Something wrong with my bass tone?

[Tommygun_ted]

It also depends on what your guitarists are using. I used to play with 2 les Paul's through marshal stacks. Had to go full on the mids to cut through.

 

[wheelsup247]

Right and left hand technique contribute significantly to all of our bass tones, for better or worse.

 

[Stranger Danger]

"If something's wrong with that tone"

I'm not sure it's the setting of the nobs. I've tried everything. Don't you here the crisp tone that the guy in the video is getting? It's so clear and vibrant compared to what I am getting. Sure, I can crank the highs of basss up to the max, but still my tone is rather dull.

Take a listen (attachment):

But just so I understand you. You don't think there is anything wrong with my tone. It's just how my bass sounds. Do I understand you correctly?

Here is another example of a vibrant, bright bass tone:

You want to sound like that video? Honestly man that sounds pretty bad to me. I think what you recorded sounds better.

 

[Gasman]

Is there a difference between how basses sound?

 

[kevindahl]

The ricky is the worst bass ever for slapping

 

[bobyoung53]

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!

Sounds good to me, remember you are playing bass.

 

[CoffeeLove]

Pickup height/distance to strings can make a huge difference in presence and tone (thin and weak if too far away, depending the pickup). Of course, like others have said, every bass sounds different, as well as bass strings and other factors. Lots of variables in a given bass tone.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

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

- John

Ah, sorry I didn't have the time to read the entire thread. I just saw in one of the first posts the OP said "the bass is passive anyway" but then I missed the part about the "active eq". Thanks for clarifying.

Ok, if it's active it should probably be able to get brighter unless the strings are a VERY mellow type. Could still be the DI input on the interface though. Even though an active bass won't be as much affected by an impedance mismatch as a passive bass the DI inputs on most cheap interfaces still sound pretty bad.

Also, make sure the input is a HiZ (high impedance) INSTRUMENT input that's intended for guitars and not a line input (some can be switched between the two).

Try with a better DI box. For an active bass the Radial JDI is pretty hard to beat unless you want to pay a fortune for something fancy with tubes.

(But I'll say it again: I wouldn't necessarily chase that super-bright sound unless it's for a very specific genre that requires it. I personally think the OPs bass will fit better into most genres/mixes than the bass in the video).

 

[Aidenn7]

If it sucks it's because you don't know what are doing.. That maybe the obvious thing to say.. But the answer is simple.. Put less suck in get suck out.. Your interface is.. The key problem try an actual di before it.. Or a boost/ preamp pedal.. As far as di's.. Passive bass active di.. Activate bass passive di.. Also to clean up your playing lesrn to mute.. All the best studio bassist.. Do that well.. If you do this it won't matter long you been playing you'll sound like a professional.. Ps a metrome.. And walk the bass line not run.. You aren't geezer bulter Steve Harris or Nolly.. Yet.. Look up Paul McCarty basic bass lessons.. And Carol Kaye.. Donald duck Dunn.. Lots of knowledge there

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I think they are just like the black beauties, (more or less) just a different color. you gotta crimp 'em. I've never had tapewounds. Do have to crimp those as well?

This is from elsewhere on TB:
bend strings before cutting?

That's not worth any more than stuff said here or any other internet forum. Here's a better quote from the package for my DR Black Beauties:

"We flatten a small section of the core wire at a spot that should lie past the nut at the top of the fingerboard, and between the tuning machines of your instrument. This flat section provides an anchor for the wrap wire to grip the core wire. You should be able to feel this flattened area between your fingers as you touch the end of the string opposite the ball end.

Without the anchor the string is likely to unwind, go "dead" and fail to intonate properly.

If you need to cut or trim your strings between the anchor and the ball end . . . carefully and severely bend, or "crimp," your string as illustrated. The severe bend (crimp) will provide an anchor for the round core."

Note, this applies to round core strings only. I put more stock in this than anything said so far. The manufacturer is concerned enough about the outer wrap unwinding that they add an extra step to the manufacturing of the string and post a big warning inside the package.
​

I don't know about the DR color stings first hand, but believe they are a slightly different flavor of the black beauties, that are constructed similarly. I'm on my second set of them and have always crimped, never had a problem. Love those strings!!

YES, this could be it. If you're using DR roundcore (or any other roundcore) strings it's extremely important to install them as described. ALWAYS crimp or bend the string 90 degrees before cutting it. Failing to do so will make the string go dead very fast, sometimes instantly.

Most strings are hex core and won't require this procedure but some manufacturers prefer roundcore. Most DR strings are roundcore. Most (all?) Pyramids too. Other manufacturers may have one or two roundcore set (usually clearly marked as roundcore) but are mostly hex core.

