Ambient/Post-Rock/Textural bass playing thread

[emjazz]

That is what I’m thinking too. Looking at strings now. Looks like LaBellas might be the best bet. Wish TI made a set.

I would certainly prefer flats, but can't find a flatwound high F, not with my current 33" scale. Just ordered some light gauge GHS Boomers (sound good, light tension) to give myself some time with the tuning.

 

[steubig]

Admittedly some of that is simply due to the fact that, at least at the time I acquired them, a 6-string variant of that particular model wasn't even available.
And speaking of confusion, have I elucidated on the weird cognitive mindphuck that I've had to go through vis-a-vis BEADG versus EADGC? In short:
- I played BEADGC 6-string for ~8 years before I ever got my first 5-string. But adopting to that BEADG 5-string was no problem, because it felt exactly like my BEADGC 6-string only minus one string
- but it was only 6 or 7 years ago -- so ~25 years after getting my first BEADGC 6-string and ~18 year after getting my first BEADG 5-string -- that I got my first EADGC 5-string. And despite the fact that it's exactly like my BEADGC 6-string only minus one string, every time I play that bass there's a moment when my brain gets all farkakte and I forget where I am on the instrument! Something about that extra high C string feels like I'm playing an "augmented" 4-string rather than a "diminished" 6-string. Uncanny.

i get the cognitive dissonance thing. the high-tuned basses i use do that because i put my finger on a note and it comes out a minor third above what i *know* it is.

 

[HotelX]

I would certainly prefer flats, but can't find a flatwound high F, not with my current 33" scale. Just ordered some light gauge GHS Boomers (sound good, light tension) to give myself some time with the tuning.

My 6 is 30” scale which should be good for bass vi strings. Pyramids are nowhere to be found. I’m still deciding on flats vs rounds.

 

[JES]

This has been great to read, thanks everyone. I definitely am wondering about flat wound Cs that work with shorter scales than 34" The Lull's C sounds "twangy" to my ears at 35". Going to try some tape wounds. Bass VI set options in not round wound are also quite limited ATM.

Or, perhaps this is another reason to investigate a headless option -- @steubig: with headless can you cut the string at the winding as long as it's past the place where you clamp it down on the headpiece?

TIA.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

About to pull the trigger on AUM and some FX to use with my IPad live?
Any tips, plugins (free or paid) suggestions?

This would greatly increase my toolkit without breaking the bank.

I freakin love the Blackhole Reverb but the pedal is 400 cad, the iOS version.....25$ and the entire bundle 70$.

My one concern is having quality FX and latency issues.

Any info is more that welcome.
I know some of you are IPad ninjas.

 

[JES]

I use AUM and quite like it. It's stripped down compared to DAW mixers but with a little setup it presents you only with the control you need. Audio Damage has some great AUV3 effects including weirdo stuff that's not too expensive. Burns audio's ports of mutable instruments stuff is good too. The resonator is cool for processing other sounds.

iOS has some latency, but the ideal situation if you're playing bass and need super tight timing is to use a dry blend at the interface stage, and then any latency on something like black hole is just a hair extra "predelay." But honestly, I never play bass through the iPad.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I use AUM and quite like it. It's stripped down compared to DAW mixers but with a little setup it presents you only with the control you need. Audio Damage has some great AUV3 effects including weirdo stuff that's not too expensive. Burns audio's ports of mutable instruments stuff is good too. The resonator is cool for processing other sounds.

iOS has some latency, but the ideal situation if you're playing bass and need super tight timing is to use a dry blend at the interface stage, and then any latency on something like black hole is just a hair extra "predelay." But honestly, I never play bass through the iPad.

Yeah, the latency was the killer for me. I was afraid of that since it was primarily for live use with bass and synths.

Guess its a no go. Jeez everything costs a fortune,

And my audio interface just kicked the bucket.
Only thing I have left to record direct to computer is my old Presonus 2626 firestudio with a 12 year old Mac with an old as crap iOS so it can run the huge 8 in soundcard.
This sux......

Good thing I’ve been using my 4 track almost exclusively this last year or so.
But I still need away to record direct to my computer (punches wall)

 

[lordradish]

About to pull the trigger on AUM and some FX to use with my IPad live?
Any tips, plugins (free or paid) suggestions?

This would greatly increase my toolkit without breaking the bank.

I freakin love the Blackhole Reverb but the pedal is 400 cad, the iOS version.....25$ and the entire bundle 70$.

