Help - My Dimension bass WON'T STOP GROWLING!!!

[eastcoasteddie]

"Noisome" doesn't mean what you think it means.

Unless "disgustingly smelly" is what you meant, of course.

 

[seang15]

Chromes calmed my ATK right down. ..sound great, too.

 

[gjohnson441496]

I'm still trying to understand what i meant by Growl? Is it a non musical sound coming from the bass like noise or something like the overdrive you might get from a pedal a pedal?

It's totally musical. IMO, it's like overdrive but better in that it happens naturally with certain basses and as I just discovered, string choice. So, string choice/bass combination. In my situation the Dimension with the original Fender steels, it was very pronounce but the nylon wound strings really tones it down and makes it fat... Very funky indeed.

 

[mrufino1]

Funk, as in Bootsy playing bass for James Brown, which I've been listening to a lot lately. To my ears, Give it Up and On the Good Foot don't have any growl. These tunes are clean as a whistle. There was a post earlier this year about playing covers exactly as the original, which encouraged me to listen to bass players with a more discerning ear, which then allowed me to actually hear how Bootsy was doing with JB (staying in the pocket and keeping it simple)

Flats, an overdriven amp, and bootsy's fingers gave that sound. Definitely not clean, but the right kind of dirt for sure. Give it up may just be the funkiest thing on the planet, especially the "clap your hands..." break. Definitely not round wound growl though, just nice fat overdrive bass, coupled with a kick drum that's not fat at all (with a squeaky pedal!).

Anyway, trying to play covers exactly like the original is always a good thing.

 

[Watchootognbout]

So use a different bass.

 

[logicman69]

Tame? Really? Wow. That L2000 must have monster growl!

It does. Probably one of the most aggressive basses I have ever played (and after working at a music store for 13 years, thats alot of basses). Here is a sample:

And my favorite G&L on a song (and overdriven as well). Helmet "Biscuits for Smut":

 

[UNICORN BASS]

I was going to suggest D'Addario's when i first read this post but someone mentioned foam. I think i would be inclined to follow this possibility.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Cuzzie]

I love helmet!

(No puns boys!)

 

[mogator]

Tame? Really? Wow. That L2000 must have monster growl!

Plug your headphones into an L2000 with the preamp on. You'll be surprised how much volume you get.

 

[BrentSimons]

Tame? Really? Wow. That L2000 must have monster growl!

Yup!

 

[stonewall]

Thanks Brent. I'm about to install the D'Addarrio's now...

wasting your money with round wounds

 

[calypsocoral302]

Plug your headphones into an L2000 with the preamp on. You'll be surprised how much volume you get.

Ummm... That sounds kinda dangerous...

 

[MG514]

Is this a joke?

 

[DavC]

GHS Pressurewounds ... nice 'middle of the road ' sound and feel ...

does the growl ease up with a lighter touch .. ?? maybe some pickup height adjustments .. ??

of course , for me , lighter touch and funk don't mix well .. ! always been kinda heavy handed ..

 

[dinodino]

Is this a joke?

Maybe this is Fender guerilla marketing. Nice try Fender!

On a serious note, I now have GAS for a blue 5 string...

 

[phillybass101]

Have you ever heard of Mark Adams? Cameo? Brothers Johnson (Louis)? Growl belongs in Funk or maybe we're talking a different kind of funk. One that I have no clue on.

 

[tzohn]

OP, boost the 60-65Hz with an EQ and cut down all frequencies above it. All honey is @ 60-65Hz

 

[ThePresident777]

Turn off your Dark Glass BK7?

 

[Watchootognbout]

I have a American Deluxe Dimension bass IV HH. Feels great and is easy to play, but it growls in every setting. The growl is what I initially loved about the bass, but now that I'm incorporating funk into my repertoire, all that growling is noisome. I'm still using the original Fender strings that came with it (Fender® USA Bass 7250M, NPS. 045-.105 Gauges), and I'm thinking that changing strings will help but I'm at a loss for what type of strings would produce less growl without going to the other spectrum of being too flat or whatever. I'm coming to you guys because I don't want to spend a lot of time, money and ENERGY looking for the right strings (iI've done that before with other basses). I've posted this here in the bass section just in case it's not the strings. Maybe I need to add an effect unit? I don't know.

Have you ever heard of Mark Adams? Cameo? Brothers Johnson (Louis)? Growl belongs in Funk or maybe we're talking a different kind of funk. One that I have no clue on.

I agree with phillybass101.Growl belongs in Funk.
Listen to Mark Adams with Slave.

 

[gjohnson441496]

So use a different bass.

Don't want to. I'm just having fun and experimenting.