Bass Drop? Sub Bass? What?

[riel07]

Hi, I've been teaching myself on a 4 stringed bass for close to a year now. I've been focusing on mostly the jazz style. Especially focusing on learning chords/scales/and all around music theory.
Ok, the question: A drummer buddy of mine is trying to start a hardcore band and until he finds a suitable bassist, i've been standing in. He wants to perform what he calls a "bass drop/sub bass" The examples he let me listen to come from a band called Devil Wears Prada. To me, it sounds like someone is playing a 808 bass on a synth but my buddy insists that it is a technique that bassist and drummers use in hardcore/metalcore music.I
've searched and searched but i can't find any info on this. Would anyone know anything about this?

[Frederickbass]

I'm not sure 100% but these punches are never heard live but seems to be popular on records. Probably done in studio or with an effect pedal

[Joel S.]

Originally Posted by riel07

Hi, I've been teaching myself on a 4 stringed bass for close to a year now. I've been focusing on mostly the jazz style. Especially focusing on learning chords/scales/and all around music theory.
Ok, the question: A drummer buddy of mine is trying to start a hardcore band and until he finds a suitable bassist, i've been standing in. He wants to perform what he calls a "bass drop/sub bass" The examples he let me listen to come from a band called Devil Wears Prada. To me, it sounds like someone is playing a 808 bass on a synth but my buddy insists that it is a technique that bassist and drummers use in hardcore/metalcore music.I
've searched and searched but i can't find any info on this. Would anyone know anything about this?

My best guess would be the bass player using an octaver. Basically an effect that doubles what you're playing an octave lower. I can't think of any way to make a string vibrate a full octave lower than it's fundamental using pure technique.

[Metal Matt]

Devil Wears Prada...

That's all I'll say about that sonic abortion of a band....

"Bass drops" ARE 808 drops. Live, a drummer might have a sample pad and have the 808 on one of the pads... But I really haven't seen too many bands use it other than recordings. The "bass drop" has absolutely nothing to do with bass guitar.

That's really all I know about that though. Wish I could help you some more.

[warnergt]

Originally Posted by Joel S.

My best guess would be the bass player using an octaver.

+1 Early this year, when I was shopping for an amp, I tried out a
Peavey Tour 700 and it had a built-in octaver. That thing really blew
me away. It's kind of surreal getting those super low frequencies
from playing your bass. The effect wasn't rock solid; it kind of went
in and out -- I'm guessing because of the signal level. Maybe with
some practice, it could be dialed in and used reliably.

I ended up buying an Ampeg amp but I still find myself GASsing
for that octaver.

[riel07]

Originally Posted by Metal Matt

Devil Wears Prada... That's all I'll say about that sonic abortion of a band.... "Bass drops" ARE 808 drops. Live, a drummer might have a sample pad and have the 808 on one of the pads... But I really haven't seen too many bands use it other than recordings. The "bass drop" has absolutely nothing to do with bass guitar.That's really all I know about that though. Wish I could help you some more.

haha, yeah. I'm not very into Devil Wears Prada either...
But thank you for clearing it up. I was going mad trying to figure out how to make my bass do it. The octaver thing almost does the job but i never got it to stay very stable. Thanks everyone for your input.