Which bass sounds better?

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

#1 seemed to have more definition, as well as your pop/slap notes seemed clearer and brighter...number 2 just sounded a bit muffled at those parts.

 

[warnergt]

I really liked that low end growl on #2. I thought it was actually pretty amazing.

There was certainly nothing wrong with #1. It had a more balanced and
conventional sound. Probably more of what they would look for when
making a recording.

My vote goes to #2 because I prefer the less conventional, emphasized low end.

 

[Jordan M]

#1 seemed clearer to me, very slightly. Couldn't really tell a huge amount though.

 

[thudfromafar]

I like #1 a little better. And I know you told us it was the same bass, but my original thoughts were that it didn't sound like 2 different basses, just a slight change like EQ or pickups.

I think the sound could still be improved a little though. Seems like something is missing and I understand the poster who said there was a subtle "annoying growl."

Were you using your GK head for this or what? Also could you tell us more about the pickups?

Very nice playing though..

 

[allexcosta]

Were you using your GK head for this or what? Also could you tell us more about the pickups?

No amp, bass straight into M-Audio Delta 1010 interface.
No EQ, no effect, no plugin.
Bass is Fodera Emperor Deluxe 5 string, 34" scale, alder body, dovetail neck junction, ebony fretboard.

Clip 1 is DiMarzio Ultrajazz 5
Clip 2 is Fralin Single-coil 5
3 band Pope preamp engaged but completely flat

 

[thepontif]

+1 on the playing. Nice. Very funky.

Listening with my ultrasone headphones with which I'm pretty familiar, I hear a severe lack of information below about 120Hz on track 1. Idiomatically, track 2 works the best, although I'd say the low end could be tighter. Probably a little compression would take care of that. I'm really shocked that there's no EQ change there. Seems like the pups in track one are loaded weirdly.

Anyway, they do definitely sound like the same bass to me.

$0.02....

 

[capnsandwich]

I think I like #1 better simply for the brighter tone. It also seemed like you were playing around a litle more on that track too, which made it sound a little livelier. Either way you got chops!

 

[puff father]

I like the sound of track #1 better. seemed clearer throughout the range that you played (which was all over the neck BTW).

Nice.

 

[4-string]

Both sound good, and the playing is great. If I had to choose, I'd pick #1.

 

[WoodyG3]

Clip 1 is DiMarzio Ultrajazz 5
Clip 2 is Fralin Single-coil 5

I would have bet that 1 was single coils and 2 humbuckers. Shows what I know.

 

[edubb]

I really liked that low end growl on #2. I thought it was actually pretty amazing.

There was certainly nothing wrong with #1. It had a more balanced and
conventional sound. Probably more of what they would look for when
making a recording.

My vote goes to #2 because I prefer the less conventional, emphasized low end.

PLUS 1.

 

[edubb]

So many preferred 1 because of its "brighter tone". This is a bass forum isn't it?, lol.

 

[lowendfriend]

^^ They sound almost exactly the same to me with very slight differences. Number two, for instance, doesn`t seem as present in the mix as the first, yet it`s overall tone seems a bit smoother. In all honesty, they sound like either very slight EQ tweaks, or you just changed your attacks location some.

Honestly, either works for me, although I would personally run the pops through a different track and completely reconfigure the EQ for the finger plucking and do that on another track for a better tone.

+1

For the music style I was leaning toward No.1.