Something wrong with my bass tone?

[Deleted member 271037]

"Personally I can't stand that kind of sound so I actually like your clip better than the video but YMMV."

The thing is, recently there was another bass player at my house and we jammed a bit and his clean bass DI tone sounded exactly like the tone the people in the YouTube videos got, even though he had a completely different bass.

That's why I was wondering, whether there is something wrong, sice every bass I've hear other than mine has that crisp sound to it.

If the other bass player got a crisp/bright sound through your rig (meaning no other variables than the bass) then you've either got old, worn strings or there could be something wrong with your bass. It doesn't sound bad but I would expect a bass like that to be able to go brighter. But you really do need fresh strings for that crisp, bright sound and preferrably stainless steel strings.

Crisp tone = fresh roundwound strings.
Extremely bright crisp tone = stainless steel roundwound strings.

If you haven't changed your strings recently, do it. And you'll need to replace your strings regularly for that kind of tone.

 

[finfrocka]

You say the strings are new, but what type of strings are you using?

 

[Deleted member 271037]

But again: I don't think there was necessarily something wrong with your tone. It just sounded like a bass with old strings to me.

(EDIT: Sorry missed the part about new strings. That doesn't sound like new strings to me. Did the other bass player use EXACTLY the same setup? Same cables?)

 

[SiriusVI]

I don't think anything is "wrong" with your bass. That's just how that one sounds.

OK, that's reassuring. I just didn't have any idea that bass guitars could sound so drastically different. I don't remember what bass my friend had, but it was different from both the basses in the YT videos.

Ah well, I guess I just have to live with it then.

 

[SiriusVI]

You say the strings are new, but what type of strings are you using?

Currently I use the colored strings from DR (for show), but I have also tried stainless steel strings from Elexir (for recording purposes). When they are really fresh, the strings sound a bit brighter, but still nothing like the basses in the videos. And besides, it would be really weird if srings lost their brightness after 2 weeks already.

 

[klokker]

You say the strings are new, but what type of strings are you using?

+1. What kind of strings are you using?

 

[finfrocka]

So both of those strings are coated and could be a contributing factor. I would try something uncoated like dunlop super brights.

Also, I have a schecter elite 4 with soapbar emg hz pickups and they just sound darker than other pickups. I don't know how much you paid for your bass but my experience is that the soapbar style pickups in cheaper basses sound kinda dark. The super brights should help in any case but I don't think you're going to get that super crisp clear tone you are looking for without other effects in your signal chain.

 

[bassboysam]

OK, that's reassuring. I just didn't have any idea that bass guitars could sound so drastically different. I don't remember what bass my friend had, but it was different from both the basses in the YT videos.

Ah well, I guess I just have to live with it then.

get yourself a nice EQ pedal like an Empress Para EQ and fresh stainless steel strings as light a gauge as you can. lower the action and use a heavy pick attack. you should be able to get close.

the main key is fresh strings. depending on how often you play, maybe every week you will need a fresh set.

 

[Ric5]

Hey everyone,

I started out playing the guitar, but I found a band that I wanted to join. Since they needed a bass player, I picked up a bass guitar.

I bought this one, since I thought it looked cool, and I didn't want to spend too much money on my first bass:

Invalid Link Removed

Now, I'm currently trying to get a good tone and I'm really struggling. What I found was that my Bass DI tone sounds a lot more dull compared to other DI tones I found on YouTube.

So here is an example of what I found on YouTube (but in many videos the basses sound like this):



I've attached a file of what my Bass DI tone sounds like when I leave all the EQ nobs and the pickup nob at their center position.

My strings are relatively new (2 weeks old) and also I've changed them many timey, so it's definitely not the strings.

So I guess my question is: does that specific bass just have a very dull tone or is something wrong with my bass?


Thank you so much for your answers!

I have a love hate relationship with Line 6 products …

I love the many options line 6 gives you. But I hate the confusing complexity, and you can easily get tones that sound great at home and the same tone sucks live.

