Garageband "rock bass" tone

schmig · #1 09-09-2009, 05:13 AM

Hi folks,

Please take it easy on me now

Lately I've been playing with a middle of the road, slightly heavy-ish rock band.

My kit at present is a Geddy Lee Jazz bass though an Ampeg BA-115 which I bought used, on the cheap.

I sometimes go through a Boss CS-3 compressor, which I do not really understand but picked up on the cheap also.

Have been playing a couple of years and have never really tried to get a better tone than that which I get by fiddling bass tone control and whatever amp I happen to be plugged into on the night.

ANYWAY: I've been trying to polish my basslines for this band by:
- importing songs to garageband
- bass going direct into laptop via usb input device
- listening to my lines back over a pair of headphones.

This is certainly helping mop up my playing NO END.

The other night I chose the "rock bass" setting for my bass input, and indeed, it produced a tone very well suited (IMHO) to the music I'm playing..so much so that I'm considering lugging the laptop to practise later - which will probably cause the band leader to have a fit.

So, can anyone give me some idea how to approximate this type of tone "in reality", through pedals etc?

Any advice greatly appreciated

fightthepower · #2 09-09-2009, 05:18 AM

We could all get a better idea of what this elusive tone sounds like if you told us about it... err, posted those clips you've been working on

schmig · #3 09-09-2009, 05:21 AM

I'll record a few seconds of the tone versus my clean tone when I get a chance over the next few days..the tone is just that bit punchier, dirtier...

dannybuoy · #4 09-09-2009, 05:25 AM

'Rock bass' - without listening to a clip, I would have to say Sansamp VT Bass or BDDI.

P-oddz · #5 09-09-2009, 08:09 AM

I'm familiar with the Garageband "Rock Bass" tone, and with the VT Bass, and I'd have to agree with Dannybuoy and say the Sansamp VT Bass will get you very close.

Here - check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_be9GSlt_eQ

schmig · #6 09-09-2009, 09:24 AM

You are the men!

schmig · #7 09-15-2009, 07:19 AM

Gents, I picked up the Sansamp VT Bass in London over the weekend. It has done WONDERS, I cannot state enough, WONDERS for my previously dry tone.

Thanks for the tip! Will be using it for gigs this weekend...