Loud band: no difference?

shirojiro · #1 04-04-2010, 11:25 AM

Hi guys,
I've been obsessing about bass tone these days (and I figured that this was the right place to find like-minded individuals... ), and I've been trying out basses with flats and rounds in a fairly loud rock band with guitar, keys, drums, and vox. We also occasionally have a second guitarist. I record rehearsals with either a minidisc recorder with a Sony 907 electret mic, or more recently, with a Zoom H2.

Sadly, I'm finding that admist the volume, the subtlties in tone that are so obvious alone or with a quieter band are totally lost to my ears. Part of it is that the recordings are boomy, and the bass drum and keys occupy a bit of my sonic territory, but really, it's just that in the mix, the bass tone becomes almost kind of generic.

The basses and gear are as follows - Ibanez RKB900 with Chromes 50-105 I think. The other is a Squier VM Jazz with stock Fender rounds. They're pretty light and feel like 45-100s to me.

The amp is a GK400rb running through a SWR WM2x10 and a BagEnd 15.

I use an EBS Multicomp almost all of the time, and occasionally use a Sansamp BDDI.

Anyone else have this problem?

Deluge Of Sound · #2 04-04-2010, 11:31 AM

The question is not whether it shows up on the recording, but if you enjoy the different strings enough to keep using them.

Also, if/when you get to the point where you are able to get into a professional studio, you'll definitely be able to notice a difference.

JimmyM · #3 04-04-2010, 11:58 AM

a lot of subtleties are lost on the bass in a mix, for sure. but that's no reason not to keep striving to do your best and get a sound that works WITH THE BAND and not just a sound that sounds pretty by itself. it can be done but you have to let go of some preconceptions you may have about bass tone by itself, and maybe try some different things.

RickenBoogie · #4 04-04-2010, 06:28 PM

Also, the type of recording you're doing is great to hear the rehearsal, and get a feel for how the band is proggressing, but not clean and clear enough that bass tone really matters. Just hearing the bass in the mix is a win. But, like Jimmy said, no reason not to continue striving for your own personal tonal nirvanna.

bradjonesbass · #5 04-04-2010, 07:33 PM

as far as strings... which was the OPs question... I'm not a big fan of flats on modern, active basses - square peg, round hole... nor am I particularly fond of the tone of jazz basses with flats. Flats are great for that old school R&B/Jamerson sound on a p-bass and I use them on my (exception to the active rule here) Carvin fretless 6. If anything, swap the sets on your two basses, but I don't know if you'll ever be real happy with flats on either of those basses. Maybe trade the jazz for a p...

paganjack · #6 04-04-2010, 07:35 PM

handheld mics/recorders will not get you audible tone subtleties. they are for hearing the notes and practice... Once you've had a professional recording you will notice more nuanced tone differences.

Marley's Ghost · #7 04-04-2010, 07:57 PM

+12 on rounds for cutting through. DR nickels are my fav. And try a Schroeder cabinet. You will never again be lost in the mix! My 1215L cuts like a mother.

shirojiro · #8 04-04-2010, 10:14 PM

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm not talking about real recordings; I'm talking about playing live and rehearsing live.

On "tape" and even when we rehearse with Vdrums and headphones, the difference in basses and strings comes through loud and clear. There's no question about that.

It's when we're playing at stage volume, and it's pretty loud, that I think all of the nice subtlety in the mids gets kinda lost in the wash.

And BTW, the Ibanez RKB900 is a passive, alder bodied, maple neck and fretboarded, PJ bass that came with SD Quarter pounders, a Badass II, and Hipshot ultralights. It's an old fashioned bass, and sounds pretty awesome with rounds or flats. It's my favorite passive bass right now.

godley69 · #9 04-05-2010, 10:40 AM

The Rasta Man( Marley's Ghost) is correct. Schroeder cabs will punch through a brick wall!!! Nothing wrong with flats. i know some people don't like them but a lot of "big names" use them recording AND live. If you go schroeder, you WILL be heard. I have a couple that I might be tempted to part with (I have 8 Schroeder cabs!). Let me know, if you're interested. Bill Godley