Getting more 'growl' from my bass (how to get better tone)

Raccio14 · #1 12-16-2010, 03:38 PM

The title says it all.

I'm curious if there's some sort of recipe for enhancing my bass's tone with a bit more growl and low end grit.
For the most part, my basses (one more so than the other) sound really pristine and glassy, which might be good for a guitarist, but in my mind takes away less of the bass 'feel'. I dunno, maybe i'm just insane

some of my favorite bands who's bassists have awesome tone are Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine, but those obviously aren't the example.

My basses are:
a 5-string Ibanez 655, with Bartolini active dual soaps and currently strung with DR Lo-Rider Nickels
and a 4-string Sterling by Musicman Ray34 (essentially a stingray), stock single humbucker, and strung with the stock EB strings.

Obviously the stingray sounds better than the Ibanez in this regard, but it's just not thumpy-growly enough for me either sometimes. Is there a recipe-of-sorts that can help me in my tonal quest?

oh, and i'm sorry if this isn't really the right forum for this; I really couldn't think of which one it would fit best in, as it's kind of cross-topic. I really just picked effects because I thought there might be a pedal that could help, and you guys would certainly know. Feel free to make suggestions beyond pedals though.

LaklandBass · #2 12-16-2010, 03:40 PM

what amp are you using?
also... try some daddario half wounds on that ray.
also... do you use a pick? fingers? slap?

Raccio14 · #3 12-16-2010, 03:47 PM

My main amp is a rather basic Ampeg combo amp. 15" with tweeter, and a tube pre. Its the BA-115T if that means anything to you.

Also, I play both fingerstyle and slap. Obviously with the two basses that I have the 'ray is the one that gets the slap love more often

Never play with a pick; just doesn't seem/feel right to me.

but yeah, the Ibanez is the one that really leaves me feeling like I'm lacking in the tone department more than the 'ray. That said, it couldn't hurt to get a general idea for both.

bherman · #4 12-16-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccio14

The title says it all.

I'm curious if there's some sort of recipe for enhancing my bass's tone with a bit more growl and low end grit.
For the most part, my basses (one more so than the other) sound really pristine and glassy, which might be good for a guitarist, but in my mind takes away less of the bass 'feel'. I dunno, maybe i'm just insane

some of my favorite bands who's bassists have awesome tone are Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine, but those obviously aren't the example.

My basses are:
a 5-string Ibanez 655, with Bartolini active dual soaps and currently strung with DR Lo-Rider Nickels
and a 4-string Sterling by Musicman Ray34 (essentially a stingray), stock single humbucker, and strung with the stock EB strings.

Obviously the stingray sounds better than the Ibanez in this regard, but it's just not thumpy-growly enough for me either sometimes. Is there a recipe-of-sorts that can help me in my tonal quest?

oh, and i'm sorry if this isn't really the right forum for this; I really couldn't think of which one it would fit best in, as it's kind of cross-topic. I really just picked effects because I thought there might be a pedal that could help, and you guys would certainly know. Feel free to make suggestions beyond pedals though.

Sounds like a recipe for a Sansamp VT Bass to me (lots of threads about them on this forum in pedals and effects). I have one and you can use it to sound beefed up, slightly edgy, or dirty.

Floyd Eye · #5 12-16-2010, 03:48 PM

If you aren't playing through an SVT or a CL, I would suggest a VT bass pedal or a rackmount SansAmp like the RBI or the RPM.

Floyd Eye · #6 12-16-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bherman

Sounds like a recipe for a Sansamp VT Bass to me (lots of threads about them on this forum in pedals and effects). I have one and you can use it to sound beefed up, slightly edgy, or dirty.

Simultaneous posts.

**steddy2112** · #7 12-16-2010, 04:36 PM

Well also growl is more than just distortion.

You can play certain basses through a completely clean solid state amp and get motherloads of growl.

THAT type of growl seems to come from attack and whatever strings you're using.

If you want some grit, a sansamp or tech 21 VT pedal...or even a cheapy tube preamp(I use one for the amount of growl I want to dial in, it's right around the same price as a pedal)

Mainly decide if you want it to always be there or if you wanna switch it in or out, and go from there.

bassbrad · #8 12-16-2010, 04:53 PM

a lot of that growl or warmth comes from the pushing the preamp so try turning down your master and adding a bit more input drive perhaps a bit of midrange.

Floyd Eye · #9 12-16-2010, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steddy2112

Well also growl is more than just distortion.

You can play certain basses through a completely clean solid state amp and get motherloads of growl.

