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Best effects for a bright sound

T

TechDeath

May 16, 2012
79
0
#1
I have only been playing bass for about 5 months and have been really interested in steel strings and bright basses, I like how it cuts through the rest of the mix instead of being an undertone that with some musicians/artists/bands you can't hear at all.
After listening to a song by Abiotic (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YUJDnbGIyZk) I have wondered how I could get my bass to sound like his.
I recently bought some DR Hi-Beams and wasn't at all impressed. I'm now going to buy some Roto 66's despite paying $40 dollars for the DR's.

What are some effects that would go Nicely with bright basses?


Btw I play on some ancient equipment. I have a 92 squier precision bass and have a Yamaha hundred 115B amp with only a distortion pedal
 
#4
Well first of all you should check out the DR Fat Beams, I realllllly found those better than the Hi-Beams in many different areas, Marcus Miller designed them I think.. and I dont know what you think of as 'bright' but the Tech 21 VT bass does get a lot of love around these forums, I think it will have the ability the "brighten" up your tone like you want, check it out.
 
#6
#8
I think (I don't really notice) I usually rest it on the end of the fretboard when playing the E and A strings and on the E string when playing the others. You could also try the floating thumb technique, I think there's a sticky about it in the Technique forum.
John Entwistle for example has his hand in a slightly awkward position but it obviously worked for him, so I'd say spend a couple of minutes figuring out where and how the best tone comes from, and then find the most comfortable place for your thumb..
 
#10
Just a thought, but an old solid state, single 15" combo might not be the best amp to coax a bright sound out of. Something a little more hi-fi might be in order...
Having said that, something like a SansAmp Bass driver would probably work well for you to add brightness and some grind.
 
#11
moles said:
Just a thought, but an old solid state, single 15" combo might not be the best amp to coax a bright sound out of. Something a little more hi-fi might be in order...
Having said that, something like a SansAmp Bass driver would probably work well for you to add brightness and some grind.
Click to expand...

Yes I have found its not good at playing higher strings no matter how I adjust it. Even playing in Drop A It doesn't sound too great, but that could just be the bass itself
 
#14
jasohall said:
Listened a couple times... Honestly sounds like he's playing through a guitar amp with the presence cranked lol. Cool stuff... Might have to try that sound with my 5 string for fun.
Click to expand...

Yea dude its definitely a unique sound. But doesn't it break your guitar amp? My friend had a really nice 700 dollar amp and my buddy tried to play bass through it and it destroyed his amp.
 
#15
jasohall said:
Listened a couple times... Honestly sounds like he's playing through a guitar amp with the presence cranked lol. Cool stuff... Might have to try that sound with my 5 string for fun.
Click to expand...

Yea it's definitely a unique sound. But doesn't playing bass through a guitar amp practically destroy it? My friend had a nice 700 dollar amp and my buddy tried to play bass on it and ruined his amp.
 
#17
TechDeath said:
I have only been playing bass for about 5 months and have been really interested in steel strings and bright basses, I like how it cuts through the rest of the mix instead of being an undertone that with some musicians/artists/bands you can't hear at all.
After listening to a song by Abiotic (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YUJDnbGIyZk) I have wondered how I could get my bass to sound like his.
I recently bought some DR Hi-Beams and wasn't at all impressed. I'm now going to buy some Roto 66's despite paying $40 dollars for the DR's.

What are some effects that would go Nicely with bright basses?


Btw I play on some ancient equipment. I have a 92 squier precision bass and have a Yamaha hundred 115B amp with only a distortion pedal
Click to expand...

I read the rest of the posts (to-date)...here's an answer...at the risk of starting something... A PICK. Use a pick for "brighter, cut-through the mix sound". Heavy pick like a 1.0mm. Start with a Dunlop "black" (not so "clicky"sounding"). Least expensive "effect" going! :)
 
#18
mark roberts said:
I read the rest of the posts (to-date)...here's an answer...at the risk of starting something... A PICK. Use a pick for "brighter, cut-through the mix sound". Heavy pick like a 1.0mm. Start with a Dunlop "black" (not so "clicky"sounding"). Least expensive "effect" going! :)
Click to expand...

I do use a pick lol, I've learned that my .50 mm sounds much better than my Big Stubby 2.0 mm
 
#19
TechDeath said:
Yea it's definitely a unique sound. But doesn't playing bass through a guitar amp practically destroy it? My friend had a nice 700 dollar amp and my buddy tried to play bass on it and ruined his amp.
Click to expand...

well a lot of great albums have had bass running through a guitar amp. A sansamp or thumpinator would be a must IMO for subsonic filtering to protect the amp at high levels. Should be fine.

if it was me... I'd crank a sansamp with highs and some gain and if that isn't enough get a steel leather. Amp and cabs really dont matter much at that point.
 

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