BIG bass sound HELP

hellrazorgator · #1 09-11-2011, 06:06 AM

I have always been in a two guitar band. Now I am in a one guitar band that plays everything from old AC/DC to korn. I am looking for a good way to fill up the room with bass. I have a Digiteck BP50. Any suggestions? I was thinking about getting a MXR Octave pedal but thought I would ask you all first. Thanks.

Collider · #2 09-11-2011, 06:39 AM

I find the octaver effects I've tried give a kind of synthy tone which probably won't suit the stuff you're playing (not the DC anyway) but it's worth trying a pedal out if you have a nearby guitar store. I take it you're already using some overdrive on your sound?

As to filling the room that's probably going to be more about the PA system the band is using than anything else. Effects won't do it on their own. When I've been lucky enough to gig with a PA that has proper sub-woofers I get a great sound. The problem is paying for the gear, storing it and transporting it.

Failing that you could attempt the impossible and get your guitarists to turn down.

Bassmike62 · #3 09-11-2011, 07:35 AM

a bit of overdrive ? chorus ? reverb ? maybe delay, depending on the song.

staindbass · #4 09-11-2011, 07:48 AM

the octaver will probabably sound yucky. most of them wont track fast enough for stuff like korn. if you want big, you need boost freguencies from 30hz up to 63 hz. if you boost above 80hz, it starts to get round, tubby and warm instead of big.

**SVE** · #5 09-11-2011, 07:48 AM

A good fuzz will fill out your sound. Look at the W&C Pickle Pie B, SS/BS F*ck Overdrive (has such a wide gain range it can go from clean boost to full out fuzz) or the B:assmaster.

hellrazorgator · #6 09-11-2011, 07:54 AM

I wonder is there a pedal that plays one octive up that I could use during the guitar solo's just to sound a bit more full.

IncX · #7 09-11-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellrazorgator

I wonder is there a pedal that plays one octive up that I could use during the guitar solo's just to sound a bit more full.

youll usually end up with tracking issues especially if you play fast stuff.

only suggestion i can give is that you strum them power chord style (root-fifth-octave) with a good fuzz pedal on ... it wont sound as full in some situations, but its the best option

crapusername · #8 09-12-2011, 03:48 AM

The bass xciter by apex will make a smaller amp sound huge, and a larger rig sound fuller and phatter. It also has a very useful di out for Pa support

hellrazorgator · #9 09-12-2011, 05:20 AM

Thanks for all of the help. I will keep all of your suggestions in mind.
Last night when I went out to work on my sound nothing seemed to sound good (I think I am paranoid about being in a one guitar band). The perfect tone a never ending quest.

Bassmike62 · #10 09-12-2011, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crapusername

The bass xciter by apex will make a smaller amp sound huge, and a larger rig sound fuller and phatter. It also has a very useful di out for Pa support

Or the BBE sonic stomp, which in my experience is a bit quieter than the Apex (not sure about the newer generation). Doesn't have a DI output though.

My name is Mudd · #11 09-12-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellrazorgator

...is there a pedal that plays one octive up...

The Exar octave does one or two down or one up, but I agree that tracking could be an issue.

bassbrad · #12 09-12-2011, 12:24 PM

I'd say do some experimenting with the BP50 until you find something you like and then go in that direction. The BP50 has both and octaver and also a pitch shifter that will do a fifth up or and octave up, combine that with compression, some overdrive and short delays and that may get you closer to what you are looking for.
Current pedals that do octave up or more include Micro POG & Fishman Fission or if you get lucky an Akai Uni Bass does just what you need.

DeltaPhoenix · #13 09-12-2011, 07:14 PM

If you want massive, how about a Meatbox! Or even an Iron Ether Xerograph can give a huge Dubby sound that might shake the room with AC-DC tunes. Man one guitar gives you so much more sonic space...run with it!
I also agree with some fuzz to fill out the sound as well. I just got a Full Custom Music Barnacle Fuzz and it is awesome! No loss of bottom end, the 2 band eq is SUPER POWERFUL, check out the review on BassFuzz.com

ga_edwards · #14 09-13-2011, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Collider

I find the octaver effects I've tried give a kind of synthy tone which probably won't suit the stuff you're playing (not the DC anyway) but it's worth trying a pedal out if you have a nearby guitar store. I take it you're already using some overdrive on your sound?

