Funky Dunky

We set up bass - BD121 - amp - recording gizmo with a belter of a tone and hit record. We didn't diddle about with any settings, other than he played around with compression until he had something he liked. We went the GIRAS route, and we were both happy. He said he may try EQing in post, but that's his problem now! Thanks to all.

Wow, some really great points coming out if this thread, thanks to everyone for the input (wee gear pun for you there!). I like the tip about playing closer to the neck to fatten the sound - definitely going to employ that wee trick. The re-amp trick sounds awesome but I don't know if we have the gear we need for that. It's a really simple set-up and my mate wants to do as much of it as possible on the way in so he doesn't have to so a lot of post work. I explained to him that most of what he wants in terms of fatness is achieved in post, so he's going to try eq'ing as suggested above. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks again.

Brilliant, thanks, that will save me a ton of fiddling. Thank you

Mods, feel free to shift this if it's in the wrong arena. I'm recording bass for a mate on Saturday and he has requested a very specific tone. He wants the bass to dominate the track, he wants me to use my Fender Jazz bass and he wants it to sound really fat. Now... I have the Jazz bass, I have a Fender Bronco 40 modelling amp which we have managed to extract some surprisingly awesome tones from in the past - the wee amp records well - and I have a Behringer BD121. Help! Any EQ, settings or tips to help me achieve something close to this? Thanks guys

I used lighter fluid to remove stickers which were baked on to an old Jim Deacon bass. I was near-astounded by the job it done, and how smooth and shiny it left the finish on what was a manky old bass, which had spent five years in someone's attic. I have a Sterling Sub Ray 4, not the most knowledgeable guy about finishes etc so I dunno what type it is but it feels kinda unfinished, not lacquered. What can I use to shine that up?

I love Billy's playing, and I don't care for the gymnastics - the speedy soloing. I love what Billy does with a bassline, likr on The Whole World's Gonna Know, for example. The lines and fills are epic, so musical, and some people still automatically pigeonhole him as a widdler. The widdlyness leaves me cold, tbh.

I take it back - I tweaked my set-up tonight and its playing fabulously. These slap pretty sweetly now, definitely better than Sunbeams. I've still to try Hi-Beams and Fat-Beams, but I'm definitely a DR guy a this point. Big fan.

I just put Lo Riders on my Sterling and they are superb for plucking but I'm not crazy about them for slap.

1) Funky 2) Funky or 1) Terrible 2) Terrible

Do you play any slap? I find the Sunbeams the best I've played yet for plucking, due to the high tension, but not brilliant for slap. I have to work a lot harder to get the effect. Probably due to the tension more than anything else though! I'm looking for a string that plucks like a DR but slaps really easily, like a Dunlop Super Bright (which doesn't pluck particularly nicely as tension is insanely low).

While we're at it.....can you tell me why you use lo-riders? I just ordered a set, having used Sunbeams for the last year or so. What do you like about the low-riders?

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1467374866' post='3083195'] http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DR-NMH5-130-LO-RIDER-NICKEL-BASS-STRINGS-MEDIUM-GAUGE-5-string-set-45-130-/131112241104?hash=item1e86e607d0:g:sMoAAOSwYaFWgt7S You don't get stung for customs either. [/quote] Yip, being using bass specialties for a couple of years now, will never buy strings anywhere else. Takes about 10 days for them to arrive but totally worth it for the savings.

Blimey that's nice. Congratulations!

*major, major, major envy* Congratulations mate, I saw one of these a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love. Absolute stunner of a bass. Enjoy.

I'll echo what some of the guys have said already, Duff, Bobby Vega, also check out Cody Wright and Bruno Tauzin's pickstyle bass - superb. I like some of the punk guys, too. Matt Freeman of Rancid is filthy with a pick, Fat Mike of NOFX is great too, really melodic lines. I'm also digging Hunter Burgan of AFI's stuff.

Oh my days, that is something else! What DO those things weigh?

Paula is a wee genius. I interviewed her for my college course a few years ago. Great at what she does and salt of the Earth, too.

My bass sounded like poo tonight. I just assumed it was me having an off day, but this does happen on occasion. Never considered the weather.

You won't get your bass to sound like a £2500 Warwick Thumb, sadly.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1466426387' post='3075682'] How about a pre amp between the bass and your Ashdown. Something like a Behringer BD21, which has a level control which would decease the signal going to your amp. That would do the trick. BD21s are very cheap and are great little pre amps but any pedal with a level control should sort your problem out. [/quote] I have one of these. How would I set it up to nullify the hot preamp?

Well it is simply inexcusable to continue putting instruments out in the market with a known flaw. They should reduce the cost of repairing the issue from the RRP. But of course they won't.

Can I just add - this bass is perfect for me. The neck dimensions - I don't think I could have designed it better myself. It's perfect for my hands.

No, but I'm having the same trouble. I tried to lower the pickup and subsequently mashed the screw heads instead. The screws are really soft on mine, and one attempted turn of the screws just mangles the heads. Went through hell trying to remedy this, to no avail. Only thing I haven't tried is a dremel. I don't have a dremel and I'm not shelling out that kind of money. Tbh I doubt lowering the pup will help, so what I'll probably do is get the preamp swapped at some point.

The issues of strings is such a minefield, and, unless you're very lucky, an expensive one to navigate. There's just no substitute for playing a set of strings and deciding for yourself whether or not you like the sound and feel. The strings can be THE deciding factor in how well you play or how good you sound, and it can cost a lot of cheddar to find the ones which are right for you. DR are the kiddies for my Sterling; I'm still experimenting to find the right set for my Jazz bass and it looks like it may take some time.

It's a shame he doesn't do private tuition. I'd definitely put the money together and travel once a month for a couple of hours of 1 to 1. Would love to know more about Scott, especially if he's taught anyone of note (badump-tsh). I feel confident in saying he's more than capable of shining in any company. Genuinely one of my favourite musicians.