Looking for a fatter bass sound

[tradernick]

Didn't read the thread but what you're looking for, OP, is headroom.

I wanted to say something similar but feared it wouldn't go over well. To the OP, it's true what someone said here that tone is in your fingers to some extent. But I assure you, if you played my bass through my rig, you'd hear the deep low end response you crave.

Bottom line is - experiment with the tweaks and then maybe the small upgrades you can afford. Also, I may have missed it but have you gone to a music store and picked a really nice bass off the wall and plugged it into a really nice, really high powered amp/head + cab combo? If not, please try it.

 

[bobcruz]

His instrument looks suspiciously strat-ish. That enormous dude must be tiny.

Could be--I did pull the image from a TalkBass thread, along with this one...better?

 

[tlc1976]

First thing I'd do for a fatter sound is play closer to the neck, as others have said. And no pick.

Though I usually prefer the honky sound of the P bass when I play about where the J pickup would be if it had one.

 

[KeefazBass]

Wow! There's a lot of responses in here. Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I'm going to do some tweaking today and see what I can come up with. I'm tempted by the idea of flatwounds, so might give that a go too.

Do many of you use an EQ pedal?

 

[Fabio_MIJ]

First thing I'd do for a fatter sound is play closer to the neck, as others have said. And no pick.

Though I usually prefer the honky sound of the P bass when I play about where the J pickup would be if it had one.

Closer to the neck, and another thing you can try is to change the cab orientation.

 

[bassdude51]

Kudos for being the guy who finally suggested the foam.
But tell me more about this high impedance cable you mentioned.

Actually, I goofed. It's not a high impedance instrument cable but a high rated microfarad cable. Or better said, a high capacitance instrument cable. The higher the capacitance, the more the high frequencies are filtered out. Translates into a cheap instrument cable for a fatter sound.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Easy answer: You need a second cab to pair with your 1×15. In my experience most 1x15 cabs are naturally honky.
Because you are already a bit underpowered, amp-wise, I would rule out a 4×10 and prescribe a 2×10. You'll get a full sound, a lot more volume and no honky sound.
Most likely your 2 cabs must be 8ohms. If your head can run at 2ohms then two 4ohm cabs can work.

 

[tradernick]

Do many of you use an EQ pedal?

I'd guess that the majority of us don't use an EQ pedal. I assume you're thinking of an EQ pedal with a small graphic EQ (with the sliders) like this Boss GE-7 . The EQ on the head/preamp will be enough tone shaping for most. Some heads include a 7 or 9 or maybe 11 band parametric EQ. Hopefully you have a decent local music store where you can demo all this stuff and try some ideas.

Start with the tweaks and maybe a pickup/string change. Playing up near the neck will warm up the sound as someone above mentioned. Good luck and let us know how things progress.

 

[jallenbass]

Play with a lighter touch and let the amp do the work. The harder I play the thinner the sound IME.

 

[phangtonpower]

Play with a lighter touch and let the amp do the work. The harder I play the thinner the sound IME.

I play with a light touch, heavy gauge flatwounds, mute, p bass or Ovation Magnum and I always have to dial down the bass.

 

[Wisebass]

fairly heavy 3-piece

cool!

I need to drive the band when the guitarist takes a solo

no man you have to drive that band all the time in a three piece!!!

My problem is that the sound I get is too 'honky'

you are not loud enough! 250 watts are okay for a blues band (but only with two!! 15' speakers if you go electric blues)

For a "heavy" band 250W get you nowhere! (without FOH) your guitarist is too loud for you!
(been doing that stuff for over30 years )

so: either get that guitar volume down, or get something bigger

my favs would be ampeg SVT 300W tube orgasm with a fridge
or the "reasonable" V4B with two 15' cabs (still limited but well you play overdrive stuff) and a P.A for the band

...but to start, check out a cab that gives you more surface (= more punch) than your 1x 15'

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

P.S stay with rounds; flats and mutes are for folks over 50

 

[bolophonic]

Try some different strings first.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Please update us in a few month after you've tried everything mentioned: plethora of pedals, flatwounds, foam under the bridge, playing closer to the neck with you eyes close while standing on one leg or whatever. Any experienced guy, who has played bass for 25+ years on this forum knows that you just need more headroom. Been there done that, there are just no substitution. You can soup up a Honda Civic as much as you want, it won't drive like a BMW M5