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ok recording bass choice question

#21
I stick with the Ibanez and replace the pickups with more authentic Fender sounding ones.

My main bass is an Ibanez like yours with the active PJ set. I swapped those out for the Geezer Butler PJ set (passive) from EMG.

The P pickup soloed has a vintage Fender P sound and is fantastic.
 
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#23
Element Zero said:
Heck… record 3 separate times with each bass and decide for yourself what sounds best.
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That's what I used to do. Now, though, I've got a pretty good idea which bass will work for which situation. I still second-guess myself at times, but I put that down to being a Virgo and having a slight case of C.D.O.
 
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#24
Michael Stanley 2112 said:
That's what I used to do. Now, though, I've got a pretty good idea which bass will work for which situation. I still second-guess myself at times, but I put that down to being a Virgo and have a slight case of C.D.O.
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Not that I follow the stars guidance, but I’m a Capricorn… and your C.D.O. is giving me O.C.D. with a helping of anxiety. Spell it right please, or not at all.
 
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#30
Michael Stanley 2112 said:
Grew up in a house without MTV, did ya? There was bout three months where you couldn't turn on MTV without seeing the video (not that live recording)
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That would be correct. Even when we visited family that had cable, I wasn’t allowed to watch MTV. Of course, once everyone fell asleep I’d sneak and watch headbangers ball. But Priest was already old by then. It was all Metallica and Pantera and Morbid Angel and Carcass.
 
#31
Element Zero said:
That would be correct. Even when we visited family that had cable, I wasn’t allowed to watch MTV. Of course, once everyone fell asleep I’d sneak and watch headbangers ball. But Priest was already old by then. It was all Metallica and Pantera and Morbid Angel and Carcass.
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Yeah, I'm old. I already had my own apartment (and cable), when MTV launched.
 
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#33
hbarcat said:
I stick with the Ibanez and replace the pickups with more authentic Fender sounding ones.

My main bass is an Ibanez like yours with the active PJ set. I swapped those out for the Geezer Butler PJ set (passive) from EMG.

The P pickup soloed has a vintage Fender P sound and is fantastic.
Click to expand...

+1. I have two such Ibanezesezes, and in both installed a set of Dimarzio Model PJ. If your SR has the original set just because it was there, don't be afraid to experiment.

Heck, if what you want is a P bass you sound, just replace the P pickup itself. I did just this on one of my SRs: I put GHS flats, removed the Jazz bridge (became part of a gift to a friend who bought a FGN Jazz), and wired a series/parallel switch. So now I have a 'sort of' traditional P bass sound disguised in pitch black Fieldy-looking clothing :D
 
#34
iamjethro said:
I am mainly a guitar player who loves bass and always have had one to play aong at home, but not near good enough to make it my main instrument

I have a choice of 3 basses. I have a 92 Ibanez SR800 with the AFR P and J pickups, I have an Hofner Ignition Violin bass, and have a 92 Fender MIM Jazz.

For most recordings, everything I read says that a Pbass with flat strings (which I alreay love and put on my basses) is the sound I am looking for.

Question is will any of my basses get me there? I would guess the Ibanez would be closest due to the pbass type pickup it has, but it is active and I don't know much about that.

So, is there anyway to get that old sound without spending more on another bass?
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How do find the sound you want by reading? Look for video demos. Besides that, think more about how you play than what you play.
 
#35
iamjethro said:
I have a choice of 3 basses. I have a 92 Ibanez SR800 with the AFR P and J pickups, I have an Hofner Ignition Violin bass, and have a 92 Fender MIM Jazz.
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I'd try all your basses with a piece of foam under the strings at the bridge and see which one sounds closest to your target. The foam will dial down the top end and bring out the mids. Don't worry about being active, that's only an added facility on the EQ. Just experiment with what you have. Your ideal tone is in there somewhere, you've just got to find it.
 
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#36
iamjethro said:
I am mainly a guitar player who loves bass and always have had one to play aong at home, but not near good enough to make it my main instrument

I have a choice of 3 basses. I have a 92 Ibanez SR800 with the AFR P and J pickups, I have an Hofner Ignition Violin bass, and have a 92 Fender MIM Jazz.

For most recordings, everything I read says that a Pbass with flat strings (which I alreay love and put on my basses) is the sound I am looking for.

Question is will any of my basses get me there? I would guess the Ibanez would be closest due to the pbass type pickup it has, but it is active and I don't know much about that.

So, is there anyway to get that old sound without spending more on another bass?
Click to expand...
Jazz bass
 
#37
The reality of recording is that you never know exactly what's going to work until you do a couple test tracks. You almost want to bring every bass you have, even if you are 90% sure what the tight one is. Whatever bass you use, start with neck pickup soloed, tone at <25%, and add tone/upper mids from there. Producers like p-basses because of simplicity, it's got 1 very quiet pickup, and a presence knob. Just remember you're not really trying to record "your sound", you're trying to get the bass track that makes the rest of the recording sound good - I don't really like the way my bass sounds on most recordings I've done, but it's what works for the song that counts.
 
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#38
salmon256 said:
Use whatever you like honestly and tried them all as others I have said. Truthfully the jazz and ibanez will be "better" and the hofner does have issues at times but choose what you are going for. Some people use a hofner for specific reasons look at Tame Impala and Kainalu, they are hofner using artists. Of course lots of production on their end goes on but you get my point. Choose what you like and what you like for sound! Good luck!
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The guy from Big Thief uses a Hofner, and the bass tracks on their recordings sound incredible.
 
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#39
I'm not a Studio musician but over the years have been recorded many times. Most of my Basses have been recorded and they all have sat nicely in the mix which I attribute to the skill of the engineers. My favorite thing to do is have two tracks run simultaneously , one DI'd and one from a miked amp.
 
#40
I bought a Pbass, put flats on it, Ghs Precision Flats, and installed the Fender mute under the bridge cover. If you want the Motown thump, this is it. I use the bass exclusively for recording, usually with an Ampeg SVT DI box. I've had studio techs specifically ask me to bring this set up whenever I get a call to record, usually, Roots Rock, Blues and Classic Soul stuff. If you do a lot of recording, I think its worth it to use this kind of set up for that particular sound.
 
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