Best EQ setting for tapping / harmonics?

MistaMarko · #1 12-17-2006, 12:08 AM

I've been learning alot of more in-depth bass stuff, Dream Theater, Jaco, and I sometimes find it hard for tapping to speak out when I play it and harmonics (the 3rd fret ones especially) to ring out nicely. Is it as simple as boost up the treble? Or do mids or anything else help?

BassyVick · #2 12-17-2006, 12:34 AM

Try boosting your mids i'd say around 1k-2.5k to bring out the upper harmonics of your strings if its gets to brash and "fretty" sounding, try cutting back those frequencies you JUST BOOSTED a little and try adding a little treble 4k-8k to add a little air to the sound, maybe some low mids to bring out the fundemental 150-350 cycles, every bass is gonna have its own characteristics and if the amp isn't a transparent sounding amp (no coloration) thats gonna have its own set of characteristics as well, so dont be afraid to mess around and experiment with it

if you boost the frequencies of the harmonics you want to play then there gonna ring out more

Bass open string frequencies:
low B (5, 6-string basses) 30.87 Hz
low E 41.20 Hz
A 55.00 Hz
D 73.42 Hz
G 98.00 Hz
C (6-string basses) 130.1 Hz

those are the base fundemental frequencies for each string
and your harmonics are layered overtop of them
all the way up to fret noise (1k and up)
to sizzle (4k and up)
to airyness (8-10k and up)

hope that helps a little

MistaMarko · #3 12-17-2006, 12:55 AM

good info, but i have no idea if i moved my mid knob from 4 to 5 what hertz level im coming from and going to...

dodgy_ian · #4 12-17-2006, 10:54 AM

actually i would just put a new set of strings on your bass....that will work wonders.

JimmyM · #5 12-17-2006, 11:34 AM

I really don't mess with the EQ at all when I tap. Just work on making the note ring out while you're not plugged in, and it will ring out when it is.

MistaMarko · #6 12-17-2006, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I really don't mess with the EQ at all when I tap. Just work on making the note ring out while you're not plugged in, and it will ring out when it is.

yeah, that's what ive been doing, and my harmonics and tapping sound fine, i just find it harder for frets 1-5 to speak when i tap them with like my pinky..really hard.

and, i put a new set of strings on my bass recently, so

JimmyM · #7 12-17-2006, 01:04 PM

Par for the course, dude. Tapping is a lot easier on the higher frets.

chaosMK · #8 12-17-2006, 07:19 PM

A compressor can help a bit too. So can a high quality bass.

MistaMarko · #9 12-17-2006, 09:54 PM

I have a Cirrus 5 BXP, like I see you have in your profile there. I guess those are middle class..or high quality...I was never really sure. There 800$ new.

JimmyM · #10 12-17-2006, 10:32 PM

They're middle class high quality. I think the Cirrus is a great bass. Should be easy to tap on it.

chaosMK · #11 12-18-2006, 09:02 AM

Cirrus are great basses for tapping. You should be fine.

I use a bit more bridge pickup and cut my lows a bit overall (so the mids/highs can cut through very clearly at volume). My harmonics shine through in a live setting, but 3rd fret... that's a tough one to get to jump out. Maybe if you are playing solo.