What's the key to getting a really good bass sound?

[Will25]

Apart from a really good bass!

I mean something like this...quite a full tone but it's not too boomy. Pre-amp? Compressor? EQ? is it even achievable with a £200 bass?

 

[Tazo]

I use a SansAmp Tech21 bass driver through an ART tube preamp and it sounds pretty killer. Clear, good punch, and all the edge you could want with the drive knob.

 

[grimtraveller]

What's the key to getting a really good bass sound?

Patience and experimentation ~ and also having an idea of what sound you actually want. I'm of the opinion that you could have budget/average/cheapo stuff in terms of bass and amp and the like, and still have a sound that you find great.
Your question is difficult because in a way, only you can determine for yourself what is a great bass sound.

 

[elbandito]

Its all in the playing. Most of the legends of guitar and bass had next to nothing in between their Axe and amp. Get a guitar that feels good in your hands and play the crap out of it. That's the best way to get a great tone!

 

[MartiVltori]

I don't think there is one single magic piece of equipment to get your "perfect" sound but a good pre amp is pretty important.

 

[Guitargodgt]

Using newer strings is pretty much paramount.

Using a bass with an actual chunk of wood is important as well, preferably something that isn't bass, but even bass is better to my ears than composite. People seem to like the maple bodied squire J.

But if your into that first video you may prefer a P over a J bass.

 

[MartiVltori]

People seem to like the maple bodied squire J.

Although I am mostly a guitar player and only a casual bass player, I really like my squire J bass.

 

[Will25]

I use a SansAmp Tech21 bass driver through an ART tube preamp and it sounds pretty killer. Clear, good punch, and all the edge you could want with the drive knob.

I've heard someone else mention that SansAmp...might look into that. The thing is I don't have a bass amp so really I need something to DI it with...probably a preamp. But then I don't have a pre amp either! I've just got a P bass so hopefully that will go someway towards it

 

[Guitargodgt]

The sansamp is a preamp.

 

[mjbphotos]

Although I am mostly a guitar player and only a casual bass player, I really like my squire J bass.

Me too. As I don't have a kick-ass bass amp, I run the signal into PodFarm, and use a dual channel bass set up, with a silverface bass sound on one side and 'subsonic' on the other. Record them into separate tracks, then mix them together in the mixing process, giving both a good low end and tight sound.

 

[somegeezer]

The sansamp is a preamp.

+1

I use the DI on my GK 1001RB-II for DI'd bass. It's a gorgeous head. GK are fairly cheap too, whilst also being able to battle it out with the likes of Ampeg and such. But I use cheap as chips basses right now. Still manage to get a sound I enjoy. Play around with The knobs on the bass. They are always more useful than people think. Turning everything up to full and tweaking the EQ at the end of the signal is not the way to go. Also, even though the instrument is a BASS, you should really be putting more focus in the MIDS. It really brings the sound forward in most mixes.