Snappy and punchy attack - how to get it?

[Phagor]

Diamond Bass Compressor is great for adding a bit of snap to the front of your notes. Sadly Diamond is no more but they are available used. Other compressors where you can slow the attack time to allow the start of the note to cut through would be good.

I would compress before your VT Bass, as that pedal compresses a little bit of the attack (like all distortions do). It adds crunch but reduces dynamic range.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I wouldn't throw any addt'l $$ at compressors for the moment. I would consider a HPF and re-think my EQ...punch lives in the mids which are frequently dialed-out. IOW, what sounds cool solo'd doesn't always translate well in an ensemble setting.

Riis

 

[nnnnnn]

Pickups don't sense string gauge. They do sense string excursion and motion.

Are you sure that having the greater mass of a thicker gauge moving within the magnetic field doesn't change the resulting signal? Seems to me that it must make some difference.

(I'm not saying thicker is better.)

 

[Hundred proof]

Have you experimented with getting a Stingray with DR Hi Beams? That usually helps.

You beat me to it. … an EBMM Sterling with Dunlop super brights was gonna be my suggestion. But a Ray would certainly work.

 

[two fingers]

Hi, seeking advice on how to get my bass to have a louder, snappier, punchier attack…

I do not have a clear example of a song/record with that tone (perhaps you do?), more a general feeling or tone in my head. In my mind this should be achievable with a compressor, but perhaps there's a "secret attack shaper" pedal out ther I'm unaware of…

My only live experience with compressors are:
- Vox cooltron snake charmer: really cool compressor, but I can't imagine leaving this on all the time, too "effecty". I thought about modding it to add a clean blend. But I'm unsure of the outcome and the pedal would still be HUGE
- EBS Multicomp: good pedal, but I couldn't get this kind of snappy attack out of it. It kind of evens out the signal but I use a gritty VT bass as always on and it feel redundant, I haven't missed it since I got rid of it
- Ampeg pf-500 compressor, perhaps similar to the current ampeg opto comp?, felt similar to the EBS in tube mode: evens out the signal, but doesn't "shape" the signal to give you more attack

I've read the reviews, seen many compressors' reviews in YouTube, but to me is really hard to judge how they will sound with me and, specially, in the mix.

So, before I go into debt in a compressor shopping spree… is there a pedal out there that can help me get snappier attack? Is there a particular type of compressor that excels at this?

I play finger style, with a VT bass warming up the signal always on, and some distorsion on and off… into an ampeg pf-500 and a barefaced 212… In case it's helpful. I've eyeballed the empress, diamond, mxr, Cali and the Fairfield accountant, but I'm really unsure about how the most fitting to my needs

Both the VT and the Ampeg head are going to lean warmer and rounder. Stack them and snappy and punchy are going to be more difficult.

Take the VT out of the chain and really work with the EQ section of the Ampeg with new roundwound strings. A compressor isn't going to move either part of your signal chain out of its comfort zone.

 

[arepa_funk]

Articulation with right and and fretting with left definitely make a difference to the snap and punch. In a j style bass, adding generous bridge pickup volume helps.

Also, this may sound not as fun as getting a pedal but here it goes. Using a metronome you can work on finger dynamics and where the accent falls on. So hard on the 1 then softer 2, 3, 4 for a few bars. Then soft 1, hard 2, and soft and 3 and, etc. That can help connect your ear to your fingers more. Not that it isn't already, of course. It helped identify how to attack the strings to get the tone I wanted.

Also, practicing without being plugged in is great. Think that was recommended above too.

 

[LBS-bass]

String choice has a huge impact on your sound. I get good punch from GHS Pressurewounds. Others will have their own favorites. I use a HPF to roll off excess boom and I roll off the treble and some high mids to eliminate too much clack and string noise, then let the mids take over. That gives me a pretty punchy sound when I dial it in right, but I also have an onboard preamp that helps a lot and a nicely transparent rig that pushes out the sound that my bass delivers.

A lot of it is going to be experimentation because every set of gear has its own characteristics and what works in my signal chain isn't going to necessarily be right for you. I do not use a compressor.

 

[LBS-bass]

I wouldn't throw any addt'l $$ at compressors for the moment. I would consider a HPF and re-think my EQ...punch lives in the mids which are frequently dialed-out. IOW, what sounds cool solo'd doesn't always translate well in an ensemble setting.

Riis

This This This.

OP if you want to hear how my rig sounds, I will send you a phone video clip via PM. I am not sure what you mean by "punchy attack" but you can at least hear if this is the tone you're trying to achieve.

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

For context, this is how I play (I have been trying to clean up a bit).. I don't think I'm short of attack!!



I was after something tasteful to get a bit more attack in the mix, hence the compression idea!

