My bass doesnt sound like a bass

[screwlogic]

I just got a cheap $100 bass today since I don't want to get an extensive one. I bought a thing in the past and I lost interest in it. anyway, I plugged it into my amp and tuned it and it sounded almost like an electric guitar but tuned down not like a bass. is there a way to fix it or is it the cheap amp that came with it?
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[michael_t]

What make and model of bass are you talking about? Can you post a pic of it? And what kind of amp?

By the way, you are a brand new member registered as a commercial user. What kind of commercial user are you?

 

[Sharko]

A bass IS an electric guitar tuned down

 

[screwlogic]

What make and model of bass are you talking about? Can you post a pic of it? And what kind of amp?

By the way, you are a brand new member registered as a commercial user. What kind of commercial user are you?

its a glarry bass and glarry amp (It was included)

 

[screwlogic]

A bass IS an electric guitar tuned down

yeah but it does sound like basses that i listen to on youtube or music

 

[J Posega]

It's likely the tiny amp.

 

[screwlogic]

It's likely the tiny amp.

it not one of those small 10w amps its like the size of an ipad kind of. but i do think i might be the amp.

 

[GretschWretch]

It's the amp. I have several Glarry P basses, and they all sound like a P bass should.

 

[ADHD librarian]

yeah but it does sound like basses that i listen to on youtube or music

The basses you hear on youtube rarely sound like that is real life. They are run through graphic equalisers, compressors, a USB audio interface, and other fancy editing tools.

Even the bass you hear live (in a concert) doesn't sound like what the bass player is hearing. It is run through a DI box and front of house mixer, or a miked amp, or some fancy new ipad based mixer...

Meanwhile you have a very small amp and no fancy mixing gear. That said, you should be able to adjust your tone by playing with the bass tone control, the amp tone control and the balance between pickups (if you have more than one). Even changing the volume on the bass and amp can change the tone (bass on full, amp on 1; amp on full, bass up just slightly...)

Then there are strings,
flats and rounds sound different. Old and new sound different. Steel and nickel sound different...

and then there is the difference made by plucking the strings.
using 2 fingers, a pick, thumb slapping & popping with the fingers, using the flat of the finger, using a fingernail

Not to mention the difference a well setup bass makes. Look up a youtube video on bass setup (there are thousands) and work out if your strings may be too high, or your pickups too low...

Bass tone is a big topic and there is no one way to find what you want

 

[Lava]

Has more to do with the tiny amp than the bass

 

[Discount Bassy]

It is likely a combination of sub-standard bass amplification and excessive expectations. Take the bass to a music store and pretend (ha) that you want a bigger amp. Plug into one. Bring cash.

 

[fretlessman71]

Let's see...

Username: "Screw Logic"

Commercial User rather than supporting member...

I think something is rotten in Denmark.

 

[pcake]

i have a glarry P bass. it sounds very good, rich and deep. the glarry amp is not a good amp - it's enough to get started learning to play, but it won't sound good. it's a $50 amp with a thin body, so you can't expect miracles. don't worry - your bass isn't the issue.
SX Ursa 2 JR MN ALDER LPB Short Scale w/Bag

this hartke amp has similar specs on paper, but in person, it makes every bass sound great
Hartke HD15 1x6.5" 15-watt Bass Combo Amp
it also costs more than double the price.

 

[Les Fret]

You need a Fodera!

 

[Lance Bunyon]

"bass amp the size of an iPad".
Yeah that.
Bass frequencies need drivers and cabs actually capable of producing bass frequencies.
It's basically a tiny guitar amp with a bass plugged into it, hence why it sounds like a guitar.

 

[sxaxsx]

I listened to the recording, it sounds like a bass. As your technique improves so will your tone. You can roll off the tone knob on the bass and that will make it warmer sounding. But it's a cheap amp and it has limitations. Played by itself a bass doesn't sound as deep as you might think. Listen to some isolated bass tracks on youtube and you will hear what I mean.

 

[InnerCityBass]

Don't worry, a lot of expensive fancy coffee table type basses doesn't sound like a bass either

(I'm kidding..sort of)

 

[Tim Skaggs]

What are you plucking the strings with in the recording? Sounds "metallic" but not in a Metallica way….

 

[brianrost]

That sounds like a bass to me. It's just that the midrange is really in your face coming out of that amplifier. Turn the mids and treble down on the amp (try at about 9:00) and bump the bass just a bit (around 1:00) and it should sound a lot better.

My first bass amp sounded like crap, too. That's why I advise against buying "practice amps". The cheap ones don't sound very good and the expensive ones are too expensive for what they are.

If you are in the USA you can find used bass amps with more power and a large speaker from companies like Peavey and Crate for about $100 that you'll like a lot better.

 

[micguy]

If your bass has magnetic pickups, they have no rolloff at low frequencies - your bass almost certainly has decent low end coming out of it.

A cheap amp? There are many reasons why it doesn't pass the bass from your bass.

99 44/10% chance it's the amp that's making your bass sound like a guitar.