using elec git as bass

  • Thread starter Thread starter WEBCYAN
  • Start date Start date
WEBCYAN

WEBCYAN

New member
Im tight on monney, and have no way to get a bass or bass amp.

Im recording my elec git with a sm57, but I was testing some stuff out and found that if I di my elec git into my computer I can get a really good bass sounding thing with just a lil Eq tweaking.

I mixed a whole song that way and it sounds just like a bass.

So, thought this might be some help for those out there on a budget.
 
Hey Web...............

I use an acoustic guitar to do the same thing....
If ya tweak the EQ just right...ya can do it.
Sometimes it doesn't sound half bad either......
 
I think that's a bad idea.

Why would you take all that time to make a recording and then try to "fake" the bass part?

Did you ever hear of the term "borrowing?"

Buck
 
A real bass for sure sounds best. For anything that I want to put onto a CD for general listening, I will borrow my buds bass, or he plays it.

But, when I'm composing stuff, I like to get an idea of how the bass line will go, and listen to the song.

I bet nearly every guitar playing home-wrecker out there has done this at some point (most are still doing it)!

I like to use my DeArmond Starfire (335 type) with the pick-up selector set between the humbuckers, with the treble dialed back a little. I use heavier strings, and play only on the E (or A in the low register maybe). Then, some judicious EQ (and even some digital effects)...not too bad. It always ends up a little muddier than a real bass.

I do want to buy a Bass eventually. Maybe I'll check out the pawn shops sometime soon...
 
Dude, next you'll be EQ'ing your guitar to make it sound "just like a" harspichord or something! :)

Anyways, try pitch shifting the guitar down an octave. This still won't sound like a real bass, but it will at least be in the right octave. Dondello, who isn't around here anymore, used this technique and it worked pretty well.

I eventually got fed up trying to fake the bass and bought some peavey thing from a pawn shop for $100. It was a little banged up and ugly looking...but it turned out to be pretty decent. Better than the new dearmond crap I returned mid last year. An ART Tube MP can work well for direct bass...and the Sansamp Bass Driver DI Box (used $100) can work well in front of an ART.

Slackmaster 2000
 
well, noone listening to the song has to know how I got the sound. And it sounds just as good as any bass Ive heard.

One question tho...

The low E string on a bass...Is that the same pitch as the low E on a git? Or is it an octave lower? Or is the difference purely by tone?
 
Post the song, I wanna hear it. And YES, the bass is an octave lower.
 
The low E on a guitar would be an octave lower than the E on a bass.

I did the same thing you're doing for a while, as did a lot of us. In general I never thought it really sounded that great. The really bad part was that the pitch shifter I was using introduced a small but detectable delay and that "detectable" delay quickly became "detestable".

I saved up some money and begged my wife to let me buy an inexpensive bass and she finally put up the rest as a Father's Day present. For one thing, I got a much better bass sound than I used to. But I eventually found out the real benefit was getting to learn a new instrument.
 
It sounds just about as good as any bass you've heard? Man, you really need to start listening. First your fender becomes a les paul, and now it's a bass guitar! :)

Slackmaster 2000
 
We have all tried the bass from guitar route and it is just second rate. Believe me I tried everything. I actually took a pos guitar that I didnt play and filed out the nut and drilled out the bridge to accomadate bass strings. Guess what without real bass pickups it still sounded like a second rate bass. Solution search out the cheapest bass you can find buy it record it and fagetaboutit seriously less headaches for you and your listeners. When you crank up the volume on your harmonizer "bass" you'll hear the difference between it and the real deal.

Musician's Friend has a rogue bass for less than $100 it may suck I don't know but, it will be a step up from not quite bass.

PeAcE
 
Im sure we all did things on our never ending road in this learning experience, some of which would be considered sonically blasphemous....but most of us didnt fool ourselves into thinking it sounded "just like" something else.....we just made the best of what we had and saved our pennies.....
 
Well when I was younger I went the borrowed route. I used a buddies bastard bass. It was an old Ibanez with strips of stained leather that he had glued to it to make it look gay or something. Anyway I recorded for an hour or so with it. When I put it down, the fake leathertte that he used had stained my pants. The story fo my life. What a Dork that guy was.

You can get yourself something like an Ibanez SR200 Bass (which is a great simple bass PJ) for about $200.00 (They have a blemed on MF for 174.00) Not active, but with a good DI would work great.

Fangar
 
I found out a friend of mine owns a fender precision. I get to borrow it. :)
 
It appears "making do with what you've got" is a no-no in a technocracy. ;) Slack's got the best idea though. Pitch shift down an octave. If you do anything crrrazy for drums POST IT! :D
 
My "style" is as follows:

Rythm Guitar: The mids are cut a fair amout. Mostly bottom end. Nice and fuzzy warm distorted tone. Very interesting rythmic basic power chord playing.

Lead Guitar: The mids are higher to make up for the R. Git. Very hi-fi with plenty of sustain. This is where I add effects. Mainly chorus, digital delay, flanger. Thats about it. This is the backbone of my music.

Bass: Much like the r. git. but very heavy on unique counter melodies.

Other: I use synth pads, violins/cellos, piano, various percusive odds and ends, etc..

Drums: I use a drum machine but with slight(!) reverb applied and effective panning and accenting of beats I can get it sounding very close to the real thing. Ill post a .wav if you want.
 
post it baby!

Having used my guitar as bass, by first recording a clean take then applying eq, pitch shift and amp sim in Sonar, I can honestly say that .. perhaps out of lack of experience and mixing know-how .. i was so disgusted that i went back to the keyboard as a bass source. Any EQ'ing techniques? Anybody?

WEBCYAN,

Not being able to record my drummer, I'd be interested to know how amd what you use for drums. I'm assuming your not a drummer though, cause I tried to make cool beats from scratch using a synth .. and well .. I swore to my neighbours i would never try again .. there was lots of swearing from my appartment that weekend.
 
I understand your creative nature, and sympathize, been there, but I tend to agree with the majority. Borrow the bass axe and put some "REAL" bottom down.
 
Its not a song. Yet. Just a drum line.
Keep in mind that with other stuff, especially bass it helps to make it sound more natural.
Alone you can tell, but when I mix it in with everything else it works just dandy.

Btw, I use Leaf Drummer. Its a software thang. $20. Cheap, but great sounds.
 
You're putting us bass players out of a job!:)

Seriously, I've heard several demos on which the guitarists attempted to emulate the bass with a six-string. It always sounds the same to me: a guitarist playing a "bass line" like a guitarist using a... guitar.

If your friend does let you borrow the Precision, you won't be dissapointed and hopefully you'll think it sounds better than a DI'ed guitar with multiple effects.

Just my few cents,;)

Randall
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top