70`s Bass.

[Nakatira]

I`m wondering if any of you guys know how bass guitars was recorded in the 70`s.
was it mainly DI`ed or was it done with a mic(Dynamic I asume) in front of the amp.

I`ve read that some of the groups DI`d theire basses Like queen and 10cc.

But My favorite sounding bass sounds of the 70`s was made by Jethro Tull, Yes, E.L.P, Led zeppelin deep purple and Black sabbath just to name a bunch.

 

[chessrock]

From what I gather, they tended to use the Bass POD.

Sometimes the Sansamp bass driver. I hear Geezer Butler loved that one.

It was very popular in the 70's to use amp modelers / simulators.

 

[adam_in_audio]

hi,

I've read that bands/people used both d.i. and mic'ing in the 70's. Some like Paul McCartney used a combination of both and blended the sounds together during mixdown. I know a lot of these bands you mentioned also used Rickenbacker basses. These basses had/have a stereo output, this made it quite easy to split the signal. They also were very trebly to begin with. I know Chris Squire from yes used to actually use a bass amp AND a guitar amp as well as rotosound strings with a pick to get that signature sound. A lot of guys used overdrive too. I have the Sans amp d.i., it's the bomb for getting these kind of tones without having to mic my old amp. I've heard the bass pod is good. Hope that pushes you in the right direction, I'm sure some others will add to this..

Adam

 

[adam_in_audio]

From what I gather, they tended to use the Bass POD.

Sometimes the Sansamp bass driver. I hear Geezer Butler loved that one.

It was very popular in the 70's to use amp modelers / simulators.

haha, I've got the feeling I've just been "had". Nakatira, you're not another Walters are you?

 

[chessrock]

No, I'm just busy today. His post was legit, I'm sure.

My goal today is to see how many new technologies I can place with old artists. I'm doing pretty good so far.

 

[Nakatira]

Nope I`m quite new on this site, but I`ve allready heard of the infamous walters and rest asure I`m not him.

Chessrock`s joke is well taken, and no I dident go for it, I`ve tried those pod boxes on guitar and I think theire crap.

But I`ve always mic`ed the bass on my recordings and thought that I would have a go and see what sound I would get if I did a DI.

blending the signal with DI and Mic`ed sounds exiting will try that.

thanks for the advice Adam.

 

[giraffe]

i've heard that some people would actually low pass the bass, about 3-5K
??????????
i'm really not sure about that, maby one of the older guys will tell me i'm crazy.

 

[formerlyfzfile]

Also, think passive.

A lot of modern bass guitars have SUPER hot active outputs. I believe most bass sounds from the 70's would be from passive instruments (not really sure how old active bass/guitar electronics are) ...... but it can make for a MUCH different sound ..... obviously. A lot of 70's bass was more trebly or more so just lacked the superlows that some of the actives can produce.

I still prefer passive pickups most of the time because I like that chimey piano-srting kinda sound..... but I'm not really a bassist .... I just play one on TV.
My good freind and closest jamming buddy who is a bassist hates that sound though.
He prefers his actives CRANKED so that he can use his Stingray and Ampeg classic stack to make people involuntarily shit their pants and have a heart attack as their chest implodes.

To each their own.

If you have a modern instrument with active pickups, turn them off and then try some or all of the abouve mentioned stuff.

-mike

 

[Nakatira]

I just have a cheapo "passive"bass at the moment, but most of the guys I record have either fenders or simular basses.
No rickenbackers yet.

I`m not a bass player either, but more or less obsessed with 70`s sound, the same goes for drums, guitars and vocals.
I`m starting to get those things going, but the bass is not were I want it yet.

If I were to choose "THE SOUND" It would be the sound of Jeffrey Hamond on Jethro tulls thick as a brick. Man that is a FAT bass.