Recording Bass

ClymaX · Post by **ClymaX** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:10 am

Im planning to buy a bass and the question is.. Is it possible to record bass thru my DBX 286a vocal/guitar preamp to SP-404?

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:24 am

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ClymaX · Post by **ClymaX** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:28 am

damn thanks a lot man.. i've always wanted to create my own bass sounds.

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Post by **Euclid Ov Oåklånd** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:41 am

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ClymaX · Post by **ClymaX** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:22 am

whew! I get right into it!! my budget is around 200€ (over 200$) What kinda bass you'd prefer fo the price cuz i dunno shit about these things

drewzle · Post by **drewzle** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:28 am

i'd love to know how to play bass, would really help my tracks if i could lay down a nice bassline

Euclid Ov Oåklånd · Sun Aug 12, 2007 10:41 am

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ClymaX · Post by **ClymaX** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:20 am

i was looking for harvey or harley bensons.. heard they pretty dope.

Jim Y · Post by **Jim Y** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:50 am

for a bass guitar, you don't need to spend too much. The safest bet I think is a Precision bass copy - it 's the most commonly used bass in history and about 90% of the sound is down to the player, the condition of the strings and how you pick - finger or plectrum. Whoever made it, you can always get bad ones so it helps to take someone with you that knows something about guitars. Watch for warped necks, loose/rattly tuners. You'll need a tuner too and they're cheap, but it's good practice to tune to a keyboard or something - gets the ears used to hearing the low pitch of the bass and matching it to higher notes.

You could probably get away with using the 404 1/4"mic jack straight off the bass. It's not a proper mic input anyway, more of general purpose pre-amp, and I understand a lot of classic tracks had the bass recorded right into the recording console to tape - no fancy amps and preamps at all!

Strings - a new bass will definately have "roundwound" strings. Brand new, this is the string to get the funk slap and pop. Flatwound strings and old/dirty roundwounds get you nearer to classic soul/r&b/blues/jazz sounds. For an aggressive rock attack, play with a pick close to the bridge, for warmth/feel, play with fingers/thumb somewhere around the pickup.

Don't rule out fretless bass, but you need a lot of practice to get the notes in tune.

learning - I actually believe you're better off if you don't already know how to play a 6 string. Guitarist don't usually make the best bass players - they can't accept that bass should be kept simple and on the groove for most of a song. I learned bass by playing along with records after reading up a bit of theory - where the notes are on the fretboard. most bass lines are pretty simple note wise, it's the feel and phrasing of the player that makes the difference. Practice and practice and don't be put off if you don't get it right away. I reckon you can be a competent bass player in 3 months if you put the time in playing and copping the lines off your favorite records.

ClymaX · Post by **ClymaX** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:58 pm

aight! thanks for the information!

LORD BEATJITZU · Post by **LORD BEATJITZU** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 3:52 pm

I play bass,and you can just plug the bass straight into the 404.It sounds good with some vynil comp and filter.Also like homie said up top just get a fender jazz bass or precision,there around 300 to 400.
peace

Jim Y · Post by **Jim Y** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:39 pm

I just came back from trying exactly what I see the "Lord" just said! Funny, I suppose it's because I've got other gear, I never thought of going straight in my 404 with a bass until I wrote it in my last post!
I used the Vinyl sim comp too! Works well, got carried away with it for an hour or so just jamming.