how do i get some attack out of my squier p-bass

[ron82]

i think the title says it all, if u have this bass u probably know what i mean.
it fills out the bottom end of my mixes ok (so it sounds to me, anyway) - but it has absolutely no punch, its just growling really.

now i'm not far from the worst bass player in the world, but i dont think its just me, but more the fact that i run it directly into my behringer mixer (i can hear u say "ouch" lol).

the thing is, i cant buy a DI or POD or something like that, because i dont have any money. but i will eventually, if someone can recommend me something cheap which is REALLY worth buying (i know this doesnt happen too often lol)

beside that, i'd appreciate tips on how to improve my bass sound with what i have (EQing etc.)

thanks alot!

PS:
i play faster stuff and always use a pick, if that makes any difference..

 

[jbegood]

Try and reduce some of the extreme lows...Do you record into a computer?? If so boost 2-3k...Use an eq plug-in for this after it's been recorded...

However, for a truly nice bass tone you WILL need a DI...I can't see a fender bass directly through a behringer mixer producing a great sound...sorry.

 

[ron82]

yes, i use a computer..

i know that i wont get a great sound this way, i just have absolutely no clue of DI's, nor about mixing bass.. but the music i record is fast and has heavily distorted guitars, so the bass doesnt have to b super sounding, just the attack(?) of a hit string coming through these guitars would b a nice thing hehe..

thanks for ur EQ tips i'll keep them in mind

 

[Garry Sharp]

You'll never get a good sound straight into the mixer. Give up the price of a pizza and a couple of beers for a used passive DI box. You'll find one for about €20-30.

In the meantime, experiment with picking right down by the bridge, it will give you more attack, don't pick hard (experiment with hitting the strings with different levels of force; understanding this is the hallmark of the recording bass player) and roll off the low EQ so you can bring up the overall level without swamping the mix in boom.

 

[ron82]

thanks garry!

damn i didnt know they start at a low price like this!

i just looked at some and noticed that it doesnt say what exactly the given DI is good for - if i have one DI does that mean i can use it for my bass, mic, and whatever else needs boosting? i always thought that u need a different DIs for different instruments? if i can use it for my mics as well i will surely get one

i guess i need some info on DIs in general cause i dont even know what exactly they're doing

 

[noiseportrait]

1.) New strings
2.) For rock, boost the mids. It will sound like crap solo, but the bass will fit better in the mix and have a lot more punch. Good bass tracks usually sound really nasty and midrangy alone, but then somehow when you get everything else layered on top of them they slip right into the mix perfectly. I know I have a good bass sound when the bassist starts to get angry because his bass sounds unbearbly horrible through the monitors.

 

[Adam P]

Search eBay for an used SansAmp Bass Driver. Its an active DI/preamp and sounds fantastic. Much more useful than a passive DI, which does nothing but bring your signal up to mic level. It will be one piece of bass gear that you'll never get rid of. You should be able to pick one up for less than $150.

 

[Garry Sharp]

Adam P is right about the SansAmp if your budget will stretch to it. If not, all a cheap passive DI does is convert the high impedance output of your bass into the low impedance which a mixer input is designed for. It doesn't actually boost the signal, but has the effect of doing so because matching impedances makes for greater efficiency (I'm simplifying hugely - search this bbs for better explanations).