Darker sound for my bass

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Bass Freak

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I have a P-Bass and i want a darker sound out of it. should i change the pickups? get some pedals? any clue? any idea what im asking?

thanks

freak
 
Define darker sound ??

Try turning the tone knob fully counter-clockwise.


Herwig
 
What I mean by darker is a fuller more-bass sound. Not clear, Not define, more fluid, more...darker....a big ominous dark rumble that breathes fire and rocks your socks.

freak
 
Maybe a bigger amp is what youre after? Go to a music store with your bass and play through a bass POD. Just tweak away and note what it is that gets you closer to the sound you want. It might be an EQ thing, maybe a bit of overdrive, or maybe you just need a giant amp that rumbles your house.
 
Put the amp at 11 :cool:

I'm guessing here you're referring to a bass sound like eg. Lenny Kravitz ??? That sound has vintage gear spelled all over... Your P-bass applies, so I guess trying the Fender Bassman, 8x10 Ampeg,... kind of amplifiers. "Tubes" and "large + a lot of speakers" are your keywords.

Do you have any references to existing bands/players??

Herwig

(I had to play on an Ampeg 8x10 last weekend, never did before. I'm used to SWR's definition & clarity...yikes, THAT was different!! )
 
my little amp cant take it!!!

My band *laughs* opend for a local band. We used thier equipment *amps, cables, mics etc. etc.* and wow, my bass had some kick to it, so its just the amp? if i changed the pickups would it give me darker sound? and that pod thingy? im not sure i like it, i want pedals.....i need pedals....i dont trust electronices with my geetar. and by darker, i mean like misfits darker lol

freak
 
Bassfreak,

I would not define "punchier" being realted to "darker" but if you want it " less defined" in your tone that is easy roll off your higher frquencies.

The tone knob on your bass should be rolled counter clockwise to make it less bright or EQ at the amp.

Also the further a way you finger or pick away from the bridge and get closer to the neck with also make it less bright.

IMHO the more tone "effects" you can get out of technique instead of equipment the better. You can take your technique with you to any bass/any amp. Granted better equipment is easier to get better tone most of the time but some level of your technique will transpose to virtually all or most equipment.

But then technique takes time, effort and can't be bought on the fly.

Use your fingers and your ears first then try out equipment and recomendations.
 
Thanks, I think Im going to try to learn some new stuff off of a new friend I have, *he can play les claypol licks almost as well as les* so with his help, and more technique should help me out some.

freak
 
Flatwounds?

I use GHS Boomers.....Do they count? Who makes flatwounds?

freak
 
No boomers arent flatwounds.

Lots of companies make em though...I have a set of Tomastik-Infelds tha I just put on. They are SWEET, but a bit pricey. Decent flatwounds are smoother, darker and more sustainy that roundwounds like you have on right now.....leaning a bit closer to upright bass tone.

They are seriously worth a try for what you are describing...call the local music store ans see what they have to offer....I bet you dig em!


heylow
 
Bass Freak said:
What I mean by darker is a fuller more-bass sound. Not clear, Not define, more fluid, more...darker....a big ominous dark rumble that breathes fire and rocks your socks.

freak
Click to expand...

If you could get your hands on a lil 15 band EQ I would bet you could find the tones your looking for quickly with a little experimenting.

If you looking for sounds live, you might consider something in an amp line with a rear loading horn off at least a couple of 15" or an 18" like the SWR cabinet. A 4x10" box on top of it will give you all the mid punch you could stand, along with lows that can clean carpet. Some of the guys mentioned trying one of those POD things that models various types of bass amps and tones, probably something cool to check out at your favorite music store.

The biggest, fattest, punchy, and warmest bass tones I ever had playing live was with an amp called Acoustic 371. It had a 5 band EQ built in. I used two folded horn cab's ( W boxes) with 18" Electro Voice EVM-B speakers. They came with Cerwin-Vega speakers but they didnt give the upper definition I wanted so I had EV`s put in them. It was like the voice of God speaking from the mountain.
 
Toki, I still have a pair of Acoustic 450's which are very simular to the 370. Those into a pair of W cabinets. I can back the nails out of the dry wall. I also agree that the flat wound strings would go a very long way towards darkening and rounding the sound. And would also be a cheap experiment.
 
Track Rat said:
Toki, I still have a pair of Acoustic 450's which are very simular to the 370. Those into a pair of W cabinets. I can back the nails out of the dry wall. I also agree that the flat wound strings would go a very long way towards darkening and rounding the sound. And would also be a cheap experiment.
Click to expand...

I loved the 370 combo, it was just really big, but easier to manage than an SVT rig.

Flatwounds topping at 105 have a real thick sound, and dark. But they will also burn the hell out of your fingers cause there`s so much direct contact while playing. I`d eat some Kentucky Fried Chicken to get all slicked up before pickin! :)
 
LOL alrighty, thanks for the ideas, ill try them next time im up at guitar center

freak
 
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