What ya think o' this tone (warning: Sub REQUIRED!!!)

[Nyarlathotep]

Ya, baby, got a small sample of dub shiz!!!

DarkHarted Music : Just play "Test 3: Bass then PDDI" see post #12 for details

What y'all think????

[Manol]

To be honest.
Its horrible.

That was easily some of the worst tone I have ever heard in my life. It was pure mud, nothing was defined. IT MIGHT work in some death metal band, but thats it. Try making those 8th/16th notes or whatever you are playing after that riff more clear.

[Anesthesia]

that was purley horrible man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[full_bleed]

sorry brother but it's not my cup of tea either. I wish I new more about tone shaping so I could give you some suggestions as to how it would sound better to me but I don't. I can image the tone your are trying to get I think. Keep twisting knobs, you'll eventually get it or find something else you like even more.

[phxlbrmpf]

Just a thought, if your bass sound requires a sub to listen to it, you're doing something wrong. A good bass tone sounds good pretty much anywhere, even with small speakers.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by Manol

It was pure mud, nothing was defined.

Too much low-mids. That's what I figured, but I wanted other opinions! Will post a (hopfully) better sample later!

Originally Posted by phxlbrmpf

Just a thought, if your bass sound requires a sub to listen to it, you're doing something wrong. A good bass tone sounds good pretty much anywhere, even with small speakers.

Listen to Chamillionaire - Riding Dirty (look it up on Limewire), and then tell me that the bass sounds just as good on headphones, or even a system w/o a sub. Subs rule, as does, sub bass

[BurningSkies]

Oh my.

Time to go back to the drawing board and do some work.

All I hear is loads of low end distortion and what appears to be loose-five string tone wobble.

Start from flat, attenuate the bands you don't want to empasize, then add in a bit of what you DO want to emphasize.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Oh my.

Time to go back to the drawing board and do some work.

All I hear is loads of low end distortion and what appears to be loose-five string tone wobble.

Start from flat, attenuate the bands you don't want to empasize, then add in a bit of what you DO want to emphasize.

Check out Dub Test 2 (Tone Test). This time I cut the high-mids instead of boosting the low mids. Just got to deal w/ distortion and I'm set! Do you think that flats would help???

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by DarkHarted

Check out Dub Test 2 (Tone Test). This time I cut the high-mids instead of boosting the low mids. Just got to deal w/ distortion and I'm set! Do you think that flats would help???

OK, that definitely sounds better than the first clip. I think you can still roll back some of the lows and it will still be fat. What and how are you recording this?

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

OK, that definitely sounds better than the first clip. I think you can still roll back some of the lows and it will still be fat. What and how are you recording this?

Got some flats today, so I'll have fresh strings on the bass. Am going to lower the PU a little (looking for "proper" mesurments now) to see if that helps the dist.

Recorded Bass->SansAmpPDDI->Line in on computor. I then amped and compressed the bass signal (-12dB threshold, 10:1 ratio), and mixed the drums in. Pretty much a hack job of mixing, I admit.

BTW, thanks for your input on all my dub/reggae threads!

Is it true that flats get better w/ age???? I know my rounds really suck IMO, they only lasted like 4 months (and I've had them on for 6 )

EDIT: Just in case you were wondering/don't know (no offence, or anything): the SansAmps (BDDI/PDDI) are based on an SVT/8x10 rig

Originally Posted by DarkHarted

Got some flats today, so I'll have fresh strings on the bass. Am going to lower the PU a little (looking for "proper" mesurments now) to see if that helps the dist.

Recorded Bass->SansAmpPDDI->Line in on computor. I then amped and compressed the bass signal (-12dB threshold, 10:1 ratio), and mixed the drums in. Pretty much a hack job of mixing, I admit.

BTW, thanks for your input on all my dub/reggae threads!

Is it true that flats get better w/ age???? I know my rounds really suck IMO, they only lasted like 4 months (and I've had them on for 6 )

EDIT: Just in case you were wondering/don't know (no offence, or anything): the SansAmps (BDDI/PDDI) are based on an SVT/8x10 rig

Sounded like a PDDI or acoustic DI (I own the Behringer version). Those tones would work excellent in an industrial band, if that's what you were gunning for, definately a reason why above posters weren't quaint with either sound (which is entirely up to them). Just remember, dub distortion doesn't work everywhere.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

I think you can still roll back some of the lows and it will still be fat.

Done. I also stuck flats on the bass (D'addario chromes). Check out "Test 3: Bass then PDDI"

The "song" is done in 4 parts:

1)RATM riff (uses B, E, and A strings) - Bass only, direct to PC
2)Riff from "Shelter" by BSC (A & D strings this time) - Bass only, direct to PC
3)RATM riff again - Bass w/ PDDI (lower drive/bass), direct to PC
4)BSC riff again - Bass w/ PDDI (lower drive/bass), direct to PC

managed to get rid of most of the distortion just by lowering the PU height. And, I'm to say, had to lower it a lot! Now the notes are more even (but not perfect), and especially so when I play w/ a light touch. The PU config used for the recordings was a P-style neck PU w/ tone closed (passive bass). I really like how I no longer get the "squeak" of high-mids even when the tone is off (as I got w/ rounds).

Seems to me, I just have to work on technique

Anyway, opinions???

[BurningSkies]

Sounds better to me! That's a sound that you can use for roots n' dub!

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Sounds better to me! That's a sound that you can use for roots n' dub!

YES!!!!!!!! I'm just a little excited, eh???

Actually, I think that the lighter touch, lowering the pups helped, but the flats made the biggest dif. The rounds just didn't have the sound... not enough of the right stuff. Where the rounds sounded "hollow" w/ tone off, the flats just sound right.

Is it just me, or does it sound more mwah-ish????

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by DarkHarted

YES!!!!!!!! I'm just a little excited, eh???

Actually, I think that the lighter touch, lowering the pups helped, but the flats made the biggest dif. The rounds just didn't have the sound... not enough of the right stuff. Where the rounds sounded "hollow" w/ tone off, the flats just sound right.

Is it just me, or does it sound more mwah-ish????

I'm glad you found some strings and a setup that you like.

Of course, since I'm me, I have to say...


(I religiously use roundwound strings, and really don't dig the feel of flats ) But that's why we have choices!

[Der Bluten Kat]

yea that def sounds better with flats.. when i play dub i use my fretless w/ flats

[Vosk]

Is this seriously the fastest you can play that RATM riff? If so I suggest you start learning to play it up to speed instead of worrying about tone.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by Vosk

Is this seriously the fastest you can play that RATM riff? If so I suggest you start learning to play it up to speed instead of worrying about tone.

Sometimes good tone can motivate us to practice more and harder.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by Vosk

Is this seriously the fastest you can play that RATM riff? If so I suggest you start learning to play it up to speed instead of worrying about tone.

Hells no!!!!! I do admit that my technique really starts to break down, but I am working on it. But... I just like things a little slower. Seriously, I often play at 60-80 bpm, which in this day and age seems to be snails pace!

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Sometimes good tone can motivate us to practice more and harder.

Tis True! Tone -> ->

[Triclops]

boo urns...