How to achieve a good and warm sound from my acoustic bass

[indiependente]

Hello to all,

I have an acoustic bass which I'm not too satisfied with the sound of it. I've change the strings to ones more suitable to acoustic (phosphor bronze) but still I'm not satisfied. I would like to achieve a more "warm" sound, really acoustic, very close to an upright bass (or double bass).
How can I make this? Through equalization? A bass equalizer pedal would get me there? Any suggestions, please?

Thank you very much in advance,
Cheers

[ezrs]

more information please: what acoustic bass do you have ie brand name and model number? do play it with an amp or just in real acoustic situation?
for amped situations only, i would change the strings to thomastik infeld flats and back off the treble. for a real upright tone, rip out them frets!

[indiependente]

Thanks for you reply

Originally Posted by ezrs

more information please: what acoustic bass do you have ie brand name and model number?

It's just a simple and cheap bass

Originally Posted by ezrs

do play it with an amp or just in real acoustic situation?

I want that sound in all possible situations. I think for a real acoustic situation there's nothing much to do besides changing the strings. So I was thinking of suggestions for playing live with an amp (maybe a pedal or amp equalization?) and recording (maybe software plugins and or equalization?)

Cheers

[onlyclave]

No matter what I do I still can't make my cat into a lion.

A double bass sounds like a double bass. There is no magic pedal or EQ setting to get that sound. An ABG sounds like an acoustic guitar with less volume and lots of squeaky finger noise on the strings. Those are two totally different instruments.

[indiependente]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

Attachment 116464

No matter what I do I still can't make my cat into a lion.

A double bass sounds like a double bass. There is no magic pedal or EQ setting to get that sound. An ABG sounds like an acoustic guitar with less volume and lots of squeaky finger noise on the strings. Those are two totally different instruments.

Funny comparison with a picture

I understand that those are two completely different instruments but I'm just trying to understand which ways does one have to shape a bass sound and by understanding that maybe I can get more close to the sound I want.

Cheers

[newbold]

TAPEWOUND STRINGS.

Trust me. you'll get EXACTLY what you want.

You can get EXACTLY what you want. I know you're not trying to get your bass to sound like an upright. Tapes will do what you want.

You could spend hundreds of bucks on new preamps, put a B Band pickup in and a microphone, get this gizmo and that gadget, but you want a simple fix and this will be the cheapest, simplest fix that will actually get you about exactly where you will want it.

How do I know?

look behind you.

[newbold]

but seriously, try it.

[indiependente]

Originally Posted by newbold

TAPEWOUND STRINGS.

Thanks. Could you give me an advice on which brand and model to buy?

Cheers

[newbold]

I have a set of rotosounds on mine, but labella, ghs, and 7ender all should have sets to suit your needs.

I've read a lot of praise for the 7enders, as they're cheap and abundant, and I a lot of people love LaBella.

[swpyne]

Most ABGs are really limited in the ability to mimic the sound of an upright IMO regardless of the strings you use.

If you really want to get close you should consider a Rob Allen MB-2 bass.



I played one of those for about three years in a jazz trio and everyone thought it sounded a lot like an upright, including me.

I came across a custom fretless 5 with lightwave optical pickups about a year ago and I'm currently using that for the gigs where the "upright" sound is desired.



The optical pickups give it a sound like a doublebass with steel flatwounds where as the Rob Allen sounded like an upright with gut strings. There was a subtle difference between the two but these days I prefer the sound of the lightwave pickups

There are some solutions out there that will get you close to an upright sounds however there really is nothing that sounds "just like" one except for the real thing.