bass tone

[medusah]

Even though everyone else I know seems to favor the pop/snap funk stylee, I like the bass tone in reggae better than any other genre of music. Tight and controlled tone upped with big, spongy, goopey molasses textures without the boomey muddiness of too much sub. Should have a huge bottom like a fat girl who can dance.

It's so hard to get the amp to do it in various rooms, and to deal with whiners (sound guys, guys in other bands) that bitch "the bass is too loud". I use a five string (low B) using active EMG pickups that are easy to record with DI box.

Listen to "Working Spliff" at [http://www.MySpace.com/workingspliffs] for a sample of recording this way. I'd love to hear all of you all's recordings too!

[benjamin]

been playin rootsmusic fro years, starting with bass but I am quite lazy when it comes to technology and tecnics that's why I just improvise the mixing of my amp each time I play. The sound is mostly in the fingers, but that's right I'd also appreciate any contribution to this topic to make it sound really beautiful.
If you want to listen to my band go to this link:
www.myspace.com/wareikahills
In this one I sing. Bless

Ben

Ps: sorry I can't listen to your band as myspace is not accessible from Ethiopia where I live in fire since a few months.

[James]

I don't think the hardware makes a lot of difference, as long as it's playable.

I've been playing Reggae bass for longer than I care to admit (okay, the late '70s), and have yet to beat the combination of 4-string bass, passive electrics, through a tube amp and big (15 inch min.) speakers.

For my punk gig I use some fx, but for Reggae, maybe just a little compression to keep the sound fat. I have to say I've never heard any complaints about too loud bass. Too loud guitar on occasion, but my response to that is usually to turn the bass up, so people think the guitar got quieter.

Peace,

James

[medusah]

I love tube amps. But they need tubes and good ones are getting hard to find and expensive. I got spoiled on new/old stock Sylvanias and the Brit Valves, and just can't stomach the cheap Russian tubes. (The Svetlanas aren't too band, but they just don't quite match the old ones.) Since bass is doable in transistor amps, and they are CHEAP, when I fried my tube amp, I just got a Bheringer and that sucker is loud and clean. (Only $200 US) This amp is so clean I bought a second one when the monitor amp fried. Now the monitors are really loud and clean. But I do miss the Marshall, which is back in the shop again. It's not the playing that kills the gear, it's the moving, setting up, tearing down, and moving again and again.

The internet is so amazing. Type here in WA and it's read in Ethiopia! Small world, big up! Uhlaghese!

[leggo rocker]

"Bass is too loud"

Can it ever be too loud????

[truthsandrights]

nice fat bass tones come out nice when mixing the DI signal with a mic'd bass amp. the DI box gives it definition & clarity and the amp gives it body and woof.

[James]

That is a good way to go. I have a Bass Works combo amp I used to use on the road. 300 watts into a built-in 15 inch, transistor power stage, but tube preamp for the nice sound. I'd usually plug a second 15 inch in for a little bigger sound. Built in low impedence line out too.

Point is, sound guys at most clubs would always be surprised that I would request they use the line out. First that my amp had one, but I guess they'd get resistance from a lot of bassists too. Me, I always want as much power under the low end as possible. One place I played few times had a sound system that included 18 sub-woofers under the stage. The sense of power I had playing those nights was amazing.

Sorry for the long-winded ramble, but what I'm getting at is that bassists should definitely consider going through the house sound system if it's any good. Then, adjust your amp level onstage however you like it.