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My tone Dilemma (note volume)

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous [BG]' started by SnoMan, Dec 7, 2005.

  1. Dec 7, 2005 #1
    SnoMan

    SnoMan Words Words Words

    Jan 27, 2001
    Charleston, WV
    I'm not sure if this has been touched on before...and I'm not sure how to search for it if it has... and this may not be the best forum for this....but the parts I'm asking could fit in three or more forums on here...


    This is my issue...

    More-less...this is what I want

    I just am not sure how to go about achieving it.



    I want to have the notes I play be the same volume with as little variance as possible(I know some will exist).

    To compound this, I want the sound to be able to cut through a mix...you can hear my current band for about the most extreme example, but cutting the mix in less crowded space also.

    Help me figure out how to accomplish this...at least to the best extent possible PLEASE this drives me nuts...frustrates me more than anything


    Is there a most important factor? I doubt it, but I assume it is either the bass, amp and technique. Well, that covers just about everything...but yeah, I wanted to list those...

    I just want everything I play to be heard...

    Can I have recommendations on basses and amplification to best suit this desire.... pretty please...

    Can anyone point me towards techniques I can practice?

    This has frustrated me through many styles of music.


    Can anyone offer any :help:
     
  2. Dec 7, 2005 #2
    fourstringdrums

    fourstringdrums Decidedly Indecisive Supporting Member

    Oct 20, 2002
    Massachusetts
    The first thing to adjust if your notes aren't coming out evenly is how your pickups are setup. They should be high enough for the notes to sound clearly without being distored or choking the string, and they should be adjusted so they're as equal of a distance as possible from each string, unless one string is louder or quieter than another, then you can adjust from there.

    Other than that, it comes down to technique, but I don't have any excercises off hand to refer you to.
     
  3. Dec 7, 2005 #3
    gsys

    gsys

    Jul 4, 2005
    Hiding from the INS!
    You can do what everybody else does and compress your sound to within an inch of its life and crank up the mids. It's like a sonic wonderbra for the bass.
     
  4. Dec 7, 2005 #4
    Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

    Alvaro Martín Gómez A. TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player

    Nov 10, 2000
    Bucaramanga, Colombia, South A
    While the main purpose of a compressor is to even your playing's volume (all notes sound equally louder), I'm not a fan of that because it alters my tone in an unpleasant way (to me. Maybe I don't really know how to use a compressor). But bringing your mid frequencies to the front is a key factor to cut in the mix, although I wouln't talk about "cranking the mids" because you may start sounding like and old radio and you may not like that (so many folks like it, though).

    Read my posts (#s 13 y 17) in this thread for some real life experiences and advice on that problem. Hope this helps. :)
     
  5. Dec 7, 2005 #5
    SnoMan

    SnoMan Words Words Words

    Jan 27, 2001
    Charleston, WV
    Thanks for the useful advice guys.

    I'll be checking up on some of the advice given this evening...I'd love to hear more as well