I need a little help with my bass

  • Thread starter Thread starter 2lim
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2lim

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I have been recording now for about a year, and i have been able to get the results i have wanted from all of my instruments, except my bass. I have a fender squier p-bass and a fender bxr25 for an amp. I am looking for a very smooth sound that is not very twangy or trebly, but is not so bassy that it sounds like much when i turn it up, kind of like the bass on re-arranged bylimp bizkit. I have tried a number of techniques(micing with various mics, and direct line) but my results are less than acceptable(to my ears). If anyone can share some tips or tricks i wouldvery much apreciate it.

Simon

Btw
I am recording on my computer in ntrack, through a Sblive sound card, using a yamaha Mt120(4 track) as a mixer....... you may all sit back and laugh now.
 
Have you tried direct thru a direct box or preamp?....Are you using a compressor?....Do you use a pick?....
 
I play with a pick, but i can play with my fingers if ti will make a signifigant difference. I have no acces to any kind of direct box, i either use the preamp out on the amp,m or i preamplify the signal with the fourtrack's pre's. As for compressors, i use direct x and sound forge for all ym effects.
 
I think a decent preamp or direct box would do wonders....But let me ask this, are you getting a good tone from the amp when you play?.....i ask this only because I want to see at what point you are losing the sound you are after.....
 
If you are plugging into a line level input at the moment then just about any direct box should improve your sound because it will provide a better impedence match for your pickups.

My favourite DI for bass is the Countryman active DI.
 
Playing finger style rather than with a pick might help to smooth out your sound a bit. Using a pick gives a more defined sound with more of that twang of which you speak.
 
My main problem is that when i get a good round sound out of the amp it is very very bassy and mushy when it gets recorded. however if i get a twangier sound out of the amp, it really emphasizes the clicks of the strings hitting frest,a dn fingers hitting strings
 
If the sound thats coming out the amp is getting on tapes, its either the mic or the preamp or both.....i would first try a direct box....the Countryman that vox pointed out is a good one...of course, a good preamp would go further as you could use it for other applications....
 
This is a silly thought, perhaps, but have you tried recording your direct in AND your amp at the same time and mixing the signals together? I don't know if that would help the sound you are going after, but it is sometimes fun to have more options.

I've always gotten a decent, round bass going direct in and playing with my fingers. I use the pres on my mixer to bring it up to level, or an Art Tube MP. I also compress it at least a little in the mix. I'd rather have a really nice compressor for it on the way in, but I had to stop spending somewhere... ;)

In any case, by varying your finger technique (up the string or near the bridge- pluck with tip of finger or side of finger), you can get most any tone you want out of a bass going direct in. Also play with your tone and volume controls. What works live might not be the best setting for going into the computer.

-Chris
 
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