Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[monsterthompson]

Why buy another vst.
Try some stuff with what you already have....?!??

I want a guitar sound, and I only have an acoustic strum VST. I've tried it before and it isn't bad, but it isn't great. I have Evolve and Evolve Mutations from NI, which have guitar based patches, but I auditioned a few and didn't get what I was hoping for. I know we're all a bunch of synth-heads here, and I've considered using synths, and even playing bass in higher positions, but some of the heavy guitar VST's I checked out aren't awful.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I want a guitar sound, and I only have an acoustic strum VST. I've tried it before and it isn't bad, but it isn't great. I have Evolve and Evolve Mutations from NI, which have guitar based patches, but I auditioned a few and didn't get what I was hoping for. I know we're all a bunch of synth-heads here, and I've considered using synths, and even playing bass in higher positions, but some of the heavy guitar VST's I checked out aren't awful.

Whatever works for you my friend!!!!
Keep on keepin on.

Maybe try the new preamp you got and use a cab sim????

Dang....synth heads....I barely qualify.
I only have some ios soft synths and ableton synths. I can get around with that and my SP.

I would sell blood for an ASM Hydrasynth though.

 

[monsterthompson]

Whatever works for you my friend!!!!
Keep on keepin on.

Maybe try the new preamp you got and use a cab sim????

That's what I was up to last night
My chord playing is rough, even just R+5 shapes. Drop D is under consideration.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

That's what I was up to last night

Great minds think alike.

 

[monsterthompson]

Great minds think alike.

Terrible ones, too

 

[jbybj]

Great minds think alike.

Terrible ones, too

Or, simple minds seldom differ.

 

[steubig]

it’s all about the practice to get familiarity.

 

[monsterthompson]

it’s all about the practice to get familiarity.

A little RTFM and research helps too.
I was annoyed with the Neural Darkglass cab sim plugin for a while. Then I sat down and read up on each mic simulated in the software, and the EQ profile and common placement and uses, and then it started to be a more useful tool.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

A little RTFM and research helps too.
I was annoyed with the Neural Darkglass cab sim plugin for a while. Then I sat down and read up on each mic simulated in the software, and the EQ profile and common placement and uses, and then it started to be a more useful tool.

True. Good work.
But what do I know????
I really dig old crappy tin can basement black metal guitar sounds taped with a no name mic into a 4 track tape deck.
I also like good sounding guitar .

A paradox???

 

[cosmicevan]

I would sell blood for an ASM Hydrasynth though.

I'm still learning my way around with it, but dang that Hydrasynth just keeps amazing me the more I learn about it. It is such an amazing piece of gear. The challenge with learning it is getting lost in making sounds for an hour as you uncover each new feature.

 

[monsterthompson]

True. Good work.
But what do I know????
I really dig old crappy tin can basement black metal guitar sounds taped with a no name mic into a 4 track tape deck.
I also like good sounding guitar .

A paradox???

The bass/drum sound relationship is critical. If I run a more modern and processed drum VST, it often doesn't work with certain bass distortion, like what I'm getting from the new Beta-based preamp. However, if I switch to a vintage sounding VST, boom, it fits. Right now, my main sample libraries are from Ugritone, and their KVLT kit with a bit of glue compression seems to work with a P and some overdrive from the new pre. That said, the same KVLT kit doesn't work with the synth patches I like as well as some of the more modern kits.

 

[steubig]

i just meant actually playing the guitar, but it works for pretty much everything.

 

[steubig]

I'm still learning my way around with it, but dang that Hydrasynth just keeps amazing me the more I learn about it. It is such an amazing piece of gear. The challenge with learning it is getting lost in making sounds for an hour as you uncover each new feature.

yeah. it’s a deep critter.

best way to learn it (besides rtfm) is to just create sounds and see how it works.

if you’re on fb, there’s a good group. some of the principals in asm show up. they also acrially listen to users and have implemented feature requests and bug fixes based on group comments. they just released update 1.5, which adds some very cool stuff.