As to filling the room that's probably going to be more about the PA system the band is using than anything else. Effects won't do it on their own. When I've been lucky enough to gig with a PA that has proper sub-woofers I get a great sound. The problem is paying for the gear, storing it and transporting it.

Failing that you could attempt the impossible and get your guitarists to turn down.

+1. You shouldn't need to add effects just because you don't have 2 guitarists. Alter you eq (and the guitarists) if need be to fill in that space. Rather than trying to fill the vacated frequencies with effects, make use of that empty space and play in it.

Do some research into one guitar bands/power trio bands and listen to what the bassist, and guitarist are doing to fill the sonic space. Hendrix, Cream, Mr Big, Van Halen, The Who, Queen, Led Zep. Listen to their live stuff as they are stripped down to the bone without multi-layered backing (and in the case of queen, the tracks they don't have synths/piano on are worth exploring). Sure these are old bands, but the techniques are still valid.

eekmeg · #15 09-13-2011, 06:18 AM

+1^

Go listen to some three piece bands live work. Check out John Mayer Trio's Try. It never sounds empty. Pino and Jordan fill in a ton of space when Mayer solos.

DeltaPhoenix · #16 09-13-2011, 07:08 AM

I agree to listen to those bands yet their was some effects being used on those basses (not a lot but some). At the very least Compression but I can gaurantee you that all of those guys had some tricks up their sleeves( The OD circuit that Jack Bruce had built into his Bass, etc.). Besides the options were a bit more limited back then.

upandb · #17 09-13-2011, 07:16 AM

Chevelle has always only had one guitarist, and he's also the singer. I like the bass tone on the first couple albums better (Stingray + Mesa), but it could be worth checking out. They add a bit of distortion/overdrive. Look up "Breach Birth" on the album "This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In)." The bass sounds absolutely HUGE on that album and especially that song.

Another more modern 3-piece band is blink-182, though they don't exactly get a lot of love here.

iamdenialNJ · #18 09-13-2011, 10:10 AM

I think more importantly...what kind of set up are you running? Amp? Cab?

Hankenstein · #19 09-13-2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellrazorgator

I wonder is there a pedal that plays one octive up that I could use during the guitar solo's just to sound a bit more full.

Fishman Powerchord!! -

NAMM '11 - Fishman Fission Bass Powerchord FX Demo - YouTube

ga_edwards · #20 09-13-2011, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaPhoenix

I agree to listen to those bands yet their was some effects being used on those basses (not a lot but some). At the very least Compression but I can gaurantee you that all of those guys had some tricks up their sleeves( The OD circuit that Jack Bruce had built into his Bass, etc.). Besides the options were a bit more limited back then.

Oh of course there are exceptions, but personally I don't count compression as an 'effect', more a utility device, as I would also count eq.

And yes, lot's of these guys employed overdrive/distortion to some extent, some more than others. Jack was famous for his farting tone (which apparently John Entwhistle hated - he got around the issue in question by playing closer to the neck and getting a rounder tone). For many, it was just a result of driving tube amps hard. Hell, listen to Lemmy from Motorhead, an example of very overdriven bass that sits in the mix perfectly.

Others like John Deacon in Queen would have multiple signals, mic'd amp and DI. Tim Commerford from RATM/Audioslave splits his signal to multiple amps with different levels of gain.

Still, I believe it's what they played that fills out the sonic space more than effects. If effects are on the OPs bill though to get the maximum from their setup, I would suggest compression to get as loud and as smooth a signal you can (whilst retaining some punch and dynamics), overdrive (perhaps a Tube Screamer derivative) to get that tube amp growl - which has the bonus of enhancing harmonics, and lastly if you fancy trying one, a sonic maximiser. Some people poo-poo these devices, but IME, used subtly they can make a merge amp sound quite a bit bigger - just be careful not to overdo it, or else you'll lose the mids and definition, which thus defeats the object of the exercise!