Odd Bass Tone Idea

[chettheferret]

Hey, guys. I was wondering if there was a way, through eq settings or effect pedals, to get a sound similar to the sound made when you hit a pvc pipe. It's hard to describe, but you all know what that sounds like, that sort of thwunk sound. Help on such a weird thread would be appreciated.

 

[Flatbass]

I thought you were going to say: "Here's an odd bass tone idea: plugging your bass directly into an amp."

On topic: what are you hitting the pvc pipe with? Is the pipe connected to anything, or just resonating freely?
Maybe a 10-band EQ with all frequencies 'off' except for 1kHz gets you somewhere?

 

[Dash Lashes]

you need to mostly control the attack to get a strike sound, then a fast swelling of warmth. tight compressors, and perhaps a little verb, or delay (depending on the environment and analog pipe size you wish to replicate). I prefer parametric EQ for these types of challenges, so to be able to "Q" the perfect width of resonance.

 

[jez79]

Blue man group style? Hitting the open end 'thwahp'
A filter could get the movement

 

[TerribleLiar23]

I thought you were going to say: "Here's an odd bass tone idea: plugging your bass directly into an amp."

On topic: what are you hitting the pvc pipe with? Is the pipe connected to anything, or just resonating freely?
Maybe a 10-band EQ with all frequencies 'off' except for 1kHz gets you somewhere?

Weird? That's just plain crazy. Who would do that??

 

[OilcanRacer]

a lot of ways to do this.

slight delay into a tight envelope filter, then a compressor with a hard open and soft release. throwing a ring modulator somewhere in the mix, playing with the controls and blend to contour the sound reacting with your bass. tune the final sound with a parametric eq to your taste.

a midi bass can do this for sure if you keep tuning the lfo's till you get the right attack and release

 

[Feral Feline]

Very CL thread.
I've done some experimental band stuff with PVC pipes (16-20' pipe!), bucket bass, assorted trash percussion etc, so this is of great interest to me.

For a metallic thwunk, a flanger with no "movement" would get you closer to that sound, too. Ring modulatorish.

Lots of great suggestions already. Looking forward to sound samples, 'cause you will post samples, right?

 

[AndreasK]

Reminded me of this

 

[Alien8]

Moog ClusterFlux with the feedback up, low pass filter with a bit of resonance in the fx loop or in front even. You can hit the bass string and tune the resonance of the flux with a midi keyboard.

A flanger with a high resonance will get you close.