Brainstorm some deep-sounding basses?

[jdjk7]

I'm looking into basses with extremely boomy output, very little in the way of overtones, especially ones with pickups very far along the strings. Instruments that an average player looks at and complains of too much fundamental.
The ones that come to mind immediately include Gibson EBs and Billy Sheehan Attitude 2s and 3s. The obvious choices are just that, but there must be options I'm not aware of.

 

[jd56hawk]

Try two more Epiphones if you get the chance.
Rumblekat and Thunderbird Pro IV...active, very boomy with flatwounds.

 

[jdjk7]

Try two more Epiphones if you get the chance.
Rumblekat and Thunderbird Pro IV...active, very boomy with flatwounds.

Huh... I actually do have an Epiphone Thunderbird, but just the IV, not the Pro. Or, the one whose pickups have the curve on the side of the casing, not the soapbar-looking deal. Never struck me as particularly boomy, but it also doesn't have an active system. Could be making a difference.
That Rumblekat looks sick, though. Don't know if I've ever heard of that line, but it looks right like what I'm talking about.

 

[jd56hawk]

It's a short-scale bass but one of the only short-scales I feel comfortable playing.
Robbie's Music in NJ has one hanging up in wine red. The Royal Blue is a color Epiphone came out with last year.

 

[brendanbassix]

Epiphone jack cassidy?

 

[lz4005]

Fender Tele bass version 1.

First generation PRS bass 5 string. Solo the neck pickup.

 

[jdjk7]

First generation PRS bass 5 string. Solo the neck pickup.

Huh. What's the model name on that one? I like that pickup layout.

 

[lz4005]

Huh. What's the model name on that one? I like that pickup layout.

They were made from 1987 to 1991. No model name. Just Bass 4 or Bass 5 depending on the number of strings.

 

[JimmyThunder]

Ampeg Baby Bass?

 

[DigitalMan]

I'm looking into basses with extremely boomy output, very little in the way of overtones, especially ones with pickups very far along the strings. Instruments that an average player looks at and complains of too much fundamental.
The ones that come to mind immediately include Gibson EBs and Billy Sheehan Attitude 2s and 3s. The obvious choices are just that, but there must be options I'm not aware of.

What is the intended use? Boomy recordings or boomy live?

 

[bholder]

Is the discussion limited to passive basses? 'cause almost any active bass with a decent preamp can do exactly what you want.

 

[jdjk7]

They were made from 1987 to 1991. No model name. Just Bass 4 or Bass 5 depending on the number of strings.

I found a few on Reverb. Prices aren't horrible.

What is the intended use? Boomy recordings or boomy live?

Boomy live, in general, both for getting really pure bass but also for getting good drive.

Is the discussion limited to passive basses? 'cause almost any active bass with a decent preamp can do exactly what you want.

I would rather it be limited to passive basses, but active basses, sure. But IMO there's a quality of deep tone that can't quite be achieved by just any preamp.

 

[Dominick C.]

The most boomy bass I've had was a Landscape fretless with a mag pick up under the neck and flat wounds. super boom. I find this to be true for a lot of hollow bodies with those old school mags In them.

 

[bholder]

I found a few on Reverb. Prices aren't horrible.



Boomy live, in general, both for getting really pure bass but also for getting good drive.


I would rather it be limited to passive basses, but active basses, sure. But IMO there's a quality of deep tone that can't quite be achieved by just any preamp.

Then let me just add that the (very low) tuning of the bass control on the Sire preamp would seem to fit the bill. (I agree, some preamps set it too high.)

 

[NKBassman]

I'm looking into basses with extremely boomy output, very little in the way of overtones, especially ones with pickups very far along the strings. Instruments that an average player looks at and complains of too much fundamental.
The ones that come to mind immediately include Gibson EBs and Billy Sheehan Attitude 2s and 3s. The obvious choices are just that, but there must be options I'm not aware of.

IMO the Attitude basses won't do it for you. They're still quite bright despite having the neck humbucker.

 

[DigitalMan]

Boomy live, in general, both for getting really pure bass but also for getting good drive.

