martin8708 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Apart from the beverage choice , I'm pretty much the same . My " sound " comes from turning up the volume loud enough to be heard in the band . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 Sigh!! Back to the water it is then..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1358714779' post='1944002'] Yep, and I managed to do it with a Ric and an ashdown once.[/quote] This is true. For some reason a Ric through an Ashdown rig suddenly gets shedfuls of bottom end from somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topo morto Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1358686527' post='1943245'] You are definitely weird, diet coke? That's just wrong.... [/quote] +1 Diet coke sounds different to open than normal coke. Hollower click and more fizz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Which is the best fizzy drinks can for metal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Irn Brew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Ho, ho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 [quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1358704658' post='1943690'] Because I don't know what the knobs do..... [/quote] +1 I've just bought a new amp and it has all these buttons and knobs that the last one didn't have (mind you that was a Carlsbro Cobra that I'd had 30 odd years) and I'm clueless I've downloaded the manual and I now know how to turn everything off except the volume controls (what's with this input volume nonsense?) so I'm keeping it all flat and having fun. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepurpleblob Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 What's gets me is that both my amps have various weird processors on them that you can switch in - they don't do anything!! I have tried out various (often expensive) pre-amps and pre-processors and they do absolutely nothing or, at a push, make your bass sound rubbish. It's all a scam to extract money from musicians who don't know any better. For a bass, all you want is a big, meaty power amp and a volume knob.... and, if you are posh, a mute button Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) I like to have different sounds depending on the song I'm playing, or the bass I've taken along that night (I play in a covers trio). I don't have "a sound" either. I get a nice sound and then that's "my sound" for the night Edit: I did once have a session setting up the 7-band graphic on my amp, got it sounding nice and jotted down the settings. That's my "sound" (or rather "A NICE SOUND") and has been for several years now. Funnily enough it sounds good in pretty much any room. The "setting up" of the graphic involved getting everything flat, then starting at the deep end trying every slider between min & max and deciding how much I liked that frequency range. It actually ended up as a mid-scoop, but avoiding deliberately setting a "smiley face" pattern i.e. set up by ear, not eye Edited January 21, 2013 by Norris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) Thing is that using EQ to get a "tone" has always seemed illogical to me because most of the frequency bands you are messing around with cover some fundamental frequencies of notes on the instrument so you are making some notes louder/quieter than others - why would you want to do that ?. For example if you boost the 80-100hz range you are boosting the fundamental of notes in the area of E/F around the D string 2nd fret area yet boosting the 2nd harmonic of open E/F so the tonal effect of EQ is basically random depending on what note your playing. OTOH of you get tone through string type / technique / position of pickup etc then it applies to all notes equally ... Edited January 21, 2013 by bassman7755 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) [quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1358762777' post='1944446'] ...I have tried out various (often expensive) pre-amps and pre-processors and they do absolutely nothing or, at a push, make your bass sound rubbish. It's all a scam to extract money from musicians who don't know any better...[/quote] To which pre-amps do you refer? I've had quite the opposite experience. Edited January 21, 2013 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Whatever gear I use I have a specific sound in mind I want to get to. Some amps require more knob twiddling with others. It's as much to do with drive as EQ with me though. It doesn't involve diet coke. If it sounds fairly unlistenable solo I know I'm more or less there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 [quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1358775635' post='1944735'] If it sounds fairly unlistenable solo I know I'm more or less there.[/quote] Ha, ha! [size=4] It's taken me the best part of 40 years to understand this![/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 (edited) [quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1358711650' post='1943912'] Thats me too, Im always changing my sound then thinking, oh, I like his sound better. I was really bummed last week when I seen a band and the guy had a little combo and cheap bass, yet was getting a great sound, when I have a great set up and struggle all the time to find a sound I like! [/quote] You are suffering from the musicians equivalent of body dysmorphic disorder i.e. you perceive your own sound differently to how other people do and differently to other peoples sound. Lots of guitarists and bass players suffer from this IME. Edited January 21, 2013 by bassman7755 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 [quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1358777718' post='1944786'] You are suffering from the musicians equivalent of body dysmorphic disorder i.e. you perceive your own sound differently to how other people do and differently to other peoples sound. Lots of guitarists and bass players suffer from this IME. [/quote] I did until someone else used my rig at a local outdoor event. It sounded bloody lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumperbob 2002 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I think your sound actually starts with your ears- wthout these you wouldnt know what sounds good or bad. Then its your fingers, then the strings, bass and amp. But start with listening to things you like- how you would like to sound and try to replicate bassists you like. You will end up with "your" sound. Most basses can sound like other basses and most amps can sound like other amps so the difference is the squidgy organic thing holding it- you!! I think the gear buying thing- GAS is really about cosmetics- fashion ( how you want to look ), mojo and convenience ( weight and size issues ) than anything else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I have a selection of around 50 different sounds and they're all mine Surprisingly enough, I still manage to practise, I have taken lessons in the past, I'm not a ludicrously technical player, and I set up for gigs in 5 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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