Help achieving low end

bassist_phil · #1 06-21-2010, 05:49 PM

Hi guys, had a bit of a search on the forums, but can't seem to find what I'm after, so hoping you could help me out.

I've just got myself into a new band that is your standard rock outfit but with electo-esque additions, i.e. a keyboardist :-P. I'm in need of a pedal or setup that can acheive band-pass filter of some degree - I'm after a sound that's really low, without being overly boomy. I've tried just increasing the bass frequencies, but that just becomes too boomy.
I'm also after a good, controllable synth, to create a swelling, whoosh sound from the lows to the fuzzy highs that I can control. Is this possible?

If anyone can help me out with this little predicament, that'd be great! I'm a bit skint so can't really afford to experiment for the sake of it.

Cheers!

darkstorm · #2 06-21-2010, 06:51 PM

Try rasing better choices for bass freq's. The 40 hz, 60hz 80 hz range. Dont boost the 200-250hz area as that just makes the boomy boombox type bass. And active preamp can also help eliminate muddy bass by increasing pups articulation. And use roundwounds. Imo.

Ok, add ring modulator, no that is not octave effect nor pitch shift. As you play a drone note adjust the ring mod for best sound at slow speed. Then adjust mix between straight and ring mod effect voice. Adds nice metallic synth edge to voice.

Slow attack effect along with oscillator speed controlled filter sweep for rising pad swell to note attack. The slow attack effect works best with slow to medium tempo playing. Does not work to well with faster note runs.

If you want to use bass as nice synth controller. Ive heard the godin midi pups outperform the roland ones. Whatever VA synth of choice for what the bass guitar acts as controller for. But thats spendy to do good job. Even with my allready haveing nice synths rig I decided the synth controller part was a bit too spendy to get results Id be happy with. Would about require the same level of gear John Mclaughlin etc have used for guitars to control synths. Alternately Dave Smith maker of the poly evolver synth did make a guitar effects box. For variable sweep speed etc filters etc and so on that could be arp gate style for rythmic swooshes etc on the fly. But again kinda spendy. Some multi effects units like upper end Zooms, have slow attack, ring mod, sweepable filters effects. So might try some of those as nice inexpensive route. Thats what I use.

Deluge Of Sound · #3 06-21-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist_phil

Hi guys, had a bit of a search on the forums, but can't seem to find what I'm after, so hoping you could help me out.

I've just got myself into a new band that is your standard rock outfit but with electo-esque additions, i.e. a keyboardist :-P. I'm in need of a pedal or setup that can acheive band-pass filter of some degree - I'm after a sound that's really low, without being overly boomy. I've tried just increasing the bass frequencies, but that just becomes too boomy.
I'm also after a good, controllable synth, to create a swelling, whoosh sound from the lows to the fuzzy highs that I can control. Is this possible?

If anyone can help me out with this little predicament, that'd be great! I'm a bit skint so can't really afford to experiment for the sake of it.

Cheers!

In regards to the band pass filter, you can check out a couple of low-pass filters that seem to fit the shape you're asking. Industry standard is the Moog LPF, but Iron Ether's Xerograph is getting a lot of love too... and it doesn't hurt that the owner/designer of Iron Ether is a TB'er (Taylor something... he used to be known as conical johnson) and a real cool guy.

http://ironether.com/pedals/xerograph/

If you do a search for "Xerograph" and "Moog Low-Pass" you should find plenty of clips for both.

As to the synth... I have no idea.

M0ses · #4 06-21-2010, 09:58 PM

What's your setup now?

bassist_phil · #5 06-24-2010, 01:36 PM

Moses: I've got myself a Squire P-bass, with Seymour Duncan pickups (can't remember the exact type). The amp varies from practice to practice, but they're generally a bit rubbish. I'm after a nice amp on a budget, but also not too big either as I don't have my own transport.

Deluge: Thanks for the pedal suggestions, whilst the Moog is very expensive, the Xerograph does sound much better. And I just checked out the Cygnet too - amazing sound. The Xerograph is pretty much what I'm after, and reading the description, the filter is controllable with a seperate expression pedal. Their sample with the fuzz provides a sound that is pretty much spot-on to what I'm after. But if I use an expression pedal to keep the band pass at really low frequencies to just get the low-end, that'll kill another bird. It also sounds like it's capable of delivering some mean low-end, great for those bowel-shaking moments.I've messaged them to see if they ship to England :-D

Darkstorm: Yeah, a midi pup is a bit expensive atm, although it would be great to use one. I played in a band where the guitarist had one - the stuff you can do with them are phenomenal. The frequency tip is perfect though, especially through a decent-sized EQ (something my next amp shall have :-D). You're suggesting an active pup setup to clear up the sound?
The ring modulator you suggested - I've had a listen to the Moog Ring Mod, it's a nice pedal, but not quite sure that's what I'm after. But yeah, a slow attack, would be fantastic. I've been very weary of multi-effects, but only through having experience of the really cheap ones. Maybe it's time to play...

Thanks for the suggestions guys, Now I just gotta find a good amp!