How to make the bass sound fuller without sounding louder?

[::::BASSIST::::]

I'm not sure where to post this so I'll try here.

Here's the situation. I play in a three piece (drums, bass, guitar). I was talking with a friend of mine who has seen a couple of my gigs and is an experienced 25years plus musician. His opinion is that my bass tone should be fuller to enhance the overall sound of the band. Sort of like Noel Redding of Hendrix's 3 piece.

I agree that a fuller sound would be ideal, but the problem is that generally speaking a fuller sound, means a pericieved louder bass volume. The band leader is a stickler for keeping the band volume a certain way. If I say I think we would sound better if I make the bass sound fuller, he will probably just think that that this is just an excuse for me to be louder in the band mix. Frankly, as a bassist I love a heavy bass tone to the music I listen to and play. Whenever I'm listening to something I always check that the bass eq is near maximum. Anyway, the point is I dont want to upset anyone by having the percieved bass vol louder, but I still want a fuller sound.

Question: Is there a way I can make the bass sound fuller without sounding louder? Maybe get an eq that can boost the 30hz?
Its also very important to me to still be able to clearly hear the bass and not just feel it. I guess that makes it difficult since I want to have a tone that is fat and full yet still has enough mids so that its not just rumble and mush.

[xifr]

Get a P bass

[Deacon_Blues]

Originally Posted by xifr

Get a P bass

Hehe... Was just about to reply that you should try another bass... A P or a J would be good to start with, I believe.

A "fuller" sound is quite hard to define... I don't think it's about having enough low end, but enough of all frequencies in the bass spectra at least up to 2-3 kHz. Boosting the low end too much might make your sound only more undefined and muddy.

EDIT: Ok, saw you had a good bass already... Go for a flatter EQ or try a P.

[saxnbass]

I like to say that a Sansamp BDDI really fills out your sound.

[dave_bass5]

what about an Aphex BassXciter?
It seems to make my bass fuller and clearer without sounding louder.
I think its described as make it sound like you have added another cab. Seems to work well for me anyway.

[superbassman2000]

I thought that those BBE sonic maximizers did what you wanted...i don't have much experience with them, so I don't know exactly what they do, but it might be something you could use?

[Nightsblood]

Try the Aphex 204. Its rack mountable and will add tons of presence and make your bass sound fuller without screwing with your speakers.. Sound without it is night and day.

[threshar]

An Aphex Punch Factory will do exactly that. It fills out the sound and makes it MASSIVE. I <heart> mine. They have a demo on their website, and yes, it actually does what it does in the demo.

[bocasfx]

As mentioned above, one option could be the aphex Bass Xciter. You could also try the SansAmp Bass Driver DI. I've used both and I prefer the SansAmp BDDI over the Bass Xciter because you have more control over your tone. With the bass Xciter you can only control the frequency you want to 'xcite' and how much you want to 'xcite' it. While with the BDDI you can control presence, drive, bass, treble, blend and level.

[dave_bass5]

Originally Posted by threshar

An Aphex Punch Factory will do exactly that. It fills out the sound and makes it MASSIVE. I <heart> mine. They have a demo on their website, and yes, it actually does what it does in the demo.

But thats only a compressor. to make it sound like its working dont you have to turn it up quite a bit and then you get a different type of sound.
I have one and all i hear is that its taming the peaks, cant say i notice the sound getting fuller.

[buzzbass]

Put a BBE in your effects loop. I don't leave home without mine.

[threshar]

You don't notice the sound getting fuller?

What settings are your knobs at? You get some tamer peaks with the aural exciter part, but with the big bottom it def. fills things out, at least over here it does.

[dave_bass5]

Originally Posted by threshar

You don't notice the sound getting fuller?

What settings are your knobs at? You get some tamer peaks with the aural exciter part, but with the big bottom it def. fills things out, at least over here it does.

I think your confused.
you said The Punch factory. This is a compressor.
I have already mentioned that i use a BassXciter. i think thats what your talking about isnt it?

[threshar]

WHoops! My bad - my fingers and brains disconnected - I did mean the xciter!

Have you also thought perhaps your cab may be an issue? or is this the fullness from the PA point of view? I recently replaced my cab and now I have a LOT more low end presence.

[Alexander]

The Xciter will make the sound much more fat\full without the additional volume - dialing in just a little goes a long way however it is really easy to overdo. Too much adds a bunch of harmonic overtones that to me is non-musical to the ear and also adds an unnatural sustain at higher volumes. I actually prefer the all-up tone of my rig better without it in the chain, but the added depth is certainly nice.

Another recommendation (better, IMHO) would be the Sadowsky outboard pre\DI, which I think adds warm, organic, musical depth and booty to passive Jazz basses, particularly ash\maple ones like your Geddy. I have a MIA Jazz in ash\maple and though I love the cut, growl and sweet highs, long for a fuller tone as well - an active pre does the trick well and the Sad is as good as they come.

[four2oh]

+1 on the Aphex Bass Xciter (and the 204 rack mount unit).

i've been using the Aphex 204 rack mount unit for years in the studio and run on the FOH system. when i saw they had the 204 in a pedal form tuned for the bass, i got one immediately.. been loving it ever since. really fills out the sounds nicely: lows, mids, highs all sound more "there".

[bongomania]

I would also suggest a good compressor, since (when set up properly) they can raise the average level heard without raising the peak level. This especially helps pull forward harmonics that can give you a fuller sound. Also, careful use of a graphic or parametric EQ can emphasize the frequencies needed for fatness without necessarily raising your overall level.

[Gard]

Midrange is your friend.



I see it so many times, the "smiley face/scooped mids" EQ on the bass amp (well, what is that on a graphic, it can also be the equalivalent on a non-graphic EQ), and every time the bassist is buried in the mix - his lows are lost in the kick drum, his high mids and up in the guitar, and NO ONE is in that band between the two.

Why is something that has always been a mystery to me.



Get a peak in your EQ around 200-250K, and you will naturally have a presence that stands out without being LOUDER. You can do that with your EQ, changing your electronics, or getting an instrument that has a strong presence in those frequencies (I call this the "Zon Sonus Special Effect").

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by Gard

Midrange is your friend.



I see it so many times, the "smiley face/scooped mids" EQ on the bass amp (well, what is that on a graphic, it can also be the equalivalent on a non-graphic EQ), and every time the bassist is buried in the mix - his lows are lost in the kick drum, his high mids and up in the guitar, and NO ONE is in that band between the two.

Why is something that has always been a mystery to me.



Get a peak in your EQ around 200-250K, and you will naturally have a presence that stands out without being LOUDER. You can do that with your EQ, changing your electronics, or getting an instrument that has a strong presence in those frequencies (I call this the "Zon Sonus Special Effect").

+1 to that. I used to be of the mind that mids just sounded honky and I hated that tone. The smiley EQ was always present at a gig for me. Not any more.

What sounds good by yourself is a different thing live with a band.

Mids are where the bass is happening in a live band context. Giving the mids a boost and it will sound like you took the blanket off your speakers. Don't let the sound fool you if you try it alone, do it when you are playing with the band. You'll be surprised how much more presence you have without sounding like you turned up your volume.

[zillo]

This is probably dumb and way too simple, but I find that if I set my gain higher, and season with the volume knob to the right volume, I get a more full tone than the other way around.

Just my experience