THAT type of growl seems to come from attack and whatever strings you're using.

If you want some grit, a sansamp or tech 21 VT pedal...or even a cheapy tube preamp(I use one for the amount of growl I want to dial in, it's right around the same price as a pedal)

Mainly decide if you want it to always be there or if you wanna switch it in or out, and go from there.

Good point, which is why I use a 4001 with Blue Steels.

Growly Lytes · #10 12-16-2010, 05:04 PM

Play closer to the bridge & make sure you have a booster or somekind of Preamp to lift the Growly tone out of your basses.Im sure its there but it may need a little help coming out.My basses sound good `Fender P-Lytes` but when i crank them into my Sansamps they Growl & growl good.

**steddy2112** · #11 12-16-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Good point, which is why I use a 4001 with Blue Steels.

DR high beams on my 4003

More growl than should be legal lmao.

Also OP, some people are suggesting playing back by the bridge more which isn't a bad idea...but some basses just plain don't growl.

In my experiences Ibanez SG and BTB series basses are very ungrowly.

Your MM should be though.

It's the amp more than anything. A decent preamp with either LED distortion(anything Tech 21) or a tube or two in it will do the trick on the MM.

The Ibanez...imo unless it's an SRX neck through it's going to be tough.

Another thing to look at is pick ups on the basses...you could have a bass that has two 'cold' pick up set ups(not a lot of gain).

That helps too.

Floyd Eye · #12 12-16-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steddy2112

DR high beams on my 4003

More growl than should be legal lmao.

I always used the Hi-Beams and I let someone talk me into using the Blue Steels and I love them. That's all I use now. Have you tried them? It may be something to consider next string change.

Raccio14 · #13 12-16-2010, 05:25 PM

thanks for the tips so far guys! I'll try some of the suggestions that are free and can be done immediately tonight.

As far as the tech 21 pedals go, I'm rather confused as to what the specific differences are among the pedals listed on the "Character Series" page of their website. Are they even all for bass anyway, or is that just the Bass VT?

Still open to more suggestions/responses of course. More opinions or affirmation of something previously stated can't hurt my quest. Thanks guys!

tom once dead · #14 12-16-2010, 05:28 PM

I have found you cant get grown without lots of high mids. Play really hard over the bridge pup on the ibanez.

I dont use any effects at all to get my kind of growl. I just play through my ampeg and set the eq.

Floyd Eye · #15 12-16-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccio14

thanks for the tips so far guys! I'll try some of the suggestions that are free and can be done immediately tonight.

As far as the tech 21 pedals go, I'm rather confused as to what the specific differences are among the pedals listed on the "Character Series" page of their website. Are they even all for bass anyway, or is that just the Bass VT?

Still open to more suggestions/responses of course. More opinions or affirmation of something previously stated can't hurt my quest. Thanks guys!

You want the VT Bass or the VT Bass Deluxe.

Growly Lytes · #16 12-16-2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steddy2112

DR high beams on my 4003

More growl than should be legal lmao.

Also OP, some people are suggesting playing back by the bridge more which isn't a bad idea...but some basses just plain don't growl.

It's the amp more than anything. A decent preamp with either LED distortion(anything Tech 21)
Another thing to look at is pick ups on the basses...you could have a bass that has two 'cold' pick up set ups(not a lot of gain).

That helps too.

Thats good advice.Pickups change can bring a bass to life !

**steddy2112** · #17 12-16-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

Thats good advice.Pickups change can bring a bass to life !

And it's as simple as reading the description about the pickups or asking around what other people think about them

For growl I suggest staying away from quarter pounders and most active pickups.

Zoa · #18 12-16-2010, 06:35 PM

What's your EQ look like? Play around with that, especially the high mids. Turn up the tone on your bass. Try some DR strings, High Beams or Low Riders. Turn off your compressor if you use one. VT Bass FTW.

MetroBass · #19 12-16-2010, 10:28 PM

The vT is a decent SVT emulator and pick up the non delux model if you go with this, however, the sansamp BDDI is a much more versatile pedal for your arsenal and you can dial in the SVT tone if you need.

kevteop · #20 12-16-2010, 10:48 PM

I hear a lot of talk about "growl" but nobody seems to agree about what it is.

I've been told my Warwick is famously "growly" but to me it purrs more than anything. I've also been told Jazz basses growl, but I've had a few of those and that's not a word I'd use to describe them.

Perhaps you could link to a recording featuring your idea of a growly bass sound and people will be able to advise you more specifically.