Warm, round, big tone VS. Punchy, sharp, cutting tone

[ArturoOsito]

Hey yo, I'm looking for tone advice...I recently heard some 80s/90s cheesy r&b ballads (think Tony Toni Tone, Bone Thugs, Usher) and the bass tone was so fat...it really filled out the sound with smooth, wide low-end power. What are some elements/approaches/secrets to getting that sound as opposed to a Flea or Geddy Lee punchy articulate string type of sound? Less string definition, more low-end fatness.

Just looking for general thoughts and ALL opinions are welcome.

I know this is in "basses" but feel free to discuss effects, EQ, even strings or synths.

Righteous.

 

[boristhespider9]

Yea, Righteous.

Turn up the bass knob on your amp. Turn down the treble on your bass. That generally does the trick.

 

[petrus61]

Buy a keyboard synth. That pretty much is the bass on alot of those records. The bass guitar is there, but usually mostly heard in the fills.

 

[ArturoOsito]

Haha really, just turn up the bass? I'll try it...

As for keyboard synth, I have one, it's just nowhere near as fun to play as fingerstyle bass guitar :-(

 

[Citizen Snips]

Or you could just use your thumb.

 

[Wallace320]

Otherwise, with only parametric controls, "up the bass control" and not the "deep" or "ultrabass" or whatever additional to it, 'cause you need it more "fat" than deep, right?
Otherwise again (just because I dunno your rig) up the lowmid more than only low frequencies
And: flatwounds would help you good.

Then, if only you might find a bass synthesizer under your feet, the better!

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[elyman6]

I'm no hip hop fan but I really love R&B love songs because of the way they utilize the bass. Sometimes I just get lost in the low end tone, nevermind the unbelievable bass lines. To try to cop that sound on a bass guitar, I would try turning low mids way down, lots of compression, and AN ACTIVE 5 STRING.

P.S. If you want to be blown away, Youtube:

Twista - Wetter
LL Cool J - Hey Lover

Oh and R&B ballads are not cheesy at all they are awesome.

 

[Bassic Playing]

LL Cool J - Hey Lover

That is a SERIOUSLY nice tone.

 

[Wallace320]

and R&B ballads are not cheesy at all they are awesome.

I like LLcoolJ and Usher and Nelly

But what you stated above is way too much for a bassplayin' headbanger like me

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[SoVeryTired]

As already mentioned: thumb = fat sound. As does moving your right hand further towards or up the neck. And yes, roll the treble off.

 

[petrus61]

A quality sub-octave pedal will help too.

 

[mp40smg]

Buy a keyboard synth. That pretty much is the bass on alot of those records. The bass guitar is there, but usually mostly heard in the fills.

This..
if you are looking for that earth shaking awesome "bass" sound of the 80s...

80s bass= analog oscillators.

 

[PlungerModerno]

A quality sub-octave pedal will help too.

This kinda gets at another huge point: Have you the power or excursion to deal that huge low end?

You need a pretty capable rig to produce lows at volume - and it depends heavily on volume needs and what you mean by 'lows' - see: http://barefacedbass.com/technical-information/Huge-lows.htm

and the rest of the info all o'er the interwob.

You might need effects for very specific tones, but for great deep lows all you need is a useful EQ stage - or a working tone pot, as well as a rig that can keep up. Any decent pickup, pre and power amp should allow you oceans of low end with the right tweaking.

Different string and technique combinations will give you distinct sounds, but they'll be most pronounced in the mids and highs IME - the most prominent changes in lows are things like output and sustain. But I haven't used a really capable system for 'ultra' lows so what would I know?

P.S. for 80's - consider lots of cheesy synths!