Mixing Fingerpicking/Slap Bass

[Mm1066]

I've done a lot of searching over the past few days for this kind of thread, but I haven't had much luck in finding any information on it, so I thought I'd open up a new thread on here.

Basically, I was wondering if you guys have any experience in mixing fingerpicking bass or slap bass into metal, as I know the norm is to play with a pick but it's just not going to happen for my band. How does one go about mixing it? I'm assuming it'll still be the classic split the bass into the DI for lows and a gritty distortion midrange to blend with the guitars better, but I'm still confused about it and would love to hear some of your thoughts on the matter.

Thanks!

 

[StefTD]

It really depends on the player and the style, In Flames for example go for a really distorted
bass sound and it's finger picked, Cannibal Corpse have a really clean, clangy bass sound
finger picked as well.
Our bass player plays a 6 string, finger picked, he's pretty awesome and I didn't have to
tweak alot, compressed the DI signal, and used a second track with a "normal" bass amp
setting. No distorted second track, it worked great.
Either with his Spector 6 string or his Steinberger 5 string, both sound pretty good, but
new strings are needed.

In my former band, our bass player finger picked, too, different technique, 4 string Warwick
Corvette $$, it worked pretty well, used the DI out of his SWR Redhead combo and got a
nice sound out of it (similar to Alex Webster's sound from the newer Cannbial Corpse records).

 

[egan.]

Despite what you've probably read here the whole split-band bass thing isn't totally ubiquitous. Likewise the scoop-out all the mids and distort the top thing isn't required either.
A lot of times with finger style you won't get the same attack as with a pick but you can get a nice clack off the frets. Also, the low end and low mids are invariably going to be fatter. IME you'll get a lot more mileage by using that as a strength than by trying to get rid of it. The way I deal with it is by soloing rhythm guitars and bass and EQ'ing them to play nicely as a unit.