What makes a bass sound punchy?

[eric_B]

After some experimenting and drawing my own conclusions I was wondering what the experienced people of TB think of the question: what makes a bass sound punchy? As in powerful and clear defined (not excluding deep) low notes and no whooly 'ooooom-y' sound.

BTW: talking about the bass, not the amplification.

Is it the type (P, J, P/J or others), active or passive, the brand of bass, the (brand / type of) strings, the (brand / type of) pickup(s), tuners, pots, caps, the setup, or whatever matters to you?

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

100-250Hz

 

[pgolliher]

If I am understanding the definition of "punchy" the way you are describing, I would say mids. If I want a punchy tone out of my P/J bass (not touching the amp), I roll off the P pick up some with the J on full. It cuts through nice and isn't boomy.

 

[DigitalMan]

Depends on the arrangement and what sonic space the other instruments are occupying.

 

[SteveC]

EQ and maybe compression.

 

[wraub]

Me.

 

[sears]

You could post this thread in basses, amps, pickups, effects, technique..

it's an excellent and eternal question but there are so many answers

 

[Lownote38]

playing it with boxing gloves (sorry. couldn't resist).

 

[eric_B]

You could post this thread in basses, amps, pickups, effects, technique..

it's an excellent and eternal question but there are so many answers

Yeah, I agree. But I posted here to focus on the bass, keeping all other variables the same.
I have my thoughts, what do other TB-ers think?

 

[peledog]

Sticking with the bass - if it's passive and it's a JJ or PJ set up - turn the P or neck pickup down a bit and play closer to the bridge.

Active bass, boost the mids on the EQ. Both J-bridge and MM style/placement pickups will help with the punch. You may lose some low end. A P pickup can be extremely punchy depending on where you play the strings and the EQ.

Stay away from plucking strings close to the neck.

My US$0.02

 

[tattooSAM]

Technique. Roundwounds. The right pickup. A decent amp. You HAVE to talk about the amp,it is important.

 

[davegt666]

Low mids help but I think it's mostly a technique and hand placement issue.

Someone with a good tight right hand technique playing closer to the bridge is going to sound punchier then someone with a loose or sloppy right hand technique playing closer to the neck.

That's why most funk players have a sense of "pow!!" in every note they hit because they are playing more stacatto and with more space between the notes than say are hard rock bass player.

That plus a combination of good left hand muting and low mids = punch

Some compression is just icing on the cake.

 

[pappabass]

Easiest way is active pickups, preferably 3 band. Bass 3/4 +- way up, mids below 1/2, treble about 1/2.. Amp set at around 12:00, extra on bass works for me. This gives the sound a little kick to not get caught in the mix...

 

[Spidey2112]

playing it with boxing gloves (sorry. couldn't resist).

Beat me to it... Now stop beating me.

 

[Apathesis]

My EQ looks like a mean scowl; punches right through.

Especially on my Ric 4003 when you consider I keep my right hand fingernails just long enough to add a little snap to the sound.

 

[Spidey2112]

Technique. Roundwounds. The right pickup. A decent amp. You HAVE to talk about the amp,it is important.

I'm thinking that amp, set @ '5' would alter your DNA...

 

[Chuck King]

I'm surprised to hear people recommending rolling off the P pickup in a P/J configuration to get "punch". When I think of punchy, I think of a P-bass, moreso than a P/J and certainly more than anything that comes out of a J bridge pickup. That pickup can provide more clarity, but a bridge J pickup is more prominently hi-mid focused, and I think of punch as being in the low mids. Although, I agree that playing closer to the bridge will tend to give more punch than playing closer to the neck, which lends itself to boomier tone.

To get a punchy tone, I think you need to have a solid supply of the low mids for which P-basses are justifiably renowned, but to get punchy without getting boomy or woofy requires either the perfect bass/amp/speaker combination, or some very astute EQ tweaking. You need a strong low mid presence, with a notch cut right around the boomy frequencies.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Adequately-reproduced lo-midrange frequencies.
That's where it's at. Lotsa ways to get there.

 

[Makatak]

Your fingers. End of.

 

[pgolliher]

I'm surprised to hear people recommending rolling off the P pickup in a P/J configuration to get "punch". When I think of punchy, I think of a P-bass, moreso than a P/J and certainly more than anything that comes out of a J bridge pickup. That pickup can provide more clarity, but a bridge J pickup is more prominently hi-mid focused, and I think of punch as being in the low mids. Although, I agree that playing closer to the bridge will tend to give more punch than playing closer to the neck, which lends itself to boomier tone.

To get a punchy tone, I think you need to have a solid supply of the low mids for which P-basses are justifiably renowned, but to get punchy without getting boomy or woofy requires either the perfect bass/amp/speaker combination, or some very astute EQ tweaking. You need a strong low mid presence, with a notch cut right around the boomy frequencies.

We both suggested rolling of the neck pick up a bit, not totally. It accentuates the tone you get playing closer to the bridge. I find rolling off a little gives you some "punch"... roll off a little more and you get some "burp".