The 300€ challenge

GaNMUT · #1 01-12-2010, 04:08 AM

Hello forum,
I admit it, i need serious help. I´ve played bass for a year or so.
I have a Squier Pbass (absolute crap) it gives horrible sound when we record for our band.
I need something better if we intend on recording any quality material.

I went to a store and they showed me a real Pbass and a Fender Jazz and this pretty awesome G&L.
I loved them all but the cheapest was 700€. I do not have that kind of money...nor will I have it anytime soon

So i told myself, i like the body of the bass, the fretboard is comfy, the bridge is decent, everything is fine by me (specially because its cheap)
It´s gotta be the pickups and wiring that suck.

Now the challenge, i have 300€ or so to buy pickups and capacitors to make it sound better.Assembly shouldn´t be a problem, my uncle spends his life fixing radios and setting up wiring for a thousand things.

What can i get? Would it make more sense to just find a lower end 300€ bass and go with that?

Thanks ahead of time, I know it might be a pain in the ass but anything would be helpful, even if its just a website or...
tell me what pickups you have and how much they cost!

Ps: I play through a 100W Fender Rumble, The strings are Dean Marley, we record through an injection box.

Stuggi · #2 01-12-2010, 04:35 AM

I'd say go for a nice P pickup from Seymour Duncan, I have a bass with the Quarter Pound model, it's great. Then go online and find a set of pots, cable and a good capacitor (I recommend an Orange Drop).

You can get all this from guitarpartsresource.com, and if I remember the prices correctly it should be less than 150€ with shipping.

stranded horse · #3 01-12-2010, 04:39 AM

Have you tried your bass through a different amp? In my opinion with a really nice amp, you can make every instrument sound interesting.

Stuggi · #4 01-12-2010, 04:43 AM

The Fender Rumble amps are actually quite good combos so I can't really see it being the problem. The pickups on most Squiers and cheaper Fenders are on the other hand a bit too far from good for my liking.

GaNMUT · #5 01-12-2010, 04:46 AM

Very nice stuggi!! thanks a bunch for the link!

And to answer your question. I´ve played in a 120W Ampeg and a Fender Bassman too, and you are right the sound is much, much better, the problem comes when we start recording, because we plug in almost directly and ive been told that the only thing that can help me there is either buying a expensive mike to record from the amp or changing the pick up system of the bass. I just picked the option of the pick ups since it would improve the sound of the bass at shows also, and not only during recording sessions.

Stuggi · #6 01-12-2010, 05:13 AM

For the rest of the money I would suggest getting a good DI, I use a SansAmp BDDI, some other guys use one of the Radial DI's, and some here use a Sansamp VT into a normal DI. All these give you the added benefit of a preamp that you can set your tone with before it hits the mixer, if your sound guy will allow it that is.

Bootzilla · #7 01-12-2010, 07:41 AM

If you go in direct how do you process the signal, do you use amp or cab modelers? eq? compression? how is the signal from the di to the computer? do you guys use an audio interface?

I would go for a SD antiquity II P pickup because I like more warm sounds.

SurrenderMonkey · #8 01-12-2010, 07:56 AM

Wizard pickups (trad for classic P bass, Thumper for more lows), a UK costum pickup manufacturer, drop in replacement, great value, great tone. And a DI (there are cheaper alternatives than the sansamp, although it's good, and can be found second hand).

That and decent pots, caps (cheap stuff, couple of pounds), and that should improve your tone no end. Also new strings can do quite a lot for you.

I have two sets of Wizard Jazz (84 and 64) and they rock!

GaNMUT · #9 01-12-2010, 07:57 AM

We either plug in the bass straight into a soundboard (which has a protools thingamajig and then goes to the computer) or from the bass to the DI, to the soundboard with one of those mike plugs... Sorry for the lack of studio knowledge, I can get more detailed information tomorrow if you want!

stranded horse · #10 01-12-2010, 07:58 AM

A really good mic for recording is the Shure SM57 and you can get it used for less than $100.

Bootzilla · #11 01-12-2010, 07:59 AM

If it's a studio you should be fine, they should have pro quality stuff there so no worries. I was just not sure if you guys were doing it yourself with your own gear or in a studio.

What do you find lacking or wrong with the sound?

GaNMUT · #12 01-12-2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stranded horse

A really good mic for recording is the Shure SM57 and you can get it used for less than $100.

thanks! ill look for it

GaNMUT · #13 01-12-2010, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootzilla

If it's a studio you should be fine, they should have pro quality stuff there so no worries. I was just not sure if you guys were doing it yourself with your own gear or in a studio.

What do you find lacking or wrong with the sound?

Well its a homemade studio so its limited to what we have. My buddy´s dad has even recorded a couple of albums there but he mostly works with acoustic guitars. Im sure the DI box is pretty good and the soundboard might be old but it gives no trouble when recording guitars and even the drums.

Its just that the sound my bass makes through it has no presence. Its barely audible, fart-sounding, has no lows and the stupid buzzing sound some of the wiring must be making gets recorded along with it. There is a huge difference between the sound i get from the amp and the sound that gets in the recording (even with the same eq and tone settings)

razboinikoff · #14 01-12-2010, 08:40 AM

You can buy good P pickup and some kind of preamp to give your bass right color before you hit the console. My choice will be Fender '62 pickup and Tech21 VT bass for classic rock sound.

You can experiment recording on two channels - one direct and one with mic in front of your combo, one with less color and one more processed, etc.