Bass CAN be tricky, but not always is. Like any thing else. In between most of the funny there were some good tips. Another thing about bass is lots of people have different ways of doing it, and every one of those people have ten more behind them who do it differently, and say that guy is totally wrong. From what I have read the most common way of recording bass is layering a mic'ed, and a D.I. recording, and keeping the pans centered. What I have found to work the best is doing what you can to simulate that basic process as much as you can.
For example here is what I do: I'm quoting a post of mine post from another board to save time.
"LeCab loaded with two of the same IR. Each panned 100%. Then an EQ with both a low, and high pass to really single out the deep tone I need. There is also a notch in there too to remove the boomyness. This pushes the Low end out, but behind the guitar. Then everything else that defines the bass it's self is centered, and high passed to remove redundancy. This makes it sound like the bass is centered, but feel like it's occupying the same space as the guitar. Giving a good rich layered sound."
I use Recabinet for my IR's, and the amps are the BA-500 in Amplitube X-Gear For the low end. The high end I run through TSE X30 to add some dirt to it. So in effect The low end track is my mic'ed cab, and my high end track is my D.I.. Not exactly the same, but like I said lots of people have different ways. Start with the basic, and go from there to get what you need. Experimentation is quintessential. Compression is also important, but why, when, and where is for you to decide. Controlling, and manipulating transients is a post all, an in of it's self.
Ching chong potoato
priceless, and cranking your guitar, is kind of a no brainer.
