I'm a bassist AND a studio guy that always works behind the console.
Some tips if you want to achieve the best recorded result:
play with a soft-medium touch AND try to be disciplined and consistent during your playing.
In a live setting tone and dynamics are great, and many times the bass sounds just plain awesome if kicked with some energy, but in the studio things are often the exact opposite.
The soundguy needs to even out things and the bass is probably the most difficult instrument in this regard (maybe piano also).
The bass, even the best one in the world, usually produces notes with different power (dynamics), lower notes sometimes are louder than others because contain more "energy". This is a nightmare for the guy behind the desk.
Bass is almost always hardly compressed in post production, but sometimes it is possible to use a minimum amount of sound processing, and this is possible when: 1) the player is a skilled and disciplined instrumentalist (not a professional...), and 2) the bass is good and properly setted.
regarding point two...unless you want an intentional and particular tone (i.e: worn out flats etc), it's always a good move to change strings at least some days before going into the studio and leave things settle and warm up a bit. Keep an eye on bass setup, in order to have a bass that produces even tones across the strings and notes.
If not intentionally desired, use a bright tone when recording. If your bass produces some natural high-end, use it. You can always darken your tone after having recorded the parts. When mixing, it's always better to cut than to boost, especially in the high frequencies. Boosting highs could bring up noise, hum and so on, cutting reduces it.
If this is your first time in the pro-level studio situation, listen to the sound guy and try to follow some advices. Sometimes the soundguy is a complete lemon, others can be your best friend...