So I went to this pedalboard here >>> http://www.3dentourage.com/425/effects.htm

 

[mexicant]

Maybe it's your technique. ..or lack of. Playing bass and getting a good tone takes lots of practice. When I started playing bass I tried a rickenbacker bass and was shocked I didn't sound like Getty lee or chris squire!
Good luck

 

[smeet]

When your friend came over and his bass was bright, did you try playing his bass? If so, did it still sound bright? If he played your bass, did it still sound dull? Peoples’ hands can sound amazingly different, so I recommend comparing that - it may be your hands/technique and not the equipment.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Is it just your recorded tone you are unhappy with or when playing through an amp too?

Did you record into the DI output of a (relatively cheap) interface? The DI inputs on many interfaces doesn't work particularly well with passive basses. The impedance isn't right. This won't affect active basses. If the other bass player had an active bass that could explain the huge difference IF we're talking about recorded tone only.

With a passive bass you will get the best result going into a good quality active DI. Something like a Radial J48. But even a high quality passive DI will usually be better than the built in DI inputs on most interfaces.

 

[CoR Bass]

You don't need to change your strings weekly. I play pretty regularly and go months to over a year without changing strings. I still get a bright tone with only on board EQ and amp EQ.

 

[bassboysam]

coated strings are not ideal for bright tones. try Hi-Beams or SS Lo-Riders or Dunlop Super Brights

 

[SiriusVI]

get yourself a nice EQ pedal like an Empress Para EQ

Yeah well, I wanted to make sure that instrument sounds right before I ad gear and what I heard in those YT videos just sounded so drastically different than what I was getting that I thought something migh be wrong.

But I guess it's juts the way my pickups sound. I would never have guessed that pickups in basses had such a huge impact on the sound you get.

 

[JKos]

The DI inputs on many interfaces doesn't work particularly well with passive basses.

The OPs bass is active. It has a 3-band EQ.

- John

 

[bassinflorida]

you getta whatchu paya for

 

[Tekkers]

Currently I use the colored strings from DR (for show), but I have also tried stainless steel strings from Elexir (for recording purposes). When they are really fresh, the strings sound a bit brighter, but still nothing like the basses in the videos. And besides, it would be really weird if srings lost their brightness after 2 weeks already.

I hate those strings. I tried them once (for pure wild aesthetics) and binned them after a few weeks because they sounded so muffled and dead.

All else being equal (fresh battery, decent bass, solid fx/amp/outboard gear/cables, properly EQ’d), get rid of those strings and I’d wager your tone will sound like you’ve lifted a blanket off the speakers.

If you’re wedded to the mad colours, keep them and slap them on for gigs, but I would never record with them.
Worth a shot.

 

[bassboysam]

Yeah well, I wanted to make sure that instrument sounds right before I ad gear and what I heard in those YT videos just sounded so drastically different than what I was getting that I thought something migh be wrong.

But I guess it's juts the way my pickups sound. I would never have guessed that pickups in basses had such a huge impact on the sound you get.

strings are the biggest factor.

 

[smogg]

Am I crazy or do different basses just sound THAT differently? I have 4 guitars here and they all sound like... well guitars, when I plug them into my interface. I don't understand why basses would sound this differently from one another.

First off, Welcome to Talk Bass.

The short answer to your question is YES, different basses sound very different from each other. They sound different from each other for a variety of reasons. Your model bass has a modest electronics package that leans a bit dark when set flat. Also, the basses in your videos are high end grade with higher quality electronics packages than your bass.

Asking your ESP to sound like a Stingray or a Dingwall will require some help. For starters you could try bright steel round wounds, start with the bridge pup only and make friends with the EQ. After that you may still need a pedal or plugin to get your bass to sound like you want.

Or, you could drop $2500US on a Stingray HH or Dingwall NG2 only to find you need to upgrade your interface. It's all trial and error my friend. Try to enjoy the journey.
Welcome to the dark side.