 

[emjazz]

I pulled out my two guitars last night. I rarely play them anymore. One is the first guitar I ever owned, and it is my longest held and oldest possession ('65 or '67 SG Jr.), which coincidentally has a repaired crack where it also broke the headstock from the neck. Aside from the trip down memory lane, I was blown away by the sound of it through the Empress Reverb. I mean, I know that is a very nice pedal, but as good as it sounds on bass, it is incredible on guitar. I had my headphones on and almost fell out of my chair when I heard it, and had to do a double take to check the settings.

I'm now wondering if I can actually play guitar on a few tracks I've been wanting to do. I don't have the dexterity to play most guitar lines, so it'll be interesting. I also don't have a good heavy guitar VST, so it's either drop $150 on one, or give this a shot. Let me say, the new Sol preamp sounds pretty darn good with guitar too.

I LOVE that reverb!

 

[cosmicevan]

yeah. it’s a deep critter.

best way to learn it (besides rtfm) is to just create sounds and see how it works.

if you’re on fb, there’s a good group. some of the principals in asm show up. they also acrially listen to users and have implemented feature requests and bug fixes based on group comments. they just released update 1.5, which adds some very cool stuff.

I did find and join the facebook group a little while ago. SOOOO much content to consume on this beast. I haven't even bothered yet to reset and upgrade...mines loaded w 2 banks of patches the prev owner had on there (he barely used it - said it was just too deep for him). I backed everything up though through the patch editor and plan to blank it out and upgrade soon. I dug in on the arpeggiator about a week ago though so now I'm just stuck playing with that. Just so much to explore and discover and that thing doesn't make a bad sound. The design and layout is just so smart and pretty intuitive...and the access to controls and params is incredible. Really LOVE it. Best purchase in a LOOOONG time by a long shot. Thanks again for being such a champion for it.

 

[HotelX]

Arg you’re making me want to buy it now.....I wonder if they still have it up at Sam Ash

 

[lordradish]

I pulled out my two guitars last night. I rarely play them anymore. One is the first guitar I ever owned, and it is my longest held and oldest possession ('65 or '67 SG Jr.), which coincidentally has a repaired crack where it also broke the headstock from the neck. Aside from the trip down memory lane, I was blown away by the sound of it through the Empress Reverb. I mean, I know that is a very nice pedal, but as good as it sounds on bass, it is incredible on guitar. I had my headphones on and almost fell out of my chair when I heard it, and had to do a double take to check the settings.

I'm now wondering if I can actually play guitar on a few tracks I've been wanting to do. I don't have the dexterity to play most guitar lines, so it'll be interesting. I also don't have a good heavy guitar VST, so it's either drop $150 on one, or give this a shot. Let me say, the new Sol preamp sounds pretty darn good with guitar too.

What's nice about the ambient guitar if you go that route, is you don't need killer chops, just a good sense. When I got the big pedalboard going, I was mostly doing guitar - I never evolved past a half-assed blues guitarist, but I was able to do the textural thing quite well. What finally got me to get a 6 string bass is I just got tired of switching. I may even get some sort of 7 or 8 string some day, just for the board.

 

[Spectrum]

What's nice about the ambient guitar if you go that route, is you don't need killer chops, just a good sense. When I got the big pedalboard going, I was mostly doing guitar - I never evolved past a half-assed blues guitarist, but I was able to do the textural thing quite well. What finally got me to get a 6 string bass is I just got tired of switching. I may even get some sort of 7 or 8 string some day, just for the board.

I've often wondered if I should get a Bass VI type instrument for similar reasons. It's been a long time since I bought a new bass or guitar of any sort though.

 

[lordradish]

I've often wondered if I should get a Bass VI type instrument for similar reasons. It's been a long time since I bought a new bass or guitar of any sort though.

I really adapted well to the six, surprisingly, and I play it in non-ambient contexts, too. Learning chords on it has really added a lot to my regular playing, and I can actually pull off a decent solo, from time to time, as well. It's done wonders for me, overall.

 

[steubig]

i heartily recommend 6-string basses. a lot of potential in there.