Pump Up The Bass

[courtney2018]

I wanted to make a post about recording bass guitars, because I believe there are some of us out there that do both guitar and bass. Perhaps we're not in a band and just doing things in the home studio, such as myself. One thing you might consider with bring out a good rhythm is to do two bass tracks. Do one where you're just grooving, maybe playing some arpeggios...really establishing the rhythm. Then come back and establish the key note (the lowest string you've got) in the chord progression. You can even try using a harmonizer on this track to give it a low rumbling harmony, or just go an octave down to get heart stopping bass.

However, it's not as simple as just that. The guitar section has to compliment what the bass is doing, so you don't want to overdo the same tonalities. Find a place for your guitar (in the mix) and a place for the bass. Then go back and do the second track for the bass on the lowest notes.

You also might want to EQ the guitar in post so that it clearly has it's own spot in the song and not double-dipping in the bass guitar realm.

I've done this before in the past and it really adds a huge dimension to your song. I also just read this in Bass Guitar magazine in the Geddy Lee article, which reminded me of doing this before. So I thought I'd share. Maybe it'll inspire you to do something different.

[Myst and rain]

Hey that's very interesting. When I start recording I might have use for these tips.

What kind of bass are you using, if you don't mind me asking? I'm going to buy a Fender Precision, personally. In blue.

Alwin

[Myst and rain]

Originally Posted by Myst and rain

I'm going to buy a Fender Precision, personally. In blue.

Alwin

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62357

Alwin

[courtney2018]

I never played a Fender bass before. I wonder how much different the neck profile is than the Soundgears. I've got two basses, but I only use one really for recording. The other one is beautiful, but it's a GIO model. I'm reluctant to let it go just on visual beauty alone - a transaqua color....gorgeous! I use a SR506 which is a 6 string bass. It's got the Bartonlini pickups in it with a active EQ onboard.

I'm sure there are other Ibanez basses, even other name brand basses, that are better than the 506, but it's hard for me to imagine it. That 506 really tugs at my heart-strings, which is why I'm considering buying the 20th Anny Soundgear bass (5-string) when it comes out later this year.

I'm sure the Fender you're looking at is perfect. However, you might want to consider a model that has a bridge pickup as well. There's alot of tone down there as well. Also invest in a good Ibanez or DOD bass EQ pedal - I use an old vintage Ibanez bass 7-band-EQ - to get the extra tone of it.

[Myst and rain]

Thanks for the tips.

I thought about getting a Stu Hamm bass once, which has a bridge pickup, but it's very expensive, unfortunatly. I picked the P-bass because of the pricing, sound, and the way it plays.

You see, the Fender has a C-shaped neck, as opposed to a U-shaped neck found on the SRs, as far as I know. It's also not as flat. You can kind of see that in these pics.



Fender



Ibanez

By the way, this SR is pretty cool, too. It's somewhat similar to the 20th anniversay.

Alwin

[courtney2018]

You don't want to go the Jazz-bass route? Here's a nice one in the same price range as the one you're looking at: http://www.***************.com/produ...ing?sku=516047

All those astericks is supposed to be m.u.s.i.c.i.a.n.s.f.r.i.e.n.d.

[Myst and rain]

I hadn't seen that particular Jazz bass model. It's cool that I could get a five string for that money. Interesting... I might check one of those out. Thanks.

Alwin