My one concern is having quality FX and latency issues.

Any info is more that welcome.
I know some of you are IPad ninjas.

If you're worried about latency... are using an interface?

Blackhole is probably my favorite effect, ever.

When I get my ipad out, I'll tell you about what I have.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

If you're worried about latency... are using an interface?

Blackhole is probably my favorite effect, ever.

When I get my ipad out, I'll tell you about what I have.

Dang the Reverb sounds awesome.
I believe you when you say that.
What exactly is the USB plug for?
Firmware?

 

[HotelX]

This has been great to read, thanks everyone. I definitely am wondering about flat wound Cs that work with shorter scales than 34" The Lull's C sounds "twangy" to my ears at 35". Going to try some tape wounds. Bass VI set options in not round wound are also quite limited ATM.

Or, perhaps this is another reason to investigate a headless option -- @steubig: with headless can you cut the string at the winding as long as it's past the place where you clamp it down on the headpiece?

TIA.

Just realizing the bass vi strings have a small ball end that won’t work on a regular bass. Emailed Labella to see if they can make a set like I want.

 

[HotelX]

I haven’t used AUM in a while but it is excellent at what it does. IIRC the same developer makes some nice effects. Also there are sites that will email you when apps go on sale.

 

[JES]

Just realizing the bass vi strings have a small ball end that won’t work on a regular bass. Emailed Labella to see if they can make a set like I want.

let us know what your hear. What is your short scale six string?

 

[emjazz]

Just realizing the bass vi strings have a small ball end that won’t work on a regular bass. Emailed Labella to see if they can make a set like I want.

Let me know what they say. I'm a LaBella artist and was told a couple of times that they wouldn't make a different gauge flatwound high C for me, that there wasn't enough demand. I don't think they do custom anything, which I can totally understand.

 

[JES]

Yeah, the latency was the killer for me. I was afraid of that since it was primarily for live use with bass and synths.

Guess its a no go. Jeez everything costs a fortune,

And my audio interface just kicked the bucket.
Only thing I have left to record direct to computer is my old Presonus 2626 firestudio with a 12 year old Mac with an old as crap iOS so it can run the huge 8 in soundcard.
This sux......

Good thing I’ve been using my 4 track almost exclusively this last year or so.
But I still need away to record direct to my computer (punches wall)

how old is your iPad? The newer USB-c ones are decent. On the latency end, a newer interface might help. I know a ton of people happy with the Focusrite cheap ones, and they allow your to monitor your input for “zero latency” on your original sound.

 

[HotelX]

let us know what your hear. What is your short scale six string?

A cheap Brice I got from Rondo music. Decent for the money but nothing to write home about. Maybe I should trade it in for a bass vi or baritone.

 

[HotelX]

Yeah, the latency was the killer for me. I was afraid of that since it was primarily for live use with bass and synths.

Guess its a no go. Jeez everything costs a fortune,

And my audio interface just kicked the bucket.
Only thing I have left to record direct to computer is my old Presonus 2626 firestudio with a 12 year old Mac with an old as crap iOS so it can run the huge 8 in soundcard.
This sux......

Good thing I’ve been using my 4 track almost exclusively this last year or so.
But I still need away to record direct to my computer (punches wall)

There are a lot of relatively inexpensive usb interfaces available now. Several available under $100US.

Also the iPad has many amazing soft synths. You can do a lot with it as a standalone instrument.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

There are a lot of relatively inexpensive usb interfaces available now. Several available under $100US.

Also the iPad has many amazing soft synths. You can do a lot with it as a standalone instrument.

Yeah. Was maybe considering the presonus 2 in usb box.
I need two ins minimum with 1/4 or xlr in.

 

[lordradish]

Dang the Reverb sounds awesome.
I believe you when you say that.
What exactly is the USB plug for?
Firmware?

Yes, firmware update.

Blackhole's the only pedal I have two of... one in my H9 and one actual pedal. I made a 'normal' sounding preset so I can use it like a regular verb if I need to.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Just realizing the bass vi strings have a small ball end that won’t work on a regular bass.

Tiny metal washers are your friend.

 

[JES]

Let me know what they say. I'm a LaBella artist and was told a couple of times that they wouldn't make a different gauge flatwound high C for me, that there wasn't enough demand. I don't think they do custom anything, which I can totally understand.

what did you wind up using for a high C? In my “flatwound high C” googling I found the thread where the saga began but not the end of the story.