How do I ask this question?

CherryFive · #1 05-30-2006, 07:26 PM

I feel almost nauseated asking this question as I almost never ask for any things, or any favors from people let alone strangers, but I feel that somebody here can supply me with something I desperately need. What I need is for someone to sample their 60's or 70's bass guitar for me. By that I mean play all 30-something different notes on a bass guitar... sampling/recording that into some kind of wav editor (play each individual note as opposed to time/pitch stretching). I would then take the single wav file and chop up every individual note so I can put it in a sampler and "play" the bass notes with my piano. It really wouldn't be hard work, I just would need you to pluck each different note with a pick and let it decay naturally.

Why I need this:
A lot of my analog gear is in storage and there is currently not enough space to fit all of my stuff in. So I have began to embrace digital and have written 4-5 songs and recorded them digitally. Since I can't set my drums up, I have elected to "sample" vintage 1970's drum sounds, such as a really nice 1979 disco-style snare, some nice pillowy mid-70s bass drums, and vintage cymbals. I am doing this because I want to retain the natural sound of "vintage" analog that I achieved with my tape machine. The songs I have recorded consist of vintage drum samples and me playing on a Rhodes and an organ, but the final and "missing" piece of the puzzle is a vintage 70's sounding bass. The reason I am specific about the instrument being 60's or 70's is that I believe those basses are built with a different "sound" in mind- often times sounding more "groovy" or clicky. And 70's basses, no matter which brand, always seem to have more upper-midrange. It's the damndest thing...probably has a lot to do with mindset/trends, and the age of the wood they were using.

What I can give in return:
Not much, but if you are willing to do this for me, I can try to work something out. For example, I could record keyboards for a couple of your songs if desired, or maybe come through on some kind of financial donation. At the moment, buying bass samples is out of the question because they typically cost too much for the little they do, and don't have the "vintage" plucky sound I'm looking for.

What I understand:
I realize this is a longshot and that most people aren't willing to do things for free. I understand. So forgive me if I seem needy, or presumptuous and only interested in benefitting myself. As the title implies, I had no idea how to ask this question, but I finally realized that I am out of options. I can't buy that $1500 `78 P-bass down at the music store, and I don't have any friends who are willing to "sample" their vintage basses for me. Basically, someone here could be my last hope on getting some good bass guitar tones on my recordings. You may have noticed that I just signed up, and you may have assumed that I merely signed up to ask this question. I'll admit I signed up to ask this question, but found the site in my pursuit of some kind of 60's or 70's bass sample, and plan to stay around here as I am a huge bass guitar fanatic.

If anyone thinks they can help, write to me, or Personal Message me.

Best Regards,
John

ZombieGhosTrain · #2 05-30-2006, 09:56 PM

Good luck in your search, I'd help out if I had the gear you are looking for, at least this'll get you a bump, with all the people on hear...it can't take long for someone to do.

And welcome to Talkbass!

Bardolph · #3 05-30-2006, 10:59 PM

Your friends might not be willing to make the samples, but do you think any of them would lend you a bass so you could do all the sampling? Some music stores might let you rent an instrument for a day, least the one I work at does that, not sure about others. If you can't get what you need I wouldn't mind sampling my bass. It's not from the 70's but it's a jazz bass with 70's style pickup spacing so it'll at least be somewhat close.

CherryFive · #4 06-02-2006, 11:37 AM

Hey. Thanks for your replies.
I called up the local music stores, and none of them are willing to rent out their instruments! Suckers.

I got so desparate that I copied the first 3 seconds of the bass opening on "settle for my love" by Patrice Rushen (1979). I then placed some of the short-lived matching notes in positions with one of my songs...and I swear it's like the missing link. Those seconds where I could hear bass were golden. As of now my tracks just have drums, piano, rhodes, organ, a little clav, mellotron sounds, and are really only in need of bass. When I put those bass clips in I realized how much I had been missing. But of course they cannot stay.

Bardolph- I really appreciate your offer. If you sampled the different notes on your bass, what would you be looking for in return? When there's a will there's a way.

Best Regards,

John

SuperDuck · #5 06-02-2006, 11:49 AM

Hmm... I don't have a genuine-spec 1970's instrument, but I do have a Fender Marcus Miller signature Jazz bass that is made to be a re-creation of Marcus' 70's bass. Ash body, maple fretboard, and 70's pickup placement. I just put some Seymour Duncan pickups in it. They sound killer!

I won't be able to help out for a few days, as I am going out of town, but it sounds like it would be fun! We could do different sustains, different attacks, etc.

Matt Till · #6 06-02-2006, 01:42 PM

Hope you find someone, I don't think I've got the tone you're looking for. I'm starting to embrace electronic music myself.

Munjibunga · #7 06-02-2006, 09:59 PM

Have faith. Somebody'll do it.

Bardolph · #8 06-04-2006, 12:07 AM

I can get those samples done for you. I reckon I can have it done by Monday or Tuesday. About the natural decay, some notes can last a pretty long time, is it all right if I start to roll off the volume after about five or six seconds? Also, what's the highest note you want?

I made this quick recording of my bass, the first portion with the neck pickup soloed and the second portion with both pickups. The final samples will be of better quality, but I just want to know which of the two you prefer, or if that's even the sound you're going for.

gottawalk · #9 06-04-2006, 10:41 AM

Looks like you may have a few takers on this, (these guys are really great here!), but if you want other options, try Craigslist, too. No telling who you may find local that could come over and record it with you and you'd get just what you need, too. Just a thought.

CherryFive · #10 06-06-2006, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bardolph

I can get those samples done for you. I reckon I can have it done by Monday or Tuesday. About the natural decay, some notes can last a pretty long time, is it all right if I start to roll off the volume after about five or six seconds? Also, what's the highest note you want?