 

[tvbop]

Light touch and super controlled technique. Hard to explain but its all about minimal controlled movement at the string...as if each finger has a compressor on its tip.

 

[bholder]

I'm slightly frustrated that I can't simply throw money at the problem..

Believe me, throwing money at technique problems doesn't work. I've got 40 years of it under my belt and have poor technique and a houseful of expensive clutter!

 

[Malafaia]

Man, we are on the same boat!

Lots of ideias here. Before you buy eq, distortions and lots of equipment, you can try to work on technique, I agree with this guy:

You can push straight down towards the body while picking with your finger instead of pulling parallel to the body.

We think a lot on play near bridge/neck and even picks but we think less on how we are hitting stings. Try this technique!

Of course some equipment can help. In my little experience, I have 2 COMPLETE DIFFERENT basses, a Squier VM P made of agathis body and maple neck with passive duncan style pickpus and a bc rich warlock deluxe 5 strings, made of pure mahogany, neckthru, ebony fingerboard and with two EMG 40DC plus EMG preamp running at 18v.

Without effects, the bc rich one is the hardest to achieve it, even though it has active pickups and 18v, I feel it has a natural compression, in the other way, with the tone full, I would have to tame the P bass snap if I wanted it controlled. Both basses has daddario 045 strings, new strings are snappy but I think my Pbass shows this snap better with as used set of string.
And, in both cases, darkglass b7k works A LOT on this attack, even with high mid cutted, there is something with the full blend/mild drive that makes everithing pops (actually that is one more reason that I prefer b7k than Alpha Omega, this one hides more the attack). My seymour duncan bass compressor works well on this issue too, actually I felt the difference between running it 9v or 18v there, 9v with less headroom it pops a little more.

 

[40Hz]

Are you sure that having the greater mass of a thicker gauge moving within the magnetic field doesn't change the resulting signal? Seems to me that it must make some difference.

(I'm not saying thicker is better.)

Doesn't seem to from my observations. A 100 E delivers more punch and snap than a 105 ot 110 when played the same way. Harmonic content may be different with a heavier string. But I don't think it matters for note attack and initial amplitude. If anything the greater mass (inertia) if heavier gauges seems to reduce it.

 

[Lesfunk]

Get a music man Sterling or stingray.
You will have all the punch and attack you could want!

 

[Lackey]

Maybe this should be under Technique rather than Effects ......

 

[Gothic]

If we're talking about the bass on your video, I think it's the bass.
Also, I don't think clank is the same as punchiness(sic).

 

[Speakz]

What kind of amp and cab are you playing? What are your current EQ settings?

 

[nealw]

Lots of good info here. My experience (I've been playing 40 years):
1) As many have said- technique. Pluck closer to the bridge. Doesn't have to be too hard but play with confidence. Own the notes. Something I haven't seen mentioned- don't play too legato. Use your left hand & other fingers of your right hand to mute and create space between the notes. It becomes second nature.
2) String choice. Nothing beats TI Jazz flats for me. GHS Pressurewounds work well too.
3) Punch lives in the mids. If you have a parametric mid, experiment with what frequency to push to accentuate punch. Roll off the treble a bit. Never use a Contour button.
4) You don't NEED a compressor but if you use one make sure to use one that has an Attack control and set it to allow most of the initial transient through before it clamps down. And don't set the release too long if it has one.
All this together will give you punch for days- even gives me a punchy tone on my Hofner Club bass. When I want maximum punch I play a Stingray though.

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

Maybe this should be under Technique rather than Effects ......

I'm really after some subtle tone enhancement, a specific comoressor type or some kind of attack expander

If we're talking about the bass on your video, I think it's the bass.
Also, I don't think clank is the same as punchiness(sic).

I agree punch and clank are not the same, I'm after louder attack, not a change in tone. Bass wise I play with a precision, jazz and the shortscale from the video… I use ghs precision flats and Ernie ball cobalts, I happy with the tone!

perhaps I should have been asking directly "what compresor for punchy attack and not smoothyness"

Perhaps I could try EHXs Steel leather? Is the only expander- looking pedal I know off

 

[nealw]

I'm really after some subtle tone enhancement, a specific comoressor type or some kind of attack expander

I agree punch and clank are not the same, I'm after louder attack, not a change in tone. Bass wise I play with a precision, jazz and the shortscale from the video… I use ghs precision flats and Ernie ball cobalts, I happy with the tone!

perhaps I should have been asking directly "what compresor for punchy attack and not smoothyness"

Perhaps I could try EHXs Steel leather? Is the only expander- looking pedal I know off

I haven't used that many comp pedals, but I've used plenty of studio compressors and the answer is truly "any compressor with an attack knob that doesn't kill your low end," and set the attack long enough to let the initial transient through. I'm sure others can give more specific recommendations. Here's an amazing set of compressor reviews to narrow your search though.

Compressor Reviews