Hello. New to this forum. I'm a recording engineer looking to buy a new bass for the studio. Currently have a mid 70's P-Bass with a maple neck all stock. Also have a newer Musicman. I'm recording mostly rock stuff and often have production with big distorted guitars that the 70's P-Bass has a hard time fighting through. Looking to buy something a bit more modern and I've been looking at the Fender Tony Franklin signature or the American Deluxe Precision. I need something nice and punchy that will give me definition through the tracks. I don't really want it to sound all fake and ping-ey. So, any thoughts? Probably going to stick with Fender because it looks like I may have a good hook-up. Also, are the stock pickups in the Tony Franklin good or would you recommend something like Quarter Pounders?
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Good alternative to 70's P-Bass for recording
- Thread starter Louderock
- Start date
I'm going to play Devil's advocate here and throw you an alternative from the non-Fender camp. Since you're using it for recording, and not gigging, then the ergonomic "issues" of a Warwick Thumb will be less important than just how well it cuts through a mix. Which is fantastically well, by the way.
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I am a Fender/Musicman guy but found that a Lakland 55-02 (or 4 string 44-02) records extremely well.
what about just EQing a healthy amount of mid, and some more treble into your set up?.maybe a sansamp bass driver? No need to buy a whole new bass if youre just recording with it. Also, I'd talk to friends and see about borrowing something more "modern"...just some ideas..
I have done that on occasion. I will often Di/Amp combo with an additional split to an early 70's Marshall for some midrange and grit. This P-Bass just doesn't seem to have that mid definition. The low end is great but it is just felt more than heard in a dense track. For acoustic things or old school stuff, it's fantastic. Has that Jamerson sound that's rubbery. I've recorded several new Fenders that do sound good. I've also recorded that Warwick and it sounds great and very modern. I guess I want a P-Bass on steroids because that is the basic tone I love, I just need more focus and presence with the tone.
i'd recommend a Lakland
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a bob glaub or duck dunn with a Darkstar pickup sounds right up your alley
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a bob glaub or duck dunn with a Darkstar pickup sounds right up your alley
My first thought was to try the Musicman, new strings on the P bass and a good setup including pickup adjustment, or maybe fit the P bass with Duncan Quarter Pounder or Lace Alumitone pickups.
well then you got me...unless youre overlooking something obvious like old strings, which i doubt from the great lengths youve gone to in order cut through..
also something that might help, that i have no experience with is hexwound strings. if youre not already using stainless steel rounds, theyre supposedly the brightest sounding string..like I said I have no experience, but im sure somebody could help you out.
If all else fails, I guess you need to get your hands on a new fender.
also something that might help, that i have no experience with is hexwound strings. if youre not already using stainless steel rounds, theyre supposedly the brightest sounding string..like I said I have no experience, but im sure somebody could help you out.
If all else fails, I guess you need to get your hands on a new fender.
I was going to suggest the QP. After my poor experience in the 90's with the over-hyped Lace Sensors, I wouldn't use another pickup with the name Lace on it. The Alumitone concept is interesting enough, though.
I didn't like the OEM Lace Sensors I had in my '90s J bass but the Alumitones are a completely different animal. I currently use Alumitones on two basses.
Maybe a J?
What about a G&L (Tribute?) 2000/2500?
Although I don't understand how the P has not enough mids
What about a G&L (Tribute?) 2000/2500?
Although I don't understand how the P has not enough mids
I'll throw out an idea from a completely different direction. Is the issue the bass or might it actually be with how the guitars are tracked and/or mixed?
I found when recording that even for a heavy sound I needed less distortion than I initially thought. But even if I wanted really heavy distortion, cutting the low end on the guitars often gave me a much better overall mix. In other words, the guitars may sound FANTASTIC when they're tracked and those tracks are soloed, the important thing is how they fit the overall mix. If all other tracks have to compensate to save that sound, then maybe the focus is on the wrong thing and the guitars are really intruding on the piece of the sonic spectrum that bass is naturally in. If you take out some of the low end of the guitars you might find that the bass suddenly shines through.
Of course, I'm not telling you you shouldn't buy another bass for the studio. Even if changing the way you mix suddenly solves your problem it would be nice to have a different option on hand. You have a great 4 string, so maybe try a 5? I had a 55-02 that sounded great on recordings. I also have a Stingray 5 which I haven't recorded yet but I'd love to try. If you want to stick with something more "traditional", maybe a Jazz?
EDIT - A moderator might also want to move this to the Recording Forum. You might get more responses there.
I found when recording that even for a heavy sound I needed less distortion than I initially thought. But even if I wanted really heavy distortion, cutting the low end on the guitars often gave me a much better overall mix. In other words, the guitars may sound FANTASTIC when they're tracked and those tracks are soloed, the important thing is how they fit the overall mix. If all other tracks have to compensate to save that sound, then maybe the focus is on the wrong thing and the guitars are really intruding on the piece of the sonic spectrum that bass is naturally in. If you take out some of the low end of the guitars you might find that the bass suddenly shines through.
Of course, I'm not telling you you shouldn't buy another bass for the studio. Even if changing the way you mix suddenly solves your problem it would be nice to have a different option on hand. You have a great 4 string, so maybe try a 5? I had a 55-02 that sounded great on recordings. I also have a Stingray 5 which I haven't recorded yet but I'd love to try. If you want to stick with something more "traditional", maybe a Jazz?
EDIT - A moderator might also want to move this to the Recording Forum. You might get more responses there.
Go with the Fender American Deluxe Jazz or the 62 P-Bass reissue. The 62RI has hotter pups than the 70 model.
im gonna +1 the 44-02, just recorded my entire album with it, and i have a plethora of basses to choose from.i did all of my scratch tracks with a american deluxe pbass. but the 44-02 just recorded much better.
I thought a good P bass was like, the definitive "Cut through the Rock mix" axe.
If it where me. I'd look elswhere for the issue.
High pass the guitars @ 80hz for mix down
High pass the bass @ 50hz
Scoop a little out of the kick between 50hz-80hz
You should have plenty of ear room for bass if you start there.
IMHO
If it where me. I'd look elswhere for the issue.
High pass the guitars @ 80hz for mix down
High pass the bass @ 50hz
Scoop a little out of the kick between 50hz-80hz
You should have plenty of ear room for bass if you start there.
IMHO
I'm a long time Fender and Musicman player, and most of my recording is done with a Jazz Bass...I just get my favorite kind of grit on tape with those, unless I'm looking for a truly unique voice of something else.
But with that said. I'm suprised the P isn't cutting through. Really instruments need maintenance and the right strings for the player.
Recently a local studio handed me their P bass because things weren't going right. This thing was atrocious, needed alot of attention.
But with that said. I'm suprised the P isn't cutting through. Really instruments need maintenance and the right strings for the player.
Recently a local studio handed me their P bass because things weren't going right. This thing was atrocious, needed alot of attention.
Before getting a new bass, try a Lindy Fralin pickup in the Precision. If you want maximum punch and don't mind slightly attenuated highs, get it overwound. The Fralin has more clarity and punch than any stock Fender pickup I've heard, and is fantastic for recording.
Hmm, don't know if I'd mod an all stock 70s P-bass...for recording I'd look into a Roscoe Beck IV...US made Fender, passive operation (I prefer passive to active for recording) and lots of tonal/coil options from a P sound (neck only, series setting) to a J and so forth. Comfortable neck too.
Change the strings to roundwound, say, Rotosound Swing 66, or maybe D'Addario EXL 170. If that doesn't do it, try a Sadowsky outboard pre-amp.
Cheaper than a new bass and the above will give you loads of sound options.
Best, John
