I can't hear the bass notes!

[Juggo]

Ok guys.
Im pissed and depressed.
Have you also had those days when you try to tab a song and you cant hear the bass at all.
Anyways its like this in most cds and stuff.
Do you guys have any ideas about how i can make the ultimate boost on the bass so i can hear the notes and not that room rumble that sounds like a earthquake.
Im talking about clear solid sound here.
Its easy to hear the high notes but when it comes to the low notes it dosnt just work out.
Would a good sub-woofer do the trick?
Any help is apreciated.

Besides im new here, HI!

[Joe P]

OK: First - if you're talking about regular, average, big-time record company rock recordings, then it's gotta be your system! Through high-quality speakers or phones, the bass is very-usually clear and separated in the mix.

Now I've certainly learned that as a bassists ear develops, you can more and more easily pick-out the basslines - but you're saying "can't hear it at all"?! Something's wrong.

So I'm picturing you getting a crappy sub for your crappy system now -- and wasting MORE money.

Anyway - here's one way to start from scratch, and end up with a system that's designed for picking-out bass lines: The Tascam Bass Trainer, and a pair of decent 'phones. I have one, and like I said, it specifically made for this. You can change tuning, change key, change tempo WITHOUT changing pitch, and it has a bass-boost feature to-boot! And of course you can plug your bass right into it to practice-along! There's also a bunch of effects for your bass - like envelope filter, EQ, distortion, echo...

At first I thought the thing seemed flimsy for US$150, but after several years - including several free-fall drops to the ground, and sitting in broiling or freezing cars for days-on-end - I guess it's not-so flimsy!

Welcome! -

Joe

[Joe P]

Oh - and another thing: I usually don't even use my home stereo for learning tunes. I play'em through my bass rig - it's like.. MADE for reproducing clear bass guitar.

Another good feature on the Trainer is that you can mix the stereo material to mono - comes in-handy for running it through my monaural rig.

Joe

[Scottgun]

I hear good things about the Tascam mentioned. Also consider the Amazing Slow Downer program if you use the computer with practice. I swear by it. I raise the pitch an octave and with headphones there is little I can't pick out.



Scott

[TeeMartin]

Stop listening to Metallica

[MonetBass]

Get a decent system. The receiver should be at least 200W per channel with EQ. Here's the important part: speakers make the system. The should be 3-way (tweeter, mid, and woofer) with a good-sized cone (8" or more). Now turn that bass up and the treble down. Hear it now?



OK, or you could get some good headphones. Either way.

[Juggo]

Thank you guys for helping me out.
Im gonna try everything you mentioned.

Rock on!

[Rakie]

Originally Posted by Joe P

OK: First - if you're talking about regular, average, big-time record company rock recordings, then it's gotta be your system! Through high-quality speakers or phones, the bass is very-usually clear and separated in the mix.

Now I've certainly learned that as a bassists ear develops, you can more and more easily pick-out the basslines - but you're saying "can't hear it at all"?! Something's wrong.

So I'm picturing you getting a crappy sub for your crappy system now -- and wasting MORE money.

Anyway - here's one way to start from scratch, and end up with a system that's designed for picking-out bass lines: The Tascam Bass Trainer, and a pair of decent 'phones. I have one, and like I said, it specifically made for this. You can change tuning, change key, change tempo WITHOUT changing pitch, and it has a bass-boost feature to-boot! And of course you can plug your bass right into it to practice-along! There's also a bunch of effects for your bass - like envelope filter, EQ, distortion, echo...

At first I thought the thing seemed flimsy for US$150, but after several years - including several free-fall drops to the ground, and sitting in broiling or freezing cars for days-on-end - I guess it's not-so flimsy!

Welcome! -

Joe

He could be listening to White Stripes. haha

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by OKStateBass66

...The receiver should be at least 200W per channel...

(sigh.)

I know that amp power is cheap these days, and all - but I certainly wouldn't dogmatically say "at least two-hundred watts"!

Fairly near-field, with any kind of decent - even 'bookshelf' type - speakers, wouldn't TWENTY Watts be fine for hearing an instrument on a professional music recording?

Oh, Man - what am I even thinking? Like FOUR watts per side or something like that would be fine through good-quality - even if low-sensitivity - speakers! You should be able to hear the bass just fine with a few watts.

I wouldn't suggest going out and looking for a four or ten Watt amp, of course, but I just don't like dogmatic statements like that...

My stage rig is 500W, but I'd be devistating my whole apartment building if I were to drive my cab with more than.. What? -30W or 60W or something?? I'll bet my normal practice volume - and I mean loud-enough to sing along to with gusto - is more like 20W or 30W.

Anyway - Like others have been saying here also: spend the lion's share of the money on the SPEAKERS, not amps.

Joe

[Bruce Lindfield]

Faithful Bass reproduction benefits enormously from a lot of headroom and although I live in a small flat - I wouldn't consider less then 100 watts per channel from my home Hi-Fi and this always gives me good bass response.

I can quite understand if you can't hear bass on PC speakers - but then I would never use these to listen to music...