how do you distort bass?
- Thread starter LSD-Studio
- Start date
Razorjack
Bass Behemoth
The bass is very important in a growling bass tone, I can't get anything near a good growl out of my Peavey but my Warwick nails it every time.
After that a Sansamp Bass Driver into an Ampeg (or IK Ampeg SVX like Sparkyness said) is a sure-fire way to nail an amazing growling tone.
After that a Sansamp Bass Driver into an Ampeg (or IK Ampeg SVX like Sparkyness said) is a sure-fire way to nail an amazing growling tone.
TheStoryteller
Member
As long as I clone the bass track, and have one track for the clean lows (lo-passed) and one track for the dirty mids and highs (hi-passed), I've found that almost anything works. Amplitube is great, but I guess you would do just as good or even better with a good free plugin... like the ones in the Guitar Suite package.
edit: AmplituBe, not AmplituDe. Common mistake.
edit: AmplituBe, not AmplituDe. Common mistake.
Yep, must be the bass, my ESP bass was defective when I recorded that band (they didn't have a bass nor a *-player so i said I'm gonna borrow them my ESP bass) so I had to get another bass fast...that was a 100 squier jazzbass....
hard time mixing here
hard time mixing here
Yep....a good bass helps. Pickups are important. My world changed completely when I got a set of Bartolini's in my J-Bass.
Also....good technique makes a world of difference. Much easier to get a good tone with a pick for metal, but finger style will still cut thru if the player is consistent and has new strings. I switch between the two based on the type of bass line and the tempo. If I'm just doubling a guitar line, a pick will do the job nicely and probably sound tighter.
Fredrik's suggestions also work. I split my bass tracks into 3. One DI track (I leave my flat but this could be eq'd), One Sansamp Bass Driver track for the mids with a overdriven SVT-type sound (high passed at around 160k, low passed at 2-3K), and finally, a third track of my Sansamp Classic distorted to within an inch of it's life, high passed at around 500-600k. Blend the three to taste.
Also....good technique makes a world of difference. Much easier to get a good tone with a pick for metal, but finger style will still cut thru if the player is consistent and has new strings. I switch between the two based on the type of bass line and the tempo. If I'm just doubling a guitar line, a pick will do the job nicely and probably sound tighter.
Fredrik's suggestions also work. I split my bass tracks into 3. One DI track (I leave my flat but this could be eq'd), One Sansamp Bass Driver track for the mids with a overdriven SVT-type sound (high passed at around 160k, low passed at 2-3K), and finally, a third track of my Sansamp Classic distorted to within an inch of it's life, high passed at around 500-600k. Blend the three to taste.
Jarkko Mattheiszen
The FU guy.
Yep, must be the bass, my ESP bass was defective when I recorded that band (they didn't have a bass nor a *-player so i said I'm gonna borrow them my ESP bass) so I had to get another bass fast...that was a 100€ squier jazzbass....
hard time mixing here
A few weeks ago we recorded a one song demo, and I think we got a pretty nice, aggressive bass tone on it. We split the signal from the bass to a 5150 and an old Peavey bass head. The 5150 brought the distortion and the bass amp gave a nice, clean sound. When mixing I eq'd the tracks so that the clean track gave the lowest bottom end and the 5150 the middles and thereup. I also added the Guitarsuite JCM900 to the clean track just to get a little more crunch out of it, so maybe you could try that plugin. Did wonders to the clean track anyway.
Loren Littlejohn
Lover of all boobage.
Mood Bender
Member
Mood Bender
Member
here's a clip with the SVX... although probably not as heavy as what you're after.
I'm not sure if I was using the BDDI up front...
http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/rate-my-mix-tone-threads/275621-bass-line-intro-tools-forty-six-2-a.html
another with the BDDI -> SVX
http://www.funender.com/music/play.php?band_id=14338&song_id=37204&mode=song_hifi
doc_backmask
Member
Awesome, I didn't know any other bassist did this. It makes playing much more fun live. I love the way both styles sound, and each has its own place. Recording though, its always a pick for me. Like you said, easier for mixing.
KeithRT99
BOOSH.
try a guitar amp with a basscab(4x12)! My fender dual showman kicks ass with a bass cab! then DI for the lowest notes... everything on eleven!
Mood Bender
Member
Seizure.
Member
Ya can't beat a Good bass with some awesome passive pick ups going into a brutal distortion like a ODB 3/Tubescreamer or HM2 into Sans amp bassdriver realy..
I had some cool results using this!
I had some cool results using this!
I used to play on actives but since I dumped a set of Bartolini passives in my J-bass, I can easily say that I've never been happier with my tone.
