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String attack sound, please help

M

mariuste

Feb 3, 2012
37
0
#1
Hello

How does this guy get that "snappy" or articulate attack from the strings when he play, look from 0:30:


He demoes the sansamp bddi, nothing to do with that, he has got that attack from the strings with the dry sound with the sansamp bypassed also.

I play a Fender squier p-bass 80ies Japan made model with nickel plated roundwound strings and never get that attack when I record, it is dull in comparison. I have also got that sansamp pedal.
I am looking to get more of that sort of attack from the strings in my tone when I record.

He plays a Fender p-bass but what strings is he using? Pickups?

I appreciate if someone would help me out..
 
#3
How do I identify the brand of pickup on my bass? Mine looks similar but is black..
Is it potentially a big difference in sound between different kinds of pickup on the same bass?
My bass dont sound bad I just want a similar sound..
Should I start with changing to stainless steel strings?
I realise I dont know much about this:hiding:
 
#5
It can be difficult to impossible to identify a pickup, unless there is something unique about it - like the black allen pole pieces on the Dimarzio model P.
Smart first step is to try SS strings if you want a brighter tone. Tonal differences between P pickups are subtle. If the SS strings help, but you still want brighter, 500k pots are cheap and easy. If after that you still want brighter, a pickup swap might be your next step.
YMMV
 
#9
Thanks for the posts. I have experimented with different actions and have a low action, not sure how flat it is though. The tone I have got is ok I am not looking for an overly bright tone. maybe a bit more punch/articulate in the attack but deep and full mellow lows and low mids..
I play both with fingers and pick.
The person in this clip:
has a bit of the same thing going on. It is the sound of the plucking fingers when they roll over the strings..I want that. I have new nickel plated rounds and tried out different rounds of the same material. I have also tried to vary my technique.
Maybe I am picky now but I like to have that attack.
Will stainless steel give me that?
I have some sound clips of the bass sounds I am after. I could always post some if you dont think it is annoying:)
 
#10
If you are using nickel plated roundwounds, and you want a little more "zing", and you haven't tried stainless, then you should try stainless. I can't promise that stainless will give you exactly what you are looking for - tone is very subjective - but a new set of strings is cheaper than a pickup replacement.

If the stainless strings don't give you the articulation you seek, you may need a pickup replacement. Generally speaking, a big, pillowy, mellow bottom results in a lack of articulation - and a more articulate pickup generally results in a little less bottom.

I've found that switching between fingers and a pick is a tone challenge. If you find a string/pickup combination that sounds nice for fingers, it is sometimes crazy bright with a pick - and a combination that sounds great with a pick can sound dull with fingers. I think the best solution is to get the nice finger tone down, and then roll off the tone knob a little if the pick tone is too bright. But it depends on the song - sometimes that really bright pick tone is exactly what you want.

I disagree with the suggestion for a low action and straight neck (no relief). That will just give you fret buzz - which some people use as an element of their tone. The first tone sample you provided does not use fret buzz for tone.
 
#11
Thanks for your answer ronlitz, I will take your suggestions under consideration. I dont want to be misleading but if please listen to the attachment clip (this is the last clip, dont worry:))
It may be the opposite tonewise of stainless steel? I know that one is probably heavily eq`ed so it could be difficult to tell. That sort of the pick tone (and bass tone in general) I am after. No zing but strong/articulate attack and mellow bottom..
Shot in the dark but will flatwounds have a stronger attack?
It also sounds like there is a bit of fret buzz in there, which I like.
 

Attachments

#12
I too often wonder about the formula for this sound. It seems like you need more high end at the attack of the note, but don't want any zingy-ness for the sustain. I think that one possible factor is that there is a 'click'-like attack for fingerstyle when the finger hits on the adjacent string after releasing the primary one (which is accentuated with lower action.) I often associate this type of sound with P-basses, but that is without any real supporting specifics. Flats are also helpful, as they don't tend to zing but surely thump.

Another excellent example of this sound is Jamareo Artis from Bruno Mars on "Locked Out Of Heaven". I've come close to replicating this using TI Jazz Flats with a pick on my Cirrus 5. I also wonder whether employing a dbx 296 could reproduce this effect (I have one, but just haven't played with it enough.)
 
#13
I could be wrong, but it sounds like the guy in the first video may be using flats. They have a distinctive attack, particularly when used with pick or fingernails, and you'll certainly get a mellow sound once you're past the attack.

Why not post a message on the youtube page asking him what strings he uses ? Google translate could turn your question into understandable spanish for you.
 
#14
OP,.. the sound of finger noise is something most of us aspire against. it is bad right-hand technique "most" often resulting when guitar players play a bass, IMHO!

there,... i said it! just turn-up the mids & highs and pound away without restraint. it doesn't matter what bass, strings, or pups. bad technique trumps equipment in this case. i'm not saying it doesn't have it's uses, but when i hear any of my notes accompanied by that clickety-clank, i cringe!!!!!!!!! YMMV

flame on!:eek::hiding:
 
#16
mariuste said:
Thanks for your answer ronlitz, I will take your suggestions under consideration. I dont want to be misleading but if please listen to the attachment clip (this is the last clip, dont worry:))
It may be the opposite tonewise of stainless steel? I know that one is probably heavily eq`ed so it could be difficult to tell. That sort of the pick tone (and bass tone in general) I am after. No zing but strong/articulate attack and mellow bottom..
Shot in the dark but will flatwounds have a stronger attack?
It also sounds like there is a bit of fret buzz in there, which I like.
Click to expand...

In this clip, it sounds to me like the player is hitting the strings, giving a percussive thump along with a click from the string hitting the frets. Definitely not flats - not only can you hear the string noise when he slides positions, but it is brighter than flats would sound when played this way.
 
#17
ronlitz said:
I disagree with the suggestion for a low action and straight neck (no relief). That will just give you fret buzz - which some people use as an element of their tone. The first tone sample you provided does not use fret buzz for tone.
Click to expand...

I want to clarify this - the guy in this clip isn't getting fret buzz exactly, but he IS plucking the strings so hard that they are hitting the frets - is that "click" the sound you are after?
 
#20
ronlitz said:
but he IS plucking the strings so hard that they are hitting the frets - is that "click" the sound you are after?
Click to expand...
I thought it was the sound from the plucking fingers hitting the strings but you are probably right. From:30 when the sansamp is bypassed it looks like the E string is very loose aswell after he hits it with the plucking hand. So low action and (very) low tension maybe?
In the mp3 clip i posted, I am almost sure it is played with a pick, it sound very percussive towards the end.
Btw it is bits from the bass part from this track:
 

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