Recording Bass Question. Please Help!!

[adclark]

I am in the middle of recording a great instrumental track. I've been trying to get a great bass sound to suit the track. In the past, I've had no problems with bass since I was going after getting the basic low end. The sound I'm looking for is the Tony Levin sound he used on Peter Gabrel's "SO" album. In particular the song "Red Rain". I've tried everything...I just want to come close in getting that tone/sound. That's the sound in my head and everything I've recorded does'nt sound as good. I'm using Apple Logic with Presonus Firebox. I've used Amplitube, compressors, EQ..everything. Any ideas? I've tried adjusting all the knobs on the guitar in various positions. Please Help!!

 

[Ronan]

I have recorded Tony Levin many times and I gotta tell you that the sound is in the mans fingers. I will have to go listen to the exact track again to get more detailed but one thing about the bass on that whole album is that there is not really any low end on it. Everything below about 75 Hz is chopped off. Try that and see if it gets you closer.

 

[Todzilla]

I remember TL used to have these mallet extensions on his right hand when he played Stick and his Music Man bass live. Probably largely for show, but damn it looked cool with that shiny bald head and gigantic John Bolton mustache.

 

[ecktronic]

Have you tried a good Ampeg or Mesa Boogie tube amp through a nice cabinet? Have you tried using a plectrum for more definition of each note? What about a boost at 5K and a small cut of the muddy mids? What about a real good bass guitar with great ACTIVE pick-ups. What about a Sure BETA52 MIC and a DI? and even an SM58 as an extra? Yeah, cut the lo's though around 50Hz or more even.

 

[Ronan]

I went and listened to Red Rain. That really is the sound of Tony Playing. From a tech perspective it is Tony playing with his fingers. I did not work on these sessions with Tony, but it was probably a 5 string music man running through a Di and an amp (maybe a Trace Elliot) There is not really much in the way of high end or sub bass on that track. The part he is playing has a lot of space between the notes which is a big part of the sound.

About the extensions on Tony's fingers. He calls them funk fingers. Basically the ends of drums sticks velcroed to his fingers. It is a very particular sound. Not just for show but sure is good for show. He uses them on bass but not on stick.

 

[adclark]

How would I go about setting my bass knobs and amp to get close to that sound (remember I'm not a real bass player..I can hold my own playing small sections at a time). How should I set up amp tone controls? Chorus? etc...Any help would be great! You seem very knowlegable

 

[adclark]

I got it pretty close. Not much low end, very high mid and presence. No high end (too much string clicking). Light/med compression with a soft stereo spread (which makes it stand out in mix). I think a good preamp would help greatly.