Sub-30 Hz / deep deep bass

I am working on some ideas for a potential musical project which is likely to feature sequenced drums, plus live guitars and a bit of keys. Definitely guitar music but heavily influenced by bass-heavy dance music. For the bass I am looking at either -

(1) Extreme sub-bass, potentially inaudible, using sub-octave pedal (POG 2, using 2 octaves down only?), sub-woofer and no cab producing mids, AND second bass doing a more orthodox bass role.

or

(2) Extreme sub-bass, potentially inaudible, using sub-octave pedal, sub-woofer, AND also running into a cab producing mids. In this case it is less likely that a second bass would be needed, but I'm still not writing a second bass off entirely.

I have been looking into PA sub-woofers to use as a bass cab, trying to get my head around the technical side of things.

Has anyone done anything similar? Did it go well? Any tips, suggestions etc?

 

My imagination probably! Hopefully a 100 capacity pub back-room with a decent pa but the pa would not be relied upon for the sub-bass. Then Stadiums in due course of course ;-)

 

Two fingers - thank you for your reply... I'm sure you're right about doing it all myself at first... perhaps more than you think. I'm actually more of a guitarist than bassist, and potentially I am looking at hauling a sub-woofer simply to amplify one and two note looped bass-lines.

Thank you for re-assuring me that I am not totally mad, albeit I acknowledge it is a bit out-there and may well not work! I need to do some thinking and googling before I know whether I have any follow-up questions.

 

I will reply briefly, but (obviously) to a large extent I am looking for the answers to these questions myself.

I have only just started looking into sub-woofers and many will not do the job, not sure which if any can.

I am perhaps looking at a a 'normal' backline, 'normal' pa with sub-woofers, plus a separate sub-woofer used as bass cab solely for this very specific role and not going through the pa - it won't need to besides I'm assuming the pa won't handle what I want to do to it! I have no idea whether anyone does it off the shelf, or whether the best option might be getting something custom built by someone who normally puts together insane in-car systems.

I am also actually someone who likes sounds quite distinct in the mix... do not assume the sequenced drums will feature bass / kick drums at all... maybe, but maybe not... could try to keep them well out of the way of the sub-bass.

 

Thx... been researching and looking at pedals for a while and the TC elctronic Sub n up and the POG 2 are high on the list... but I knew I'd seen and forgotten another highly recommended one. Thx for the Meatbox reminder.

 

So much for me to research and think about... but FWIW... (1) I am thinking about trying to match if not beat the bass on the most bass-heavy dance music ever. I'm not planning on playing around with some fairly deep bass, I want to take it to places that are either brilliant or leave people shaking their heads and running for the doors. (2) I am much more thinking along the lines of one and two note rumbles, not 'proper basslines'.

Think heavy, heavy psychedelia influenced by dub, techno, sludge and doom.

 

Yes - "sequence insanely low, sub freq bass parts" is on the agenda as a possibility as well. If I went down that route I'd still want it to go through my own sub-woofer that sits in the back-line. And presumably if I had said sub-woofer I could plug my bass into it as an alternative.

I suppose my alternative opening question could have been something like "spec me an amp and cab(s) that will work in a hundred capacity venue and go lower than most pa's in 100 capacity venues. Inaudibly deep being absolutely fine if not preferable!"

 

I wasn't looking to go quite that far! I've just done a bit of googling to remind myself. Human hearing starts at 20 Hz... pa's often start at around 35 Hz... I'd like something that get's down towards 20 if not a bit further. Basically take the thought process of those nutters who spend thousands on sound sytems for their cars into guitar music.