Advice needed as I take the bass chair in an 80's Synth Pop Band

[bwardmusic]

I'm an electric bass player, and I've played smooth jazz and traditional jazz for a long time. Also played in a dance band for a while. Gig regularly.

I just joined a 80's Synth-Pop band. I wondered if you had any tips for how to play bass in that context. Also, comment on effects that might be useful. I have an Electro-Harmonix Bass Balls and also a Boss Envelope Filter.

I've tried different synth bass effects, but none of them sound useable (a Zoom one, and one that came with my Line-6 Amp, built-in).

This band is a bit strange because our keyboard player can play the bass line if he wants, and it sounds more like the original artists' recordings on his keyboard than the sound I get out of my own bass (I have several, ranging from P-Bass, PJ, and J basses). I find this is true with a lot of the songs -- I wonder what the heck I'm doing in the band.

Comments welcome.

[johndough247]

well...yea, most of those synth based pop groups had based parts played by...well, synths! That being said, there's lots you can do with a change in technique and pickup selection. I've found that plucking over the neck (let's say around the 15th fret, but it varies from bass to bass) combined with favoring one pickup at a time and some EQ-ing can give u a deep, thick, sine-wave-like sound suitable for synth basslines. Adding a chorus or flanger (or both lol) to that technique works wonders too.

If it's not what you're going for, maybe u could work on your keyboard chops? Bassists who can also play decent keyboard for synth bass lines (or decent keyboard, period) are very valuable in some genres...One of the keyboards I use for that is an Alesis Micron (I got mine used for under $300 about 2 years ago), it's a really thick sounding synth for the money. Good luck with the new gig!! I love the 80's

[Philbiker]

Steinberger.

[slaps76]

Definitely a chorus, mixed with fuzz/distortion sounds good for that stuff.

Although I haven't played one, might want to check out the MarkBass Super Synth. It has programmable presets...I had an Electro Harmonix Synth pedal, but it's analog with sliders, so you can't easily change sounds while gigging.

[MysticMichael]

That sounds like a very cool gig to me. John Dough seems to have it figured out. Give his advice a try.

Other than that, keep experimenting with technique, settings & effects. You may or may not be able to entirely replicate the original recordings. Or you may discover some tones that work really, really well for your band's renditions of those tunes.

Either way, have fun with it. Personally, I think I'd camp it up a bit - with some parachute pants, maybe a silver mylar jacket, etc.

MM