Metal Bass rehearsal/amplification

[Franne]

Hey

I'm a bassplayer, plays in a band etc, but im in fact having some trouble getting any better, since i dont really know what i should practise..
Does anyone know any particular site, where you can get some help (vids, songs etc etc).

I play mostly tech-based death metal, (combining Bulb ,Gojira and Meshuggah) with lots of fast picking in weird ways, which in fact is not my problem at all, my left hand though is falling behind.

Also

For now, i use a Behringer 450w amp + hartke xl 410 and xl 115, but i am really having a hard time making my sound as define and clear as i want it. It is very muddy, and it is hard to seperate every time i pick, from the next.



I hope you can help me, since im quite lost ? :zombie:


Thx

Franne - Denmark

 

[sumairetsu]

First, dealing with sound issues. It sounds like you're overdriving your amplifier or your speakers. If your amp has additional outputs for more speakers, try hooking up another speaker cabinet. Also, ditch the Behringer equipment. It's okay when starting out, but if you're serious about doing this, get something more reliable with more power (around 700 watts or more).

As for playing, I've found that it helps to listen to other forms of music in order to break out of any ruts you get stuck in. Even if it's something that you wouldn't normally listen or even like, try it out.

 

[Franne]

Okay, thx for your advices.

In fact i am overdriving my amp, since the speakers should hand 400w each, and the amp is 450w, or at least thats how i understood it - am i right?

I have been looking at EBS Fafner + 810 pro stack, and i will buy it as soon as i can afford it (tax, customs etc making it cost ap. 4300$ :S), The amp is 620w.
What is your experience with this set, and can you recommend it?

thx for your time.

 

[The Ozzman]

http://www.activebass.com

Try the talkbass forums as well

 

[Franne]

thx

 

[Eligos]

Go for gallien krueger. Or Eden if you have the money.

 

[SarahC]

Best thing to do is to take lessons really, if you haven't already.

 

[Franne]

Did once - but can't see how you can learn metal by taking lessons?

Galien K? why? tried one a few weeks ago, imo. Fafner > GK

 

[Eligos]

Completely depends on the line of amps you tried. Backline amps aren't that great, but the RB series is a legendary name in solid-state.

I haven't played EBS, but if you can afford it then go for it.

 

[sumairetsu]

In fact i am overdriving my amp, since the speakers should hand 400w each, and the amp is 450w, or at least thats how i understood it - am i right?

You're going to want your speakers to be able to handle a combined wattage that is greater than what your amplifier is going to put out.

When I was playing bass in bands, my 4x10 cabinet handled 1200 watts and my 18 inch subwoofer handled 800 watts. My Carvin Redline amplifier would put out 1000 watts if it was bridged, but since I wanted a clean tone, I would biamp the outputs in stereo (highs and lows going out in separate signals) and run the amplifier at 700 watts. My sound was kept as clean as I wanted it (the only time it would distort is if I put distortion effects on it) and was loud enough to match 2 guitar players, a singer's PA and a drummer trying to play over the top of it.

 

[_Wes]

What gear to buy is totally up to you - and your ears - and the sound you are after.

Go try everything out. . . and look into buying used if you are cash strapped. You can get great deals on ebay or talkbass, and you'll end up paying way less than new. The majority of folks on TB take very good care of their gear.

Also - what kind of eq'ing of the amp are you using - and what settings do you have on your bass? Most of the time when I find guys comlaining about how the bass sounds to them, they are using an eq curve that takes out all the mids. If you want cut & punch - you'll need mids. If you crank the bass up on the head - which seems very intuitive, you typically will get lots & lots of low end, which consumes amp power, and isn't very good for clarity (and can more easily overdrive the signal - causing distortion).

For me & my sound (I'm using a Spector 4, through a Genz 6.0 shuttle - into my Schroeder 212L - which I use with my metal band, sporting 3 guitar players - and am frequently told I'm too loud!) I leave the bass at noon (or not cut or boost), the mid bumped slightly, and the treble at noon. I use my bass controls to add a touch of low, and a bit of high (only have a 2 band eq on the bass). The active spector in this set up sings! I have plenty of cut - and more than enough power through the schroeder 212.

Anyway - you'll want to try out some eq checking to make sure you aren't killing all the mids but boosting too much bottom.

All in my opinion - and I could be completely wrong. .

Good luck!!

 

[Franne]

Thx for the response guys,

And wes, i do in fact cut off the mid completely, and leave bass at noon and treble at 2 o'clock. On my bass i leave all at noon. But i will be trying out some stuff to see if this will help.

If my sound is muddy and unclear (also because of the hartke amps (crap!)), what would be the best eq according to you guys?

 

[Eligos]

Cut your bass frequencies a bit, and get new strings.

 

[_Wes]

And don't cut all the mids. The mids are a lot of your cut and most of your clarity.

But again - play with the settings - in a loud band setting - see what sounds good, and listen to your band mates and how the bass sits in the mix. Every instrument needs to have it's own sonic space.

 

[Eligos]

Yeah mids are absolutely the most important frequency in a band setting. If you're soloing slap it's a different case, but in a band the mids are so necessary.

 

[gilamonster]

I agree with the mids statement. Cutting the mids seems so contradictory in metal, especially with bass which has trouble enough cutting through with screaming guitars. I'd give yourself at least a little bit of mids to work with, and that should help your sound. And as was said before, and from experience personally, boosting the low end frequencies like bass isn't always the best thing to do with a bass. At least, for metal.