Jigster Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Guys, I'm really not a fan of o/drive or fuzz on bass, best left to guitars, but I DO want to thicken/beef up the live sound - what's best for this? Are there other options? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 A deep slow chorus would thicken up your sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 (edited) A touch of compression or even a good preamp if your bass is passive. And decent pickups, too. Edited January 11, 2011 by fatback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 A Sansamp Bass Driver, or the Behringer BD121 equivalent of the Sansamp, with the drive set to nil would do this. I used a Sansamp with an old Trace Elliot setup for this exact same purpose. Worked nicely, made the Trace sound all big, warm and valvey, but without the gain/fuzz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigster Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 yep i thought that - could bear an o/drive with the setting on absolute minimum will also think about the chorus - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlat Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Check out the FEA Growler or for even more fattening, a digital octave with a clean blend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Bass Xciter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanOwens Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 What bass and amp are you using? And when you say 'thickening up' the sound, are you after something that will be always-on or some kind of enhancement for sections such as choruses? Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigster Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 [quote name='DanOwens' post='1086384' date='Jan 12 2011, 08:21 AM']What bass and amp are you using? And when you say 'thickening up' the sound, are you after something that will be always-on or some kind of enhancement for sections such as choruses? Dan[/quote] hmm, well depends to be honest - have an active Sandberg, which I don't think needs any addition, but also use a passive jazz and wondering it might need some enhancement playing live - we're a three piece but drummer and guitarist both v loud - the rig depends on the gig: sometime suse what's there, or my own rig is in my sig - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggy Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1086329' date='Jan 12 2011, 02:03 AM']Bass Xciter.[/quote] These are very handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutpepper Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 +1 on the Sansamp Bass Driver. I once saw a quote (on TB I think) that said they only put a footswitch on it so you could hear how much better it made the sound when activated. I have to agree...it will turn a flat uninspiring sound into something truely fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 (edited) [quote name='absolutpepper' post='1086550' date='Jan 12 2011, 11:57 AM']+1 on the Sansamp Bass Driver. I once saw a quote (on TB I think) that said they only put a footswitch on it so you could hear how much better it made the sound when activated. I have to agree...it will turn a flat uninspiring sound into something truely fantastic.[/quote] It does sound great. Adds a character to the sound but you dont have to have the grit, (although I have some!). Probably the best pedal for bass Ive used apart from the Aguilar Tone Hammer. Edited January 12, 2011 by Musicman20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanOwens Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I like the BDDI but that huge cut at 500hz changes the sound in a way I don't really like; it's great on its own but in a band I've tended to boost the signal to compensate. As such, I may as well have just turned up the bass. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1086329' date='Jan 12 2011, 02:03 AM']Bass Xciter.[/quote] This is what I have been considering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 (edited) [quote name='DanOwens' post='1087137' date='Jan 12 2011, 07:54 PM']I like the BDDI but that huge cut at 500hz changes the sound in a way I don't really like;[/quote] It's beginning to annoy me too. I shall be spending a lot of time at rehearsal this evening fiddling with my BDDI. I can see the blend control setting getting lower and lower... Edited January 14, 2011 by bartelby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 [quote name='bartelby' post='1089492' date='Jan 14 2011, 04:20 PM']It's beginning to annoy me too. I shall be spending a lot of time at rehearsal this evening fiddling with my BDDI. I can see the blend control setting getting lower and lower...[/quote] IMO, you're on a hiding to nothing. Roll the blend right back, and A/B it against the bypassed signal. That darn cut is still there... Roll the bass and treble off (theoretically boosting the mids, relatively speaking), and it just doesn't sound right. The Para DI won't help, either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyKnees Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I've just got the Sansamp VT Bass (arrived yesterday!) after a recomendation on here and I really like it...early days I know, but it warms and thickens my Little Mark amp in a very pleasing and musical way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='1089498' date='Jan 14 2011, 04:26 PM']IMO, you're on a hiding to nothing. Roll the blend right back, and A/B it against the bypassed signal. That darn cut is still there... Roll the bass and treble off (theoretically boosting the mids, relatively speaking), and it just doesn't sound right. The Para DI won't help, either...[/quote] I rolled it back to 30%BDDI /70% dry signal last night and it sounded pretty good, bit of a scoop but not too dramatic. I can live with it for a while... But you've answered my next question, about the Para DI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanOwens Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I use a Little Mark head and the filters (VLE and VPF) both effectively cut mids. I use these as a controllable means of having a go at mids. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Lots of good suggestions above, but also worth thinking about the EBS Microbass II. Fantastic bit of kit, and the valve tone option thingy thickens the sound up nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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