Sounds like a solution is going to be equal parts bass, strings, amp/cabs, PA, and sound guy.

I might interpret "boomy" wrong, but to me it is like thump but with excessive low frequency and low midrange bloom that can really overpower the whole mix. Boomy has been a word that falls into the "problem" category more often than not.

Even though I am sure your interpretation is different, I would still say this requires collaboration with the sound guy and others involved in the band. If boomy is the sound that everyone wants then thumbs up. If it presents challenges for others and steps on their sonic space then expect to lock horns.

Also, there are likely some good tricks that come from psychoacoustics and understanding the limitations of human hearing that can help give the impression of boomy without requiring nearly as much power or causing mixing challenges.

I wish you luck getting the sound you are looking for. It sounds like more than picking the right bass to me. But then again, I overthink certain things.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I have an old attitude custom that I used on an album. I mixed the humbucker, p, and the piezzo pickups to my taste. I didn't realise how deep it sounded until I heard the album played through a pa with subs.

 

[jdjk7]

The most boomy bass I've had was a Landscape fretless with a mag pick up under the neck and flat wounds. super boom. I find this to be true for a lot of hollow bodies with those old school mags In them.

View attachment 944549

Damn, don't tease me. Definitely looks like a good uprighty straight-jazz/blues tone... I've been looking for a good fretless acoustic.

IMO the Attitude basses won't do it for you. They're still quite bright despite having the neck humbucker.

Brightness isn't necessarily bad to me. I've seen the Attitudes in action and I think they have it, just with a different tonal aim in mind, one that can be adjusted with EQ. I personally would enjoy such a bass regardless.

Sounds like a solution is going to be equal parts bass, strings, amp/cabs, PA, and sound guy.

I might interpret "boomy" wrong, but to me it is like thump but with excessive low frequency and low midrange bloom that can really overpower the whole mix. Boomy has been a word that falls into the "problem" category more often than not.

Even though I am sure your interpretation is different, I would still say this requires collaboration with the sound guy and others involved in the band. If boomy is the sound that everyone wants then thumbs up. If it presents challenges for others and steps on their sonic space then expect to lock horns.

Also, there are likely some good tricks that come from psychoacoustics and understanding the limitations of human hearing that can help give the impression of boomy without requiring nearly as much power or causing mixing challenges.

I wish you luck getting the sound you are looking for. It sounds like more than picking the right bass to me. But then again, I overthink certain things.

You do understand my meaning correctly. I don't often find myself having issues with sitting well in the mix. I generally have a good, clear sonic register to inhabit, only occasionally threatened by the presence of a keyboard player. I've generally trained an intuitive sense of my volume and register relative to others which has served me well.
I'm generally aware of the challenges involved in getting "boom" or "thump". I have the amp situation sorted out to the extent of my need, though the live-specific issues (sound guy, P.A.) tend to present on a case-by-case basis. Strings are sort of trivial in that they are more easily acquired than the other elements, but I'm always on the lookout for new, interesting sets. Really, my remaining major concern is choosing an instrument that works well toward this goal. You can theoretically EQ any bass you like to sound however you want, but some instruments do have inherent qualities that make you have to do less work.

 

[Joedog]

Given your specs, for strings I'd try GHS Precision Flats. Thumpy-est, most fundamental focused strings I know of, especially when well broken in! But given you preference, you probably already know about them.

 

[jdjk7]

Given your specs, for strings I'd try GHS Precision Flats. Thumpy-est, most fundamental focused strings I know of, especially when well broken in! But given you preference, you probably already know about them.

Yeah, I've heard of people using those. I've also considered a set of La Bella 760M, which are modeled after old-school bass strings with a sound for old-school bass, and are pretty much in their end condition out the package.* They are extremely high tension, though, and would be something I might consider sticking on my fretless only. Another I've heard of are Rotosound's tapewounds. Flatwounds wrapped in nylon, as I remember. Once, I heard them described as being only for those "who absolutely despise treble".

*Exceptional circumstances excluded.