 

[nnnnnn]

I've attached a file of what my Bass DI tone sounds like

I just listened to the clip of your bass with flat EQ: it sounded fine to me, maybe not the tone I would use but at least in the same neighbourhood.

Then I listened to the two YouTube clips and I didn't like the tones in either clip, though I suppose the second one was OK in context with drums and stuff in that style. They're very clanky tones and I wouldn't want my bass to sound like that.

I think bassists in most genres other than post-2000 metal styles would want something more like the tone you're getting than the tone in those YouTube videos.

 

[bassboysam]

I just listened to the clip of your bass with flat EQ: it sounded fine to me, maybe not the tone I would use but at least in the same neighbourhood.

Then I listened to the two YouTube clips and I didn't like the tones in either clip, though I suppose the second one was OK in context with drums and stuff in that style. They're very clanky tones and I wouldn't want my bass to sound like that.

I think bassists in most genres other than post-2000 metal styles would want something more like the tone you're getting than the tone in those YouTube videos.

post 2000 is like 20 years of metal. that's a lot of bands and influence.

 

[Gothic]

Using coated strings and plugging straight in an audio interface without any sort of actual amplification certainly won't bring out any character any bass may have. Most -if not all- ESP/LTD's I got to play had quite an upper-midrangey/trebly tone right out of the box, and the preamp will help you dial in pretty much exactly what you want. I'd try an actual amp and play with the band in a studio. Then go from there.

Another thing. If you play in a band with a "busy" mix, those treble-upper mid frequencies will get you a wall of mush in the whole mix and you'll pretty much get buried by the guitars. It might sound awesome in youtube videos or in the bedroom with nothing more than a drum track behind it, but in a band situation, you'd be hard pressed to discern the bass from the guitars in that cobweb of frequencies.

 

[nnnnnn]

post 2000 is like 20 years of metal. that's a lot of bands and influence.

Of course. And my selection of that year was pretty arbitrary. But large though that volume of work is I think it's vastly outnumbered by non-metal styles. And older metal is more likely to have a more old-school bass tone.

 

[ruju]

Saying this nicely, work on your technique. Yes, gear can make a difference but it's up to you to figure out how to attack the strings with your plucking hand to give you the disired tone. I hear/see so many players so focused on their fretting hand and forget about the different dynamics they can get with their plucking hand.

 

[lfmn16]

H

I bought this one, since I thought it looked cool,

Next time buy one because it SOUNDS cool.

 

[Rib 13]

the strongest difference I can hear is string age and/or string type....I know you said your strings were only two weeks old but depending on humidity, how much you play, and your pH, can be plenty time enough to kryptonite strings (for reference, I change the ones on my main players every 25 hours or roughly 4 to 5 gigs, and sometimes less - as soon as noticeable drop in brightness or rich harmonic structure disappears, off they go)....the ones in the video sound very fresh: very round-like or pressurewounds....yours dont (yours sound like flats, rounds in mid-life, or coated with something).......its not a bad tone by any means, just not your thang

edit: welcome to the world of "I love rich stringy harmonic structure" where newness/freshness rules...its a constant battle to conserve string life on the main players....this is why I own cheap "beater basses" to practice on and dont worry about changing their strings

 

[electrichead]

Things you are likely missing to get the raw input tone from the videos:

1. Bright strings. Try stainless and not coated.
2. Aggressive pick attack closer to the bridge with a medium or thick pick.
3. Low action. Those strings should be clanking on the upper frets.

I play aggressive and clanky and in 20+ years I haven't met a bass that I couldn't coax what I like out of. Hands are as important as gear.

 

[nickpc]

Is there a difference between how basses sound?

THAT was really cool - thank you for sharing! Hearing them all back-to-back like that, playing the same groove (and that was a pretty tasty groove!), really lets you hear the differences. I wasn't surprised that I like the P the most, but I wasn't expecting to like the MM and TBird as much as I did.

 

[dr doofie]

Thank you all so much for your input! I guess that's just how a bass sounds for that price.

I will try extra bright strings now and maybe moving up my pickups. But I've never done that. How far up is too far?

When they hit the strings would be my guess...
I couldn’t get your audio clip to load, so I couldn’t hear your sound. Everyone probably knows more anyway. You didn’t mention if you used a pick, I assume you do.
I’m not getting your using all this DI and DAW stuff. Plug into an amp and listen to it with your ears and not headphones and listen to it without miking it. Running into a board or a DAW can give you a springy bouncy annoying tone (I’m sure everyone else can get a good tone, just opinion