Brightness W/O Growl?

phnord · #1 08-16-2011, 06:04 PM

I've been using the Marcus Miller Fat Beams from DR for a while, and I generally like what I get out of them...

However, it is pretty growly. The tone I'm aiming for is something closer to Victor Wooten - a nice, bright sound, but without as much growl to that brightness.

I know a lot of it is in the technique... but does anyone have thoughts in terms of strings that would help me achieve what I'm going for?

**Coolhandjjl** · #2 08-16-2011, 06:17 PM

Chromes?

Ric5 · #3 08-16-2011, 06:17 PM

To eliminate growl --->>> scoop the mids.

FunkMetalBass · #4 08-16-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

To eliminate growl --->>> scoop the mids.

This. Backing off the mids between about 600 and 800 Hz will kill much of the growl.

SLaPiNFuNK · #5 08-16-2011, 07:48 PM

Victor Wooten does have a Signature String set by the way

(not saying the Fat Beams arent awesome strings or anything like that)

darkstorm · #6 08-16-2011, 10:04 PM

Daddario strings. The main strings I came to the conclusion that they diminish crunch and growl. They accent smoothness instead. Dont like them cause of that but could be perfect for helping get less growly tone with minimal eq added help for you.

Toptube · #7 08-17-2011, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Daddario strings. The main strings I came to the conclusion that they diminish crunch and growl. They accent smoothness instead. Dont like them cause of that but could be perfect for helping get less growly tone with minimal eq added help for you.

Yeah coming out of my amp and cab, D'addario XLs sound scooped in the mids compared to say, nickel rotos. Though listening to a direct recording of them, its less apparent. SIT silencers have a softer growel, but don't lack overall mdis. They can be a little grabby though, so if you need speed, look elsewhere. D'addario XLs are probably the slickets uncoated strings I've ever felt, almost as slick as elixirs.

BassNut93 · #8 08-17-2011, 05:31 AM

i would highly suggest DR High-Beams

Shoewreck · #9 08-17-2011, 06:02 AM

I had once a set of La Bella Phosphor Bronze strings. Very tight and harsh, low output (non-magnetic windings), but also very bright and scooped.

FunkMetalBass · #10 08-17-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoewreck

I had once a set of La Bella Phosphor Bronze strings. Very tight and harsh, low output (non-magnetic windings), but also very bright and scooped.

Did you at least have a piezo bridge pickup on that bass?

stflbn · #11 08-17-2011, 08:57 AM

Active EMG pickups?

Shoewreck · #12 08-17-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Did you at least have a piezo bridge pickup on that bass?

Didn't have then. Magnetic PU's are OK, since strings are wound on steel.
BTW, piezo pickups also sound more scooped (don't have that magnetic mid hump), providing a smoother growl.

KJung · #13 08-17-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phnord

I've been using the Marcus Miller Fat Beams from DR for a while, and I generally like what I get out of them...

However, it is pretty growly. The tone I'm aiming for is something closer to Victor Wooten - a nice, bright sound, but without as much growl to that brightness.

I know a lot of it is in the technique... but does anyone have thoughts in terms of strings that would help me achieve what I'm going for?

For what you are going for, try the DR HI Beams. They have a bit less mid content than the Fat Beams, but are otherwise similar (round core, stainless would). Very pure and open, nice ping/sizzle up top, not a lot of upper mid presence.

Ewo · #14 08-17-2011, 10:53 AM

What kind of EQ do you have, on the bass and on your amp?

If you're lucky enough to have a band of semiparametric EQ on the amp (like the Aggie Tone Hammer, or the Thunderfunks), mess around with it: set a deep cut, and sweep the center freq. See if you're getting the tone you want.

If you have a preamp in the bass, you might have switchable center freqs for the mid control. Play around with cutting at the higher freq.

Try the same sort of thing with a graphic...although IME they're usually not narrow enough (the Q) to quite pull this off.

Maybe just fiddling with EQ will get you closer to the tone you have in mind!

P.S. Sometimes, when I get to feeling kinda stale with the tone I'm getting, I gotta remind myself to take the advice I just gave you, above! It often happens that if I break out of my comfortable rut--the usual settings on the bass and the amp--I'll find that my existing EQ tools will get me a pleasant surprise, tonewise.