Help me find my sound!

[Mrandrenv]

I've played bass for about 5 years, but never with effects, pedals and such, and figure it's time now.

I have no idea whatsoever where to start looking, what effects does what etc.

I play everything from 60's to modern technical metal, but it's the metal-part I want to enhance with effects..

I found 2 videos with my "ideal" bass sound, but don't know how to achiev this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-TtVTwtyfs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yw2R...eature=related

What I like about the sound is that it's so "clear" yet so distorted. I don't wanna pick up first best overdrive pedal, and it will sound like mud. The sound is so distinct and "metallic", you know the sound when you got new strings put on sort of.

My gear is currently Ibanez SRX 755, and a small practice-amp - Peavy combo 15 watts.

I know it's also a matter of right bass, right pickups etc etc, but is it possible for me to come close that sound with the right effects and pedals?

He said on the commentary field that he used Korg Pandora PXD4 and Digitech BP-80. I went to the musicstore and asked about em, Korg Pandora is apparently some old **** and hard to find, and they adviced me to get the Behringer V-amp over the Digitech so I'm really confused here..

Need a little help on the way here ;P

[Wasted Bassist]

No effects will get you there. What you need is som new strings, low action and to dig in to the strings fairly close to the neck. Also, to get that classic metalic and clanky bass tone, you need an amp that can produce the big sound to get the big tone across. A boost of some kind may also help though. Most of it however, is technique.

[steddy2112]

It's a combo of a lot of things.

You can't say 'I wanna sound like xxxx' and expect it to happen.

It runs deeper than bass, amp, pick ups etc.

You could run somoene's exact set up and it sound completely different.

First things first you need to get an amp...if you're always playing headphones just get recording software that has a zillion different options and just play.

A pedal or a multi fx is not the answer to your sound. You need to get deeper into some better amp gear IMO.

[Mrandrenv]

Thanks, pretty much what I expected. I know I'll never get HIS sound 100%, or ever 70%.. but I still need some pointers. A decent amp just isnt possible for me right now, both due to cash and the fact I live in a small apartment, and basicly play at lowest volyme on my small 15 watt amp to not disturb neighbours ;P

But I'm still looking for a pedal.. I need to know if it's a multieffect pedal I'm looking for or just an Overdrive pedal like Boss ODB-3 or EBS (http://www.bass.se/).

I just need to know where to start, and then try to experiment my way to the sound I'm looking for.

Basicly, the reason I made this thread, I don't want to spend money on some junk ;P

If you had to choose, Boss or EBS for 1 step closer that clanky, metallic sound?

[Diddii]

ODB-3 has that metallica sound
but about the clarity you should consider compressor/limiter-enhancer

although you can't play at loud volumes that effects you sound also :/

[Mrandrenv]

Diddii: Do you mean metallica or "metallic" sound? Cus' thats a big differance and I pretty much despise metallica hehe ;P

I've been looking around and yes, a compressor would really be an improvement I think. Atm, I'm thinking about a combo between; EBS MultiComp and EBS either Metaldrive or Multidrive.

Can be found here; http://www.ebssweden.com/

[newbold]

Certainly get a better amp.
Save that $1000 and invest in proper used gear to get you the whomp you so seek.

[Wasted Bassist]

An amp and technique... No effects will make a 15 watt amp sound bigger.

[Mrandrenv]

Amp, yeye still not an option for me if you read my previous posts.

So what do you think about EBS pedals over Boss?

[Steveaux]

Originally Posted by Wasted Bassist

An amp and technique... No effects will make a 15 watt amp sound bigger.

^^This^^.

Like it or not, you'll never get that kind of attack out of your current amp. All the bite is in the high registers. You need a tweeter for that.

[Diddii]

Originally Posted by Mrandrenv;10246270 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************10246 270******end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Diddii: Do you mean metallica or "metallic" sound? Cus' thats a big differance and I pretty much despise metallica hehe ;P

I've been looking around and yes, a compressor would really be an improvement I think. Atm, I'm thinking about a combo between; EBS MultiComp and EBS either Metaldrive or Multidrive.

Can be found here; http://www.ebssweden.com/

lol i wrote metallica sound x'D, i ment Metallic sound, it's very rough IME

[Mrandrenv]

Thanks!

I'm gonna check out both EBS Multidrive, Metaldrive and Boss ODR-3 tomorrow.. maybe a EBS Multicomp aswell (compressor).

And I know this isnt the right forum, but regarding strings; Would you recommend DR Hi Beam? Standard tuning 5-string, what gauge should I go with? ;P

[RickenBoogie]

It's your money, and buying a few pedals certainly won't hurt, but as has been said here many times already, what you seek is a bigger, better bass amp, whether you want to hear it or not. Good luck to ya.

[Steveaux]

Originally Posted by Mrandrenv

Thanks!

I'm gonna check out both EBS Multidrive, Metaldrive and Boss ODR-3 tomorrow.. maybe a EBS Multicomp aswell (compressor).

And I know this isnt the right forum, but regarding strings; Would you recommend DR Hi Beam? Standard tuning 5-string, what gauge should I go with? ;P

OK, one last time.

A low-grade bass will always sound better through good amp than a good bass through a low-grade amp.

If you go the pedal route, we'll see you in a few weeks posting, "I have XXX bass and XXX pedals ... what amp should I buy?"

[OtterOnBass]

Try this: turn up your treble and hit the strings really hard. This is how I get the buzzy, clanky sound.

For distortion, crank your 15 watt amp all the way.

[Mrandrenv]

Thanks again, I get what you are saying. I need a real amp. And I will get one, in the future when I got a place to use it. Until then, I'm just trying to do whatever I can to improve the tone. I'm still using the strings from when the bass was new (about 2 months ago) for example, so that's also a small step.. but it's always something.

I'm not really into that "full dist", I'd rather go with low amount of distortion just to get that small crunch. Is the EBS Metaldrive pointless since I prolly only use like 1/4 of the Drive. Is the EBS Multidrive a better choice?

You can find em both under pedal-section at www.ebssweden.com

Otteronbass: I really get what you're saying about the technique, that's mainly how I play. I use fingers, even though pick puts me closer to what I want soundwise, but I always prefered fingers and really trying to make that sound good.

[Kuchar1992]

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....Amp?sku=584199

You could get this amp^^^

[DosiYanarchy]

I'd recommend the Tech 21 Leeds for a quite close representation - certainly the closest thing i've ever played through to that sound. The higher you turn up the character knob the more highmids and harmonics stand out.

IMO its a fantastic pedal and will get you pretty close.

FYI also notice in those vids how both bass players are playing quite aggressively near the neck (or on it) - really hammering those fingers down - this is definitely part of the tone, much like John Entwistle of the Who used to to (again, another reason to check out the leeds pedal)

Sure, you should look into getting a new amp - but if we're talking about pedals then the Leeds is definitely my suggestion

[cheapbasslovin]

If you're patient you can get a decent amp on the used market for the money you're looking to spend on those pedals. I own a GenzBenz ML-200 112 and a Peavey Combo300 that each ran me $150. Neither are drummer-and two-cranked-stacks loud, but easily stack up in a low-moderate volume situation. Both sound good too, but in different ways. I have gigged the Benz repeatedly and would have no problem gigging the Peavey either. Both can be turned down enough for household playing.

With a little more saving, you can get yourself a pretty hefty setup.

[Diddii]

Big rigs are not the only one sounding good, you could buy very good portable such as Markbass F1 and then a small cabinet (1x12) for exemple