Recent content by NCdan

I thought I'd give an update since all of one person chimed in with their thoughts. :eyebrow: :bassist: It seems the biggest culprit was that the compressor wasn't getting a hot enough signal. So, I went direct -> preamp -> compressor -> interface. I actually left the volume up all the...

OK, that sounds about right. Also, what do you think about the setup? Humbucker or single coil mode? Neck, bridge, or both? Tone up, down, or in between? Volume up or rolled off a bit? Sorry, I'm not really a bassist so I'm just looking for the insider tips on all this. What worked on my...

Well, I hope this is in the right forum. :confused::D I just got my first five-string bass Link Removed and while I like it I'm having a hard time with the low B being clear. I'm going direct -> DBX compressor -> interface and with or without the compressor the low B is mush. I like to EQ...

Being a drummer I can vouch for this. Granted, it only really works if it achieves the sound you're after, which would be a mellower and deader sound, but that is what I want with bass strings, so it just seemed logical that it would work the same with bass strings as it does with cymbals.

Yeah, I know: play it a lot, spread grease on the strings, turn the tone knob down, etc... This thread is specifically about utilizing "light abuse" as a means to make flatwounds deader faster. I just thought that if it worked for cymbals it might work for bass strings.

This might come across as a bit odd, but I was thinking about ways that I could get flatwounds to sound deader and thumpier faster. I remember reading an article some years ago in a drum magazine about a famous jazz drummer who would do all sorts of crazy things to new cymbals to get them...

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will go invest in a nice Epiphone or Squier since the bass doesn't matter. :D :rollno: OK, one more question. For reggae recording, do the basses usually go direct and get post EQ'd or is a DI taken out of an EQ'd amp?

So the Hohner Steinberger copies are better than the official ones for reggae (it looks like the "real" Steinbergers are made by Gibson...)? The Hohners are a bit cheaper, but I have never played either.

I'd like to get some input as to what bass is the right bass for me, a bass that mostly needs to have a killer reggae sound. I know that Bob Marley's bassist used a J and I know that other bassists use Steinbergers, but I've got to say that I'm not sure which direction to go in. Some people...

Thanks for the input everyone. It sounds like none of them are duds. I will probably go with the Carvin. Sorry, but I never buy used.

After getting lots of helpful feedback on what bass to buy I'm back for round two: picking the right head. Unfortunately, I'm on a budget and I'm trying to make the most of it. I'm a drummer and guitarist as well, and on top of that I attempt to record myself and even try to do vocals (with...

I do have my way of getting the tones I want out of my cheap basses. Keep in mind I know nothing about real bass technique and only know what I've picked up and figured out by myself. Being a guitarist, playing with a pick is easy, so I can always switch to that if I want to really cut through...

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It appears the Warwick basses under $1,000 are made in China, which is something I would like to avoid. I can't even afford a Korean Warwick, let alone a German-made one. It looks like Carvin is my best choice. I can get a B40 with all the options I want...

My guitars need refrets every couple of years. Granted, bending on guitars causes a lot of fret wear, but so does slapping and popping on basses.

So some of you really don't think a J bass would be too bright and thin for reggae? Granted, a good amp is capable of a lot, but what about for recording? It seems that Warwick does have some models priced under $1,000, even one "standard" model, whatever that means. The only thing that...