pseudo bass guitar?

[paddymc]

I'm looking to get the most convincing bass guitar sound I can, without having access to a bass guitar. I can get some decent sounds out of my keyboard, but the lack of dynamics exposes it for what it is rather quickly. I have a low-budget setup so my options are limited: Boss ME-30 (guitar multi-effects) has a pitch shifter, which can produce signal octave below guitar, but has latency issue (hope I'm using the term correctly... there is a slight but noticeable delay between the note being played and the effect signal sounding out)...which kind of rules it out in my book. I also have a boss Octave pedal, which has ok sound, less latency issues, but is hard to keep in consistent dynamic range. Maybe this pedal used with compressor effect of my ME-30 could give satisfactory results? Anyone who has gotten good base sound using guitar or keys + effects...pls chime in! Thanks!

 

[shortedaman]

given what you have and im assuming you don't want too spend any money.
id say your on the right track so far. use the octave pedal and then run the me-30 second with only the compressor activated. mess around with that and see if you like how that works out. also what kind of interface or software are you using?

 

[Rokket]

Another route is to ask someone to play the bass for you. Look around, there are plenty of musicians on here to collab with. My good stuff is all from collaberations.

 

[tc4b]

I use keyboard for bass sometimes, but I never try to make it sound like an actual bass guitar. It works fine playing the bass part, but sounding like a keyboard.

 

[danw]

This topic comes up periodically around here; usually the consensus is that you can buy a cheapo bass (pawnshops, craigslist) for around the same price as a good pedal, and it will still sound better. Is the issue space, or just cost?

Also, is this for a recording or a live setup? Back in the day I got some reasonable sounds out of recording a guitar at double speed and slowing it back down. For me, it was better than the octave-pedal route, anyway. Maybe not good if the part's already fast, though.

 

[paddymc]

Thanks for all the replies so far!

Shortedaman: I'm using digital MTR, a Tascam DP-01.

DanW: I kind of figured that may be the best way to go, but just wanted to put it out here first, see if there was a majic bass guitar effect available somehow... If I were able to pick up an OK used bass somewhere, would I need a bass amp, or could I run it through my ME-30 or guitar amp as a preamp? Or could I get good results (subjective, I know!) going direct into Tascam's direct guitar input? Having never played bass, will some guitar effects sound OK with bass?

 

[grimtraveller]

On occasion, I used the bottom two strings on my electro acoustic with some low EQ-ing. I also used to use the bass pedals on a Hammond organ when I had one. I've even used the bass notes of the piano. But these were particular experimental ideas, not a substitute for the real thing as I am primarilly a bassist. In one song, I used the low strings of the electro-acoustic, the pedals of the Hammond, a double bass and a bass guitar, all in different parts of the song. But that was a one off {a nightmare to mix !}.
"Johnny, get a bass guitar and you will be alright !"

 

[danw]

For recording, I've been playing bass through guitar amps for years, and it sounds fine. Just don't turn it up too loud as you'll risk blowing the speaker. I've recorded a few things direct, and it sounds ok if the bassline's not too prominent anyway. Something like slap, with a wide dynamic range, tends to sound better through an amp. All of my guitar effects sound fine on bass, except the old crybaby wah, just because it sucks all the low out. Just try what you've got and see what sounds good.

 

[grimtraveller]

For recording, I've been playing bass through guitar amps for years, and it sounds fine. Just don't turn it up too loud as you'll risk blowing the speaker. I've recorded a few things direct, and it sounds ok if the bassline's not too prominent anyway. Something like slap, with a wide dynamic range, tends to sound better through an amp. All of my guitar effects sound fine on bass, except the old crybaby wah, just because it sucks all the low out. Just try what you've got and see what sounds good.

dan's right, guitar effects on bass are OK some of the time. I used to have a Zoom bass effects thingy but I thought it was rubbish. The guitar ones seemed so much more effective {get it ?}.
I'm not going to get religious about it but I've come around to the point of view that the bass can generate enough cool tones of it's own to not need FX. But that's just a personal view.

 

[guitar junkie]

you can find some super cheap basses that don't play too bad at all and with a little tweaking they can be made to sound pretty decent.

 

[dervish riff]

Around here, it's easier to get a cheap bass than anything else--I've bought every bass I've had for less than $50.00. Just make sure the neck is close to being straight, put some new strings on it and away you go.

 

[Tadpui]

If I were able to pick up an OK used bass somewhere, would I need a bass amp, or could I run it through my ME-30 or guitar amp as a preamp?

You could probably do that with no big problems. The guitar amp might not sound all that great. The ME-30 would probably be a better bet, especially if it has a compressor in it somewhere.

Or could I get good results (subjective, I know!) going direct into Tascam's direct guitar input?

You can do that as well. I usually record bass direct into a preamp and add compression in software. I like the results, and depending on your expectations, you might too. it'd definitely sound better than a pitch-shifted guitar or a keyboard. Bass takes quite well to the clean and dry input of going direct into a preamp. Just dress it up in your software a bit and see how it goes.

Having never played bass, will some guitar effects sound OK with bass?

I think that most effects made for guitar will sound fine on a bass. EQs will probably be more centered around a guitar's frequency range, and I find that distortions/fuzz effects sound really really gritty on a bass. I dont know why, or what's different about a bass fuzz, but they seem to sound better. Could be my imagination.

If you're looking for a super cheap bass and can't find one used locally, give a try to the SX line from Rondo at rondomusic.com. Super cheap basses and guitars that do a pretty good job for what they are. Again, it's better than a synth bass or a pitch-shifted guitar. I use an SX J-Bass knockoff and it's fine for the price I paid. It has its issues, but anything else bought new for that price would have been a toy and not an instrument.

Good luck.