Sitting in the Mix: Do you use certain basses for this?

[Basshappi]

This is the reason that I went to a PJ configuration long ago. I really love the P-bass sound and how it fit in the mix in the classic rock/ blues music I usually play but occasionally a bit more clarity was needed and the J bridge pup could dial it in without losing the girth of the P.

 

[JimmyM]

What basses ended up doing that for you?

My Fender PJ's, my P Lyte with EMG PJ's and BQC preamp, my Dano Longhorn, my Realistic violin bass (though it takes some re-eqing), and my Guitar Factory custom basses with EMG PJ's and BQC. The only one I have now that isn't sitting right is this 09 AmStd I picked up last week (pickup is way too mid scooped), but I just ordered a 62 Original pickup for it that should change things.

 

[JimmyM]

+1

Here's an offbeat analogy: You're filming a car-chase sequence, so there are some cars that have to be there to make the whole thing real - that's the P bass... then you got the bad guy's car - the one that's on steroids with nitrous - well... that's your active bass. Finally, the protagonist's car - great looking, lots of growl, and has a little personality of it's own - that's the Jazz bass.

...

 

[mcm]

Really I'm too cheap to do all that. I just stick with my 4 banger p bass with flats.

 

[Jim Carr]

Any Sadowsky

+1

...and I might add that a P/J or a Jazz can do it all, IMHO.

 

[Jeff Scott]

My Ricks sit fine in a mix; depending on what I am looking for I can usually get it with one of them.

 

[sven kalmar]

thats one of the things with the P.

 

[kokorollc]

Any Sadowsky. +1

 

[Korladis]

That's why I like my Rickenbacker. Bridge pickup for loud, dense mixes where I need a really aggressive, focused sound to be heard, neck pickup for when things are a lot more open and the bridge pickup sound would stick out too much.

 

[punkjazzben]

P Bass while recording seems to produce that nice flat pancake of bass that a lot of studio engineers and mastering guys tend to go for, and I like how my own Precision sits in a mix. Jazz basses seem to poke through a little bit more in both the studio and live, even with the neck p'up solo, and that can also be good depending on the situation.

But when I think of 'inconspicuous' I think of a passive P bass, which is exactly why I bought mine. My Yamaha B405 (J+J) does the punchier stuff amazingly, and my other Yammie (P+J) is a nifty bass to have when playing different styles live.

 

[SurferJoe46]

Seems to me that no matter what sound personality any bass has, if the sound guy wants to, he can sure make his prejudices be heard - or not heard--- really.

It's always been my intention to play through standalone gear (amps/cabs) and let the sound 'engineer' do his thing with a mic in front of my cab if he wants to.

I got suckered into not bringing more than two basses, a stool and my antacids to that gig. There won't be a next time unless I get to hear myself at least.

I have spoken.