Bardolph, you're the man.
Been busy studying. I just came from the DMV. In short, I passed (whew!).

I really appreciate you taking the time to do this for me. If I had my way, I'd say your neck pickup sounds really sweet. And if you were going to do this for me, I insist you do it your way. 5-6 second roll off is absolutely fine!

I suppose the highest note that will be useful to me is fret 12 on the G string (high G).

Let me ask you-
What kind of bass is this? How old is it? I must say this is quite exciting! Finally, bass lines on my tunes!

I'll be sure to keep in contact and show you how useful your samples have been!! Again I really appreciate it, and if you ever need someone to play a little keys on one of your tracks don't hesitate to ask me.

Best,
John

CherryFive · #11 06-06-2006, 08:00 PM

PS- One of the reasons that I can't borrow some of my friends basses is because they live in different states! One lives in CA...and I'm in upstate NY. It's a shame!

spudmaster34 · #12 06-06-2006, 08:54 PM

don't be afraid to ask questions here. if you ask nicely, dont use obnoxious lingo, or make obnoxious uninformed statements people are usually quite willing to help

Murf · #13 06-06-2006, 10:17 PM

Interesting, unfortunately I cant help as I dont have the "vintage" gear you need.

Frank Zappa did a "similar" experiment on the "Jazz from hell album"...he basically got Joe Satriani in to solo like crazy over a particular track and then "chopped up" his track and reconstructed an entirely new guitar track note for note.

check it out....

Bardolph · #14 06-06-2006, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CherryFive

Bardolph, you're the man.
Been busy studying. I just came from the DMV. In short, I passed (whew!).

I really appreciate you taking the time to do this for me. If I had my way, I'd say your neck pickup sounds really sweet. And if you were going to do this for me, I insist you do it your way. 5-6 second roll off is absolutely fine!

I suppose the highest note that will be useful to me is fret 12 on the G string (high G).

Let me ask you-
What kind of bass is this? How old is it? I must say this is quite exciting! Finally, bass lines on my tunes!

I'll be sure to keep in contact and show you how useful your samples have been!! Again I really appreciate it, and if you ever need someone to play a little keys on one of your tracks don't hesitate to ask me.

Best,
John

All right dude, I'll get right on it. I just wanted to wait to hear from you, so it will be a day or two. The bass is actually only a couple years old. I built it from parts- alder body from ebay (35 bucks already sanded and routed!), maple neck/maple fretboard. The pickups are Dimarzio Model J's. I don't think I need any keyboard playing in return, but thanks for the offer. Just let us hear what you make with your new sampled bass patch.

Espidog · #15 06-07-2006, 04:25 AM

Hi CherryFive!

You know what's really great about this whole thing? Having plucked up the courage to ask for help, you're going to get it. By the looks of it, at least one of your local bass players will soon be arranging to meet up with you and start recording those samples. After a while, he/she is bound to say "I like that song of yours...and it's given me a great idea for a bassline. Instead of sampling, why don't I just play it onto the track?"

And there y'go: before you know it, CherryFive, you will have made a new friend, who not only plays kickass bass that sounds 1,000 times better than any sampler, but comes up with killer basslines that breathe life into your recordings and inspire your own creativity.

It's the magic of the forum, folks. Don't it make you smile?

CherryFive · #16 06-09-2006, 08:18 PM

Aren't music forums the friggin best??

Cheers

JOhn

Bardolph · #17 06-12-2006, 09:50 PM

Hey man. Sorry I didn't get it done when I'd hoped to; I had to make an unexpected trip out of town and just got back. Tomorrow for sure it will be done. Sorry for the delay.

MikeBass · #18 06-12-2006, 10:03 PM

An easier solution to this would be to just play the bass line on the piano. Send two MP3's to someone (one with the piano "bass line" and one with out).
Have them drop the MP3 without the bass line in their computer and track the line.
Make sure you give at least 8 clicks at the beginning so you can line up the new track. Copy the 8 clicks onto the beginning of the bass track thats being recorded, but dump the last two clicks. Set your "punch in record" to start after the last click and lay down your line.
Have them e-mail the wave file of the bass line back to you.
You line up the first 6 or so clicks and bingo bango. A real bass player playing a real bass line.
I would be happy to do it, but my Mac in my studio took a crap so I'm dead in the water.
But I've done a ton of tracks like this.
In fact the track "725" on my MySpace was done this way. The drums were tracked in Denver, I tracked the bass here in Detroit, the guitar solos were done in Argentina (!!) and all rhythm guitars were done about an hour and a half from me by the guy who wrote the tune.
And it was all done by sending MP3's as tracks were done. The demo was sent to the drummer, to me, then back to the guitar players blah blah blah.....

Matt Till · #19 06-12-2006, 10:17 PM

P.S. Cherry Five = Awesome band

CherryFive · #20 06-13-2006, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBass

An easier solution to this would be to just play the bass line on the piano. Send two MP3's to someone (one with the piano "bass line" and one with out).
Have them drop the MP3 without the bass line in their computer and track the line.

By track the line, do you actually mean to have that person record themself playing the bass line, after they have learned the bass line based around my faux-bass line (ie piano bass line)?
I'm not quite sure I understand, although it is 4 30 am !!!
One reason I never asked anyone to collab. with me has to do with length. There is now 35 minutes of material, and the first song is 15 minutes. It's quite a lot of effort someone would have to put in. Bordolph- Don't worry about it. I really appreciate you helping me out like this. Thanks again!!

PS- Matt, good to know someone else has actually heard of Cherry Five. A very very, obscure 70's group. So obscure that their one and only album was released in `76.....two years after they recorded it!!