Tricks For Really Fat Bass Tracks...Anyone?

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Bob's Mods

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I would like hear (actually read) how some of you are doing your bass tracks. I track my JBass direct and they sound, well...just OK. I'd really like to fatten and thicken them up. Any tricks to this? EQ and Compression just doen't seem to be makin it.

thanks,
Bob
 
Delay (slap back if you got it), reverb (medium plate) and the only time I use the Sonic Maximizer
 
Male sure the bass sounds good, and is intonated well.

Spend some time with a decent mic (MD421, e602, D112) finding a good spot for a mic on your speaker cab.

Rent, Borrow, or buy a good bass DI (Avalon, Little Labs, Sansamp, Countryman)

Record both tracks down (mic and di)

Play with phase ,a Little Labs IBP is good here, but you can slide the two tracks around in your DAW as well. A good starting point is to have them completely in phase, but there are alot of sonic options in the 'in-between' points.

If your DAW can handle it (or you have an IBP) try changing the phase relationship while listening to the mix. Sometimes a perfect sounding bass soloed muddies up a mix, and sometimes a less-than-perfect soloed bass sounds HUGE when combined with the kick/guitars/synths etc.

Nathan
 
Good bass with newer strings, a good compressor ... direct in to whatever you like to use for DI.

I've never worked with a Fender Jazz that didn't record well and hold it's own in a mix. Precisions tend to be a little smoother and more fluid, and Richenbachers have that unmistakable McCartney-esque tone.

Anything other than a good bass with newer strings ... and it just winds up being an endless battle of futzing and tweaking ... trying every trick known to man, and never really being satisfied. For "thicker and fatter" experiment with different types of strings, and especially picking style. And by picking style, I mean use your fingers ... but never directly over the pickup. Try just below or just above. You'll get a fatter tone that way ... keep experimenting with that and you might stumble on a sweet spot. Most basses have one.
 
Different viewpoint from the previous comments - it's in the fingers. Play gently. This gives you less attack, which means you can push the level up (compared with what it was before) and you get a more consistent, fuller sound. Just experiment with turning up your bass by 20 to 30% and then try to get the volume down to where it was before just by softer playing. Costs nothing, takes 5 minutes and you might be pleasantly surprised.
 
I often run into my bass amp (meager fender 25W deal that I sorta just was holding onto and it's never going to be claimed by it's original owner, I've had it for years and the guy doesn't even play anymore), and line out from there into my interface.

With the highs and lows up and the mid's flat it's just about as fat sounding as I could want.

Of course the tone isn't that great, as it's a crappy bass and lower end amp, it's all right htough. Bass sucks, stock squier, gives the results one would expect of it.
 
Sometimes I'll double the track, offset one a bit, then pan one slightly left and one slightly right, but I must say that I'm an amateur and someone will probably give a good reason why this shouldn't be done.
 
Second that, Chess: Fender Jazz bass is always a good place to start when it comes to recording. The only thing I can add to what's already (rightly) been said is try also mic'ing the strings with a condenser - the bass equivalent of an under snare mic! Can be very effective.
 
ez_willis said:
Sometimes I'll double the track, offset one a bit, then pan one slightly left and one slightly right, but I must say that I'm an amateur and someone will probably give a good reason why this shouldn't be done.
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I do that. But I am an amatuer too... ;)

I came in here because I thought it was tricks for a really fat bassist.... I kinda have a gut so.... :o
 
Rokket said:
I do that. But I am an amatuer too... ;)

I came in here because I thought it was tricks for a really fat bassist.... I kinda have a gut so.... :o
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Fat is sooooo IN right now!
 
ez_willis said:
Fat is sooooo IN right now!
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And not just in bass tone! LOL. I am on a diet and exercise kick right now. All the experts say to lose it slow and it stays off. I have lost 5 pounds in a month (gaining in muscle mass at the same time I am losing the fat). I am happy... and I am still in search of that illusive fat bass tone... :D
 
One important pointer that hasn't been made yet is to remember to work with the bass guitar track and the bass drum track at the same time when you are setting up your initial mix. Sometimes, if the kick is stepping on the bass (or vice versa), it will keep you from getting anything but mud out of either of them.

Brad
 
Bassman Brad said:
One important pointer that hasn't been made yet is to remember to work with the bass guitar track and the bass drum track at the same time when you are setting up your initial mix. Sometimes, if the kick is stepping on the bass (or vice versa), it will keep you from getting anything but mud out of either of them.

Brad
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I usually get the drums sounding good on their own, then bring in the bass and tweek it from there. Since they are the backbone of the rhythm, it only makes sense to mix them together...
 
Start with a good bass and strings... then preamp and etc.

Bob's Mods said:
I would like hear (actually read) how some of you are doing your bass tracks. I track my JBass direct and they sound, well...just OK. I'd really like to fatten and thicken them up. Any tricks to this? EQ and Compression just doen't seem to be makin it.

thanks,
Bob
Click to expand...
Use the fat meaty parts of your fingers and thumb... as appose to the harder calloused tips and etc... I can completely change my tone just by playing/attacking differently.
 
DJL said:
Use the fat meaty parts of your fingers and thumb... as appose to the harder calloused tips and etc... I can completely change my tone just by the way I can play.
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That starts to hurt after a bit....
 
one of the best things i have in my bag of tricks is my ART Tube pac. Fattens up bass in a hurry. the compressor is OK if used sparingly. it's not a great pre for much else other than bass, and sometimes guitar, BUT MAN, what a difference it makes on bass.
 
Cave Dweller said:
one of the best things i have in my bag of tricks is my ART Tube pac. Fattens up bass in a hurry. the compressor is OK if used sparingly. it's not a great pre for much else other than bass, and sometimes guitar, BUT MAN, what a difference it makes on bass.
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I was looking at one here in Japan, but they wanted way too much for it. I saw the same one in a Musician's Friend catalog, and when I showed it to the guy in the store, he told me to order it from them, he wasn't allowed to come down in price.
Needless to say, I still don't have one. I don't trust the mail system since I ordered a Gallien-Krueger amp from MF, and it got sent back by the military postal system with a note on it that I didn't want it....
 
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