Metal bass tone

[pgtiips]

Hi, guys. I wasn't sure where to put this thread but I hope I can get some help here.

I have a Hiwatt B15 8 bass amp and i want to play metal from bands like A Day to Remember, August Burns Red, Enter Shikari etc.

The problem is my bass sounds very metallic and changing frets sounds very noticeable. Basically, I want a nice smooth tone with some chunkiness to it.

So, in terms of Bass, Middle, Treble and Presence, can anybody help me out.

P.S. I use a pick and have an active bass.

All the best

[BullHorn]

To play metal bass, you need a metal bass.

[genericusername]

Boost the mids!

[Papa Dangerous]

How can anyone play metal bass without a metallic sounding tone?

[Mr. Foxen]

Cut some treble to lose the clang, but also, put heavier strings on your bass, and sort out your technique to the sound from the bass is chunky an not clangy, that is always the place to start, strings an fingers.

I'm am pretty much picturing that you have detuned, an not adjusted the bass or strung it appropriately.

[Bassmec]

Originally Posted by pgtiips

Hi, guys. I wasn't sure where to put this thread but I hope I can get some help here.

I have a Hiwatt B15 8 bass amp and i want to play metal from bands like A Day to Remember, August Burns Red, Enter Shikari etc.

The problem is my bass sounds very metallic and changing frets sounds very noticeable. Basically, I want a nice smooth tone with some chunkiness to it.

So, in terms of Bass, Middle, Treble and Presence, can anybody help me out.

P.S. I use a pick and have an active bass.

All the best

Well best leave the bass and middle on 12 oclock and reduce the treble and presence to take the clank out of it.
Be careful not to boost too much LF on the active in the bass
and don't distort the amp run at the volume it does cleanish.
I know it wont be that loud but its a bedroom amp at only 15 watts after all.

[JoshB8116]

Like the previous poster said, string it up properly first of all (if you haven't done so already). Get some thicker gauge strings, i use .130 .90 .70 .50 i think.

Set your amp up with fairly high low end (not all the way up or it will sound muddy), boost the mids and play around with the higher frequencies to your leisure basically.

Turn the treble down slightly if you have it up full. Maybe go 3.5-4 out of 5.

I don't know if you consider yourself beginner or intermediate or whatever but A Day To Remember is easy stuff but actually very fun if you're really into them.

August Burns Red is pretty hard. Learn Back Burner.

Hope this helps.

[RickenBoogie]

I think the tone you're after will only be possible after you get a proper rig, meaning serious power and the speakers to handle it. With a small practice combo, tone is not so much an option, but it will allow you to hear yourself, and working on your technique and chops is way more important than achieving a desired tonal goal at this point in your bass playing life. Just focus on *playing*, and chase tone after you get a real bass rig. (start saving now).

[paganjack]

Oh man, I play metal and live for the clanky metallic sound! It sounds odd out of context but in a mix it blends so well!

[Mr. Foxen]

Oh, get a sansamp, that into anything that can reproduce sound will give you that tone, like, into a headphone amp.

[chaosMK]

Boost the mids, especially 150-180 hz. Keep your lows (40, 80, 100 hz) flat and run the master higher.

[hyp.spec]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

I think the tone you're after will only be possible after you get a proper rig, meaning serious power and the speakers to handle it. With a small practice combo, tone is not so much an option, but it will allow you to hear yourself, and working on your technique and chops is way more important than achieving a desired tonal goal at this point in your bass playing life. Just focus on *playing*, and chase tone after you get a real bass rig. (start saving now).

That's probably the best advice ever. I've spent way, way, way too much time searching for 'tone' and not bothering to learn technique... Once it clicked that technique is far more important, it became super easy to dial in my 'tone' on nearly any piece of equipment!