the strings have been on for a while it may be time for a change. The new strings should give you more definition, or should I say won't be a muddy or muffled.

 

[ratseyerecords]

I just bought the bass and right away I wanted more tone out of the B, so I put on a new set of .135's on tuesday. I've tried using an mp1, and running line out of my tube head as well as the direct box, but just can't seem to get a tight sound. I get this image in my head of the bass sound from Tool's aenima or Tyoe O. Just hoping to find something like it. I've heard alot of people talk about compressing it, but I'm not sure that's what I'm looking for.

TX

 

[tattooyu]

I find that bass really tightens up when you put a high pass filter with the corner freq. at the very sub, sub bass frequencies. Basically, getting rid of the very extreme low frequencies and keeping the yummy low end.

A smidge of a good compressor never hurts either.

Have you tried recording the bass this way? Mic the bass amp with an actual speaker (10" or 12") as the microphone and then mix that with the direct signal. It sounds REALLY good in most cases.